European Championship Qualifying

[Furball]

He is, and he'll be as aware as the rest of us that the second half was our worst 45 minutes since the Iceland game at the last Euros.

Surely when you're 5-1 up it doesn't matter?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Surely when you're 5-1 up it doesn't matter?

No one ever got rich overestimating the England football team, tbf.

Although it wasn't so very long ago we regularly struggled to qualify for tournaments, so the luxury of whinging about our defence in a two goal victory that gives us 12 points from 12 is a welcome one.

 

[sledger]

Should have tried a back three back in the day. But that is hindsight speakin

They did try it occasionally. But realised that it would either require Gerrard or Beckham playing at WB, or Beckham being dropped, and both of those options were a big no no.

 

[wpdavid]

They did try it occasionally. But realised that it would either require Gerrard or Beckham playing at WB, or Beckham being dropped, and both of those options were a big no no.

That was the main issue. I'm trying to remember who would gave played right wing back anyway. Obviously Cole was fine on the other side.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

That was the main issue. I'm trying to remember who would gave played right wing back anyway. Obviously Cole was fine on the other side.

Neville would have been good enough but then where would Beckham have played?

 

[andmark]

All I can think is they could've done with a left WB with a defensive shape of 4-4-2. I don't know who the LWB would've been though.

 

[wpdavid]

Neville would have been good enough but then where would Beckham have played?

Yup, that was the issue.

 

[sledger]

Young Neville was good in that role. It was the system used at WC98.

But by the time Sven came around and they tried that system again (around 04) G Nev's days as a wing back were done. His pace was totally shot after several severe injuries. Micah Richards was probably the only semi-feasible option, and he wasn't exactly great. They even tried Carragher in the role once, which was obviously a bad idea.

 

[Uppercut]

I don't think 3atb was the solution, no one in the squad played it for their clubs. It wasn't that hard to pick a good England side in a 4atb formation. They just never had a manager with the testicles to drop anyone who'd ever been on the front of a Fifa game.

 

[GIMH]

They did try it occasionally. But realised that it would either require Gerrard or Beckham playing at WB, or Beckham being dropped, and both of those options were a big no no.

Actually when they tried it they stuck Beckham in the DM role

Was abandoned after defeat to Northern Ireland. They got lucky with that one as it came just after England won the Ashe in 05 so a lot of media focus was elsewhere.

 

[sledger]

Oh yeah that's true. Beckham at CM wasn't bad in principle imo. It's just that England had (at least) 3-4 players who were considerably better than him in that position.

 

[Furball]

It's a measure of how utterly apathetic I've become towards the Scotland national side that the first score I was looking for last night was Northern Ireland's.

 

[sledger]

Actually when they tried it they stuck Beckham in the DM role

Was abandoned after defeat to Northern Ireland. They got lucky with that one as it came just after England won the Ashe in 05 so a lot of media focus was elsewhere.

Haha I just watched the goal from this game and Beckham in the DM role is massively at fault for the goal. No wonder they did not try this again.

 

[GIMH]

It's a measure of how utterly apathetic I've become towards the Scotland national side that the first score I was looking for last night was Northern Ireland's.

Not like you to abandon a team when they're down and out

 

[flibbertyjibber]

In a way tonight is a good result, nice reality check and stops everyone getting hyped up only to get angry when we fail next summer.

 

[wpdavid]

In a way tonight is a good result, nice reality check and stops everyone getting hyped up only to get angry when we fail next summer.

Piss poor performance though. As was much of the 5-3 against Montenegro last time out.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Piss poor performance though. As was much of the 5-3 against Montenegro last time out.

Yeah, not good. We will qualify but at least the last couple of displays mean the press can't build up hype etc...

Quarter final and with luck a semi is our limit. No disgrace in that with the players we have.

 

[andruid]

Yeah, not good. We will qualify but at least the last couple of displays mean the press can't build up hype etc...

Quarter final and with luck a semi is our limit. No disgrace in that with the players we have.

Do not underestimate the pomposity of the British Press

 

[Furball]

The **** was Trippier doing playing in front of Alexander-Arnold?

 

[sledger]

Haha didn't even realise there was a game on tbh