SWLondon Saint

Tbh Jander plays better when he has license to go and be aggressive trying to win the ball, like we've seen Downes doing the last few games. If we have to play teams that dominate the midfield, I could see us playing with JWP behind Downes and Jander, like we set up against Coventry away last season with those 2 and Bragg.

I'm not so worried about his physicality in the Championship as many seem to be - imo it's a big step down from the PL in terms of pure speed and power BUT you get a shit ton of niggly dirty physicality instead which hopefully his fitness can deal with. Certainly under Ralph he had that edge to his game and he'll need it. Charles' biggest problems in his game are his slack tracking back / lazy challenges and we know JWP has never lacked for effort at least so that's a + in my book. I'm hoping he'll be pissed off and with a giant chip on his shoulder after being bombed out the last 2 years by Nuno and absolutely pisses on the league in revenge. Also a free kick hat trick against West Ham + special celebration 🫡🫡

To be fair to him, Stephens played decently in the big run last season, but I've only watched the last 15 minutes and he has been utter gash the entire time. Wood not much better with 1 hideous telegraphed pass that got cut out.

His highlights were the time he dropped off into midfield in space and got a decent ball, and his first touch was so bad the ball bounced so far it went to their full back I think, and also the mostly free header he had from an excellent cross where he just got it all wrong and it floated harmlessly over the crossbar when he should have hit the target at least.

I think he's looked his best for NI as he's clearly got the most ability on the ball so he gets a bit of a pass on the defensive side. That doesn't work if you want to win the Championship, all midfielders have to work hard and not have those goal-conceding lapses on concentration which he's unfortunately a bit prone too. Fee seems fair for us, and Fulham probably a good move for him with Arbeloa as manager as I imagine he'll play like Spain do where even the 'flair' midfielders like Olmo or Ruiz have to work like hell or they won't get picked, end of.

This for me is more the issue than whether he's a decent defender or not. His level for me is top of the Champ / bottom of the PL, the difference is some of the borderline shithousing / holding / obstruction he can get away with week in week out here, you can't when there's VAR.

I think THB is in a bit of a weird situation in that some things he does at an excellent level - attacking headers, picking passes going forward - but some things he's not great at for the top level, like defending against pacey and strong attackers like the top teams have. I'm not sure if a PL team would come in for him, even a lower half one, if we're asking for 20 mill+. He might be better suited to somewhere like Spain or Italy actually.

Dunno, the Spain Holland one was pretty shit too. Though even Holland, despite kicking Spain all over the pitch, were nowhere near as dirty as the Argie filth.

Honestly, if refs don't book an Argie early on you know you're in for a crap game full of aggro. Same as in the semi, you let them get away with an inch, they take a mile.

Haha, me too, I was hoping he'd shithouse one of them into a red card.

I don't even like Spain that much but bloody hell I'd cheer for anyone against the Argies. Thank f***.

Watched from about our 4th goal on. Surprisingly that did actually make me feel a bit better about the whole thing, hopefully the players will feel like it's unfinished business for the Euros. We don't have France's front 4 but it's fair to say we're not that far off.

Just makes the end of the Argentina game even more unforgivable imo. Saka and Rashford obviously with a point to prove and who can blame them? Can only imagine what they'd have done against Argentina's dodgy full backs when they were chasing the game 😑

Wasn't even planning to watch, just like France clearly didn't plan to play...

At half time against Croatia, Tuchel got credit for saying stop playing scared, if we go out, we go out playing our way. That was what he needed to say and back up with positive subs today. Playing with everyone on our 18 yard line is never and should never be our way even if we're down to 10.