S-Clarke

I remember the season we beat some random Swedish teams 15 or whatever nill. And we were relegated. Honestly can’t come to any judgements to be honest, other than wondering how much a big win against a pub team really prepares them.

No idea what benefit these sort of games have on teams tbh.

That’s a good post. Let’s remember that this is the Gareth Southgate who was derided by boro fans and relegated them. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a decent guy and has at least tried to approach it differently, but he’s not some sort of tactical genius.

Oh well, still been a fun world cup but I just hope the media and the pundits don't go OTT about this side. The bare stats are out there: - Only Iran created fewer oppertunities - One of the lowest scoring sides in open play - Only beaten Tunisa, Sweden and Panama. The luck of the draw and how the other sides fell away opened it up for us and certainly flattered our final position. If you look at Germany's and Argentina's group, we'd have probably struggled just as much as they did. I hope that's the end of Phil Jones international career, probably one of the worst CB's I've ever seen make a living. All he does is chase after attackers after they've beaten him and pull weirdo faces. This hasn't been the sort of build up to us becoming a mega-side as some of the media are making it out to be, but there is talent beyond this first team which should hopefully start to get in and around the side over the next 12 months. Sessengon, Cook, Maddison, Gray, Gomez, Holding etc. But we're still light years behind your Spains, Belgiums, French, Brazil's and probably even Germany. Lots of work to do and not really a huge difference to previous world cups really.

Jones is utterly horrific

No world beaters here, never really have been. The World Cup has been great fun but there’s no denying that the draw has really flattered us and the media are typically going a bit ott about it all.

Yeah, if we continue to play this way Sessegeon is a shoe in for that role for many years.

I wish we had a midfield. Any sort of competent central midfielder would do.

They look on a different level to us.

I think our friend Ziyech is off to Lyon...

Still no Les.... but i've got a good feeling about this lad. When we were linked with Gibson, Marlon and Vestergard this lad was always my choice. Seems to cover the most obvious holes we had at the back in terms of height and physical presence. Only slight concern will be his lack of pace, but maybe we plan to use Ryan as a third CB to cover for that. But overall we mean business this summer. We've gone about filling some obvious gaps and adding some genuine first team quality, not just squad players. We still need a proper centre forward though...

By falling over and landing awkwardly after a drunken night out...... that's what I've read...

How they've treated him is a ****ing disgrace. Total shambles of a club this summer.

We kept switching off before that as well, not sure what happend. We just lost our heads a little bit, half asleep to their corners, throw ins. Not reacting quick enough. Mental fatigue maybe. Croatia just have that little bit more nous of the 'Top level games' to see that over the line.

Why don't you just get behind the team?

tbf at least he speaks sense. Wright is unsurprisingly deathly silent. At least the Spurs lad's are used to failing at the final hurdle.

The only comments I've ever seen from Manc's is calling him out as a poor player. They don't really rate him at Old Trafford. He seems to lack a football brain to me.

Nah, there was more to it than just young. If we had Modric and Rakatic in midfield we'd have won!

Oh well, still a great world cup which will live long in my memory. No doubts that the spread of the draw has flattered our progress somewhat. The two best teams we've faced in Belgium and Croatia have beaten us. We were lucky to face the likes of Panama, Tunisia, Columbia and Sweden. These ‘better’ sides are just a little too shrewd for us, little bit more experienced and contain that little bit of extra quality in midfield which was always going to make the difference against us. Still, you can only beat what's in front of you. To be in the World Cup to pretty much the end is still something to remember.

Need Kane to step up here, he has been invisible all game. Can’t hold it up top at all.

I think Henderson has been struggling with injury though this week. Sure I read he was a doubt.

I think the ref has been pretty poor tbh.

Like for like I guess. Henderson for loftus would just open the game up for them. Loftus cheek will be the sub for Ali.

I’ve obviously got a line to gareth.

Our midfield was going to come unstuck at some point, best midfield two we’ve faced in that 2nd half and we cannot get near. So much time and space for modric and rakatic. And that’s why we’ve lost control. Tempted to sub Ali and add some legs centrally in Loftus-Cheek. Can’t see us withstanding another 30 of that. Left side is struggling bad. Young for rose for me