World Cup 2026

[benjii]

Just now, SNSUN said:

Beyond pace and the odd trick I still don't fully get what Madueke offers either.

Agree, but I think Saka will start once he's fully fit.

[SNSUN]

Zero shots on target. Ghana defended us out the half. Have to do better.

[StrangelyBrown]

England are looking utterly bobbins tonight.

I haven't been this bored since Russell Martin left saints.

Madueke really isn't very good. Gordon not much better. And Bellingham needs to get over himself and start playing for the team rather than himself.

[Saint_clark]

3 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Beyond pace and the odd trick I still don't fully get what Madueke offers either.

Keeping the defence occupied and wearing them down until the better player comes on. Same with Gordon over Rashford on the other side. 

[Sheaf Saint]

FFS would someone please tell Rooney it's DIS-organise, not UN-organise. He keeps saying it to make himself sound clever 🙄

[benjii]

I'd be tempted to try something like this:

                      Pick ford's

----Stones--Konza---Guehi-------

James--Rice--Anderson--O'Reilly

--‐-----------Bellingham---------

--------Kane---------Rashford----

[Katalinic]

Strolling around like a pre-season friendly. No tempo, ponderous, crab-like football.

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, benjii said:

Just saw a graphic of our France 98 squad. A few of this starting XI wouldn't even make that squad.

Yet they came second in a poor group and got knocked out in the first round 

on paper the same could be said for the squads 2002-2008 as well

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Forgot Thomas Tuchel. This team looks like it's been managed by Thomas Too-slow*.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Best football joke since my Kylian MMMBopé joke earlier in the thread. 

 

[adrian lord]

Someone needs to run at players and dribble, it will draw fouls and maybe a penalty even if it doesn’t work in terms of creating open play chances.
 

Edited yesterday at 20:58 by adrian lord

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, benjii said:

I'd be tempted to try something like this:

                      Pick ford's

----Stones--Konza---Guehi-------

James--Rice--Anderson--O'Reilly

--‐-----------Bellingham---------

--------Kane---------Rashford----

Christ no, defence is our worst area and you want to get more of them on the pitch? Should be the other way round. Our biggest strength is our forwards and attacking midfielders. 

[benjii]

Just now, Turkish said:

Yet they came second in a poor group and got knocked out in the first round 

on paper the same could be said for the squads 2002-2008 as well

Very frustrating. We should have been winning things or making finals then in that era, but never had the right managers or tactics with the possible exception of Hoddle who was unlucky with the loss to the Argies.

[Challenger]

Reet shite, play like this against anything half decent in the knockouts, and "it's " coming home.

[benjii]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

Christ no, defence is our worst area and you want to get more of them on the pitch? Should be the other way round. Our biggest strength is our forwards and attacking midfielders. 

We'd win 2-0 if we did this. Fact.

[whelk]

Why the fuck are they not referring to it as the Powerade Hydration break?

[whelk]

Love how we think they are going to run out of energy

[SNSUN]

Right, I can't watch the second half until I get home from work, as I have Sky+ it. I get home around 22:40hrs - so if you could all kindly refrain from posting ANYTHING relating to the England match on this thread, it will be much appreciated. 

Thanks. 😎 😁

[Saint_clark]

3 minutes ago, benjii said:

Very frustrating. We should have been winning things or making finals then in that era, but never had the right managers or tactics with the possible exception of Hoddle who was unlucky with the loss to the Argies.

I think the managers of club sides have to take a lot of blame for the lack of success in that era. They dripped poison in the ears of their players when they went away with England.

[Sheaf Saint]

1 minute ago, SNSUN said:

Right, I can't watch the second half until I get home from work, as I have Sky+ it. I get home around 22:40hrs - so if you could all kindly refrain from posting ANYTHING relating to the England match on this thread, it will be much appreciated. 

Thanks. 😎 😁

Oh WHAT A GOAL! Straight from kick off! 

WOW! 

[John Boy Saint]

Barcelona like like they have told Claire Baldings brother - “right we’ve paid £80m for you - go and have a good World Cup - but don’t get injured”

[benjii]

5 minutes ago, whelk said:

Why the fuck are they not referring to it as the Powerade Hydration break?

Don't get stuck in a corner. Call Posh Windows and Conservatories.

[SWLondon Saint]

The entitlement of some people on here is just mental. Ghana have some decent players and they have been so, so defensive. I'd say they've had less attacking intent than we did in the cup against Man City, at least we broke forward with numbers a few times. This lot have barely bothered going forward at all, you can't expect to score easily when every time it goes near their box they've got everyone back there except the striker and he's halfway between their box and the centre circle.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Ghana set up exactly as expected.

England struggle to break down such a side. Exactly as expected.

Yet, England vulnerable on a quick counter, and they are aware of it.

Having a forward dropping deep means there's no direct ball. There's no space for a deep player to get it out wide, at the pace England do it. Madueke a bit cumbersome, without spa e to run I to.

Bellingham not connecting with anyone to shift that defence. Rice has been a little better there, but has to come in from deep to do it, allowing Ghana to reset.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

6 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Right, I can't watch the second half until I get home from work, as I have Sky+ it. I get home around 22:40hrs - so if you could all kindly refrain from posting ANYTHING relating to the England match on this thread, it will be much appreciated. 

Thanks. 😎 😁

Good thought. Much easier than you not looking at the thread. 🙂

[whelk]

1 minute ago, SWLondon Saint said:

The entitlement of some people on here is just mental. Ghana have some decent players and they have been so, so defensive. I'd say they've had less attacking intent than we did in the cup against Man City, at least we broke forward with numbers a few times. This lot have barely bothered going forward at all, you can't expect to score easily when every time it goes near their box they've got everyone back there except the striker and he's halfway between their box and the centre circle.

We are England mate. Home of football

[whelk]

Gordon you fucking ponce

[whelk]

Got to hook Madueke and Gordon soon

[adrian lord]

Shaping up to be one of those days

[Willo of Whiteley]

Would love to know how Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke cost the fees they did for their respective clubs.

They really are terrible.

I’d rather Jordan Henderson and John Stones laying as wingers at this rate.

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, whelk said:

Got to hook Madueke and Gordon soon

Both been shite

 

[benjii]

Dan Burn on to bring some class down the flanks?

[adrian lord]

This is even worse than the first half. You can’t imagine France or Spain or Argentina serving up such unimaginative dross faced with a team like Ghana.

[benjii]

They are softening us up for Sulemana.

[Sheaf Saint]

2 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Would love to know how Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke cost the fees they did for their respective clubs.

They really are terrible.

I’d rather Jordan Henderson and John Stones laying as wingers at this rate.

They've both been about as effective as wingers as BBD ever was for us.

[egg]

3 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Both been shite

 

Madueke, yep, but Gordon hasn't been helped by shit service and support by Spence who's been shocking. I'd hook Madueke and Spence. 

[benjii]

Just now, egg said:

Madueke, yep, but Gordon hasn't been helped by shit service and support by Spence who's been shocking. I'd hook Madueke and Spence. 

Gordon is useless.

[Window Cleaner]

7 minutes ago, whelk said:

Got to hook Madueke and Gordon soon

What Noni One Peg..he's be alright if he had a right foot

[whelk]

1 minute ago, egg said:

Madueke, yep, but Gordon hasn't been helped by shit service and support by Spence who's been shocking. I'd hook Madueke and Spence. 

Gordon has been worse

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, egg said:

Madueke, yep, but Gordon hasn't been helped by shit service and support by Spence who's been shocking. I'd hook Madueke and Spence. 

Spence been shite too 

 

Madueke I don’t think I’ve seen have a good game 

Edited yesterday at 21:26 by Turkish

[Sheaf Saint]

I could have sworn he just said Prince Andrew is about to come on for Ghana 😕

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Thomas (Tuchel)

(Anthony) Gordon

(Reece) James

Henry (Kane)

 

It's like a shit Thomas the Tank Engine reunion.

[BotleySaint]

Gordon is just too one dimensional at this level. Has one speed, no skill, no power in his shots. Just looks weak and can't go past a man. We have better options.

[Sheaf Saint]

2 minutes ago, Window Cleaner said:

What Noni One Peg..he's be alright if he had a right foot

Not much better with his left based on that shot.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Just realised the ref has his name on the back of his shirt. Wonder if we'll be able to buy them in the Megastore for next season. Always wanted a Stuart Atwell replica.

[whelk]

1 minute ago, BotleySaint said:

Gordon is just too one dimensional at this level. Has one speed, no skill, no power in his shots. Just looks weak and can't go past a man. We have better options.

Rashford can be frustrating but infinitely better than Gordon

[Sheaf Saint]

There we go. Gordon and Spence both off for Saka and O'Reilly.

[Turkish]

Just now, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

Just realised the ref has his name on the back of his shirt. Wonder if we'll be able to buy them in the Megastore for next season. Always wanted a Stuart Atwell replica.

Roger Milford retro version?

[benjii]

Here we go with an injury stop. Then we'll have 2 minutes of play. Then the hydration station.

[benjii]

3 minutes ago, BotleySaint said:

Gordon is just too one dimensional at this level. Has one speed, no skill, no power in his shots. Just looks weak and can't go past a man. We have better options.

Indeed. If I was a Barcelona fan, I'd be flummoxed.

[Sheaf Saint]

4 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I could have sworn he just said Prince Andrew is about to come on for Ghana 😕

Oh. Prince Adu.