Skip to main content

Poor man's Mbappe

By

 Some cracking games the last few days. I'm not going to recap them this evening as I'm getting my game face on for England vs Wales, so thought I'd share my pre-match thoughts. This post therefore has a very short shelf-life and I'll likely look foolish pretty much right after I've hit the publish button.

Team selection: not too much to disagree with here. I'm rarely excited about seeing Henderson alongside Rice in our midfield, but I understand why its happened. I'm not massively excited about Stones and Macguire as a CB partnership, but given their form together in the two games so far, I understand why its happened. Swapping out the set-piece threat of Trippier for lockdown punter Walker doesn't massively excite me, but I understand why its happened. The whole selection is a microcosm of the Southgate pragmatism. Its all based in sound logic, but just isn't exciting. Just as with Grealish last tournament, he seems to have begrudgingly come around to public opinion by including Foden. It all feels the opposite of front foot. Yet despite my apparent despondency, its a good side that could very well do a job. Like I said in a previous post, I feel it would be despite Southgate rather than because of him.

To be fair, I'm not leaving him any room to change my mind really - and I'm at peace with that. I want a manager with presence and spirit, not a meek logician. But we are where we are. The game could actually be excellent. An hour ago I was massively confident, but as I write this watching the build up, I'm remembering the frailties of our as yet untested defence (2 weeks ago, the prospect of Harry Macguire was terrifying), I'm fearing the veteran midfield tussle that Hendo will have with Joe Allen, a battle of waning endurance. Will Pickford go on one of his mental rollercoasters? Yep nerves are setting in, but that if anything should make it a better watch.

On the positive side, Bellingham is good, Kane is class, and whilst Rashford is something of a budget Mbappe (in terms of pace and style), its better than watching the likes of Daniel Sturridge wearing the shirt. 

Right, I have children to bath and dispatch to bed before kick off. Enjoy the game. My prediction. 3-1 England and a resurgence of "its coming home" hype all day tomorrow.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arriving late at the far post...........

By
Well, out from behind a rock I come. Like Batman responding to the spotlight over Gotham, the sight of Alexi Lalas relaxing on ESPN's swanky new World Cup set spouting 'knowledge' of the beautiful game immediately triggered me into action. A personal excitement for me is the returning punditry on this side of the pond of one Roberto Martinez. 4 years ago, I listened to this polite young man with light enthusiasm....now I find myself hanging onto every word from Bobby Brown Shoes. A supremely classy guy, just hoping for the "and Neymar is close to signing, which is phenonemal (Bobby's most used word - quite impressive for a Spanish native) " Sooo, what have I missed so far (Brazil own goal aside).... - Roy Hodgson in old man sunglasses - An amazing lack of planning from team England organizing a friendly in Florida at 5pm in June and being surprised as a thunderstorm - Scapegoating of a key England player (Rooney) before a ball is kicked in anger - Overplay
2 comments
Read more

Never give up (unless you are Brazil)

By
I'm sat watching the world's most meaningless football match, the World Cup 3rd place playoff - two teams who just want to go home, forced instead to play out a dead rubber. Even the Community Shield had more meaning. This time around, however, we have the morbid excitement and voyeurism of watching Brazil's very public meltdown. They are an object lesson in falling apart once things start to go against them, like the Newcastle of international football. As things stand they are two goals down and there's no chance I'm switching off as they could easily fold and become a laughing stock, just as they could suddenly find form and claw things back. Tomorrow sees the final and a surprising amount of people rooting for Germany, probably because they look the best team by some margin. I'm gunning for Argentina (a) because I'd win £50 if they win (b) because I predicted on this blog that they'd win and (c) because I want to see Messi lift that trophy. He's
Post a Comment
Read more

Are you not entertained?!

By
Blimey, Definitely did not think that my next post would be after watching a masterful English walloping of Panama, while soaking in a joyous heatwave in the motherland, making the grim north feel like the south of France.... the “Hope-ometer” reading is now almost at Italia 90 levels. Sure, the opposition was a team just happy to be there - evidenced by the wonderful reactions to their goal - but quite the rarity to see an England team dispatch a minnow as professionally as they did. There are still cautious tones to be heard. Harry can’t finish off his hat-tricks by simply getting in the way every game, and channeling my inner Gareth, I refuse to get too carried away just yet. I am extremely intrigued on how loose Mr Southgate is going to get by the end of the tournament. Right now, he continues to persist with the waistcoat like a best man who has been told to hold it together as there’s still some official photos to be taken. I’m starting to visualize a July evening in Moscow w
1 comment
Read more