O aye, the mighty Andorra Played 3, lost 3, goals scored 0, goals against 5. Wendies would have scored 2.
And after about 75 mins, I really thought they were going to score, when they created a clear shooting chance. The 0-1 win for us felt like a defeat almost, so what if it had only been a 1-1 draw ?.
I actually thought Andorra defended really well, particularly out wide not allowing crosses in. But my word, we were *****. So boring and dull. Dont understand his selections at all. Playing one of the best right backs in the world at left back, playing Jordan Henderson... not bringing on Gibbs white sooner. Mental
I expected Tucel to clear out the old guard and focus on a new squad. He seems to have resurrected the older squad. There is no way Henderson should be in a squad with the options we have in midfield right now. For me we have too many players who are trying too hard, overplaying it individually and not working enough as a unit. However they are the right players to pick and i believe it just their youth thats an issue. They need to mature, but for England it needs to be quick. These are great players like Bellingham, Palmer, Madueke, Morgan, but we have seen many times just putting the best players out doesnt make a team. Rice is perhaps one of our most important players but seems to turn into Henderson mkII in an England shirt. Tucels comments yesterday were spot on but the question is what will he do about it.
It's bizarre how some of the best coaches in the world suddenly lose all sight of logic and rational decision making as soon as they're in charge of England. He may have been overly cautious for some people's liking, but at least Southgate generally played people in their correct positions. Yesterday was a proper mess, and if it's the shape of things to come, quite a worrying mess.
I didn’t watch the game but I saw the line up & it’s the same old issues. Why are we playing so many players out of position? Jones not a right back, James not a left back, Madueke always plays on the right for Chelsea. Is it any wonder there’s no cohesion?
It was another example of the Pep effect on modern football for me. Nobody prepared or capable of trying to beat a man. Nobody willing to put a cors into the box. Lots of cutting inside, slow passing and trying to play the ball through. I only watched the 2nd half in fairness but it was so boring.
That backwards sideways football is ment to draw the opposition out they weren't going to do that even if it was 3-0. The problem is they are that coached to do it they haven't a clue how to do anything else. At a much lower level for me that's been one of the big problems with us at home the last few seasons teams sit in that low block wait for us to have a brain fart moment at the back. The individual skill has been coached out of them it's all about the process and the games worse off for it.
Guardiola Football (n.) A form of highly advanced, almost spiritual football wherein eleven identikit midfielders pass the ball sideways with hypnotic precision until time, space, and the will to live gently evaporate. Named after Pep Guardiola, a man who once looked at Johan Cruyff’s free-flowing philosophy of beautiful football and said, “Yes, but what if we removed all the fun?” Guardiola's system is built on “positional play”, which is football code for ensuring no one ever goes anywhere they haven’t been algorithmically assigned to be. It is said that in training, players are shown maps of quantum probability zones where they might be allowed to express themselves, but only if they fill in the appropriate form and consult the team’s passing co-ordinator first.
I allus want England to do well. But given the players we've had at our disposal for umpteen years and the dross turned out. I just can't stomach watching em, it invariably, is painful to watch. Take the world Cup qualifiers. Folk on here say the world Cup is devalued cos of 48 teams. Involved. The three teams we have beat but not as comfortable as expected. 66th (2-0 Albania) 138th (4-0 latvia) and 168th (1-0 Andorra) in the world in the rankings. You may say watching Barnsley has been a chore over recent times, at home especially. But the love for my club. Far outstrips the love for my country in football terms. As for the Premier League no attachment no interest. So don't watch it.