[Football] Jude Bellingham

[Mellotron]

Class act, that lad, both on and off the pitch. Happily one of many in this England squad who are decent role models.

Mr Southgate has, probably fairly, got his critics but one can't help but acknowledge his skills at creating an inclusive culture where seemingly all the players get on incredibly well. A marked counterpoint to life under Sven, Capello, Woy etc where things seemed much more tribal. If we do go through on Saturday (and that's a big IF), it will be as much to do with the desire to want to play for each other as the performance of individuals.

People massively underrate the job Southgate and his team do to build a great culture within the England camp. He's also a very good tournament manager.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

People massively underrate the job Southgate and his team do to build a great culture within the England camp. He's also a very good tournament manager.

There's a reason why the likes of Maguire, Shaw, Sterling and others look better for England than for their clubs, or the likes of Alli and Lingard in tournaments past. I think Southgate gives them so much confidence they believe they are amazing and the best, and put in performances to match. They might struggle back at club level but for England Southgate gets the best out of them

 

[GT49er]

A prime example of why a couple more of our youth prospects should go abroad to play. Learn a new language, experience a different culture of living and football. It has made him maturer than his years it seems.

Maybe see how well that works with Connolly first, perhaps?

 

[Badger Boy]

It's amazing that it's not all that long ago the England side got schooled 4-0 at home to Hungary. To go from that to the showing at this World Cup is almost a little bit unbelievable. Admittedly, Wales and Iran are both absolute rubbish and USA are reasonable and developing. Senegal are the African champions, admittedly without their star player having been fortunate to sneak through the group, so they were dangerous opponents. France are a World Class team and it will be quite the challenge but this World Cup has already been dramatically better than I could have expected - I thought it was going to be a Group Stage catastrophe!

 

[Randy McNob]

Good thing we can just take away his pace then. Wonder why nobody else thought of that.

Well, if you take the Poland game for example, they allowed Mbappe time and space down the flank and to cut inside, and he ripped them to shreds. If you double up on him, protect your defence well in midfield, force him out wide. I'm sure Southgate has a plan to try and contain him

 

[pb21]

It's amazing that it's not all that long ago the England side got schooled 4-0 at home to Hungary. To go from that to the showing at this World Cup is almost a little bit unbelievable. Admittedly, Wales and Iran are both absolute rubbish and USA are reasonable and developing. Senegal are the African champions, admittedly without their star player having been fortunate to sneak through the group, so they were dangerous opponents. France are a World Class team and it will be quite the challenge but this World Cup has already been dramatically better than I could have expected - I thought it was going to be a Group Stage catastrophe!

That was a friendly, different kettle of fish.

The last competitive England fixtures have seen us reach a WC semi-final, a European Final and currently a WC quarter-final.

I still think we got lucky in 2018 with the draw, but I don't think this current run should be unexpected.

 

[pure_white]

I don't get this JB stuff I actually thought Henderson was immense in the last match and overall Luke Shaw has been the only player capable of representing a World XI

 

[Sea Cider]

I'm not fully on board with the Mbappe love in. He has lightening pace and knows where the goal is which is devastating but take away his pace and he can be dealt with. He's no Zidane

Did you see his two goals yesterday? No pace involved, yet utterly unstoppable. I've literally never seen a player score 2 more brutal goals in the same match (usually once a season flukes)

 

[pure_white]

Mbappe needs taking out , one for the team

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

He spoke incredibly well in his post match interview. Remarkable maturity form a teenager who's just been knocked out in the quarter finals of the world cup.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

He spoke incredibly well in his post match interview. Remarkable maturity form a teenager who's just been knocked out in the quarter finals of the world cup.

Absolutely, and really measured, dignified, mature interviews from all three of them. Having never seen the latter two interviewed before it just shows you should never judge a book and all that. Three fantastic individuals.

 

[Randy McNob]

Did you see his two goals yesterday? No pace involved, yet utterly unstoppable. I've literally never seen a player score 2 more brutal goals in the same match (usually once a season flukes)

Did you see his zero goals yesterday? He was anonymous for large parts of the game, Walker had him in his pocket

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Did you see his zero goals yesterday? He was anonymous for large parts of the game, Walker had him in his pocket

but believe it or not, France have other players who can score goals, and a player like Griezmann who can provide assists.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He has scored yet another brilliant goal tonight, away in Napoli. He is just brilliant - incredible player whose development has been staggeringly quick.

 

[Farehamseagull]

Two goals in the Classico including a 92nd minute winner! Unbelievable, special. He’s on course to be England’s greatest.

Him and Kane are absolutely tearing it up in Spain and Germany.

 

[dazzer6666]

The first goal in particular

 

[Farehamseagull]

Unbelievable strike! Truly special player.

He’s making the biggest impact on world football since Messi. I took the piss out of Birmingham for retiring his shirt at the time but in hindsight, they should have renamed St Andrews after him. Unreal.

 

[herecomesaregular]

Rapidly becoming scarily good. Preferred the second goal, first the keeper fluffed the save somewhat.

 

[nwgull]

The first goal in particular

What was the keeper trying to do with the first?? Great strike, but he’d surely be disappointed with that.

Also, what stadium is this being played at. Barca at home, but that looks like an athletics stadium, but like us at Withdean.

 

[A1X]

Him and Kane are absolutely tearing it up in Spain and Germany.

Kane scored from inside his own half today and Jude has still overshadowed him