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England's midfield



Machiavelli

Well-known member
Oct 11, 2013
16,544
Fiveways
Having started a thread praising France's midfield, England's deserve praise too.
First, a quick caveat, they didn't look quite as good today, with Rooney unnecessarily giving the free kick away that led to their goal, Dier making misplaced passes and ill-judged floating crosses, and Alli not at his most effective.
But they look really promising. Dier in a short space of time looks as good a defensive midfielder in European football, he knows and likes that role (especially with attacking full-backs), is extremely intelligent positionally, is physically strong, has a good engine, and is rapid over short distances. Rooney looks revived as the creative force, his passing and vision really coming to the fore. And Alli's movement, pace and physicality will cause many a team problems. Most of all, they look more than the sum of their parts, with impressive balance, complementing each other well.
 




hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
61,088
Chandlers Ford
Dier is excellent in a tight game. Should have come off early in the second half today, once Wales had given up and parked the bus. He had literally NOTHING to do defensively, and what he tried to do offensively would have been much more effectively done by Wilshere.
 


Bakero

Languidly clinical
Oct 9, 2010
13,679
Almería
Dier is excellent in a tight game. Should have come off early in the second half today, once Wales had given up and parked the bus. He had literally NOTHING to do defensively, and what he tried to do offensively would have been much more effectively done by Wilshere.

True enough but the subs Roy made proved effective.
 








Kinky Gerbil

Im The Scatman
NSC Patreon
Jul 16, 2003
57,845
hassocks
Dier is excellent in a tight game. Should have come off early in the second half today, once Wales had given up and parked the bus. He had literally NOTHING to do defensively, and what he tried to do offensively would have been much more effectively done by Wilshere.

Dier had Bale in his pocket.

He needs to improve his long passing though!
 


martin tyler

Well-known member
Jan 25, 2013
5,826
Dier is excellent in a tight game. Should have come off early in the second half today, once Wales had given up and parked the bus. He had literally NOTHING to do defensively, and what he tried to do offensively would have been much more effectively done by Wilshere.

Agree with this he is an outstanding DM but does not offer a lot if teams park the bus. Will be invaluable later in the tournament against more attacking teams.
Overall the midfield seems to have a decent balance. Vardy should start upfront as his mobility is essential
 




lawros left foot

Glory hunting since 1969
Jun 11, 2011
13,673
Worthing
Mr Caution suddenly becomes Keegan.

Desperate and very lucky to get away with it.

You're joking aren't you?
We have battered two teams for nearly ninety minutes, we've deservedly beaten Wales, and unluckily drew with Russia, without hitting our top form in front of goal.
I'll criticise England when they deserve it, but they have been pretty decent so far.
Started a bit like the French team
 




One Love

Well-known member
Aug 22, 2011
4,346
Brighton
You're joking aren't you?
We have battered two teams for nearly ninety minutes, we've deservedly beaten Wales, and unluckily drew with Russia, without hitting our top form in front of goal.
I'll criticise England when they deserve it, but they have been pretty decent so far.
Started a bit like the French team

I think they've played two pretty poor sides so far and haven't created many good chances.

Do this against a decent side and we'll be out. It could be so much better if Roy played in-form players in the right formation.
 




larus

Well-known member
I think they've played two pretty poor sides so far and haven't created many good chances.

Do this against a decent side and we'll be out. It could be so much better if Roy played in-form players in the right formation.

Both teams were happy to sit back IMO. Wales especially. They really defended so deep and rarely offered going forward, so it's hard to create chances when it's like that - too congested in that third of the field.
 


Kinky Gerbil

Im The Scatman
NSC Patreon
Jul 16, 2003
57,845
hassocks
I think they've played two pretty poor sides so far and haven't created many good chances.

Do this against a decent side and we'll be out. It could be so much better if Roy played in-form players in the right formation.

What sides have played better than us so far?

France? Germany? Belgium? Portugal? Croatia?

I would say not.

Italy maybe -
 


DavidinSouthampton

Well-known member
NSC Patreon
Jan 3, 2012
16,536
I think they've played two pretty poor sides so far and haven't created many good chances.

Do this against a decent side and we'll be out. It could be so much better if Roy played in-form players in the right formation.

Gareth Bale didn't think Wales are a poor side......... and i think he did more to motivate the England team than Roy and his coaching staff probably did, because they didn't need to quite possibly.
 






lawros left foot

Glory hunting since 1969
Jun 11, 2011
13,673
Worthing
I think they've played two pretty poor sides so far and haven't created many good chances.

Do this against a decent side and we'll be out. It could be so much better if Roy played in-form players in the right formation.

I'm not disputing the fact he has to start Vardy and Sturridge, but Kane in particular has been excellent for England up until the start of this tournament, so he had to start with him really. I personally prefer Sturridge, if fit, to Kane and Hardy, a more natural goal poacher.Sterling, on the other hand----
As for Wales and Russia being poor, Wales won their qualifying group, Russia were pants tho, I'll give you that. We can only beat what's in front of us.
 








lawros left foot

Glory hunting since 1969
Jun 11, 2011
13,673
Worthing
I think they've played two pretty poor sides so far and haven't created many good chances.

Do this against a decent side and we'll be out. It could be so much better if Roy played in-form players in the right formation.

,England - 16 goal attempts against Russia, 53% possession
England - 21 goal attempts against Wales, 64% possession

Pretty good stats in an international tournament
 
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