Euro 2016 Thread

[Hendo]

Yep, thought they played well.

[Royal Ginger]

First half hour was very poor, but generally got better afterwards. Cahill very good today. Hardly noticed Henderson was playing.

[Ian Royal]

Welbeck did well and looks far more convincing at scoring for England. Hopefully Arsenal can really develop him as his all round game is decent.

Lots of work to be done, particularly at breaking through stubborn, well drilled defences. And you have to think there's always goals available against us. I think we've got a better chance beating one of the top sides playing like this than we've had in a long time. Providing we can iron out the creases.

I'd be inclined to try switching Henderson and Wilshere and we need a right back we can be more confident in. Dropping Rooney for Lambert or Welbeck wouldn't be an atrocious idea either, but it'll unfortunately never happen.

[PieEater]

The game was set up for us, the Swiss were favourites and at home so we had a chance to hit them on the break and score two pretty decent goals. Sadly most teams in this group will see England as the bigger team and just back and play the same way.

Still we looked pretty good going forward and I think we can cause some decent teams a few problems.

[TBM]

Welbeck did well and looks far more convincing at scoring for England. Hopefully Arsenal can really develop him as his all round game is decent.

Lots of work to be done, particularly at breaking through stubborn, well drilled defences. And you have to think there's always goals available against us. I think we've got a better chance beating one of the top sides playing like this than we've had in a long time. Providing we can iron out the creases.

I'd be inclined to try switching Henderson and Wilshere and we need a right back we can be more confident in. Dropping Rooney for Lambert or Welbeck wouldn't be an atrocious idea either, but it'll unfortunately never happen.

Welbeck never got to play in a central role for Utd, was always put out wide due to his work rate. But he's strong and knows where the goal is - will do well now at Arsenal

[Mr.Swainey]

Imagine watching a game of football while having a beer and a cigarette if you want?

The Bundesliga. Every weekend.

Reading Town FC. Every weekend.

Bundesliga 2. Every weekend.

[TBM]

Hobnob FC every Sunday morning....

[Silver Fox]

I thought that was OK tonight, didn't realise Wilshere was aplying until he got subbed and glad Wellbeck managed to recover from th worst cross ever in the first half.

ITV were terrible but it's OK because thanks to Platini's "everyone qualifies" plan I now don't need to watch any more of the games

[Royal Ginger]

ITV were terrible but it's OK because thanks to Platini's "everyone qualifies" plan I now don't need to watch any more of the games

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/itv-pundits-given-hilarious-soaking-by-naughty-groundsmen-at-england-match-191733147.html

This made up for it somewhat.

[LUX]

Sky had Match Choice on the red button, which meant they had a comment8or at Loluxembourg v Belolarus.

Would love to know what percentage chose to watch that one.

1-1 BTW.

[Starfish]

Bundesliga 2. Every weekend.

Where are you watching the 2. Bundesliga Mr. Swainey? Hobnob-meat-up/fight? I have a ST with Greuther Fürth and go to see Nuremberg most other weekends.

[Big Foot]

Very much an orthodox away performance last night, it wasn't backs against the wall stuff, but more about playing to our strength - which is clearly in attacking at pace with the explosiveness of the likes of Welbeck and Sterling.

Stones had a decent, quiet game at Right Back - perfect.

[Vision]

Thought we did ok but to be fair we were marginally the better of two pretty bang ordinary sides.

Sterling is like the equivalent of a striker that needs umpteen chances to score 1 (IE Daniel Sturridge) in that he messes up so many great situations but you have to persevere with him as he continues to get in those situations and eventually gets it right.

I know it's early days but that position at the base of a diamond looks a little too out of Wilshire's comfort zone. He's a good enough passer for it but doesn't have the discipline required. I suppose thats a bit harsh and with effectively a whole run of "gimme" qualifiers he can learn to develop there but I fear the moment he comes up against quality opposition he will be exposed as he was a few times last night. As Delph proved last night, once he'd got over his initial rush of adrenaline, if you play players in positions that suit them there is English talent outside of the obvious clubs. If we're going to play that diamond formation as our plan A then I'd seriously be looking at bringing Tom Huddlestone back in to the fold. Every time I see him for Hull he's dictating play from that position. He's the only Englishman that springs to mind that's ideally suited to that role.

As an aside I caught the 2nd half of England U-19's qualifying draw away to Germany. Some very promising players in there and a game England could and perhaps should have won. Of course as we know the real issue isn't that we haven't been competitive at these youth levels but that it's almost a guarantee that a fair percentage of the German team will go on to play top flight football whereas with the English lads that's not necessarily the case.

[Royalclapper]

Yep, mostly agree with what's been said here.

Good showing from England overall, The Swiss were poorer than England were great IMO. It looked like they hadn't quite got over losing to the Argies (we can relate to that).

They also seemed less comfortable with their new coach than the steady and experienced influence of Hitzfeld which could be expected really, it was just the right time to play them from our point of view.

[TBM]

Stones had a decent, quiet game at Right Back - perfect.

He did ok but was far too defensive and cautious - i understand he's young and out of position but we look far better when the full backs join the attack (ala Baines)

[jd82]

Though Delph was decent once he had calmed down to a panic.

Wilshere (apart from one pass to Rooney) was shocking, constantly giving the ball away and getting caught in possession, meaning they were pretty much straight at the back 4.

[Big Foot]

Though Delph was decent once he had calmed down to a panic.

Wilshere (apart from one pass to Rooney) was shocking, constantly giving the ball away and getting caught in possession, meaning they were pretty much straight at the back 4.

Agreed massively on Wilshere

I just don't see what his best position is - he's not combative enough to play the anchor role and doesn't create/score enough in the final third to be a number 10

[TBM]

Though Delph was decent once he had calmed down to a panic.

Wilshere (apart from one pass to Rooney) was shocking, constantly giving the ball away and getting caught in possession, meaning they were pretty much straight at the back 4.

Agreed massively on Wilshere

I just don't see what his best position is - he's not combative enough to play the anchor role and doesn't create/score enough in the final third to be a number 10

He's best in a [central] midfield 3 - with one behind and one in front of him

[jd82]

Though Delph was decent once he had calmed down to a panic.

Wilshere (apart from one pass to Rooney) was shocking, constantly giving the ball away and getting caught in possession, meaning they were pretty much straight at the back 4.

Agreed massively on Wilshere

I just don't see what his best position is - he's not combative enough to play the anchor role and doesn't create/score enough in the final third to be a number 10

He's best in a [central] midfield 3 - with one behind and one in front of him

Yep, needs someone else to win the ball, and then someone better than him to do something with it.

I think he'd be a lot better if he accepted his limitations, but he seems to play as though he's the bastard love child of Gazza and Pirlo

[PieEater]

I thought the ref did OK as well given the constant harranging by the Swiss players at every single decision. I had to lol at Shaquiri (I think) getting right in the linos face to plea for a handball against Cahill.