to me England looked like they are trying to keep their powder dry for the later stages.

USA are a half-decent side. It was a pretty even game but i’m sure England could have switched tactics and stepped the intensity right up if they’d went behind. I think Southgate’s philosophy, rightly or wrongly, is that you want to play your way into the tournament and make sure your best performances - and most exciting players, apparently - are saved for later.

That’s my take on it anyway. I could be totally wrong of course. Maybe that was England and Southgate giving their very maximum for the 3 points, but my gut instinct is that it wasn’t.

    C_J yeah, I’m inclined to agree but will reserve judgement until we crash out on penalties again and i can call them all useless cunts. Again.

      Mad_Cyril if by the phrase “coming home” you mean being pipped in the final on penalties by an inferior side resulting in a maelstrom of racial hatred - then yes, it’s coming home all right.

          C_J
          Woot woot 🎉

          Can’t beat a festive tear-up, swinging clumsy haymakers whilst wearing Santa hats at jaunty angles.

          Rule Britannia 👊

            C_J Maguire gets the most hate and he was our best player. Illogical.

              C_J totally disagree - remember after finding ourselves in the same scenario vs Scotland last year in the euros, they scraped through against Denmark in the semis… and should have beaten Italy in the final if it wasn’t for Southgate’s over-caution…same will happen here… don’t delude yourself - this is the man who always chooses a defensive choice over an attacking one and can’t make a positive in-game decision.. and who took middlesborough down.. there’s no evidence whatsoever that he has a clue when it comes to tactics

                  Lol.Pull your heads in fellas England have fucking no chance of winning the thing.

                    Jules72 an interesting argument. you seem to be presenting England’s run to the final of the Euros - where they should have won, in your own words - as evidence that england are tactically inept and are not trying to keep their best performances for the latter stages of the tournament?

                    hmmm. will need to think that one over and see if i can get my head around it.

                        If Jules is saying England being the best team at the most recent Euros is evidence of their tactical ineptitude, one can only conclude that - in his mind - tactical nous means … what ….. being pumped out of the competition at the group stages? not even qualifying, like Italy?

                        genuinely stumped by that. help me out someone.

                          strummer Lol.Pull your heads in fellas England have fucking no chance of winning the thing.

                          Jules is such a quintessential English humourist, I call him P.G. Chodehouse.

                            C_J I think he wants the players to do a few more lollipops and little eyebrows at the back stick.

                              C_J you’re arguing they’re saving themselves…. I’m arguing we have seen this before - that this is what England are, whether early in the competition or later… and that it is down to inept management… it’s not complicated

                                I’ll boil it down for everyone.

                                England lack the requisite quality in

                                Midfield
                                Deeeefence
                                Offence

                                To win any kind of football competition.

                                Tic Tac discussions are pointless.

                                Same as it ever was

                                  Mad_Cyril might be the case…. But they’re still underachieving due to incompetent management

                                    What England lack in defence, Smallman lacks in minerals.

                                    i.e. A LOT

                                    Mad_Cyril i’d rank the squads in terms of quality:

                                    1. france
                                    2. brazil
                                    3. spain
                                    4. england
                                    5. germany

                                    england definitely are not lacking in quality. what they need is to hit top form next month. i’m sure trent and phil will get their minutes. i’m no massive GS fan but i think they’re doing fine and are definitely in with a shout.

                                        C_J 4th is probably about right imo… just that smarter management would take them up a notch or two… the shame of it is that anyone can win this WC - waste of an opportunity

                                            i notice that transfermarkt have England comfortably above Brazil as the #1 ranked side by market value. not sure if that means anything.

                                            Jules72 if we were still able to very nearly win the Euros last time out, despite a lame draw in our second game vs Scotland, then there’s little reason to think we can’t manage the same again this time. While it’s still unlikely we’ll win it, and Southgate is too cautious a manager, I wouldn’t rule it out entirely. He at least seems to have stopped with 5 at the back so far this tournament, which is perhaps slight progress towards a more positive approach.
                                            Also, what ultimately cost us from winning the Euros was mostly a poor choice of penalty takers - the novice Saka should have never taken one. Also Sancho has always been a wimp. Not sure if that comes down to tactics or not.