England - the future....

[Ian Royal]

Stirling was doing my nut tonight. Wasteful. Five minutes before their goal he runs at Kane, forcing him wide, when that's where Stirling should be going. Then he delivers a poor pass out to Kane, who can't get on it and loses out. You want Stirling going wide and crossing to Kane in the centre, not Stirling pushing Kane out wide to cross into Stirling.

He then plays a pass in our half straight at a Spaniard's shins when Bertrand's burst forward. Chases back and the second Spain recycle the ball backwards a bit, he switches off and loses his man so it can come back into him and he can score a wonder goal.

ITV saying second definitely not offside, but it looked a mile to me and for some reason no one is interested in actually pissing showing it.

EDIT: Oh. Walker playing everyone on by miles by ambling around on the near side doing nothing. Possibly after being the one who sold Hart a terrible ball to clear.

If you are going to criticize at least have the courtesy to spell the person's name correctly: Sterling

Why, it's not like half our fans can spell McCleary's name. You got the message.

[Hoop Blah]

Well Friday's game was a bit of a disappointment and obviously overshadowed by events in Paris. I don't think it was as bad as has been made out in some of the press though. We had a weakened side out against what is just about Spain's first choice side and we created the better chances in the first half, despite some poor passing and Spain's predictable domination of possession.

We really do need to get some players fit so we're not having to call up the likes of Lingard and Ali (not sure why he chose to take a look at Lingard over Zaha though).

Tonight's game is a bit of a hiding to nothing but, occasion aside, it's another chance for Hodgson to try things out. I'm assuming his back four tonight is his first choice and we'll get to see Rooney and Kane together to see how that can work out. It'll also be a chance for Shelvy to prove he's a viable option behind the likes of Henderson, Whilshire and Delph.

[Sanguine]

Or indeed Nathan Redmond, but then Lingard plays for the fashionable team.

[Hoop Blah]

Yep, Redmond too.

They've both been heavily involved with the u21s over the last few years so I'd guess they've taken how they've performed and fitted in for them into account. I'd have Redmond above Lingard based on that though.

The u21s were awful last night as it happens. They ran out 3-1 winners after scoring 3 goals in the last 10 minutes thanks to Duncan Watmore coming off the bench and injecting some energy and intent into an otherwise insipid and pedestrian performance.

[Vision]

Redmond is injured isn't he? Didn't play for the Under 21's last night.

Lingard is in good form for his club and is highly regarded within the Under 21's set up for whom he was one of the few to emerge with any semblance of credit after the last tournament.

I'd say he's earned it as much as anyone tbh (including Zaha).

I'm more surprised at Ryan Mason, Eric Dier and to a lesser degree Dele Alli. It's as if there's some quota about young Spurs midfielders in the England squad that needs to be adhered to.

[Hoop Blah]

No idea if Redmond is injured, it might explain the choice, at least in part. I thought he'd become to old for the u21s current campaign but that was just an assumption as I can't remember if he's played any of this seasons games or not.

Agree on the likes of Dier and Ali too. It shows the depth of the injury list and the lack of players stepping up from talented youngsters in the u21s to established Premier League regulars knocking on the door of the England team.

[Nameless]

Have to agree that Alli's inclusion looks bizarre. He'll need to do something special to justify his inclusion....

[ZacNaloen]

very good

[Pepe the Horseman]

How did we play last night? Was pretty confident after seeing the starting 11. Watched Entourage instead though.

[Ouroboros]

We were pretty good. Really comprehensively took advantage of their grief and shock. Makes you wonder what we could do at the Euros if there are similar circumstances.

[winchester_royal]

Big fan of Dele Alli so hopefully he'll get some game time. Only 19, but he's probably been the best British midfielder in the league this season.

Really didn't get the bitching about his selection (no offence Hoop). He's been probably been the class English player of the season and deserved his call up regardless of age.

[No Fixed Abode]

I was embarrassed by the commentary last night.

Yes Dele Alli scored a good goal and played reasonably well. But when are we going to get out of this culture of bigging players up so soon? You would have thought by the reaction Alli had reached the consistent performance levels of Messrs Ronaldo and Messi.

Even when Jack Butland came on in the 2nd half. The commentators were holding him in high esteem. Up there with Shilton and co. When they've got some more games under their belt and performed consistently well. Then we can rightly big them up.

[Sutekh]

I was embarrassed by the commentary last night.

Yes Dele Alli scored a good goal and played reasonably well. But when are we going to get out of this culture of bigging players up so soon? You would have thought by the reaction Alli had reached the consistent performance levels of Messrs Ronaldo and Messi.

Even when Jack Butland came on in the 2nd half. The commentators were holding him in high esteem. Up there with Shilton and co. When they've got some more games under their belt and performed consistently well. Then we can rightly big them up.

It's the British media though isn't it, build up big and quick so you can destroy them when they fail to perform in the next game.

Dele Alli ? He's the next saviour of English football a la Andros Townsend etc.

[sandman]

at getting "embarrassed" by Football.

[Hoop Blah]

Big fan of Dele Alli so hopefully he'll get some game time. Only 19, but he's probably been the best British midfielder in the league this season.

Really didn't get the bitching about his selection (no offence Hoop). He's been probably been the class English player of the season and deserved his call up regardless of age.

I wasn't bitching about his selection as such, just the fact that we were so light on options that we've ended up fast-tracking a lot of young players (at least Alli was one Hodgson looked at before and so wasn't just a fluke of circumstance). My point was more that there aren't a lot of early to mid-20's English midfielders banging on the door and so the likes of Cleverly, Rodwell, Sinclair and their peers haven't kicked on.

Obviously the likes of Henderson, Wilshire and Delph have and were just unavailable, but as much as I think our system can produce good enough players we're not seeing a lot of them make the next step (an old argument).

[Hoop Blah]

I was embarrassed by the commentary last night.

Yes Dele Alli scored a good goal and played reasonably well. But when are we going to get out of this culture of bigging players up so soon? You would have thought by the reaction Alli had reached the consistent performance levels of Messrs Ronaldo and Messi.

Even when Jack Butland came on in the 2nd half. The commentators were holding him in high esteem. Up there with Shilton and co. When they've got some more games under their belt and performed consistently well. Then we can rightly big them up.

It's the British media though isn't it, build up big and quick so you can destroy them when they fail to perform in the next game.

Dele Alli ? He's the next saviour of English football a la Andros Townsend etc.

It is the media, and society gets dragged into it, especially through the immediacy of social media and blogging. It's a big part of why the England team under performs, at least against expectations, because of the pressure and focus on them.

[genome]

:lol: at getting "embarrassed" by Football.

I dunno m9, I'd be pretty embarrassed by Chelsea if I were a fan.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Big fan of Dele Alli so hopefully he'll get some game time. Only 19, but he's probably been the best British midfielder in the league this season.

Really didn't get the bitching about his selection (no offence Hoop). He's been probably been the class English player of the season and deserved his call up regardless of age.

Fist bump. He's my fav x

[Winston Smith]

Commentators are selling you a product. It's their job to make it sound more interesting and exciting than it really is.

'I can't believe Nike told me these trainers were the greatest. they are just like any other trainer I have worn really, I can't believe they talked them up so much'

[No Fixed Abode]

:lol: at getting "embarrassed" by Football.

I dunno m9, I'd be pretty embarrassed by Chelsea if I were a fan.

I'd be more embarrassed coming on here straight after the final whistle of every Chelsea defeat tbf tbh.