Seem to recall that we were very excited about the performances two years ago. I remember the Netherlands game in particular being a very dominant attacking performance combined with a near-total absence of any defensive resistance.
Who would you say was showing the most confidence or certain swagger to their play yesterday because I’ve heard of Carvalho doing mad things with Fulham? Who had the most skill/most flair/who looked the most comfortable?
This team seems a more slighter team than others in the past. Still early days and from what I'm reading we were improved in the second half (missed most of that half).
1-0, Carvalho with a good finish after a simple move, Smales-Braithwaite slips Carvalho in behind and he cuts it into the far corner. Brazil started well but England saw it out and have been better since.
1-2, Alejando, another similar goal. Brazil's quick play through the middle, England can't react to a square pass in the box, easy finish.
They're both really full-backs, Dorsett might end up as a CB because he's massive, but he's clearly behind Simeu, Harwood-Bellis, Wood-Gordon and maybe Brooking at CBs in this group.
Was really impressed with that CB pairing the other night. With Bondswell & Moulden that is 4 of the back 5 sorted for this group. I knew Robinson was a RB but I thought it odd how Brooking started there and he probably looked the most uncomfortable player vs USA because like Royalsman said he had never played there before. Considering there was also Livramento and Robinson in the squad. I've always liked Carvalho when I've seen him. Playing well but having to drop deep too often. Where is Pendlebury ? Like others have said, tends to do that diagonal too often. The Hodge/Musah partnership picked up 2nd half the other night.
There are some good things but there's a problem in central midfield IMO. There was a spurs players I liked vs Scotland a few months ago, deep midfielder who dribbled a bit too much but is missed today. Carvalho looks special.
Yeah. That 2nd half wasn't too good. Play was too stop-start. Midfield wasn't as good as the other night & obviously defensive errors lead to 2 goals. Expect them to bounce back vs Netherlands. Pity no Hodge to partner Musah as I would go for the team from USA with Livramento in for Brooking and maybe Smales-Braithwate in for Greenwood.
We don't seem to have anyone who looks like they can finish. All that mindless punting high over the bar. I thought we had taken on coaches who specialised in "kicking? What one earth have the coaches been doing all these years?
Yeah Greenwood had some good chances the other night. He was working hard and making good runs and getting into good positions so want to see him again. He should have scored the one Mighten put him through for but I liked the angled run he made. Think there is a player in Benni Smales-Braithwaite. Has the power to lead the line but looks really confident the way he carries himself and can link play. But I don't think he was at his best today. The Wigan forward Joe Gelhardt was scoring goals in Italy. I think he is the poacher they missing.
I like Smales-Braithwaite, his link-up play was very good at times, he just didn't get into many finishing positions, but that's just circumstantial. Morgan Rogers has to come back in too, he's a good finisher and has a bit of Solanke about him, plus there's Rafa Garcia and Armstrong Okoflex in the fold too as options. Not that I'm writing anyone off from this group as it's got great depth in places, but I'm keenly interested to see which 02s emerge later on in the next two years and force their way in for the U17 Euros and World Cups. If you take the WC-winning group we just had, 90% of the winning group were there from this stage on, but whereas we had Poveda, Rosler, Medley and Samuels in at this point, they were later usurped by Hudson-Odoi, Denny/Gallagher, Latibeaudiere/Gibson and Brewster respectively (Hudson-Odoi was involved at U15 but then disappeared for a bit and came back in later), and it was to the benefit of the squad. Lewis Fiorini was involved at U15 level with this group, but injuries kept him out earlier this season, I think he'll eventually settle into the regular squad. There'll be some more to come too.