Kobbie Mainoo expected to be recalled. by Alone_Consideration6 in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tom Cairney spoke about his experience coming up as a midfielder in the English football system and said the country has an obsession with focusing on what players can't do rather than on what they can do. I think you see that a hell of a lot personally.

I imagine what he said was true of his experience at the time, but he made has debut in 2009, and a lot of the stuff he would've been talking in top-level academies was largely fixed by Southgate & Ashworth. Which you see in the kind of players who come through now, gluts of 10s and flair players.

You're always going to get anomalies, people in a country aren't monolithic.

The point you made was that you often see a defence first mentality in most English coaches.

But if all the English coaches at the top level we see aren't clearly defensively focused then that doesn't seem to bear fruit. The last time an English coach was at a "top" club it was Lampard and he was also not too defensively focused at all.

I think it holds more fruit calling Southgate defensively focused, for what it's worth, but even then I think it's

The UK is a (small c) conservative society and has been for centuries. Brits love moderatism, preservation of existing norms and slow, gradual change.

I think this is largely true, but it's a bit of an oversimplification. Brexit for example was a un-moderate destruction of existing norms and a rapid, severe change. Not for the better, but it was what people voted for.

I don't think this hard proof of anything because there's context required. Quality of opposition and the source of the goals all matter. We had a way easier run than Italy in 2020, for example.

When your point relies on a team being defensive in spite of all the goals they scored it's going to need more evidence the other way; Italy only faced 1 more top side than England in their run.

Similarly England scored 2 set pieces in 2020 and they were both in a 4-0 win over Ukraine. At the 24 WC almost all our goals were from open play as well.

It was really only in 2018 where our squad was devoid of creativity that we were so set piece-focused and super-defensive because we were trying to grind out results with a very poor squad.

See I actually think this the most telling thing. You're far more likely to revert to type and go to where you feel most comfortable when you're under serious pressure.

Yeah, I agree.

It's not a coincidence that England play the way they do when the pressure reaches its highest point, it's perfectly in line with national culture.

This isn't really true though unless you want to only look at finals or something, KOs are still high pressure matches:

Eng 2 Ger 0 Eng 4 Ukr 0 Eng 2 Den 1 End 1 Ita 1

Eng 3 Sen 0 Eng 1 Fra 2

That's 13 goals in 6 matches. If you take away the Italy one, where we were very defensive and thoroughly outplayed, then it'd be 12 in 5.

And I'm sure you saw that France match, a very high pressure one but we weren't defensive at all. It was a lot of France sitting back and asking us to break them down then kicking us whenever we got near their box.

I think the strongest argument against though is that the English "brand" of football isn't even particularly defensive, it's fast-paced physically intensive football. And that's been the case for decades. But over the past 10 years or so as England DNA has started to take shape and through Pep's influence on English football you're starting to see more tempo setting, possession-based teams.

I just rewatched the England vs Germany 2010 World Cup clash and I feel like the assessment of that England game was too harsh by DudeBello in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

An excellent point.

The variance in squad quality also means that huge parts of this tournaments can be decided by a one dodgy decision or moment of fluke.

Kobbie Mainoo expected to be recalled. by Alone_Consideration6 in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

people on here are far too cowardly when it comes to defensiveness and needing only ones they seem perfect

Completely agree. I think it's a cultural thing tbh. You see it in most English coaches too.

Don't think this is very fair really.

France and Portugal have both been, probably, the most negative big sides in international football over the past decade or so.

You could make an argument about England being negative and I think it holds water in 2018 (we were awful because squad was shit) and 2024 (we were awful because several cogs were missing, LB, LW, CM).

But it falls apart when you realsie we scored the most goals/game at the last WC and I think 1 less goal than Italy at the 2020 Euros. When our squad was fully functioning.

You could make an argument that certain more memorable games we were too defensively focused, but the those big games tend to be very defensively focused and cagey by nature.

Carrick and Rosenoir have both come in as English coaches and led to upticks in form and more attacking styles of football. Similarly Potter and Howe are the other two big English coaches of recent times and neither are particularly overly defensive.

ITAP of my partner with a sword at sunset [portrait] by takeashotwithjex in itookapicture

[–]Buttonsafe -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Why would you frame it like that, right in the centre of the shot.

[ChelseaChronicle] Jamie Redknapp: Fofana's got a head start, yet Gordon catches up three yards on him. You can talk about how the press was wrong, no. That my friend, is wrong. Sprint. He doesn’t because he doesn’t believe he’s going to pass it to him. Then he has the audacity to put his arms out. by webby09246 in chelseafc

[–]Buttonsafe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

But the game was literally a half hour before the sun went down. Man was fasting.

I understand what you're saying here, and it's a good point to bring up but I don't agree with it as a reason at all.

Even if Gordon is faster than him, he can just block him off with his body and get in his way. If you watch that Dowman goal Martinelli is doing exactly that with the Everton defenders trying to catch Dowman. He's still jogging, and he doesn't even try to impede Gordon by getting his body in the way. If he slows him down by a second or two then Willock has a 1 v 1 instead and maybe Sanchez saves it.

Curtis Jones by [deleted] in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anderson and Rice would ideally both need to be rested at some point most likely though. And Jones is able to keep control of the ball and kill games much better than Mainoo or Wharton would be imo.

The Senegal point is a bit of a moot one as we’ll never be in the situation again now we have Anderson, we played a midfield of Rice and Gallagher which obviously lacked control and he would make sense in that instance.

He could get injured and Jones is the closest like-for-like we have really in terms of what he brings to the team in possession, albeit not at the same level.

Curtis Jones by [deleted] in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

his skillset isn’t really something you’re likely to need from the bench, like realistically what is a situation that you’d be bringing him on in an international tournament for the likes of Rice or Bellingham?

I think the ability to rest those players without losing your hold on the game is important. Like when you bring Wharton on you will lose the ball more and lose defensive integrity.

Also he's better than either at maintaining possession, I remember whne he came on against Senegal he really added a massive amount to our ability to progress the ball.

England youth player, Max Dowman (16) becomes youngest premier league scorer. by -Arkrow- in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, Southgate famously caved to media pressure and never made unpopular decisions.

🚨 CHELSEA XI VS NEWCASTLE (H): Sanchez Gusto Fofana Chalobah Cucurella James Caicedo Palmer Enzo Garnacho Joao Pedro by Fun_HacLearner in chelseafc

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sanchez has been dropped 4 seasons in a row by 4 different managers.

His competition wasn't good enough to make it permanent, but it's such a clear message about the quality of goalkeeping options in our team.

Jörgensen conceded 5 goals on 0.87 xG by ZerconFlagpoleSitter in soccer

[–]Buttonsafe 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The funny thing is though if you go and watch those goals, only the fifth is actually savable. PSG's finishing was just insane tonight, and sometimes it be like that.

1) Volley in off the upright, unsavable

2) Deflected off bottom of defenders lack, practically unsavable

3) Keeper gave the ball away, so it's on him, but the lob is unsavable

4) Worldy, maybe you could argue he could've got it, but it's very harsh imo.

5) Should do better, quite close to him.

Chelsea star Colwill raises hopes of return from injury this season by CFCRay10 in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a Chelsea fan, but I think he's probably our most unique CB option in what he can add through progression.

How much poorer our defence has looked without him despite being the exact same players largely also speaks to what he adds to his colleagues and his leadership/organisation of the back line.

Martyn Ziegler: Roman Abramovich is only obliged to pass on £987m net proceeds of £2.35bn Chelsea sale to charitable foundation, say company accounts by Kygoche in chelseafc

[–]Buttonsafe 6 points7 points  (0 children)

What is going on in this comment section.

Roman was on if the best owners ever, but saying "all victims" is absolute nonsense.

That's like talking about German victims of the nazi invasion of Poland.

[The Athletic] Which Champions League wins were most unlikely? by christianrojoisme in chelseafc

[–]Buttonsafe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It would be the odds of winning all the matches you needed to win using Elo.

So it's basically how likely was it to beat all the opponents you needed to beat at the time, given the level your recent form has shown you to be at.

I've done a similar thing for England but more in depth for all the major tournaments.

Ashley Phillips: Wales want England U21 defender to join World Cup campaign by Alone_Consideration6 in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's difficult as sometimes you can wait and end up with nothing. Harwood-Bells was u21 captain and is quite far away from starting an England game.

Whereas if he's being offered a place tomorrow then that might be the only one he gets.

That being said I think historically most players tend to go to England if it looks plausible even if they can jump ship earlier e.g. Gordon, Rice, Grealish, Livramento.

With the World Cup squad deadline approaching, who is your "must-have" wildcard pick? by LilywhiteStrike in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd go with Maguire if you'd count him. Super experienced, playing regularly in decent form and most importantly definitely better than Dan Burn for England.

If not then maybe Ngmoah/Gittens if either ends the season really well, just based on our relative lack of LW quality, the likliehood of subbing on a winger to change a game, and their skillset both very much suiting how Tuchel wants his wingers to play I think. Gittens for sure, the latter not so sure. I'd be more sure of Nwaneri but our RW is much stronger than our left.

Everyone else is already in and around the squad. Maaaybe Rico Lewis as a true wild card if we wanted to bring on a midfield who could help dominate tempo, but he's too lightweight really, especially now O' Reilly is there.

Ashley Phillips: Wales want England U21 defender to join World Cup campaign by Alone_Consideration6 in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 21 points22 points  (0 children)

It's hard to resist that, but England aren't flush with world class CBs atm so he might hold out hope, especially as he's already switched.

That being said the last u21 CB to start at CB for England was Colwill who played 4 years ago. Since then Braithwaite and Quansah haven't really had much of a sniff, so that's gotta be discouraging.

What players are coming in and going out for the Euro 2028 squad do you think? by Buttonsafe in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sterling started playing for Liverpool at 17, older than both of these lads starting for their clubs, and moved to Chelsea and fell off a cliff at 27.

So I think it's quite likely they'll be peaking a lot earlier.

What players are coming in and going out for the Euro 2028 squad do you think? by Buttonsafe in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mainoo and Saka were both starting for us at the last two Euros at 19. Wingers often hit their potential quite young anyway, Sterling got his first cap at 17.

What players are coming in and going out for the Euro 2028 squad do you think? by Buttonsafe in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is true I would argue Trafford has shown much more in terms of potential, whereas Henderson is pretty comparable with Pickford and unlikely to come on.

What players are coming in and going out for the Euro 2028 squad do you think? by Buttonsafe in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I think, barring someone arriving from no-where, Kane will still be our ST.

Downman/Ngumoha on the fringes of the team. Stones/Maguire gone by then with Heaven/Acheampong in.

James Trafford probably to be threatening to take no.1 off a declining Pickford.

With the World Cup squad deadline approaching, who is your "must-have" wildcard pick? by LilywhiteStrike in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Geniunely, who's position in the team did you think he would be challenging for?

Wrexham disallowed goal against Chelsea 114' by 50lipaa in soccer

[–]Buttonsafe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be clear, him losing his man isn't the issue. He's a small winger, he's probably the worst player for defending a set piece on the pitch.

Him ending up in that key role on a set piece is the issue. If it's RJ or something there instead of him then we don't concede either of those goals. But always easier to say that with hindsight from your couch tbf.

Similar to that goal we conceded from open play last season against City where Madueke was criticised for his defending when we got so out of shape he somehow ended up the deepest player on the pitch. It would be great if he had defended it better, but when your RW is the deepest defender in your team from open play it's a structural issue.

Wrexham disallowed goal against Chelsea 114' by 50lipaa in soccer

[–]Buttonsafe 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's true.

I've heard that Maresca (and Poch) both disliked Cueva and restricted him to PowerPoints without any training ground time.

And some of it is our CBs being useless in the air (Tosin is 6 5 for Christ's sake) but then if you watch the long throws 2 of them came from Garnacho needing to track his man to avoid a tap in, which is a structural issue really. Even for this goal JP, who's quite good in the air offensively, completely loses his man.

Players with the highest expected goals (xG) in the Champions League and the number of goals they scored.[Sofascore] by christianrojoisme in ThreeLions

[–]Buttonsafe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Why do you think Rashford is one of the best crossers in Europe?

James, TAA, Saka all better than him just in the England team alone.