On another MB I read Kane being lauded for his work ethic in going into midfield to search the ball, actually held up as an example for Rhodes to follow, lol, but ignoring the fact that due to this our main striker had just one shot on target in all the knockout phase games and that a penalty v Colombia.

Watched Spurs quite a bit. Kane always a danger with his quick control/ quick shot routine. Spurs play to get the ball to Kane and they have Erickson and Ali, in a Spurs shirt, to create plus the likes of Song. In a proper passing football team like Spurs then Kane shines. England lack the passing creativity of say Spurs and have been forced to try to find him with far too many high punts, not his strength. In and also within 10 yards of the opposition penalty area is where you see his best work. I expect he finds it frustrsting playing the main striker role for England but his going back in search of the ball is a waste of time and gets the lightweights like Ali off the hook.

A striker who scores loads of goals for his Country is deemed extremely poor in the final third. I need to think about that one. Probably have to sit down, maybe lie down.

Nothings changed then. It's been like that for weeks. Maybe Dack wants proof of quality player incomings or indeed bids, for him.

Why am I going to have a nightmare about PNE when I finally fall asleep? I should never have logged back in here.

Long time ago but as I recall I did not think, at the time, that it was over the line but rather it bounced more or less on it and then the spin took it out. Replays were never clear for ages but since then I've seen those showing it over, doctored or not I don't know. Back then the fact that Hunt, who was closest to the incident, immediately celebrated a goal was taken as enough evidence ... lol I think maybe good fortune and that linesman favoured us that day. Mind you Hurst's hit and hope 3rd sealed it and looked a cracker.

Can't wait for Mrs Evans to get involved

I hope that you get to see an England WC win Stuart. I saw '66, and have never forgotten that day and I often think back to it. Youtube is great for such recall. It took years before improved technology could give a view on Hurst's 2nd goal, by which time the original film had obviously been 'got at'.....

I was being serious, trying to think through the deterrent value of a 6 hour ban v the work involved in dreaming such up and imposing it. Well that and wondering if Tony cracked his game of Solitaire. We need a player incoming pdq......

That is the most interesting post on this thread for many days.

I am. Looking quite interesting with Kholi gone

Actually we do, consistently, it's one of our most noticeable strengths. (I know what you meant, and agree. Just trying to find some humour) Why did Kane bother turning out? I suppose he hoped for a penalty or lucky deflection for his Golden Boot as he did sweet FA for 90 mins.

I did not think that we would. Pleased that we are, it's raining heavy here so hope my internet copes ok. It's a bit iffy now.

If you asked the Club v Country question on a ManUre mb the answer would be 'Who?', on a Liverpool mb 'we're not English' Personally I have always wanted both to succeed and am one who has and does follow 'the travails' of the English FA with interest and often horror.

Sticking with a back 3 which due to the high press by Croatia, all game but most obvious after half time, became a back 5 was naive. The high press forced Henderson even more into his preferred out pass to the back '3/5' and them to their preferred out pass back to Pickford who was also pressed resulting in his aimless kicking often with his weaker foot. Meanwhile the use of the lightweight Ali and Lingard in any creative role was nullified as was any useful progress upfield up our flanks. The England team did not bottle it, well maybe Kane did at a player level with his first half double F-up, but we were most certainly out thought and nothing at all was offered by Southgate to try to counteract the effective Croatian tactics.

So you were quite ok with losing the midfield, being pushed back into, at least, 5 at the back and playing hoofball to Kane who had to be knackered or injured and would have not tried any tactical/ formation change at all. Ok. Example: Young was poor throughout his time onfield. Indeed he progressively got worse during this game and had a new hole torn in the second half resulting in the cross for the Croatian equaliser. He could have been replaced from halftime. However that is just a like for like sub. Second half we were being over run in midfield but still trying going nowhere poorly executed tippy tappy triangles and flicks and also making virtually no progress down either flank. Basically coming up short against the first decent team we met and bar like for like subs trying nothing to change rhe direction of the match. Don't let desirable and applauded National pride negate good sense.

It will be a 2nd Eleven game. Probably a good thing for those players who take it serious and want to impress. They are wearing the shirt so must try 100%. I noticed that Lineneker and Neville were a bit dismissive of it. I will watch and hope we win

Agree with all your posts today and we should have changed formation to 4 at the back in the second half when it became clear that Croatia had taken midfield, were dominating down both flanks, Young was being mullered and Ali and Lingard had all but disappeared. Croatia may have won by just one goal but the dominated all over the pitch from half time. Kane had no worthwhile support and hardly a decent pass received. No point it just lumping it up even to Kane but happened because our midfield went awol. A few on here do not appreciate constructive criticism. With success at England youth level the future is bright ..... to be nobbled by the PLs top clubs apart from Spurs.

Most disappointed that the younger ones, and indeed not so young, don't get to see England take the field in a WC Final. I hope they do in their lifetimes. '66 is etched in the memory banks. My Dad, 2 brothers and me sat around a black and white tv. Dad giving us all a can of Tennants lager, the tall one with a bathing suit beauty on. I was only 14 so had to go for an early pee missing Haller's strike. Devastated with the German equaliser. Loving Rusians for ever from extra time. Hursts hat trick, he admits on the last one he was trying to lash it as far into the crowd as he could. Names never forgotten

Good post. The upcoming Nations League with competitive games v Spain and Croatia arrive at a good time. They give Southgate the chance to try changes say at left back and in midfield and not to start with 3 players who play as if 10's, when not invisible. Also Kane needs a proper partner, with Sterling it simply does not gel and has been over tried.

Well I manned up and watched a lot of youtube highlights. Kane really fluffed his lines on those 2 first half chances. From a defending point of view both Croatia goals were poor, the second one especially was a catalogue of errors. Trippier's freekick was class, I wonder if he hurt himself in the celebratory slide where he looks as if a knee gets stuck in the turf maybe pulling on his groin. The ITV post match summary was good, all spoke intelligently on football.

Excellent considered summary.

Off to bed. It's 4.45 am here. No sweet dreams tonight. I hate bloody football ... sometimes.

I stopped 2 years ago. Realism not alcoholism.

Good point re Trippier injury. That was a damm good England side, still think about that game.......