Football

[Cowley]

Fair play to the Russians, no one gave them a chance of getting out of their group, let alone beating Spain and getting within breathing distance of the semis.

Absolutely. They (like us actually) have regained a bit of pride during this tournament.

 

[AlterEgo]

Every reference that I've seen refers to him as a winger or attacking midfielder, including on his own club's website.

A winger is a forward unless they are a wing back. You can find numerous references to Sterling being a forward all over the place.

 

[EM2]

A winger is a forward unless they are a wing back.

Since when?!
In a 4-4-2, wingers are midfielders, as they are in a 4-5-1. There are no wingers in a 4-3-3, hence why the 1966 England side were referred to as 'wingless wonders'.
Wingers generally haven't been classed as forwards since 4-2-4 was phased out, although I suppose you could argue that the outside forwards in a 3-4-3 are wingers, even though they're normally tucked well inside.

 

[AlterEgo]

Since when?!
In a 4-4-2, wingers are midfielders, as they are in a 4-5-1. There are no wingers in a 4-3-3, hence why the 1966 England side were referred to as 'wingless wonders'.
Wingers generally haven't been classed as forwards since 4-2-4 was phased out, although I suppose you could argue that the outside forwards in a 3-4-3 are wingers, even though they're normally tucked well inside.

Blimey, I’m astonished people can think wingers aren’t forwards. If you’re a plain old right midfielder or left midfielder then you’re not a forward, but a winger is absolutely definitely a forward when, like Sterling, they have no defensive duties to perform.

In any case, have a look at where Sterling was playing today and in all the games England have played so far.

 

[Antman]

Sterling is an amazing talent - he's just very good at hiding things. After all, he managed to hide that tattoo from those wa**ers at the Scum for nine months!

I have a dream (no that's not a pun following today's match) that Sterling will be dropped for the Final. With us 2-0 after 62 minutes against France, he will come on, run the French ragged, score a hat trick and we will win 3-2. And he will still get vilified and voted worst player on the pitch.

I don't know what you're on but I can't imagine it's legal!

 

[Antman]

Sterling didn’t have a good game today. He’s one of the most wasteful players I’ve ever seen at this level. Any crucial pass or chance and he totally bottles it.

In case anyone has missed it, Sterling is a forward. Score some goals Raheem.

Indeed, we won today despite having Sterling on the pitch, just how many chances does he get?

 

[EM2]

In any case, have a look at where Sterling was playing today and in all the games England have played so far.

He's played as an attacking midfielder.

 

[HOOVER29]

Sterling was rubbish & has been for the whole of the World Cup. Overpaid so called footballer.
Now Jordan Pickford is worth every penny & much more.
Forget Kane. Pickford is my man.

 

[AlterEgo]

He's played as an attacking midfielder.

No he hasn’t. Have you been watching the games? Have a look at how they’ve lined up. Have a look at Sterling’s player profile on the England site.

You reckon Vardy, who played in the Belgium game in the same position, is an attacking midfielder?

 

[EM2]

No he hasn’t. Have you been watching the games?

Yes.

Have a look at how they’ve lined up. Have a look at Sterling’s player profile on the England site.

He has not been playing in that position though! That might be where the graphics have put him, but almost all of his work has been between the halfway line and the 18-yard box.

You reckon Vardy, who played in the Belgium game in the same position, is an attacking midfielder?

No, because he's a different kind of player, that plays in a different way.

 

[AlterEgo]

He has not been playing in that position though! That might be where the graphics have put him, but almost all of his work has been between the halfway line and the 18-yard box.

That’s where a forward plays! Sterling had two clear chances against Sweden; he was playing just off Kane, up front.

Sterling has no defensive duties at all and cannot be considered a midfielder. That’s why nearly everywhere except Man City’s own page calls him a forward. A forward doesn’t have any defensive duties.

 

[DarloRich]

Sterling didn’t have a good game today. He’s one of the most wasteful players I’ve ever seen at this level. Any crucial pass or chance and he totally bottles it.

In case anyone has missed it, Sterling is a forward. Score some goals Raheem.

Stirling frustrates me. His running and pace stretch defences and creates space for other players. He tires the opposition defence, supports the modern "high press" and his one on one pace frightens defenders. He is an important player in the system we are using. However his final ball is often poor, his speed of thought when given time to think doesn't always seem up to the top level game and he doesn't score enough for England.

However we won. We are in a semi final so as part of the team it is all working!

Blimey, I’m astonished people can think wingers aren’t forwards. If you’re a plain old right midfielder or left midfielder then you’re not a forward, but a winger is absolutely definitely a forward when, like Sterling, they have no defensive duties to perform.

In any case, have a look at where Sterling was playing today and in all the games England have played so far.

it depends, of course on formation and mindset. A right midfielder in a solid 442 is not a forward. A right midfielder in a more flexible formation is.

A modern wide right player in, say, a 4321.4231 is a forward. Playing the way we are with Stirling, & Lingard in behind Kane means they are all forward players. I suspect Stanley Matthews would be considered a forward and he was a winger in them olden days! ( well an outside right).

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The two regulars in the side who I'd consider changing would be Sterling and Henderson.

Sterling has frustrated at times, including his chances against Sweden where he held on the the ball when a pass was on, and proceeded to mess it up. There are options other than him, Rashford and Loftus-Cheek being the obvious candidates.

Henderson has played reasonably well without setting the world on fire. My concern with him is his temperament, against Colombia at times he looked like he was going to react to their niggly gamesmanship. However replacing him in the side would be a tricky one, with the neatest solution being to move Maguire forward and bring in one of the reserve centre-halves... but which one?

 

[DarloRich]

Henderson has been superb. He holds the whole midfield together and acts as a base for attacks. The like for like replacement is dier. Why on earth would you push McGuire j to midfield?

Madness.

 

[EM2]

That’s where a forward plays!

Not any forward I ever played with. They needed a map to find the centre circle after kick-off

 

[Dentonian]

That’s where a forward plays! Sterling had two clear chances against Sweden; he was playing just off Kane, up front.

Sterling has no defensive duties at all and cannot be considered a midfielder. That’s why nearly everywhere except Man City’s own page calls him a forward. A forward doesn’t have any defensive duties.

Sterling's finishing has been poor, but that's not his sole job. He is there largely to tire defenders out and he's doing it. As for City. City don't have positions. They have eleven attackers, but only one can handle the ball!

PS. Hope Belgium beat France.....................

 

[The_Train]

I said before the penalties against Colombia that if we got through them we would win the World Cup. We have strolled through the QF and now have a tired, aging and under performing Croatia side to get past. That said, if we do get past Croatia (which we should) would anyone fancy us to be favourites against either France or Belgium? Personally, I'm not sure at all

 

[BlueFox]

I said before the penalties against Colombia that if we got through them we would win the World Cup.

I said England would win as soon as the squad was announced.
England always win the World Cup when there's a Leicester player in the team...

 

[Dentonian]

I said before the penalties against Colombia that if we got through them we would win the World Cup. We have strolled through the QF and now have a tired, aging and under performing Croatia side to get past. That said, if we do get past Croatia (which we should) would anyone fancy us to be favourites against either France or Belgium? Personally, I'm not sure at all

I think the winners of France v Belgium will be favourites whether we beat Croatia or not. Naturally, if we don't win it, I'm bound to hope that Belgium do. Surely, there very few, true football fans that would begrudge Vinnie getting his hands on the World Cup.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I think the winners of France v Belgium will be favourites whether we beat Croatia or not. Naturally, if we don't win it, I'm bound to hope that Belgium do. Surely, there very few, true football fans that would begrudge Vinnie getting his hands on the World Cup.

At the same time, the thought of Martinez lifting it makes me feel ill.

I also believe the winners of France v. Belgium will win the whole thing.

 

[Dentonian]

At the same time, the thought of Martinez lifting it makes me feel ill.

I also believe the winners of France v. Belgium will win the whole thing.

Not an Everton fan, by any chance?

 

[Cowley]

I said before the penalties against Colombia that if we got through them we would win the World Cup. We have strolled through the QF and now have a tired, aging and under performing Croatia side to get past. That said, if we do get past Croatia (which we should) would anyone fancy us to be favourites against either France or Belgium? Personally, I'm not sure at all

So fascinating isn’t it all of this?
Belgium and France are going to have to have the games of their lives to win that match, and if it ends up taking a massive amount of effort from both sides..?
The way this has all opened up is astonishing.
Anyway I’ll continue with my usual standard of match predictions hopefully.
Croatia to beat England 2-0 in normal time...

 

[adrock1976]

Something that we should all think about here for a moment is that every time England have reached the final of the World Cup, they have gone on to win it - albeit the one and only time they have done so was back in 1966.

At club level, both Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have won the European Cup every time they have reached the final, although in Villa's case the one and only time was back in 1982.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Something that we should all think about here for a moment is that every time England have reached the final of the World Cup, they have gone on to win it - albeit the one and only time they have done so was back in 1966.

Perhaps it is just me but the phrase "every time" signifies more that a solitary occurrence.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Not an Everton fan, by any chance?

I am not; I just can't stand the bloke. I think not taking Radja Nainggolan was the final straw!

 

[EM2]

I said England would win as soon as the squad was announced.
England always win the World Cup when there's a Leicester player in the team...

Yes, but they also win when there's three West Ham players...

 

[The_Train]

So fascinating isn’t it all of this?
Belgium and France are going to have to have the games of their lives to win that match, and if it ends up taking a massive amount of effort from both sides..?
The way this has all opened up is astonishing.
Anyway I’ll continue with my usual standard of match predictions hopefully.
Croatia to beat England 2-0 in normal time...

It really has been a fascinating World Cup. Probably my favourite since 1994 to be honest.

We could do with the France-Belgium game being like the slug fest we see at the end of the Rocky movies (not a fist fight, just energy sapping) so that the winner is simply too tired come the final.

Although saying that, the winner of France-Belgium will have an extra 24 hours of rest before the final and it's hardly a given that England for will beat Croatia anyway. This is just too confusing, I think I will just revert back to the standard football cliché of just worrying about the next game and seeing what comes after that

 

[greyman42]

I would stick with Sterling. He is probably our most talented player and sooner or later something is going to come of for him. The next game would be a good time.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I would stick with Sterling. He is probably our most talented player and sooner or later something is going to come of for him. The next game would be a good time.

I'd be going with Rashford or Loftus-Cheek in his place, for the simple reason that he hasn't produced the goods against (with the greatest respect) fairly moderate opposition.

 

[fowler9]

If I can add my tuppence worth Sterling is doing his job. He drags defenders all over the place and tires them out/gives them something to think about. He does it really well hence why he got a game at Liverpool where we came close in the league and gets a game at Man City where he has won the league. All this despite the fact he can't finish his dinner.