england v albania

0-0 @ 5/2 @ half time. Albania will be hard to break down.

Three CBs against Albania at home says everything about Southgate's lack of ambition however much he had done for this set of players.

Three CBs against Albania at home says everything about Southgate's ambition however well he has done in the job.

I don't watch the PL but isn;t the consensus that Marry maguire is playing terribly?

and why is Grealish back on the bench?

don't really agree that 3 cb's dictates negativity, all depends on how high up the pitch the wing backs play..it's arguably more attacking than playing a four with two holding mf's..

Grealish despite being arguably the best player last time out (when subbed) can't break the XI ...slightly more concerning.

Maguire, Sterling, Kane and Chilwell. Some strange inclusions given recent form. Albania are probably weak enough that he will get away with it, but against better teams you cn't play 3 or 4 players out of form. Most goals 2nd half is my bet.

does it show Gareth has a probem with Grealish

only picked (started) him once for a comeptitive game before the £100m move to City

then started picking him maybe to avoid questions?

now dropped again

Why is 3 Centre backs negative?

It's the wing backs that determine attacking tempo
in a back 5.

These 2 wing backs have been brilliant this season.


Would 2 centre backs and 2 full backs be more or less attacking?

well he clearly doesn't think he fits well that's for sure..not sure we are in a position to marginalise our more gifted players but it won't be the first time in English footballing history..

I don't totally disagree Brentford but do Walker, Maguire or Stones offer more individually than Grealish, Bellingham or Saka against Albania tonight? I would suggest not..

Might want Grealish for Monday, lol

Or in reserve, just in case

No probs dropping wideish player to allow
wingbacks more freedom.

I'd be playing foden behind kane and sterling too

Not out wide....

2—0 for me...

no scotland/moldova thread

STV have england game

Shocking stuff xmoney, forum not what it was.

clear boos for knee

knee taken deliberately after the whistle too?

Bound to lose after the big hike in muneey

Nov 12, 2021 -- 7:49PM, Giuseppe wrote:

clear boos for kneeknee taken deliberately after the whistle too?

Yep, a chorus of boos.

Looked a pen that

there were boos for about 2-3 seconds then cheers for the knee, not sure what that was about

lol at Matterface saying thousands of Albanians had "travelled" to the game

heavy challenge, but he slipped as he went in

1-0 too easy

Simple England goal.

Dreadful foul on kane too.

Nicely punished

1-0 Tobey Maguire.

Lovely block by Phillips on the big fella for the goal

Nov 12, 2021 -- 7:57PM, Giuseppe wrote:

there were boos for about 2-3 seconds then cheers for the knee, not sure what that was aboutlol at Matterface saying thousands of Albanians had "travelled" to the game

Racist.

Ffs, walker

Pickford spares the blushes

what a MISS

great chance Albania, no composure.

was a good save, though

Lovely goal

Great determination James and henderson

King KANE

2

free header, shocking defending.

Albania not good enough to press like this

It's a confidence booster for players that are in poor form, I suppose. These qualifiers are far too easy.

Where's Scandanavian_haven?  Hasn't been here in ages.

Super goal henderson

TURKEY SHOOT

my 2nd half goals bet not looking good. These defenders are so bad they let Henderson score.

Var, lol

Thought it must have been turned off tonite

England will probably pack up now

Big game against SAN Marino coming up

bit of a shank from kane, tbh.

Looked more offside there

Jing KANE

We want 10

King KANE

Albania must be bad

James is some player in this form.

Poland conceded to Andorra

Kane hattrick

kane

Kane is back in form too...

took 1.6 for over 5.5 goals,

Hoping the second half more goals bet lands

Harry, he's back.

5-0 and its  only half time

don't think so, somehow.

Nov 12, 2021 -- 8:37PM, england_v_south_afri wrote:

5-0 and its

Henderson been good even aside from his goal but whole tempo from the start was excellent and set tone for the performance.. very pleasing

If Albania don't drop off then the goals will
hopefully continue.

Somebody likely will explain to manager at half time

Man City must be gutted buying Grealish instead of Kane after seeing what that front 3 just did

Grealish would have spent the half spinning in a circle and falling over

Thought you said they are no mugs, Roy Keane! These pundits are so lazy.

Henderson is a good player, and seems suited to
having Phillips alongside and trusting him

England have been magnificent in this 1st half and that started from the 1st minute through to the last, apart from 1 stupid back pass. Not expecting england to do much from here on in, in this game. The game is over, bring some subs on and give others ago, which I'm sure he will for the next 135 minutes of this qualifying group.

what a waste of time these uncompetitive games are- boring as fck every year and next up San marino for the traditional drubbing. It's time they restructured the qualification process for the world cup ideally by abandoning it and just have a seeded first round knockout in the tournament proper instead of club football suspended for this tedious crap.

calm down people its Albania

Nobody's forcing you to watch, wolf?  or are they?

This wasn't an uncompetitive game when it started. Albania were 3rd in the group and had a chance of qualifying until 7 minutes in.

can't disagree with that, wolfie. And that soft-headed twit Arsene Wenger thinks we need more World Cups.

Why are we wearing blue?

Blue kits need promotion for Christmas, innit

Nov 12, 2021 -- 8:45PM, sofaking wrote:

Nobody's forcing you to watch, wolf?

Wish betfair would sort this forum out. lol @ competitive until 7 minutes in btw

they don't sell themselves, especially at £60 odd quid ... made from the same stuff as a two bob polyester t shirt from Asda..

Albania with a population of 2 million who lost at home to Lithuania- nothing competitive about this match

It is pointless

I’m all for 128 team world cups every 4 years

Just invite the world and have a big 6 week long football festival

Cut out all the pointless qualifying, the small countries would have some to look forward to and would benefit them financially as well

And it would play in to their “one race and one world” narrative

Or is that to much ?

If an England team with at least 4 starting players in poor recent form can score 5 in one half, then it's a big indictment on the standard of opposition.

England played well des.

yes, but too easy

Oh and it would cut down on travelling as well

Less plane travelling, less car/bus usage/ less usage of trains etc

Or is that to much ??

If they’re gonna carry on with their idiocy we might as well help them along with it eh

In another 100 years when the global temperature is 20 degrees higher than it is now, international football will be banned! And the poor will have given up their cars for nothing, just to let the rich carry on as normal.

Yeah, let the little teams have their own tournament. Kind of like a Europa League for international tournaments.

Hoping for a penalty now that Jack is on

no more goals in this

game was over before half time, 2nd half has been a non-event.

most boring 2nd half of football in years.

At least horse face Kane has managed to score against a bunch of league 2 standard players- no doubt he will be back to firing blanks against proper defenders next week.

Nov 12, 2021 -- 8:48PM, wolf3011 wrote:

Nov 12, 2021 --  8:45PM, sofaking wrote:Nobody's forcing you to watch, wolf?

that what i put until 7 monutes in

It was always going to be a boring 2nd half.

England would have been thinking about dan Marino at half time

Dean Smith has a lot to answer for.  He decided that Grealish was an inverted wide man.  He's skillful but not particularly fast and he doesn't score that many goals.  Subsequent managers have followed suit. It just feels like our most creative central mf is being wasted out there