England v Belgium match thread

[No Fixed Abode]

No disrespect Winchester - but you're used to watching long ball Reading play and not watching technically gifted players. Hazard looks quality. His weight of pass and touch were great. He outshone any England player technically and the strength will come.

[winchester_royal]

Most people on this board will watch more premiership football than the average Top 4 fan Kes, but nice try.

He's technically excellent, no doubt about it, but he didn't make enough of an impact. There have been plenty of excellent technicians in PL history who have failed to make the grade in England because they don't force themselves on the game. I fear Hazard may just get lost in the big matches.

Saying that, I have little doubt he will tear Pearce and Gorkss 5 new ones each when we visit Stamford Bridge.

[Victor Meldrew]

Stevie G named man of the match.
Maybe he is just a bit better than some of the fools on here think he is.

I was actually shocked Stevie G was given man of the match by Townsend. Obviously I want Stevie to do well in an England shirt but MOTM? First half he was 'ok' - 2nd half I don't think he touched the ball.

Eden Hazard looks like he's going to be something special. A young Xavi or Iniesta. Skilful, great touch, great passer. Just his shooting let him down yesterday.

Not sure who else it could have been -any suggestions?
I agree about Hazard-also the first touch and movement of Belgium's midfield was much better than ours.
If they could finish and create better chances they might have won comfortably but that is probably why they haven't qualified.

[soggy biscuit]

No disrespect Winchester - but you're used to watching long ball Reading play.

A whole new level of rattLOLedness

[Jack Celliers]

What's the basis for Gerrards low mark and criticism then?

Is this just another Wax Jacket username?

To me, he wasn't involved in the good bits. Once or twice he tried a little bit harder and pinged a long ball to their defence. He's still playing in 2006 and possession is not a word he recognises.

We could have him in the team successfully if there was a strong tackler to get the ball back for him, but such players get red cards now.

Who is Wax Jacket? It is a second user name though.

[Hoop Blah]

He set up the goal, got forward at opportune moments to have at least two decent efforts on goal and set up at least one more.

He also defended pretty well for the most part (he'll never be as good as someone like Parker for tracking runners etc) and kept the ball well for the most part and won us a number of free kicks.

WJ is just a poster who can see no good in Gerrard and blames him for all the worlds ills.

[No Fixed Abode]

He set up the goal, got forward at opportune moments to have at least two decent efforts on goal and set up at least one more.

He also defended pretty well for the most part (he'll never be as good as someone like Parker for tracking runners etc) and kept the ball well for the most part and won us a number of free kicks.

WJ is just a poster who can see no good in Gerrard and blames him for all the worlds ills.

I'm sure young set up the goal didn't he?

[Hoop Blah]

Young played the final, well weighted pass yes, but it was Gerrard's (and Welbecks) closing down and tackle/pass that created the opportunity.

[Wax Jacket]

yeah SG wasn't too bad on Saturday tbf

given MOTM because the expectation was that he'd be dreadful I'd imagine

[No Fixed Abode]

Young played the final, well weighted pass yes, but it was Gerrard's (and Welbecks) closing down and tackle/pass that created the opportunity.

But as it said in EVERY paper - Young set up the goal, so it was his assist.

[Hoop Blah]

That's great if your view of football is dictated to by fantasy football and 'assists' over who actually played a part in creating the goal.

[No Fixed Abode]

That's great if your view of football is dictated to by fantasy football and 'assists' over who actually played a part in creating the goal.

So Gerrard won a tackle. Didn't see him do anything else...2nd half he was anonymous.

[Hoop Blah]

He did his job pretty well, and was one of few who really threatened them (could well have scored).

Like the rest of the team he didn't have a great second half no, but apart from Cole who was my man of the match, nobody else did. In no way did his performance warrant a 4/10 though.