AllezLesDiables
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Except England hasn’t really had a 10 since Gazza. Belgium has Hazard.Belgium are England 2004 in disguise.
Except England hasn’t really had a 10 since Gazza. Belgium has Hazard.Belgium are England 2004 in disguise.
We had Rooney just behind Michael Owen who was the best young player in the world at the time.Except England hasn’t really had a 10 since Gazza. Belgium has Hazard.
Err yes it does, you can hardly claim he fulfills much defensive responsibility when City have 70% of the ball every game. Certainly it’s not an area he’s exactly impressing, is it? People are assessing him based on his productivity, the chances he creates etc, not how many tackles he may or may not make per game or how many km’s he runs ffs. Get your head out of his arse and look it it objectivitely for once.Because he's become an all round midfielder and just comparing attacking stays doesn't do justice to what role KDB plays now
I don't see it. De Bruyne is better in midfield, Mertens is perfectly fine on the right and our NT is much better with Lukaku in the side than without him. There's no reason to play Dendoncker, he's been awful for god knows how long now, even if he's often been played out of position at Anderlecht. He certainly doesn't deserve to start for our NT.Courtois
Meunier - Alderweireld - Vertonghen - some LB
Dembele - Nainggolan - Dendoncker
De Bruyne - Mertens - Hazard
That's right, no Lukaku. Counter football with Hazard/Mertens displaying their trickyness and mobility.
Have been watching Belgium quite regularly since ~2016, and I thought the same for that timeframe. There are limits to what statistics can say about the impact of playmakers, but in this case they are so clear that they confirm this impression as well, imo.Also, the people who say De Bruyne is our main man. He isn't. During our WC 2014 qualifiers he was our best player and Hazard was largely underwhelming. Since then, the roles have been steadily reversing, and I'd say Hazard has been our key player for a long time now. De Bruyne has to do better, he's been coasting through our games and not looking like giving a feck.
That England side was class though - no injury to Rooney and it could have won the entire thing IMO. It would best the Belgium sideBelgium are England 2004 in disguise.
I think it's far more likely they line up with the side I posted on the first page.Courtois
Meunier - Alderweireld - Vertonghen - some LB
Dembele - Nainggolan - Dendoncker
De Bruyne - Mertens - Hazard
That's right, no Lukaku. Counter football with Hazard/Mertens displaying their trickyness and mobility.
Yes he can but that means benching Lukaku and that is unlikely to happen under Martinez.Could Mertens not start as central striker?
I think you're right to say that Belgium is not a team, more a group of talented players with the exception of some. I think some players also have a too big ego and that they can't deal with critics. I don't see what Martinez plan is after all this time thats why I don't believe in Belgium.They need more cohesion as a team, look how Italy tactically outfought them in the last euros with a much inferior 11 and Wales was similar in the quarters.
You know as well as I do that Nainggolan is probably not going to the World Cup. The whole country wants him in that team, but Martinez clearly has other ideas. It'll be your line-up but just a midfield two of Witsel - De Bruyne while Mertens moves behind Lukaku along with Hazard. The only glimmer of hope is Martinez might be forced to call upon Nainggolan since Defour's (who Martinez bizarrely seems to prefer) injury will keep him out of the World Cup.I think something like this would suit us best. Leaving out Mertens is a big call, but the reason he plays that well in Napoli is that their system suits him perfectly.
----------------------- Courtois
----Alderweireld - Kompany - Vertonghen
Meunier - Witsel - De Bruyne - Naingollan - Carrasco
--------------------------Hazard
------------------- Lukaku
I don't get my hopes up for this WC. Purely based on talent we can beat anyone, but Martinez is almost as bad as Wilmots was. If only our FA wasn't broke and could afford a decent coach. Anyways, we got our best chance in the Euros. With a half decent manager we would have beaten Wales, no doubt about that.
He’d take a 41 year old Timmy Simons over Nainggolan, the prick.You know as well as I do that Nainggolan is probably not going to the World Cup. The whole country wants him in that team, but Martinez clearly has other ideas. It'll be your line-up but just a midfield two of Witsel - De Bruyne while Mertens moves behind Lukaku along with Hazard. The only glimmer of hope is Martinez might be forced to call upon Nainggolan since Defour's (who Martinez bizarrely seems to prefer) injury will keep him out of the World Cup.
It's between Kompany and Vermaelen for that 3rd CB slot, whoever is least crocked. Knowing these two, they'll probably both end up injured and we're stuck with Ciman there.
Much rather have Dembele in rather than Witsel. Also would like Tielemans in as well.I think something like this would suit us best. Leaving out Mertens is a big call, but the reason he plays that well in Napoli is that their system suits him perfectly.
----------------------- Courtois
----Alderweireld - Kompany - Vertonghen
Meunier - Witsel - De Bruyne - Naingollan - Carrasco
--------------------------Hazard
------------------- Lukaku
I don't get my hopes up for this WC. Purely based on talent we can beat anyone, but Martinez is almost as bad as Wilmots was. If only our FA wasn't broke and could afford a decent coach. Anyways, we got our best chance in the Euros. With a half decent manager we would have beaten Wales, no doubt about that.
Or Kabasele The 2 man midfield would get us exposed against the bigger teams. I really feel Mertens is being shoehorned in that team.You know as well as I do that Nainggolan is probably not going to the World Cup. The whole country wants him in that team, but Martinez clearly has other ideas. It'll be your line-up but just a midfield two of Witsel - De Bruyne while Mertens moves behind Lukaku along with Hazard. The only glimmer of hope is Martinez might be forced to call upon Nainggolan since Defour's (who Martinez bizarrely seems to prefer) injury will keep him out of the World Cup.
It's between Kompany and Vermaelen for that 3rd CB slot, whoever is least crocked. Knowing these two, they'll probably both end up injured and we're stuck with Ciman there.
I've never been convinced when Dembele played for Belgium. I like him as a player, but he's never excelled. Witsel brings more balance to the team, imo. Tielemans is a good option to have.Much rather have Dembele in rather than Witsel. Also would like Tielemans in as well.
Nothing to do with the group, the other players all want him to go to the WC, as he obviously is a good player.What's the matter with Nainggolan being constantly snubbed?
Is it that his lack of discipline off the field would make it hard to integrate him into the group? (In this case Martinez's decision would be somewhat understandable.)
Or has it not been that bad and it's more down to Martinez not wanting him? (That would be hugely idiotic.)
A midfield of DM + Nainggolan - De Bruyne (like in the EUROs) would be magnificent.
If they play with that line of 3 against Brazil they will walk over them, hopefully Martinez follows your advice.Dembele has to start against Brazil, with Vertonghen pushed to LB.
BEL would have to shift to a 4-3-3 with KDB pushed forward and retaining the same front 3 of Mertens, Lukaku and Hazard.
Why would Belgium walk over them?If they play with that line of 3 against Brazil they will walk over them, hopefully Martinez follows your advice.
I mean Brazil will walk over BelgiumWhy would Belgium walk over them?
Why? What do you propose then?If they play with that line of 3 against Brazil they will walk over them, hopefully Martinez follows your advice.
Please... the general consensus before the game was that they the should get past themeasily - 0:2 should have never happened.Getting past a very good Japanese outfit, having their backs to the wall, will make them stronger.
4/3/3.Why? What do you propose then?
I don't think it'd be a good idea to start with Fellaini. Bring him on as a sub in the 2nd half to cause havoc in the Brazillian penalty box. Playing with wing backs would give a free run for Neymar/Willian down the flanks.