[KN22]

Bellingham's already world class isn't he.

Without a doubt. So clever with the ball, strong, creative. A new Bryan Robson?

[tuamigos]

Bellingham's already world class isn't he.

Different gravy

[Albionic]

Better than Robbo was at 19, which is phenomenally good

[johnny Cash]

Good win tonight albeit expected.

The true test is saturday. We need France to be off it. If both teams are at their best I still think we fall short, but with a bit of luck we are certainly capable of beating them on the day.

If we can win, we can beat everyone else.

As for Bellingham, he’s good at everything. He also has what some one like Pogba (who’s should have perhaps been the best midfielder of his generation)… desire!

Him and Pedri could be the best midfielders in the world for the next 10 years (Gavi is good, but I think Bellinghams physical attributes are a differentiator)

[hardtobeat]

The best three England central midfielders in my lifetime are in no particular order Robson, Gascoigne  and a name that may surprise a few and who sadly had his career cut short by injury , Colin Bell . Bellingham is up there with these three. Just remember though by the time he was twenty Robson could have played just about anywhere on the pitch and had broken his leg god knows how many times !

[gazberg]

Think any of the 4 from England, Brazil, France and Argentina could lift the trophy. There is no standout team at this WC for me.


Bellingham is insanely good.

[Atomic]

Think any of the 4 from England, Brazil, France and Argentina could lift the trophy. There is no standout team at this WC for me.

The winners of the England v France game are favourites for me.

The overall standard is pretty average to say the least.

[gazberg]

The winners of the England v France game are favourites for me.

The overall standard is pretty average to say the least.

Really is. Will be interesting to see who gets it. I'd probably agree with you regarding the England/France game

[gerry m]

As my dear old mum used to say 'A faint heart never won a fair maiden'. Hope Gareth Southgate gives it a real go.

[Fritzl Palace]

I anticipate he will return to 5 at the back for this one. Cannot see him being willing to try and attack them. If we play anything like we did in the first half an hour last night, the game will be lost already, we were lucky the players on the pitch were able to take control and get us through it

[KN22]

Better than Robbo was at 19, which is phenomenally good

We will agree to disagree here.

[Atomic]

We will agree to disagree here.

Me too. Robson could do it all. Score goals, be the best player at left back, at centre half. Bellingham is a good player (though people are going OTT) but Robson was better 

[Hunnington Baggie]

Me too. Robson could do it all. Score goals, be the best player at left back, at centre half. Bellingham is a very good player but Robson was better

is that because he was so good or because the standard was comparatively lower at that time?

[Atomic]

is that because he was so good or because the standard was comparatively lower at that time?

Have you seen the teams in this world cup? They'd struggle in the Championship. Poland, USA, Australia, Senegal, Japan would be lucky not to go down from the Championship not to mention Iran, Qatar and others. Jackson Irvine is upfront for Australia FFS.

The footballing landscape has changed, international football is now way inferior to club football.

[johnny Cash]

Me too. Robson could do it all. Score goals, be the best player at left back, at centre half. Bellingham is a very good player but Robson was better

You'll never settle generational comparisons. Nostalgia seems to make everyone better and it seems like nobody can possibly be as good as many 60's/70's/80's players.  Personally I find it hard to believe footballers peaked 50 years ago and haven't been better at any time since. Particularly when most older players will freely admit how much foreigner players increased the skills levels, fitness and professionalism when they came over in the 90's.

Also, I don't think I'd be wrong to say the top division in England must have been made up mostly of Brits in the 60's and 70's for instance.   So if you took all the foreigners out now, how many brits on prem benches would be in first teams and how many brits in the championship would be in prem squads? That would obviously mean the quality was lower and then your current England players would look better still because the skill gap would be wider.

 

[Atomic]

You'll never settle generational comparisons. Nostalgia seems to make everyone better and it seems like nobody can possibly be as good as many 60's/70's/80's players.  Personally I find it hard to believe footballers peaked 50 years ago and haven't been better at any time since. Particularly when most older players will freely admit how much foreigner players increased the skills levels, fitness and professionalism when they came over in the 90's.

Also, I don't think I'd be wrong to say the top division in England must have been made up mostly of Brits in the 60's and 70's for instance.   So if you took all the foreigners out now, how many brits on prem benches would be in first teams and how many brits in the championship would be in prem squads? That would obviously mean the quality was lower and then your current England players would look better still because the skill gap would be wider.

It's worth remembering that British clubs absolutely dominated European competitions in the 70's and 80's. Numerous British clubs won European competitions.

The game is different now, different laws, different equipment, different science etc so it's hard to compare.

However, Robson was the best midfielder in Europe along with Platini. Is Bellingham really better than Busquets or Modric or Pedri or Pogba etc. He's not even an automatic choice for England yet and how do his stats stack up? Is he more versatile than Robson? No.

Robson came back from three leg breaks which destroyed his development yet he STILL became the best CM I've seen.

[johnny Cash]

However, Robson was the best midfielder in Europe along with Platini. Is Bellingham really better than Busquets or Modric or Pedri or Pogba etc. He's not even an automatic choice for England yet and how do his stats stack up? Is he more versatile than Robson? No.

I'd take him over Busquets now, not sure about Modric. I haven't seen much of him recently.  I'd certainly take him over Pogba although as I said earlier I think Pogba has everything but the attitude. He isn't the best midfielder in the world though but maybe he could be.

Is he better at 19 than Robson, I couldn't say. However I do think there is often a reluctance from people older enough to see those players to accept anyone is better than their childhood heroes.

I think you can debate the talent of each as (if the same talent had same upbringing, opportunities and challenges) and that is perhaps slightly different argument. The best should still be one of the best whichever era.

However I do think if you could lift and drop a 1980's footballer into todays football and vice versa, the 80s footballer ultimately finds it harder and would be worse relatively than the current player.  (Personal opinion of course).

[alex1]

Think any of the 4 from England, Brazil, France and Argentina could lift the trophy. There is no standout team at this WC for me.

Holland getting better every game. Although van Gaal 's system, not exactly free flowing 'total football',  it seems to be working.

[gazberg]

Holland getting better every game. Although van Gaal 's system, not exactly free flowing 'total football',  it seems to be working.

I think Holland are an ok team but for me they are outside that pack of 4 personally. I'd have Spain as my 5th team then Holland behind them i guess.

[KYA]

Too often in the past, the pressure of playing for England has been too much for some players who failed to show their best form for the three lions.
Bellingham and I think Foden are such confident players that they relish playing for England and are able to show their best form and who knows what that could lead to.

[Baggies]

I think Holland are an ok team but for me they are outside that pack of 4 personally. I'd have Spain as my 5th team then Holland behind them i guess.

Personally, my top 4 is France, Brazil, Spain and Argentina, with us sitting on the fringes of that group (alongside Italy, Netherlands, Croatia, Belgium, Portugal and Denmark). Until I see us beating other top sides regularly then I don't put us in the big 4 bracket.

[johnny Cash]

Personally, my top 4 is France, Brazil, Spain and Argentina, with us sitting on the fringes of that group (alongside Italy, Netherlands, Croatia, Belgium, Portugal and Denmark). Until I see us beating other top sides regularly then I don't put us in the big 4 bracket.

I wouldn’t be worried about Argentina particularly. I’ve not seen anything from them to justify their status coming in to this tournament. Not to say we would win, but I’ve been very underwhelmed. 

France and Brazil the two favourites in that order

[gazberg]

Spain not impressing against Morocco. Expected them to brush them aside. I'll keep them in 5th spot.


Agree with JC that Argentina are not impressive however Messi seems determined to drag them through in his last WC

[KN22]

is that because he was so good or because the standard was comparatively lower at that time?

It is because he was that good, 100%

[Baggies]

With all of these close, tight quarter finals, I've a bad feeling France are going to stuff us tomorrow. One of the favourites need to keep their bottle and the French do have the experience.