World Cup Ratings (69 replies)
Pickford
Outstanding. For me was a toss up between him and Butland at the start, but has proven himself to be an exceptional international keeper. (8)
Butland & Pope. No time on the pitch, but as we know, Butland would have proven an able deputy.
Walker
World class full back. Mediocre centre half. Caught out too many times for me, which ultimately proved costly. With the emergence of Trippier, may have to be content with the bench. (6)
Stones
Much maligned going into the tournament but has proven his class and scored a couple too. (7)
Maguire
Proof that you don’t need to play for the big clubs or be worth tens of millions. No nonsense displays and marauding runs. Will be surprised if he’s still at Leicester next season. (8)
Young
Not naturally a full back but played very well there for United last season. At the highest level though, a player who is not a natural defender will be found out. Bought a few fouls through shall we say ‘professionalism ‘. Probably last tournament (6)
Trippier
Out of nowhere, English player of the tournament by, for me, a county mile. Deliveries akin to Beckham and bar one tiny mistake, a brilliant defender (9)
Jones
Dogshit (3)
Cahill
Can consider himself unlucky not to be in the starting XI. Always rated him and played well against Belgium. Probably last tournament (6)
Alexander-Arnold
Defensively decent but poor from set piece delivery. Highly rated and you can see why, will no doubt be pushing to be a fixture for many years to go (6)
Rose
Should have done better to be honest. Injuries last season may have had an impact. Awful against Belgium today which for him can only be down to match sharpness (6)
Henderson
Again much maligned but did a good job until running out of steam. Ideally he’d be more progressive with his play, but it seems beyond him (7)
Dier
Off the boil domestically from stellar seasons of past. I actually rate him but Southgate doesn’t seem to for a starting berth. Replacement for Walker perhaps? (6)
Alli
Quite clearly injured, lacking match sharpness and not on the boil. On his day, a world beater but just didn’t show it this time around. (5)
Lingard
All the promise in the world but failed to make much of an impact. Touch and final ball let him down too often which makes the difference at this level. Needs to leave United and get regular football.
Delph
Actually had a good season at full back for City despite it not being his natural position. That said have never thought he was an international level midfielder and lived off a decent season for them lot and don’t do a lot this summer. Last tournament. (5)
Loftus-Cheek
Showed real early promise and was criminally underused in the later. Should have replaced Alli and will be a mainstay if Chelsea and England for years to come (7)
Sterling
Ah Sterling. The eternal question. Two goals in six years. Too small to play upfront. Too easy to go to ground. Pace to burn. Amazing first touch. Draws fouls. Runs the channels. Terrific outlet. I can see and understand both arguments. All attacking threat seemed to disappear when he was withdrawn for the last two games. Does need to hit the back of the net and soon to nail down his place (7)
Vardy
I’ve never thought he’d cut it at interesting level with defences playing so deep and not giving him the space to run into. Not given that amount of time to really impresss so can’t be faulted for failing to do so. Last tournament (6)
Kane
The next Shearer/Lineker/Greaves. From the spot anyway. Actually led the line really well and made a nuisance of himself in the box. Deserved golden boot winner (8)
Welbeck
Almost no time. Always played well for England and has a decent goals to game ratio. Last tournament though (6)
Rashford
Failed to make an impact, like Lingard needs to more first team starts. Undoubted quality and will come again (6)
Southgate
I think he has changed a lot of people’s minds. Perhaps not with his tactical nous which will come but I’m how he’s presented himself, got the squad together and playing well as a unit.
Youngest squad in the tournament and with the old stagers being phased out for some of the U21’s will only have made them stronger and more experienced going into the next few tournaments. The likely lads of Germany, Italy, Spain et al will come again so now is the time to stay together, build and move on for greater glory.
Outstanding. For me was a toss up between him and Butland at the start, but has proven himself to be an exceptional international keeper. (8)
Butland & Pope. No time on the pitch, but as we know, Butland would have proven an able deputy.
Walker
World class full back. Mediocre centre half. Caught out too many times for me, which ultimately proved costly. With the emergence of Trippier, may have to be content with the bench. (6)
Stones
Much maligned going into the tournament but has proven his class and scored a couple too. (7)
Maguire
Proof that you don’t need to play for the big clubs or be worth tens of millions. No nonsense displays and marauding runs. Will be surprised if he’s still at Leicester next season. (8)
Young
Not naturally a full back but played very well there for United last season. At the highest level though, a player who is not a natural defender will be found out. Bought a few fouls through shall we say ‘professionalism ‘. Probably last tournament (6)
Trippier
Out of nowhere, English player of the tournament by, for me, a county mile. Deliveries akin to Beckham and bar one tiny mistake, a brilliant defender (9)
Jones
Dogshit (3)
Cahill
Can consider himself unlucky not to be in the starting XI. Always rated him and played well against Belgium. Probably last tournament (6)
Alexander-Arnold
Defensively decent but poor from set piece delivery. Highly rated and you can see why, will no doubt be pushing to be a fixture for many years to go (6)
Rose
Should have done better to be honest. Injuries last season may have had an impact. Awful against Belgium today which for him can only be down to match sharpness (6)
Henderson
Again much maligned but did a good job until running out of steam. Ideally he’d be more progressive with his play, but it seems beyond him (7)
Dier
Off the boil domestically from stellar seasons of past. I actually rate him but Southgate doesn’t seem to for a starting berth. Replacement for Walker perhaps? (6)
Alli
Quite clearly injured, lacking match sharpness and not on the boil. On his day, a world beater but just didn’t show it this time around. (5)
Lingard
All the promise in the world but failed to make much of an impact. Touch and final ball let him down too often which makes the difference at this level. Needs to leave United and get regular football.
Delph
Actually had a good season at full back for City despite it not being his natural position. That said have never thought he was an international level midfielder and lived off a decent season for them lot and don’t do a lot this summer. Last tournament. (5)
Loftus-Cheek
Showed real early promise and was criminally underused in the later. Should have replaced Alli and will be a mainstay if Chelsea and England for years to come (7)
Sterling
Ah Sterling. The eternal question. Two goals in six years. Too small to play upfront. Too easy to go to ground. Pace to burn. Amazing first touch. Draws fouls. Runs the channels. Terrific outlet. I can see and understand both arguments. All attacking threat seemed to disappear when he was withdrawn for the last two games. Does need to hit the back of the net and soon to nail down his place (7)
Vardy
I’ve never thought he’d cut it at interesting level with defences playing so deep and not giving him the space to run into. Not given that amount of time to really impresss so can’t be faulted for failing to do so. Last tournament (6)
Kane
The next Shearer/Lineker/Greaves. From the spot anyway. Actually led the line really well and made a nuisance of himself in the box. Deserved golden boot winner (8)
Welbeck
Almost no time. Always played well for England and has a decent goals to game ratio. Last tournament though (6)
Rashford
Failed to make an impact, like Lingard needs to more first team starts. Undoubted quality and will come again (6)
Southgate
I think he has changed a lot of people’s minds. Perhaps not with his tactical nous which will come but I’m how he’s presented himself, got the squad together and playing well as a unit.
Youngest squad in the tournament and with the old stagers being phased out for some of the U21’s will only have made them stronger and more experienced going into the next few tournaments. The likely lads of Germany, Italy, Spain et al will come again so now is the time to stay together, build and move on for greater glory.