Ruben Loftus-Cheek played for England today in their 6-1 beating of Panama to qualify for the knockout rounds of the tournament.
Harry Kane got a hat-trick (two penalties) and John Stones got a brace with Jesse Lingard scoring with a tremendous shot in the first half.
It was 5-0 at the half and England were 6-0 up after 62 minutes but couldn’t keep a clean sheet as Baloy got a consolation goal for Panama with 12 minutes to play.
That leaves Belgium and England with identical records in Group G so not sure who wins if we draw with Belgium on Thursday.
Loftus-Cheek had another good game and it may be that Chelsea keep him at Stamford Bridge for next season.
Loftus-Cheek talks to England manager Gareth Southgate during Tunisia game
But it could still be difficult for him to get a lot of playing times especially if Chelsea bring in a lot of new players this summer.
That seems likely if former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri takes the Chelsea manager job which is now almost certain.
Loftus Cheek was on loan at Crystal Palace last season and manager Roy Hodgson would love to have him back again for next season but thinks he may be good enough to stay at Chelsea.
This is what Hodgson has said in the Mail about the 22-year-old England midfielder:
“If they decide to loan him out again we will be first in line with the begging bowl.
“But right now there is no intimation that they are thinking of doing that. We’ve made it clear to them and to Ruben that we would love to work with him again.
“It will be a long shot I fear because I think he’s so good, and I think he may show that in this World Cup. He will go back to Chelsea and they will be very happy with what they have got.”
“If they decide to loan him out again we will be first in line with the begging bowl.
“But right now there is no intimation that they are thinking of doing that. We’ve made it clear to them and to Ruben that we would love to work with him again.
“It will be a long shot I fear because I think he’s so good, and I think he may show that in this World Cup. He will go back to Chelsea and they will be very happy with what they have got.”
Rafa has wanted the young playmaker at Newcastle for 18 months now so we’ll have to wait to see if he can be successful in getting him at St. James’ Park for next season.
But it will be tough for Rafa to do that and a loan deal for Kenedy is top of the list of Chelsea players with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kasey Palmer next in line in the loan stakes.
What would be the best of both worlds is if we can sign Kenedy permanently and get Loftus-Cheek in on loan for the season with an option to buy next summer.
Now that would be really good – but unlikely to happen.
🙁
Comments welcome.
142 comments so far
Munster Mag
Jun 24, 2018 at 3:59 PM
Comment #1Tsunki I don’t need to claim fassbender. He is self declared Irish, having grown up in Ireland. He even has a soft irish accent. I have seen him on TV discussing his nationality and his pride being from The Kingdom (ie Kerry). 50/50, nope.
Munster Mag
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:02 PM
Comment #2Loftus cheek will be playing for a more successful outfit than nufc. We need to get busy on transfers. An injury to shelvey would see us struggling to get away from the bottom 6 I think. We are over dependent on him but creative midfield and strikers cost loads 🙁
Mindshaft
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:08 PM
Comment #3So NUFC struggling to get transfers over the line and everyone saying England going to win the world cup after thrashing weakest team in world cup …
Sounds all so familiar
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:22 PM
Comment #4Son of German national Mr Fassbender
German passport
Speaks fluent German.
Yep he’s completely Irish.
😀
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:23 PM
Comment #5Anyway why am I still winding you up the joke never happened after all that, the Germans went and won it. 😐
I noticed that Turkish bloke never came off the bench for them. 😉
welshgeordie9
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:24 PM
Comment #6Boring.
Bobbybee
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:25 PM
Comment #7We won’t sign anybody until the money goes in or we sell someone. Ashley won’t front the money until it goes in because he is what he is – a dick.
We all know what he is so why expect a signing every day? It won’t happen because the money isn’t there. What he should do and what he will do are not the same thing and we’re just going to have to be patient.
In an ideal world we would have an owner who will put the money up and will give Rafa a free reign, but we don’t. We have an absolute idiot as an owner and we all know that.
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:26 PM
Comment #8Careful using the stick that England only look good against weak opposition – it’s the same one that says Mitrovic is World Class and is a Star Asset displaying his talent on the World Stage.
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:27 PM
Comment #9I agree he definitely sounds Irish though.
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:27 PM
Comment #10I bet if he was a rubbish actor he’d be German again though ha ha
Munster Mag
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:31 PM
Comment #11Ya, useless german bollocks :). What have they ever done for us? 🙂
Bobbybee
Jun 24, 2018 at 4:35 PM
Comment #12Nice goal from Japan. There has been some cracking goals so far in this WC.
Bobbybee
Jun 24, 2018 at 5:00 PM
Comment #13Has anybody else watched Harry Kane’s nose when he talks? 🙂 It moves. As he speaks his nose twitches along. Only noticed it today but it’s quite pronounced – as his his nose tbf. Gonzo Kane! 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Jun 24, 2018 at 5:05 PM
Comment #14Yup, I’m with Bobby on that one, can’t stand Southgate, nowt to do with the penalty miss and much more to do with that pizza bag on his head, plus he’s a complete nerd. That David Brent send up of him saying he has a couple of pints in a nightclub sums him up. Saying that, i’d be delighted if he won us the World Cup.
c-dog
Jun 24, 2018 at 5:32 PM
Comment #15Southgate has us looking better than any team since 98. And with Alli and Rashford not playing. Unbelievable. We’re as good as anyone.
Bobbybee
Jun 24, 2018 at 5:40 PM
Comment #16England whitewash the Aussies 5-0 in the one day series. 🙂 Joss Butler finishing it off with a fine century with just one wicket to spare.
ronaldo aarons
Jun 24, 2018 at 5:48 PM
Comment #17England did what they were supposed to, put a few goals past panama. Roberto Martinez confirmed yesterday that Belgium will rest players in their match v England. Afterwards, England should be able to get o the quarters fairly comfortably after playing a team from this final group.
ronaldo aarons
Jun 24, 2018 at 5:51 PM
Comment #18The panama player that started as captain today, the big cb, is an actor I think. Quite famous in his country. think all their defenders were acting today!
Bobbybee
Jun 24, 2018 at 5:59 PM
Comment #19You don’t have to like the manager to want England to win. At the end of the day it’s down to the players as to how well we do, but I’m far from being the only one who said we need a plan B. If plan A works right through the competition I’ll be amazed.
If Kane gets injured that’s when Vardy comes into it, but without someone to find those runs of his, you can’t utilise him properly.
I still stand by my belief that we needed one of Wilshire or Shelvey to get the best out of Vardy, or to change it if defences drop off us.
If I’m proven wrong it won’t be the first time in my life and I won’t shed any tears over it. In fact I’ll be delighted because it’ll mean we go far.
That said, if there’s no managers at the World Cup who don’t know how to negate our plan A I’ll be amazed. Tunisia did it in the second half after all and there’s much better teams than them.
Let’s not get carried away by thrashing Panama, but let’s hope teams set up against us like they did. Just don’t hold your breath. 🙂
Bobbybee
Jun 24, 2018 at 6:03 PM
Comment #20Ronaldo, depending on this group, England and Belgium might prefer to lose the final game!! 🙂 Who can field the weaker team?
Belfast
Jun 24, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Comment #21C dog
They’ve played arguably the two worst teams at the tournament thus far. They haven’t been asked any questions at all yet. I reckon a central defence that contains Stones and Walker gets murdered against anyone good to be honest.
AncientC
Jun 24, 2018 at 6:18 PM
Comment #22There should be enough quality in the England squad to win the World Cup, why not, the squad value of the England team is up there with the best of them. Get the rub off the green and any from a group of about 6 teams could win it. That said, the 2nd half against Panama should be treated cautiously. In the 2nd 45 minutes the game was a 1-1 draw, and it was only that because of a deflected goal of Kane’s heel.
According to transfermarkt, England have the 5th highest squad value at the WC. I know that’s not a scientific proof method of judging which are ranked the best sides, but it is an indicator of the quality.
The link of the squad values, just for anybody interested:
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/weltmeisterschaft-2018/teilnehmer/pokalwettbewerb/WM18
Belfast
Jun 24, 2018 at 6:21 PM
Comment #23I’d love to know how the fcuk Panama managed to qualify. Tsunki and Jail would probably get in their team.
c-dog
Jun 24, 2018 at 6:21 PM
Comment #24@Belfast just because Ireland aren’t there, no need to be bitter
Belfast
Jun 24, 2018 at 6:43 PM
Comment #25I hope they do well cdog. But those two teams have been piss poor like.
c-dog
Jun 24, 2018 at 6:56 PM
Comment #26Harry Kane proved today he’s reached world class level. A hat trick at the biggest tournament in the game. National hero. And Southgate is using him well. Think of him at the last tournament
Jail for Ashley
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:15 PM
Comment #27Not very sporting from these Russian spectators mind!
RobLeenio
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:30 PM
Comment #28Jail, agreed. first 5 minutes, England playing it at the back, Russian ‘fans’ booing, ball played forward when the Panamanian defence pushed up, Lingaard wins a corner, we score a goal.
You would think the Russians were complaining about us playing negative football, which was not the case at all.
Thought the ref had a decent game, no need for VAR today
Jail for Ashley
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:35 PM
Comment #29RobLeenio,
I never picked up on that today, were the Russians booing us, It wasn’t as bad as what they’re doing to Poland.
RobLeenio
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:39 PM
Comment #30I see the Southgate debate breaking out. Can’t fault him so far, except for his reliance on Sterling. Thought his game management was good today. Very interesting that the three players he rested were kane (protecting the star asset), Lingard (battered all match) and Tripier (arguably england’s star player so far? Who would have seen that coming?)
Jail for Ashley
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:40 PM
Comment #31I wonder where these to teams rate on the Jiblets equivilator, bottom half of the Championship or League one?
getoutofworeclub
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:40 PM
Comment #32To all delude toon fans it’s proven that we won’t spend money hence the reason Rafa wanted players signed before preseason we signed 1 player for 4 million it’s the same story every season this is Mike Ashley we r talking about yet most fans on here r still praying that things will change laughable yet the same idiot’s will renew there season tickets yet most went up a 100 quid but yet they still pay idiot’s no wonder ash won’t sell I’ll say it again the fans r the problem when u question them they see support the team joke Rafa will walk and we will end up with pardrew when will the fans wake up we won’t sign any one and even if we do it will be loans and maybe 1 signing not good enough
RobLeenio
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:41 PM
Comment #33Jail, yeah, it was quite clear when England were passing it round at the back early doors and i was sober. Can’t say i noticed later on after a couple of scoops.
getoutofworeclub
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:42 PM
Comment #34Come on tell me am a sh2t fan
Jail for Ashley
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:42 PM
Comment #35And Ally Mcoist the idiot condoning them by keep calling them Columbian fans.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:43 PM
Comment #36RobLeenio,
I never even had a blue Becks today, still at work.
getoutofworeclub
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:44 PM
Comment #37Shit fans we used to be the best yet now we just take it what will yous all do if Rafa walks
Ron Knee
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:45 PM
Comment #38It’s never been sweetness and light between Poland and Russia.
getoutofworeclub
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:46 PM
Comment #39No comment yet again the shit fans day nout
getoutofworeclub
Jun 24, 2018 at 7:47 PM
Comment #40Where’s jib the Mick Ashley supporter