Important (apparently) International Weekend

[teok]

Really enjoyed that. End to end stuff and now we are in brasil. I know we are terrible compared to the top teams but who cares I don't want to be sitting just checking the transfer forum all summer.

Cynics need not apply, we are on the plane boys.

 

[Shanks]

Most enjoyable two England games I've seen for a long time.

Townsend was super, he was the main threat in the first half, along with Rooney.

Noticed that Gerrard was moaning at Townsend just before our goal, but it did seem at times, they were reluctant to pass to him.

More stamina, slightly better finishing and he'll be unreal - certainly a threat for the World Cup, thats for sure.

As for the midfield, Gerrard I find frustrating - his passing wasn't great last night, his goal overshadowed what I felt was a pretty poor performance. Carrick does that role loads better in my opinion.

It's not that I think Gerrard is shit, just that Carrick is better in that holding/passing role.

Not sure who I'd pair with Carrick though, need another defensive rock type midfielder, not a passer as such, then let the 4 front guys just run at people.

Really, really need someone proper on the left, Rooney/Sturridge up top (Rooney in the hole), Townsend on right, but desperately need another quick winger type player - Welbeck as hard as he works, leaves the LB exposed too much.

Shame Ashley Young has been so shit, but then maybe it's Townsend on left, Walcott on right - thats quite a frightening prospect.

Next up, is our centre backs - pretty slow to be honest, but who else is there?

Only keeper that can challenge Hart is Forster, not too fussed at the moment.

Big thing for me though is to not go there and be cagey, sitting back - got to Brazil and attack... if we do that, go out fighting, I'll accept failing at the group stages and be happy. Rather than sitting back playing that crappy football and going out in the Quarters or Second Round.

 

[thinktank]

The best thing for England in Brazil is to have a tough group; that's the only way they are gonna get through the groups imo. They need games where they have to up their game to have any chance of winning.

 

[ShelfSide18]

I went to Wembley last night, cracking atmosphere which made it an enjoyable evening added to the fact it was an international match with a hell of a lot at stake for England.

England were OK, but for all this cautious optimism I sense after 2 reasonably positive performances - there are still the same old problems that will surely be exposed next summer in Brazil.

Gerrard is roy of the rovers and epitomises England and our often lack of tactical game understanding, his goal was superb tenacity and drive, but this is not all you need in the sweltering heat of a summer tournament. He's not a quick thinker, he too often forces the play needlessly and gives possession away - come up against the worlds best and they won't give the ball back.

It was encouraging to see England take some initiative but you could see how vulnerable we were on the counter - in Błaszczykowski and Lewandowski they had 2 Dortmund players schooled in the art of the quick transition and they had a fair few good chances on the break when they caught our defence high up and out of balance. In many ways, looking at the English squad - we are a team far more set-up for a fast breaking, counter attacking system - not in a sit deep and pray for a lucky break going forward way, but a team that wins the ball well in the middle third and breaking quickly and in numbers with direct running when the opposition defence isn't set. When they are set, we need to keep the ball better and not gift possession so easily. Carrick is the key man here, how he hasn't got 100+ caps is a crime - and watching him next to Gerrard yesterday showed me how much more of an intelligent player he is than Gerrard. Carrick looks then receives the ball, Gerrard receives the ball then looks hence Carrick's better picture of the game in his head, and his better use of the ball.

Whilst it was fairly fluid, we need to get away from the pretty much 4-4-2 we set up with. Yes Rooney dropped into the hole at times, but for me he should have played 10 yards deeper and he'd have been even more influential, he's best when he receives the ball facing the goal, not with his back to it. We do have some good players, not anywhere near the best teams but if we are set up well, realise our weaknesses and are not afraid of our strengths (and we do have them), then we can go to Brazil and not disgrace ourselves. We can also rock up there next summer, show that yet again we haven't learnt a thing, back to the default English way and fail spectacularly.

 

[teok]

I agree about the atmosphere. The stadium really needed a game like that to rub off some of the "new plastic" smell.

It was proper loud and felt like an actual game.

 

[beats1]

Most enjoyable two England games I've seen for a long time.

Townsend was super, he was the main threat in the first half, along with Rooney.

Noticed that Gerrard was moaning at Townsend just before our goal, but it did seem at times, they were reluctant to pass to him.

More stamina, slightly better finishing and he'll be unreal - certainly a threat for the World Cup, thats for sure.

As for the midfield, Gerrard I find frustrating - his passing wasn't great last night, his goal overshadowed what I felt was a pretty poor performance. Carrick does that role loads better in my opinion.

It's not that I think Gerrard is shit, just that Carrick is better in that holding/passing role.

Not sure who I'd pair with Carrick though, need another defensive rock type midfielder, not a passer as such, then let the 4 front guys just run at people.

Really, really need someone proper on the left, Rooney/Sturridge up top (Rooney in the hole), Townsend on right, but desperately need another quick winger type player - Welbeck as hard as he works, leaves the LB exposed too much.

Shame Ashley Young has been so shit, but then maybe it's Townsend on left, Walcott on right - thats quite a frightening prospect.

Next up, is our centre backs - pretty slow to be honest, but who else is there?

Only keeper that can challenge Hart is Forster, not too fussed at the moment.

Big thing for me though is to not go there and be cagey, sitting back - got to Brazil and attack... if we do that, go out fighting, I'll accept failing at the group stages and be happy. Rather than sitting back playing that crappy football and going out in the Quarters or Second Round.

I was just to about to post the same thing no one gave him the ball after always giving him the ball in the first half. It felt like as soon as England got the goal all the older players wanted to be the hero and score

As for Rooney motm, I disagree he was getting in good positions but his passing was poor and was shocking at times in his all round play had he not got the goal he wouldnt of got motm.

My dad a big rooney and united fan(who never agrees me) agreed with me for a change that Rooney looked poor and so did billy big bollocks gerrard

As for Danny Welbeck i have never seen a player fall over every time he gets near goal, literally every time

 

[chinaman]

Most enjoyable two England games I've seen for a long time.

Townsend was super, he was the main threat in the first half, along with Rooney.

Noticed that Gerrard was moaning at Townsend just before our goal, but it did seem at times, they were reluctant to pass to him.

More stamina, slightly better finishing and he'll be unreal - certainly a threat for the World Cup, thats for sure.

As for the midfield, Gerrard I find frustrating - his passing wasn't great last night, his goal overshadowed what I felt was a pretty poor performance. Carrick does that role loads better in my opinion.

It's not that I think Gerrard is shit, just that Carrick is better in that holding/passing role.

Not sure who I'd pair with Carrick though, need another defensive rock type midfielder, not a passer as such, then let the 4 front guys just run at people.

Really, really need someone proper on the left, Rooney/Sturridge up top (Rooney in the hole), Townsend on right, but desperately need another quick winger type player - Welbeck as hard as he works, leaves the LB exposed too much.

Shame Ashley Young has been so shit, but then maybe it's Townsend on left, Walcott on right - thats quite a frightening prospect.

Next up, is our centre backs - pretty slow to be honest, but who else is there?

Only keeper that can challenge Hart is Forster, not too fussed at the moment.

Big thing for me though is to not go there and be cagey, sitting back - got to Brazil and attack... if we do that, go out fighting, I'll accept failing at the group stages and be happy. Rather than sitting back playing that crappy football and going out in the Quarters or Second Round.

He had had 3 cracks at goal and all were on target: 1 very hard shot parried by the keeper and Rooney? failed to convert the rebound at an open goal; 1 supershot hit the bar; and 1 rather tame shot scooped by the keeper.

Has any England winger done that in the last 10 years?

 

[CowInAComa]

He had had 3 cracks at goal and all were on target: 1 very hard shot parried by the keeper and Rooney? failed to convert the rebound at an open goal; 1 supershot hit the bar; and 1 rather tame shot scooped by the keeper.

Has any England winger done that in the last 10 years?

Walcott scored a hatrick against Croatia.

 

[Spurger King]

As for Danny Welbeck i have never seen a player fall over every time he gets near goal, literally every time

My girlfriend, who never watches football or has any interest in it at all, actually watched the game with me last night. Her comment on Wellbeck? "Who is this donkey, and why does he keep falling over?"

She also thought Wilshere was "something on holiday from Chernobyl."

 

[OmarsComing]

As for Danny Welbeck i have never seen a player fall over every time he gets near goal, literally every time

Frazier Campbell

 

[OmarsComing]

My girlfriend, who never watches football or has any interest in it at all, actually watched the game with me last night. Her comment on Wellbeck? "Who is this donkey, and why does he keep falling over?"

She also thought Wilshere was "something on holiday from Chernobyl."

Pics of girlfriend?

 

[chinaman]

My girlfriend, who never watches football or has any interest in it at all, actually watched the game with me last night. Her comment on Wellbeck? "Who is this donkey, and why does he keep falling over?"

She also thought Wilshere was "something on holiday from Chernobyl."

That description of Wilshere is really something very original. Your girlfriend would make a good writer with her imagination.

 

[wishkah]

That description of Wilshere is really something very original. Your girlfriend would make a good writer with her imagination.

The imaginary girlfriend has a great imagination.
jking my dear sir, joking away

 

[Gbspurs]

Pics of girlfriend?

 

[TheChosenOne]

I was just to about to post the same thing no one gave him the ball after always giving him the ball in the first half. It felt like as soon as England got the goal all the older players wanted to be the hero and score

As for Rooney motm, I disagree he was getting in good positions but his passing was poor and was shocking at times in his all round play had he not got the goal he wouldnt of got motm.

My dad a big rooney and united fan(who never agrees me) agreed with me for a change that Rooney looked poor and so did billy big bollocks gerrard

As for Danny Welbeck i have never seen a player fall over every time he gets near goal, literally every time

A lot of Arsenal players have this affliction.

Unfortunately lately one or two Spurs players have
somehow contracted this.