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The England Thread

yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,188
It would be a great help but I can't help but feel that England will struggle in the heat.

People are almost ruling out Costa Rica already but I can see them picking up a couple of draws.

England NEED to beat Italy to stand a chance, as IMO only one European team will make it out of the group - if that.
If Costa Rica pick up a point in your group, there's a problem.
 

beats1

Well-Known Member
Feb 22, 2010
30,006
29,551
Got to agree with Paul Scholes here

“He’s got a brilliant scoring record for his country with 38 goals in 89 internationals, but he’s played in eight World Cup games without a goal. You expect more of him,” Scholes writes.

“I’m not saying Wayne needs to be dropped, but if his form doesn’t get up to scratch in the warm-ups, or in the first game of the World Cup, it’ll be interesting to see if the England management team has the balls to make that decision. We have quality forwards in the squad this time. That should give Wayne the competition he needs to spur him on a little more.”
 

Spursh

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2009
2,558
6,514
If Lambert and Lallana sign for Liverpool as expected, the England team - particularly the probable starting XI - is looking very scouse-centric...

(Liverpool Everton Scouser)

Probable XI

Hart

Johnson
Cahill
Jagielka
Baines


Gerrard
Henderson


Sterling
Rooney
Lallana

Sturridge

Squad
Foster, Forster; Smalling, Jones, Shaw; Wilshere, Lampard, Barkley, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Welbeck, Lambert


I'm sure they'll be modest about it though...

enfield_scousers.jpg
 
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SamR

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2006
1,214
2,440
I'm interested to see what Roy does with the first 11 come Italy.

Having watched the Peru game live, i didn't really feel the shape worked in the first half. Rooney goes hunting for the ball, as did Lallana and Sturridge at times. Whilst this narrowed the midfield allowing us to keep a bit of neat possession, we relied heavily on Johnson to create an option up the right flank. Gerrard and Henderson both looked for this ball a few times when it was overly congested in the middle and Glenn didn't always beat his man. Infact when he lost possession, Lallana used up most of his energy tracking back from a further position because he drifted a lot more central in the build up and took time to then refind his position after we regained possession.

Maybe this was the plan but I don't really think it worked. I'd like to see Baines used as this outlet in the next friendly mind you as his delivery is much better then Johnson's.

If I was judging it purely on the Peru game, I'd go away from my original first 11 I had in mind. I don't think Rooney and Lallana works unless only one of them looks to come deep to get onto the ball. I'd rather Rooney do it and Lallana looking for the next ball to work his magic further up the pitch.

The back 5 picks itself really, as do Gerrard and Henderson. The rest of the team against Peru could work, but were not there yet.

I'd pick Wilshere over Lallana (unless we keep him more on the right rather than let him and Rooney congest the middle of the park) OR play Lallana and a front 3 of Sturridge, Wellbeck and Stirling in the next warm up game. Much quicker on the counter against possession based teams and they offer more of a combined threat than taking out one for a sluggish Rooney at the moment (although a part of me would love to see Rooney light up the tournament).
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
37,886
130,485
Rooney on the left and Milner at Right Back

BpRrHwaCQAEbyZ4.png:large

I'm going to use this picture so much during the World Cup.
 

SteveH

BSoDL candidate for SW London
Jul 21, 2003
8,642
9,313
Its going to to be tough for England that for sure.

Lets hope Baines stays fit. Frank is just too slow for a holding mid but lets not worry because we have Stevie G. :facepalm:
Glen Johnson - there must be better 'fit' left back players out there?
Rooney - we live in hope.

Shame about Ox but why did no one tell him to be little careful its a warmup game not the bloody final. We do have some very thick English footballers. If Sterling does that sort of........lunge in a proper game he is on a flight to blighty, a pillock and another sharp lad.

Still I'm looking forward to watching the world cup. Hope England do well :).......looking forward to watching Belgium especially and most of the other teams as well
 

L-man

Misplaced pass from Dier
Dec 31, 2008
9,979
51,364
Apparently Paddy Power have cut down part of the rainforest just to do this. If true, what the fuck is wrong with them


image.jpg
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
I've got to say I've been very impressed with Roy Hodgson so far. He seems to be preparing the team well and keeping expectations grounded. Hopefully he can manage the tactical side just as well.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
Was Lampard lucky to get in? Considering his age and similarity to Gerrard.

He'll be a good player to have in the squad. Tons of experience and always likely to get a goal. Don't see him starting many games but he's a great player to bring on in an emergency.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
I think this England team has more going for it than it is has for a long time. They still have an unhealthy aversion to playing proper football, stringing more than 3 passes together etc. but it is quite well balanced and has some vibrant attacking options.
 

beats1

Well-Known Member
Feb 22, 2010
30,006
29,551
I think this England team has more going for it than it is has for a long time. They still have an unhealthy aversion to playing proper football, stringing more than 3 passes together etc. but it is quite well balanced and has some vibrant attacking options.
I agree but I think thats due to individual players, take out Barkley, Lallana, Townsend(in the qualifiers), Wilshere(in his one or two good cameos) and it suddenly gets boring again.

Its amazing we have got alot finishers and workers but we haven't got the creators because they weren't fancied before.

Lets look back 2 years at the Euro's and this team played
Welbeck
Rooney
Young-------------------Milner
Parker Gerrard
Cole Lescott Terry Johnson
Hart​

None of those players are thinkers or players that are good on the ball except for young but even then he needs to be put in the right places by the right ball
 
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YiddoInPoland

You got some statistical evidence to back that up?
Aug 6, 2011
3,041
6,409
I think you guys have a very decent team and finally decent levels of expectations, you could go far.
 
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