World Cup Match Thread DAY 3

[hugrr]

Someone tell Henry to cheer the fuck up though. He really is a sulky, miserable, monotonous fucker. Gooner ****.

He's probably still smarting from Gary Linekar ripping the piss earlier, good work Gary

 

[Spurger King]

Yaaaaay.

Very promising performance- I don't understand the negativity. Imagine this team in 4 years time- I genuinely feel we could be one of the favourites.

This squad also shows that Dyke's fear about young English players is pointless.

I think it's telling that Rooney and Gerrard were our most disappointing players. The rest of the team is either young or relatively new to the England side, and seem to have a higher level of belief and enthusiasm. Ironically I think our more experienced players seem to be the ones that lack confidence.

 

[Syn_13]

Hopefully I think rooney and Gerrard need to be dropped. Rooney has too much pressure on him and cant handle it(no world cup goal)

Then Gerrard isn't on the same page as Sterling, Lallana and Barkley and annoys the shit of me because he takes 2 or 3 touches to do pass which is normally rifled at the player 2 feet above the ground.

England had no answer to Italy sitting deep though England were tired. Whereas it was brilliant when Italy where going forward like the welbeck, Henderson and Rooney chances.

When Costa rica was deep there wasn't enough space for sterling to beat his man without running in to someone else

If Uruguay had've played someone in the hole then it would've drawn out one of those 5 at the back, creating more space for runners. Don't worry mate, I think England will be fine.

 

[fortworthspur]

I thought England looked pretty good, better than they have for some time. OTOH, Italy was clearly better and several other teams will be as well.

 

[beats1]

Still an excellent start to the WC overall. Loving it.

Need lallana and Barkley to start though and potentially drop Gerrard imo. I would look at Jones for DM since he did well there for United against Real Madrid and against the other big teams

Lallana Sterling Chamberlain

Jones Barkley

Perhaps?​

 

[LSUY]

Drogba on the bench, Bony starts

Like the fact that the Ivory Coast is willing to bench the big name and play the more in form striker. Wish England would do that with Rooney instead of trying to shoehorn him into the starting XI.

 

[dagraham]

Encouraging going forward but as I feared, suspect in defence. We just don't have the calibre of defenders like Rio, Ledley, Terry, Campbell, Cole, Neville, Woodgate any more.

Having said that, I still think we can beat Uruguay and Costa Rica.

 

[Syn_13]

He's probably still smarting from Gary Linekar ripping the piss earlier, good work Gary

Yeah, although I watched the game on Italian TV I went in the other room at half time to see how the mrs was getting on (we decided to split for the match in order to keep our marriage together!). I did hear him ask Henry if he ever got away with handball.

He really is a boring pundit though.

 

[beats1]

If Uruguay had've played someone in the hole then it would've drawn out one of those 5 at the back, creating more space for runners. Don't worry mate, I think England will be fine.

I think Uruguay are worse than England. The only issue is Suarez being better than anything we have

 

[Syn_13]

I think it's telling that Rooney and Gerrard were our most disappointing players. The rest of the team is either young or relatively new to the England side, and seem to have a higher level of belief and enthusiasm. Ironically I think our more experienced players seem to be the ones that lack confidence.

Genuinely think Huddlestone could've contributed more than Gerrard in that game playing that role. At least he won't overhit every pass. Barkley must start over Rooney though, he wants it so much more.

 

[Syn_13]

I think Uruguay are worse than England. The only issue is Suarez being better than anything we have

They'll threaten you more going forward than Italy, who prefer to control the game and play the ball. However, their midfield, short of a few dirty fuckers, is nothing special. Their defence is suspect too, with little pace, as shown by Costa Rica earlier.

 

[jondesouza]

Need lallana and Barkley to start though and potentially drop Gerrard imo. I would look at Jones for DM since he did well there for United against Real Madrid and against the other big teams

Lallana Sterling Chamberlain

Jones Barkley

Perhaps?​

But Barkley isn't a deep lying midfielder. He's a number 10 or at the least an attacking mid. And Jones has been a disaster as an anchorman when he's played that role. I don't think Gerrard was that bad. I'd drop Rooney though. Doesn't offer enough from the wide role.

 

[beats1]

I think it's telling that Rooney and Gerrard were our most disappointing players. The rest of the team is either young or relatively new to the England side, and seem to have a higher level of belief and enthusiasm. Ironically I think our more experienced players seem to be the ones that lack confidence.

But we saw it coming. I don't think they lack confidence just they are more mentally limited and unable to play a different role well. I know Gerrard had a decent season but Rodgers got Routledge playing like a good player (I though it was impossible)

In the match before the tournament, as soon as rooney and Gerrard went off England looked amazing with Wilshere and Barkley

 

[thinktank]

Need lallana and Barkley to start though and potentially drop Gerrard imo. I would look at Jones for DM since he did well there for United against Real Madrid and against the other big teams

Lallana Sterling Chamberlain

Jones Barkley

Perhaps?​

I'd definitely stick jones at RB, we can't have johnson abandoning his position for 70% of the game.

henderson barkley

sterling sturridge lallana

lambert​

for me next game.

sturridge and sterling could swap at will.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Like the fact that the Ivory Coast is willing to bench the big name and play the more in form striker. Wish England would do that with Rooney instead of trying to shoehorn him into the starting XI.

Technically isn't Rooney the inform striker? He's scored way more goals this year than the rest of the strikers apart from Sturridge

 

[beats1]

They'll threaten you more going forward than Italy, who prefer to control the game and play the ball. However, their midfield, short of a few dirty fuckers, is nothing special. Their defence is suspect too, with little pace, as shown by Costa Rica earlier.

Agree and Italy going deeper made England look attacking but england didnt threaten. Whereas when England where getting the ball to Sterling, Sturridge and Welbeck attacking the italian back 4 and we looked like scoring bar some scrappy defending

 

[kaz Hirai]

I think Uruguay are worse than England. The only issue is Suarez being better than anything we have

Disagree. Think Uruguay are better, the costa rica result was a bit freaky like Spain.

They'll up their game big time and England will have to perform much better defensively to win. 3-1 Uruguay I predict. England looked like tim sherwoods tottenham. Lots of appealing running and hoff and puff but tactically a shambles

 

[thinktank]

lmao joe hart mouthed "wow, what a free kick!" at pirlo post-match.

Won't forget that in a hurry. If he'd have scored he'd have probably sucked him off.

 

[beats1]

But Barkley isn't a deep lying midfielder. He's a number 10 or at the least an attacking mid. And Jones has been a disaster as an anchorman when he's played that role. I don't think Gerrard was that bad. I'd drop Rooney though. Doesn't offer enough from the wide role.

From a passing pov i thought he was our worst player. TBF he looked decent there for United in the big matches like when he marked out Ronaldo

Also Barkley has played that position for everton youth team last year, the wednesday and Everton at times

 

[Syn_13]

Roy's post match reaction tells me he'll be keeping the same line up against Uruguay. He seems to think Rooney played well, and that Gerrard and Henderson "did everything expected of them".