May 30, 201312 yr Didn't see the Ireland game but apparently we were poor. The flexibility of playing a 4-4-1-1 depends entirely on Rooney having a good game and he's never consistently delivered in an England shirt. Stick him up front in a 4-2-3-1 and, even without Wilshere, you'll get creativity from elsewhere - as the first half against Montenegro proved. Brazil game suspended due to the Maracana being unsafe, so at least even if we're not at the World Cup it looks like no one will be :basil:
May 31, 201312 yr The suspension has been revoked. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22725420 Apparently, there could be problems. Pity about this when the focus should be on the game.
May 31, 201312 yr Safety issues at the Maracana? How do they plan to stage the Confederations cup in a few weeks then?
June 1, 201312 yr Didn't see the Ireland game but apparently we were poor. The flexibility of playing a 4-4-1-1 depends entirely on Rooney having a good game and he's never consistently delivered in an England shirt. Stick him up front in a 4-2-3-1 and, even without Wilshere, you'll get creativity from elsewhere - as the first half against Montenegro proved. Brazil game suspended due to the Maracana being unsafe, so at least even if we're not at the World Cup it looks like no one will be :basil: England need to drop Rooney. He's not had a good tournament since 2004. He coats through games these days. He's still got the ability, but he just doesn't seem arsed. I think he causes more problems that he solves. I blame Fergie a little bit, as I'm not sure he even knows what position he plays anymore. He's certainly not the right player to lead the line in a Roy Hodgson formation. I just can't wait for Roy to be sacked, and for England to bring in a new coach, even if it means suffering in the short term for long term gains.
June 3, 201312 yr Hodgson's been making noises that make me feel reasonably confident that we're going in the right direction and the Ireland game was just a Sven era throwback. If he's playing Rooney up top it suggests to me that he's trying for a 2009-10 United shape (by far Rooney's best domestic season) with runners either side. He's not an idiot, he knows that at full strength we should be outplaying most teams as well as beating them. Also nice to see Carrick continuing his imitation of Busquets and dropping back between the centre backs when the full backs got forward last night. The game also reminded me that against top opposition Cole is still streets ahead of Baines.
June 3, 201312 yr Hodgson's been making noises that make me feel reasonably confident that we're going in the right direction and the Ireland game was just a Sven era throwback. If he's playing Rooney up top it suggests to me that he's trying for a 2009-10 United shape (by far Rooney's best domestic season) with runners either side. He's not an idiot, he knows that at full strength we should be outplaying most teams as well as beating them. Also nice to see Carrick continuing his imitation of Busquets and dropping back between the centre backs when the full backs got forward last night. The game also reminded me that against top opposition Cole is still streets ahead of Baines. I don't know. The man is an idiot for starters. Trying to big up a draw as a win, the guy is a complete fruitcake. Sorry but the guy thinks that the way we set up England is how Klopp sets up Borussia Dortmund. His problem is his refusal to change things. The first half was atrocious. Brazil are hardly world beaters at the moment, and we played with 11 men behind the ball. Everyone was sluggish in possession, which is not down to the fact we've had a long season. The fact he only changes things when we go a goal down is downright worrying. I saw what he was trying to do last night, but playing Milner in the wide left position does nobody any favours.
August 8, 201311 yr England squad to play Scotland: Goalkeepers: Joe Hart [Man City], Ben Foster [West Brom], John Ruddy [Norwich] Defenders: Leighton Baines [Everton], Ashley Cole [Chelsea], Glen Johnson [Liverpool], Kyle Walker [Tottenham], Phil Jagielka [Everton], Gary Cahill [Chelsea], Chris Smalling [Man United], Phil Jones [Man United] Midfielders: Steven Gerrard [Liverpool], Jack Wilshere [Arsenal], Frank Lampard [Chelsea], Tom Cleverley [Man United] Wingers: Theo Walcott [Arsenal], Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain [Arsenal], James Milner [Man City], Wilfried Zaha [Man United] Forwards: Jermain Defoe [Tottenham], Rickie Lambert [southampton], Wayne Rooney [Man United], Danny Welbeck [Man United] Withdrawn: Ashley Young, Michael Carrick
August 8, 201311 yr Given he won't be in the squad when everyone's fit, why bother with Lambert? Either give one of the youngsters some experience or pick someone who might make the squad again in the near future. Interesting trivia though: if he plays he'll be the fourth player this century to make his England début in his 30s. I can only name one other.
August 8, 201311 yr Given he won't be in the squad when everyone's fit, why bother with Lambert? Either give one of the youngsters some experience or pick someone who might make the squad again in the near future. Interesting trivia though: if he plays he'll be the fourth player this century to make his England début in his 30s. I can only name one other. Osman? Holt?
August 8, 201311 yr Holt never called up. Osman definitely. Chris Powell I'm guessing unless he was 90s? Kevin Davies was one.
August 9, 201311 yr I thought of Kevin Davies but Osman is definitely another. Maybe a keeper as well?
August 9, 201311 yr Given he won't be in the squad when everyone's fit, why bother with Lambert? Either give one of the youngsters some experience or pick someone who might make the squad again in the near future. I always said this about Leon Osman. Selected by Hodgson, but mostly seemed to be there to make up the numbers
August 15, 201311 yr I find friendlies like England vs. Scotland a bit pointless. A local derby that is more about the result rather than performance Defensively I thought we were poor and have been for a while. Only two clean sheets in the last 10 and both have been against San Marino Slightly predictable whilst attacking too Happy for Lambert to score though. He'll probably be considered as a Carroll alternative when he isn't available (more often than not)
August 27, 201311 yr England squad to play Moldova and Ukraine: Goalkeepers: Joe Hart [Man City], Fraser Forster [Celtic], John Ruddy [Norwich] Defenders: Leighton Baines [Everton], Ashley Cole [Chelsea], Kyle Walker [Tottenham], Phil Jagielka [Everton], Gary Cahill [Chelsea], Chris Smalling [Man United], Steven Caulker [Cardiff] Midfielders: Steven Gerrard [Liverpool], Jack Wilshere [Arsenal], Michael Carrick [Man United] , Frank Lampard [Chelsea], Tom Cleverley [Man United] , Ross Barkley [Everton], James Milner [Man City], Ashley Young [Man United] , Theo Walcott [Arsenal], Raheem Sterling [Liverpool], Andros Townsend [Tottenham] Forwards: Jermain Defoe [Tottenham], Rickie Lambert [southampton], Danny Welbeck [Man United] Withdrawn: Wayne Rooney, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Daniel Sturridge
September 2, 201311 yr Wayne Rooney, Glen Johnson and Phil Jones withdrawn injured Steven Caulker called up as a replacement
September 6, 201311 yr Daniel Sturridge and Steven Caulker to miss match vs. Moldova, but may return for Ukraine Team to play Moldova: Hart Walker Cahill Jagielka Cole Gerrard Wilshere Lampard Walcott Lambert Welbeck
September 6, 201311 yr Should do a job. All three forwards will fancy themselves to get on the scoresheet.
September 6, 201311 yr Silly decision, although less so than the ridiculous one in Montenegro. Even so, we shouldn't have a problem getting a draw on Tuesday.
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