September 7, 201311 yr Tuesday will be a difficult match. Ukraine have improved no end since Blokhin left winning all of their competitive matches. Will be very happy with a draw. With Sturridge injured I imagine the only change will be Milner coming in for Welbeck. He's far preferable to Ashley Young and he's not going to be starting Sterling or Townsend. England were good last night, certainly one of the more convincing performances against a small nation we've had for a while, especially as Moldova aren't that bad, they've taken points off Ukraine and Poland so far. Rickie Lambert was superb all night, did everything right and I hope he continues to take his chance on Tuesday. Gerrard & Lampard also continue to be working as well as they've ever done together under Hodgson, it helps that there's a third midfielder in there and that both have begun to sit deeper as they've got older though.
September 8, 201311 yr Tuesday will be a difficult match. Ukraine have improved no end since Blokhin left winning all of their competitive matches. Will be very happy with a draw. With Sturridge injured I imagine the only change will be Milner coming in for Welbeck. He's far preferable to Ashley Young and he's not going to be starting Sterling or Townsend. England were good last night, certainly one of the more convincing performances against a small nation we've had for a while, especially as Moldova aren't that bad, they've taken points off Ukraine and Poland so far. Rickie Lambert was superb all night, did everything right and I hope he continues to take his chance on Tuesday. Gerrard & Lampard also continue to be working as well as they've ever done together under Hodgson, it helps that there's a third midfielder in there and that both have begun to sit deeper as they've got older though. It's such a shame it's taken someone this long to realise that a three man midfield was the way to get the best out of them. In years gone by it would have made so much sense to play both with a single holder (Hargreaves and then Carrick, probably) but Sven and Capello were too fixated with 4-4-2. Admittedly our regular wide players with the possible exception of Joe Cole weren't suited to 4-3-3 but it would have still been preferable.
September 10, 201311 yr Another poor performance under Hodgson. A small time manager, who is managing a side with high expectations and one that is expected to keep the ball The attack was toothless and the midfield lacked balance A 0-0 draw may appear to be a positive result, but considering we're yet to beat anyone other than Moldova or San Marino in this group, it's yet to be seen whether we'd be able to win both games vs. Montenegro and Poland
September 10, 201311 yr How Ukraine managed to win 4-0 against what I thought was a decent Montenegro team I will never know. Had no ideas except give the ball to Konoplyanka or launch it aimlessly out of play. We don't seem to be able to string more than two passes together, and were never going to be able to counter attack when they kept so many back and we had Lambert up front. He's good but he's so bloody slow, and Walcott never seemed to get the ball in a position to run at defenders. With everyone fit I think we'll get the six points but we really need to learn how to beat mediocre teams consistently.
September 11, 201311 yr How Ukraine managed to win 4-0 against what I thought was a decent Montenegro team I will never know. Had no ideas except give the ball to Konoplyanka or launch it aimlessly out of play. We don't seem to be able to string more than two passes together, and were never going to be able to counter attack when they kept so many back and we had Lambert up front. He's good but he's so bloody slow, and Walcott never seemed to get the ball in a position to run at defenders. With everyone fit I think we'll get the six points but we really need to learn how to beat mediocre teams consistently. That just about sums up tonight's game - two mediocre teams unable to produce anything threatening.
September 11, 201311 yr We're lightyears behind the other nations in terms of top coaches and grassroots. And we're also a very mediocre side. However, I don't buy the 'we don't have the players to play nice football' argument anymore. We don't have to be Barcelona. But at least 2/3rds of the England squad play a high intensity pressing game for their clubs. Gerrard, Sturridge, Lampard, Wilshere, Milner, Lambert etc. It's obvious the FA want an English coach, but truth be told we don't really have any pioneering English coaches, and even if we did I'm not sure they would want the job.
September 11, 201311 yr Speaking of which, this irked me no end. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...er-8803535.html
October 3, 201311 yr England squad to play Montenegro and Poland Goalkeepers: Joe Hart [Man City], Fraser Forster [Celtic], John Ruddy [Norwich] Defenders: Leighton Baines [Everton], Kieran Gibbs [Arsenal], Kyle Walker [Tottenham], Phil Jagielka [Everton], Gary Cahill [Chelsea], Chris Smalling [Man United], Phil Jones [Man United] Midfielders: Steven Gerrard [Liverpool], Jack Wilshere [Arsenal], Michael Carrick [Man United] , Frank Lampard [Chelsea], Ross Barkley [Everton], James Milner [Man City], Andros Townsend [Tottenham], Raheem Sterling [Liverpool] Forwards: Wayne Rooney [Man United], Daniel Sturridge [Liverpool], Daniel Welbeck [Man United], Jermain Defoe [Tottenham], Rickie Lambert [southampton] Withdrawn: Tom Cleverley, Ashley Cole
October 3, 201311 yr We've got the beginnings of a half decent squad for once, but still too one too many average players in there. Not quite sure what Jordan Henderson has to do to get in this England squad, especially with the way Hodgson likes his wide midfielders to play.
October 3, 201311 yr I'd probably drop Cleverley for Henderson - doesn't look as comfortable out wide and, although he's looked pretty good so far this season, he simply hasn't played enough. Otherwise, put Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain in for Townsend and Defoe and it's not far off the group that'll go to Brazil. Maybe Carroll and Johnson as well.
October 5, 201311 yr Yes, as an ideal squad I'd put Johnson, Henderson, Carroll, Walcott and Ox-C in for Walker, Cleverley, Lambert, Townsend and Defoe. Having Jones and Smalling means you don't need 8 defenders because they can cover allowing greater midfield options. People criticise Milner and he's not flashy but he does a specific role and does it well. He's well worth having in an England squad. I can't see Barkley leaving now, it's always obvious he's a huge talent and if he's getting regular football he'll only improve.
October 11, 201311 yr Tom Cleverley out injured for both games Rumoured team for tonight: Hart Walker Jagielka Cahill Baines Gerrard Lampard Townsend Welbeck Rooney Sturridge Credit to Hodgson for going for an attacking team, but I'm not sure why he still insists on a midfield two of Gerrard and Lampard, who both lack energy
October 11, 201311 yr Really not convinced by Townsend, he's a one trick pony and he isn't very good at his one trick. Lampard & Gerrard only work as part of a three and I'm always worried about Walker.
October 11, 201311 yr I'd have gone with Carrick/Wilshere instead of Townsend. More solidity in midfield
October 11, 201311 yr Rooney as the number 10 is positive and resting Wilshere at least for the start may be wise, but I'd like to see Milner and Carrick in there somewhere.
October 11, 201311 yr Looks as though Belgium have made it in, and Croatia into the playoff round, from what I saw earlier today....apologies if this 'news' has been previously noted...
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