Franck
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
4,255
This just popped up on my twitter feed:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpTtY20IYAAfZ5J.jpg:large

What the hell?!
Carroll.
15 years ago
4 years ago
3,361
Am I the only one who thinks our defence isnt that bad? Baines and Jagielka, even though they might not have international experience as such are top players, Cahill aswell along with the CL experience. Johnson is a bit of a weak point but all together its not the worst? I know say Brazil have likes of Marcelo and Alves, but then likes of Luiz dont look that much more stable?
VP.
14 years ago
2 months ago
25,271
My worry isn't experience, they've all played enough top level football between them now to cope with the likes of Honduras. Its the individual mistakes that are gonna cost us as there are simply too many of them. They're all making them but Glen Johnson yesterday looked an absolute liability at times and he is certainly our weak link and teams will single him out at the world cup.
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
I'd rather Jenkinson play RB than Johnson. Get Flanagan in the XI.
VP.
14 years ago
2 months ago
25,271
Yesterday i wished Neville would kit up.
Carroll.
15 years ago
4 years ago
3,361
Yeah Johnson was shit yesterday, never been great defensively but hopefully wont be a massive liability
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
Yeah Johnson was shit yesterday, never been great defensively but hopefully wont be a massive liability


He's been shit for the last 2 seasons. I was hoping a Honduras player would clamp him instead of our best players.

My Liverpool mate can't wait til that shitehouse leaves.
Telegram Sam
16 years ago
3 months ago
5,082
Premium
Am I the only one who thinks our defence isnt that bad? Baines and Jagielka, even though they might not have international experience as such are top players, Cahill aswell along with the CL experience. Johnson is a bit of a weak point but all together its not the worst? I know say Brazil have likes of Marcelo and Alves, but then likes of Luiz dont look that much more stable?

I don't think our first choice back-line is that bad but at the same time it's the weakest it's been for some time. Whatever you thought about Terry and Ferdinand, when they were in their prime they were world class and as much as I like Baines he isn't as good as Ashley Cole was in previous tournaments. Glen Johnson is a massive liability and our reserve options are appallingly bad.

That said, I do like Gary Cahill a lot and if Roy drills them well then we should be alright, although against the very best opposition we could be torn to shreds. Gerrard and Henderson/ Wilshere will have to screen the back four well.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
We're short on right backs but the rest of the first XI is still bang average.

There's no world class talent there anymore.

2006 we had Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Rooney, Terry, Ferdinand and Cole all in the world class bracket.
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
We're short on right backs but the rest of the first XI is still bang average.

There's no world class talent there anymore.

2006 we had Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Rooney, Terry, Ferdinand and Cole all in the world class bracket.


Yeah but most were egotistical tits who thought they were the dogs bollocks. The youthfulness and pace of the side makes me have greater hope of getting anywhere than that lot did.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
I think we'll struggle to get out the group tbh.

If Rooney turns up we'll probably get to the quarters.
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
I think we'll struggle to get out the group tbh.

If Rooney turns up we'll probably get to the quarters.


I reckon we'll come 2nd behind Uruguay.

As much as I love Rooney and as stupid as it sounds, we probably have an even greater chance if he wasn't in the side. He tries too hard and with his form over the past season it isn't coming off.

Sterling is an outstanding player as too is Ox, I would love to see them play on either wing.

This is the most I've been looking forward to watch England at an international tournament.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
I love Rooney though, his passion and drive are important. As I say he's far and away our best player if he turns up.

I'd personally play Welbeck and Milner just off Rooney in the first 2 games, then experiment with Sterling/Lallana/Barkley against Costa Rica.

We're a worse team than both Italy and Uruguay but both are definitely beatable if we play the correct tactics.
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
My consistent starting XI would've been this:

Hart
Johnson (ffs) - Jags - Cahill - Baines
Gerrard - Wilshere/Henderson
Ox - Rooney - Sterling
Sturridge


or

Hart
Johnson (ffs) - Jags - Cahill - Baines
Gerrard - Henderson
Ox - Wilshere - Sterling
Sturridge


Rooney is either gonna be a detriment or an aid. There's no inbetween.
Carroll.
15 years ago
4 years ago
3,361
Well win the group
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
To be fair, the group could be a lot harder.

Suarez is really the only player in the group that should unduly worry us.
alilane4
15 years ago
2 weeks ago
252
IMO we looked far better when Rooney was taken off and Barkely came on against Honduras. Granted there was a lack of goals but I think we have far more exciting, pacey and in-form players to play than Rooney.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
To be fair, the group could be a lot harder.

Suarez is really the only player in the group that should unduly worry us.


Balotelli and Pirlo are enough to damage England too.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
Balotelli and Pirlo are enough to damage England too.


Meh, I'm really not sure Balotelli is really a player we should be unduly worried about. Talented enough player on his day, but I've always thought he was vastly over-rated because of what he did off the pitch, more so than what he did on it.

As for Pirlo, undoubtedly a good player but I saw Welbeck do one of the best man marking jobs on a deep lying playmaker you're likely to see against Xabi Alonso, no reason why he couldn't repeat that feat against Pirlo (or similarly no reason why Sterling couldn't do it) and at 35 I'm not sure he has the mobility to get away from that sort of attention.
BR.
18 years ago
2 years ago
1,896
Suarez is really the only player in the group that should unduly worry us.


Italy will probably be thinking the same thing.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
Meh, I'm really not sure Balotelli is really a player we should be unduly worried about. Talented enough player on his day, but I've always thought he was vastly over-rated because of what he did off the pitch, more so than what he did on it.

As for Pirlo, undoubtedly a good player but I saw Welbeck do one of the best man marking jobs on a deep lying playmaker you're likely to see against Xabi Alonso, no reason why he couldn't repeat that feat against Pirlo (or similarly no reason why Sterling couldn't do it) and at 35 I'm not sure he has the mobility to get away from that sort of attention.


I don't think Hodgson has the tactical nous to employ a system to hurt Italy who are likely to be very compact other than "go out there and give it your all for England" - getting Welbeck to man mark Pirlo is a good idea though. However it means we'll be less worried about people like Candreva and Marchisio who both have the talent to hurt us too.

I think people underrate Italy a bit for no real reason.
VP.
14 years ago
2 months ago
25,271
How about we actually have a go rather than worry about the opposition, people are far too scared of losing and it drives me mad. Lets see how Pirlo does up against Barkley or Sterling, rather than worry about what he can do when he's got the ball (Rooney can drop on him anyway), lets see what he can do when he hasn't as i'm quite certain the last thing he'll be wanting to do is chase around a couple of very quick and skillful teenagers in that heat and humidity.

And also if the only way Wellbeck can get into this side (lets not forget he's supposed to be a striker) is so he can man mark an aging defensive playmaker, rather than actually offer a threat to the oppositions goal then why the fuck is he even there?
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
How about we actually have a go rather than worry about the opposition, people are far too scared of losing and it drives me mad. Lets see how Pirlo does up against Barkley or Sterling, rather than worry about what he can do when he's got the ball (Rooney can drop on him anyway), lets see what he can do when he hasn't as i'm quite certain the last thing he'll be wanting to do is chase around a couple of very quick and skillful teenagers in that heat and humidity.

And also if the only way Wellbeck can get into this side (lets not forget he's supposed to be a striker) is so he can man mark an aging defensive playmaker, rather than actually offer a threat to the oppositions goal then why the fuck is he even there?


*Welbeck

And because he's the third best English striker.
VP.
14 years ago
2 months ago
25,271
*Welbeck

And because he's the third best English striker.


So good at that striker role you want him to man mark a defensive play maker, i'd also rate Lambert a lot better than him too.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
So good at that striker role you want him to man mark a defensive play maker, i'd also rate Lambert a lot better than him too.


Then you're an idiot.

Please bare in mind that Lambert would not be at the world cup right now if Rodriguez hadn't got injured.
alilane4
15 years ago
2 weeks ago
252
Unfortunately for us he is one of our better strikers.

I believe we may end up doing our normal as if we get out of the group we should make the quarters. Then we may feature against Spain, Brazil or Holland and another possible quarter final loss.

Edit: However as it's knockout anything can happen and I'm not begin too negative
VP.
14 years ago
2 months ago
25,271
Then you're an idiot.

Please bare in mind that Lambert would not be at the world cup right now if Rodriguez hadn't got injured.


Please bare in mind that Welbeck* is only there because of a couple of ok performances in the qualifiers, not because he actually performed better than Lambert (or Rodriguez for that matter) throughout the season.
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
If Welbeck's starts the first game then it confirms we're going out in the group stages. Especially if it forces Sturridge out wide.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
Please bare in mind that Welbeck* is only there because of a couple of ok performances in the qualifiers, not because he actually performed better than Lambert (or Rodriguez for that matter) throughout the season.


10 in 36 including 5 in 8 as a forward and 11 substitute appearances.

vs

14 in 39 all as a forward and with only 6 substitute appearances

Had Moyes not bizarrely dropped his most in form player at the back end of December just to have his big names in the side Welbeck would have comfortably outscored Lambert last season.

He's also probably been England's best player over about 2 seasons, playing from the left, but everyone has such a bizarre hard on with hating on him.
VP.
14 years ago
2 months ago
25,271
10 in 36 including 5 in 8 as a forward and 11 substitute appearances.

vs

14 in 39 all as a forward and with only 6 substitute appearances

Had Moyes not bizarrely dropped his most in form player at the back end of December just to have his big names in the side Welbeck would have comfortably outscored Lambert last season.

He's also probably been England's best player over about 2 seasons, playing from the left, but everyone has such a bizarre hard on with hating on him.


My problem with him is that he's either half decent or absolutely awful, there's no middle ground. He certainly doesn't look like he's in any real form at the minute so using him simply to mark Pirlo without offering much if anything really going forward is baffling to me. He gets put on the left side for all the wrong reasons which are usually his work rate, well i'd much prefer someone playing in that position (of a 3) to be there because there main threat is going forward taking people on and creating things.

I don't hate him and will be delighted if he proves me wrong and plays brilliantly, but i really cannot see it happening and feel we do have better options that now deserve to be used ahead of him.

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