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Ninja
Not quite playing well, but his article with the Mirror is funny.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/tom-cleverley-interview-scapegoat-midfielder-3132365
Basically, 'I get criticised for not being able to shoot, tackle, or impact the game, in anyway, but I watch Spanish football and they pass the ball sideways sometimes, and I'm pretty good at that'
Ninja
Telegram Sam
hammer9
Ninja
Sterling and Welbeck were ok I guess, and Shaw had a pretty decent debut.
The rest of them were just down right mediocre, apart from Rooney who was especially shit.
And I'm sorry Roy, but WHAT?:
"Looking at performances, you would have to be a harsh critic to say anybody played poorly tonight. I've been very happy with the attitude and the desire to get on that plane and grab a shirt.
Telegram Sam
For the World Cup, I think we should play;
Can't be having Sturridge out wide. Need him through the middle.
Poe
Sturridge played well I thought.
Telegram Sam
With Gerrard playing a deeper role we don't need Carrick there as well. I'd be more open to the idea of having Henderson in there than Carrick - I just want to see us have some energy and take a bit of a risk rather than going with two deep lying central midfielders.
.verse
I think it will largely depend on the opposition on who partners Gerrard, there's a case for both Henderson and Carrick, respectively. Just because Gerrard lines up in a deeper role won't completely curb his natural instincts to drift forward at times. While not a bad thing, it could be a weakness to exploit depending on who his central partner is. Henderson also pushes forward, so having both Gerrard and Henderson together could at times mean both get caught forward, leaving little protection for the defence. Carrick with Gerrard would provide the greater balance, given Carrick isn't one that looks to get forward and thus will naturally provide that extra coverage for those times Gerrard pushes further afield.
I don't think you can really have a set combination to go with.
Slashman X
\o/
Ninja
Right Back: There's what, 3 options for right back? Johnson looked last night that he can't attack or defend. Walker can't defend and Smalling can't do anything useful with the football but is decent defensively. Whoever we pick there is a liability in one way or another.
Midfield: I don't think I've ever seen Gerrard defensively tested in this new role of his and that should be a worry. Personally, I think on current form the best midfield 3 we could take would be something like Gerrard-Henderson-Lallana, but we'll probably end up having to play a 2 and I just don't know who Gerrard's natural partner would be.
Rooney: Hasn't produced the goods for years for England, but we all know he'll play unless he dies or something between now and then. Conventional wisdom states that England will have to stick him behind Sturridge, but that would force England into a 4-2-3-1 with Rooney occupying the role Wilshere took last night (and Lallana impressed in). You can see why Hodgson picked the formation he did last night, because its one of the few ways you can get the perceived undroppable quartet of Rooney, Wilshere, Gerrard, and Sturridge on the pitch.
Too many chefs: For a variety of reasons in attacking positions Sturridge, Rooney, Welbeck, Lallana, Wilshere, Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Townsend all probably are considered by Hodgson for 4 positions up top. Rooney and Wilshere are perhaps the two that least deserve their place, but I don't think Hodgson has the balls to drop either for a world cup.
Poe
VP.
bmg033
Everyone realises we will be lucky to get out of the group, but the Danish manager is a twat. He needs to be quiet about England's chances at a tournament that his side didn't even qualify for. They lost 4-0 at home to Armenia in qualifying so I think he should look at his own team first.
VP.
That just makes us seem even worse.
Telegram Sam
Baines.
Ninja
Bollocks.
Shola
I would be extremely tempted to with Sturridge upfront and move Rooney to the wing. Allows a proper midfield 3 (Henderson, Gerrard, Wilshere?) Still not sure who I would go with on the other wing out of Lallana, Milner, Townsend, AOC or Sterling.
I think Rooney as a number 10 is not going to work. He's not that god at the role and it will lead to England being forced to play with a two man midfield.
Slashman X
Carroll.
Croy
Typography on England's World Cup uniform is steeped in Depeche Mode
Franck
Fairly apt given the team wearing them.
Jason
Ninja
Flash.
Media going mental over nothing.
Franck
The usual state of affairs. Got to chase those clicks y'all.
Shola
Franck
Slashman X