England National football team thread

[MasterBlaster76]

Now that is interesting. I'm watching 'Sunday Supplement' right now on Sky and the guys were talking about the young kids coming through in the Academies - they were saying that the technique isn't bad but the fitness isn't there; the stamina isn't there. Their body fat is too high compared to kids from abroad; they're lounging around at home playing Fifa instead of getting out there to play real football but to follow on from that, our ------ Government isn't helping matters by allowing all the playing fields to be built on.

Now I've heard that, I think our problem is much deeper than I thought at first - not just a technical issue, but a much deeper underlying basic fitness issue. Having said that, surely the Academies can work with the players on their fitness? But that's where the foreign money comes in, isn't it? The Oil Baron at City (for example) will look at the academy situation and will decide it's more financially sensible to import young foreign kids into the academies than young English kids who seemingly have a fitness issue.

Dark times ahead for the England team I think - St Georges' or no St Georges.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Now that is interesting. I'm watching 'Sunday Supplement' right now on Sky and the guys were talking about the young kids coming through in the Academies - they were saying that the technique isn't bad but the fitness isn't there; the stamina isn't there. Their body fat is too high compared to kids from abroad; they're lounging around at home playing Fifa instead of getting out there to play real football but to follow on from that, our ------ Government isn't helping matters by allowing all the playing fields to be built on.

Now I've heard that, I think our problem is much deeper than I thought at first - not just a technical issue, but a much deeper underlying basic fitness issue. Having said that, surely the Academies can work with the players on their fitness? But that's where the foreign money comes in, isn't it? The Oil Baron at City (for example) will look at the academy situation and will decide it's more financially sensible to import young foreign kids into the academies than young English kids who seemingly have a fitness issue.

Dark times ahead for the England team I think - St Georges' or no St Georges.

the problem is in this country the ripples of the class system run down everything. I mean, this sounds over dramatic considering we're not rubbish at sport are we, we've got olympic champs coming out of our ears, good ashes performance, rugby, tennis all enjoying good times in the UK right now.

but it masks the fact that the english cricket team is made up of public school boys, about 40% of the olympic medals were won by privately educated people, the rugby team is the same, murray is an outlier being a kid of a single parent attending state school but having a tennis coach for a mum does give him a rather unique advantage (and anyway, his success masks how far behind most other countries we are with regard to developing tennis players)

imo, the fitness level thing is utter tripe, and swallowed up by the daily mail readership who go about fretting things aren't like they used to be. the fact is we're a country that thought the solution to developing talent was to build a big massive show off academy which a load of self important prats that prance about deciding who is worthy and who isn't (and wow, I don't see the potential for nepotism in that set up ), rather than just employ people to go round schools, set up leagues and make things easier for kids to have a bash at making it in sport.

 

[ste_mc_efc]

the problem is in this country the ripples of the class system run down everything. I mean, this sounds over dramatic considering we're not rubbish at sport are we, we've got olympic champs coming out of our ears, good ashes performance, rugby, tennis all enjoying good times in the UK right now.

but it masks the fact that the english cricket team is made up of public school boys, about 40% of the olympic medals were won by privately educated people, the rugby team is the same, murray is an outlier being a kid of a single parent attending state school but having a tennis coach for a mum does give him a rather unique advantage (and anyway, his success masks how far behind most other countries we are with regard to developing tennis players)

imo, the fitness level thing is utter tripe, and swallowed up by the daily mail readership who go about fretting things aren't like they used to be. the fact is we're a country that thought the solution to developing talent was to build a big massive show off academy which a load of self important prats that prance about deciding who is worthy and who isn't (and wow, I don't see the potential for nepotism in that set up ), rather than just employ people to go round schools, set up leagues and make things easier for kids to have a bash at making it in sport.

 

[Auwais]

Today was pretty much ENG's most safest XI, except for Cleverley starting for the injured Carrick & maybe Sturridge for Welbeck. Simple 4-3-3 formation that was used in the Brazil friendly earlier this year at wembley that utilizes the basic strength's of the team.

But i do wonder sometimes especially looking at how Walker & Baines played down the flank today, if Hodgson can really get adventurous and play a 3-5-1-1 formation. IMO i think ENG have the players to play the system effectively. And also most importantly its probably the best way to enable Rooney is playing in his best best in the "hole" potion instead of up top on his own, allowing the important mid-field trio of Gerrard/Carrick/Wilshire to start (instead of sacrificing one of them) & not losing width.

It also might bring some extra solidity & pace to the defense since i'm not overly confident about the Cahill/Jaigelka pairing. The way Miller turned Cahill for that second goal as if he was Neymar was a bit troubling.

It might mask the defensive deficiencies of the current crop of full-backs, who are a long way away from the defensive solidarity that Neville and Cole brought.

Either that or have a more defensive full-back on the right like Jenkinson, Jones or Smalling tucking in and allowing Baines to burst forward and provide width in a four man backline.

That would probably work better considering there isn't someone to provide proper width from the left wing as the likes of Welbeck, Young, Oxlade-Chamberlain favour either cutting inside on the ball or drifting into central positions off it whenever they've played on the left.

 

[Bevab]

Gareth Southgate appointed head coach of England U21 team | Football News | Sky Sports

Obvious.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Gareth Southgate appointed head coach of England U21 team | Football News | Sky Sports

Obvious.

 

[War]

It might mask the defensive deficiencies of the current crop of full-backs, who are a long way away from the defensive solidarity that Neville and Cole brought.

Either that or have a more defensive full-back on the right like Jenkinson, Jones or Smalling tucking in and allowing Baines to burst forward and provide width in a four man backline.

That would probably work better considering there isn't someone to provide proper width from the left wing as the likes of Welbeck, Young, Oxlade-Chamberlain favour either cutting inside on the ball or drifting into central positions off it whenever they've played on the left.

Ye i could live with that second option. But would Hodgson really drop A Cole at this stage or come the world cup presuming England qualify?

----------

Of course most of us wanted Hoddle back, but fact is we probably don't have a lot truly qualified youth coaches anyway. All of that is things that will happen when St.George's park starts producing them along with with skilled players in the coming years.

The under-21's right now if you think about is probably is better off is Hodgson has some authority over them and the man in charge of the under-21's treats the team as feeding ground for the senior team - instead of focusing too much on results.

 

[War]

Ha so Rooney, Johnson & Jones out. Thank goodness Wilshire is ok. This injury bug that always haunts England at crucial times, happens every time so i won't even complain.

Just don't pull out the squad now Sturridge. Defoe is solid, but i don't think anyone will be truly comfortable if he is left being the most experienced striker having the lead the line in Ukraine for example.

TheFA.com - Steven Caulker comes into England squad for Moldova and Ukraine - Caulker a young talented defender, but i might have called up Michael Dawson to be honest.

A bit worried about Ash Young's form these days, would have seriously considered calling up Agbonlahor.

 

[War]

Tiago Ilori could play for England after FA arrange talks with new Liverpool defender | Mail Online

 

[MasterBlaster76]

And 32 years later, it seems the England manager doesn?t, either. Roy Hodgson described Manchester United?s stalemate with Chelsea last week as exceptional, the best game he had seen this season. And there could be the problem.

Read more: Martin Samuel - Roy Hodgson loves a draw and that spells danger for England | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Really? That Man Utd v Chelsea match was as boring as hell!

 

[ste_mc_efc]

Really? That Man Utd v Chelsea match was as boring as hell!

if you can't work out what he means when he says that you really are clueless.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

if you can't work out what he means when he says that you really are clueless.

Whatever. That wasn't my idea of an 'exceptional game'. It was my idea of a bore draw where both teams cancelled each other out.

August 29, 1981 was the day it changed. The Football League introduced three points for a win across all divisions in time for the start of the new season. The game would never be the same. On that afternoon, 33 English league clubs received greater reward for victory than ever before. There were just two goalless draws. Aldershot, Darlington, Port Vale and Halifax Town still didn?t get it.

And 32 years later, it seems the England manager doesn?t, either. Roy Hodgson described Manchester United?s stalemate with Chelsea last week as exceptional, the best game he had seen this season. And there could be the problem.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...draw-spells-danger-England.html#ixzz2drRIwJB1
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

I guess the guy who wrote that is 'clueless' as well - and you should maybe be the next England manager?

 

[ste_mc_efc]

You've completely missed my point and I'm not going to explain it because I doubt you care.

 

[War]

BBC Sport - How can the England national team be made great again?

 

[MasterBlaster76]

That yellow card for Welbeck was pure BS, and the first one he had was for a dive when he should've had a penalty. Nice job, ref. That's one of our most prolific strikers out of a very important game. Can these things be overturned, or is that just for red cards?