England National football team thread

[ste_mc_efc]

no real idea how concrete interest was at various price levels.

i'm going to trust moyes on this one. he knows how good/important rodwell is/can be and how much we could have sold him for, just because he's had a lot of injuries and it hasn't worked out doesn't mean it wasn't the right decision at the time either.

but at the time I was in a minority of fans who was saying i'd take x amount for him if offered, with x being a lot lower than the value other fans put on him.

 

[War]

What really is Rodwell's strongest position though?. I don't watch Everton attentively, but he is always spoken of as a defensive mid-fielder.

However every time i see him play, especially when he played in that friendly for England vs Sweden the other day, he showed a lot of attacking intent.

 

[puddleduck]

I guess a bit issue with young midfielders in England is they are asked to do so much running around that they are often injury prone. They normally settle down by about 23+

 

[ste_mc_efc]

he doesn't have one because he's a very immature player whose impact on any game is far less than it should be for.

he grew up as a centre half and he's probably best suited for a defensive mid, but he's too inexperienced to do that role now. While he is quite good technically he lacks the guile/creativity to be an attacking midfielder (although it's a position cahill excelled in without those qualities) so his best bet now is probably as a box to box type. - but then if he does this i'll point to puddleduck's injury point.

 

[War]

he doesn't have one because he's a very immature player whose impact on any game is far less than it should be for.

he grew up as a centre half and he's probably best suited for a defensive mid, but he's too inexperienced to do that role now. While he is quite good technically he lacks the guile/creativity to be an attacking midfielder (although it's a position cahill excelled in without those qualities) so his best bet now is probably as a box to box type. - but then if he does this i'll point to puddleduck's injury point.

Hmm i see. Well i just wish to see him play a full season with Everton without injury so we can fully see him excel.

Will be keeping a close eye on Everton's next young English player Ross Barkely as well.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

The friendly takes place at the Wankdorf Stadium in Berne, with England coach Roy Hodgson opting for a more youthful set-up.

 

[War]

England v Italy - Gianfranco previews the upcoming friendly

Perfect chance tonight for Sir Hodgson to dispel the notion that he is rigid 4-4-2 formation and play something different, especially a 4-3-3 formation.

Big game for Carrick. Big chance for him to show he could be our version of Xavi and Pirlo to some level en route to world cup 2014 qualifiers at the eventual tournament. If he can, a potential Carrick/Wilshire mid-field base could be very interesting.

Hopeful starting XI:

----------------------------Ruddy--------------------------

Walker---------Lescott/Caulker-------Cahill------------Baines

--------------------------Carrick----------------------------

---------------Cleverley--------------Lampard----------------

Young---------------------Carroll--------------------Johnson

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Good stuff from England tonight - and we're beating Italy! Yeah, I know it's a friendly, and they're playing a lot of kids, but still.

And a good win there - lots of nice things in that display.

 

[Lee1981]

So that's what England keeping the ball and passing it around looks like

Bloody impressed I have to say, just shows we don't need the same old players who have failed over and over, fresh young blood and players who seem like the care.!

Let's hope we keep a similar team and attitude into the qualifiers.

Worth the watch for once

 

[Haarithan]

And England are #2 in the FIFA World Rankings with that win against our third string XI, with Germany having lost their friendly against Argentina (1-3). Funny how this system works really, especially when you have the likes of Greece and Denmark above Brazil.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

And let's hope it's an end to the two in midfield rubbish, especially when it's Gerrard and Lampard. They cannot play together, it's been proven time and again.

Cleverley looked really good. Damn good finish by Defoe as well.

----------

And England are #2 in the FIFA World Rankings with that win against our third string XI, with Germany having lost their friendly against Argentina (1-3). Funny how this system works really, especially when you have the likes of Greece and Denmark above Brazil.

It wasn't exactly our First Eleven either, mate.

 

[Haarithan]

On the match, thought England looked impressive and attractive to watch for once. Carrick definitely my MOTM.

It wasn't exactly our First Eleven either, mate.

True. Was close enough to being your second XI though.

In Italy's case though, I didn't have a clue on around 5-6 players (especially our second half subs) - "Now, who's this guy?" "And where does he ply his trade domestically?" were the kind of questions creeping over my mind throughout.

 

[puddleduck]

It really is quite bizarre that a lad now has represented GB in an Olympics and England full team before making his professional club debut! Can't be many cases of that happening?

 

[War]

Yea Carrick will be key going forward, as ENG attempt to cure their sickness of not being able to keep the ball properly at top level. As i mentioned whenever Wilshire returns, the two of them could form a mid-field base similar to Spain's Xabi/Busquets for England hopefully.

Like the look of Ruddy, has a bit of presence about him as a keeper. Another good season at Norwich and i reckon he could be off to top club soon.

Johnson showed his trickery and why he should always be in the England squad. Lost the ball a bit, but somehow i reckon it due to early season rustiness.

Cleverley big player as most already know. Looking at him with the low haircut reminded me of a young Gerrard at Liverpool circa 2000/2001.

Shout out the Lampard as well in a way. I'm said before he should be phased out, but he has looked good in deeper role tonight and the back end of the season at Chelsea. That not to say he should go to the 2014 world cup, but i guess he has some life in him left and may have to forced out based on performances from young guys like Rodwell etc.

Defoe is good bloke. I and i believe managers always under value him, mainly because he doesn't link play well and is just lethal in the box. But is the best English finisher in the league behind Rooney. However with Welbeck and Sturridge around, i just don't know if he can always guaranteed to be a England squad player.


Will English football benefit from improved coaching methods?

Good stuff from the FA.

 

[Epic]

Missed the game, but the possession numbers look impressive, 54%.