England Team Thread

[abigsmurf]

Wasn't terribly amazing aside from the goal. Rooney shouldn't keep dropping so far back and attacking-wise, we seemed to rely far too much on fast runs down the right side which is a problem when too many players are too deep. It unusual to want a team to play more balls down the center, England have a great midfield but we're not playing in a way that gives them anything to do.

A fair few fresh faces in the squad but we're still trying to play the same style of football.

But meh, we're winning that's what matters most at the moment.

[toythatkills]

But meh, we're winning that's what matters most at the moment.

It's not, really. Regardless of the result here, we only have to get a draw at Montenegro to qualify and if we don't get that draw, we're second barring a miracle.

[abigsmurf]

The Barmy Army are playing Boom Boom Boom... As if they weren't irritating enough as it was.

[toythatkills]

Well, if that performance confirms nothing else, it confirms that England will never win anything under Capello.

[abigsmurf]

Yep, second half was very poor. Blames got to largely come down to the manager now. Too many players have put in too many performances of this style for it to mostly be down to them now.

He took off Lampard to make the team more defensive and it caused Wales to come alive.

[EJG1980]

England matches are usually so sodding dull. No matter who we have as manager we'll probably always bow out of a tournament early, so we should at least get someone in there who will try to get us to play football that's half decent to watch. I don't think I've enjoyed watching England play since Hoddle was manager.

[Jebus]

That should be Cahill cemented in the England team now imho. Not a foot wrong in either game, and a goal. What more could you ask, even alongside Terry's shocking positional sense, despite him blaming everyone else. (I really don't like Terry, apologies to any Chelsea/Terry fans).

I thought it was gutless of Capello to change the team. Parker was in on merit, and should have started. He at least has energy, and a good passing range. Lampard was lethargic and on current form, in the team on name only, not because he's earnt it.

Was Walcott injured? I missed the first few minutes so didn't catch why he dropped.

Oh and I continue to be utterly baffled by what any manager sees in Gareth Barry. I'm faster than him, and I'm a fat ****.

[abigsmurf]

Capello seems happy to let players go out of position at will.

Rooney falling back into defence a lot when the team is centred on him being the main attack option (if he doesn't want to play a lead striker role, put a striker in alongside him to play that role). Gerrard running across the midfield regardless of where other players are, the defence moving up so that when England are caught on the counter it becomes a battle of pace.

Whether it's intentional or just poor coaching or discipline it's hard to know.

[toythatkills]

That should be Cahill cemented in the England team now imho. Not a foot wrong in either game, and a goal. What more could you ask

Two goals

I think Parker was only left out because he was one yellow away from a suspension, and the game in Montenegro actually matters. It wasn't anything he did wrong or any faith in Lampard, it was the right decision to not play him.

[nakamura]

Lampard was utterly dire. He hardly moved around the pitch at all and had so many chanced to make space or drag defenders away from players with the ball. He should never be allowed to wear an England shirt again, he has never put in a good performance and never seems to make an effort.
Barry is utterly useless too, much like Carrick he has no vision and no qualities of a modern footballer. Poor Scott Parker has been overlooked for years in favour of players that only seem to be better. Parker drives his teams on, he attacks and defends and should be our midfield lynchpin.

We just lacked any movement. Rooney, Downing and Young were desperately trying to create something but they had no attacking support from a lumpy, slow and creatively useless midfield. Smalling was more creative than any of the midfielders and Cole, despite putting in a shocker was trying to show some kind of support.

[abigsmurf]

I'd disagree with that.

It wasn't a case of them 'desperately trying', the style of play revolved around them, they were the ones the ball was always fed to when England got on the attack.. Runs down the side with then being forced to wait for the midfield (and Rooney) to get up into position to deliver in crosses with few attempts to really pull out and take on defenders themselves.

Wales simply kept defensively solid in the middle so it would be hard for crosses to get in and that when the England players did get into position, they'd be well marked and deep in traffic.

It's the whole SWP/Walcott thing again. Running with the ball down the side is all well and good, but it relies on taking the the other side by suprise. When you can't catch them offguard and players who take the ball up either can't or choose not to take on players when they don't have many options, you end up with uninspired performances.

When Lampard came off, Wales didn't have to commit so heavily to defence, came out , attacked and were unlucky not to get a point. They played to England's weaknesses for most of the match and were able to do so because they were so predictable.

[nakamura]

Wales were attacking when Lampard was on the pitch, for a lot of the first half in fact.

[abigsmurf]

They were attacking, but so were we. It was much less one sided, even if it still wasn't especially great football still. In the last 20 minutes for the second half, England were hanging on and very lucky.

[nakamura]

That had nothing to do with Lampard coming off, he was ineffective for the entire time he was on the pitch, as was Barry and Milner. When Parker came on the shout would most likely have been to shut up shop and take the 1-0.

[toythatkills]

So, just a draw needed tonight. If I had any money I'd put it on us pulling through after a ****e performance in which we spend most of the game a goal down and fluke one in the 85th minute.

It's interesting that Rooney's allowed to play. You'd think with a close family member arrested on suspicion of match fixing he'd be suspended pending the investigation. I'm sure he's done nowt but it's interesting, especially with Rooney's record of silly red cards, you'd think they'd be looking quite closely at him.