England vs Bulgaria - ITV1 8pm

[paultheroyal]

I'll be watching for the 'new' England we've been promised. Hope to see Lennon, Johnson and Walcott all playing a part.

Good luck with that one

It seems likely (radio reports this morning) that the team will be very similar to the one used in qualifiers and at the WC, with a few enforced changes, something like...

Hart

Johnson
Jagielka
Upson
Cole

Walcott
Gerrard
Barry
Milner

Rooney
Defoe

I'd be disappointed to see that team, certainly not a step forwards in sticking with the regulation 442, but more than enough to beat Bulgaria at home (esp now Berbatov has retired).

A few changes to be fair and with Gerrard through the centre, it is how it should be.

4-0 to England.

[3 veesinarow]

Skitty, scuzzy, unconvincing, tedious, lacklustre, fortunate 1-0 win.

or summat.

[Kitsondinho]

If this really is a new start, then Terry and Lampard will never play for England again.....Even if we win 5-0, 6-0, 100-0, those two will walk back into the side. They were both utter shite in the World Cup and someone NEEDS to stand up to them. Terry showed how much he respects Cappello at the WC with that stupid press conference. I really thought Cappello would be the man to turn round and tell him to oxf*rd off. As for Lampard...he was just oxf*rd at the WC. This isn't an anti-Chelsea thing, as our options at left back scare me if Cashley ain't fit.
Also Rooney should be benched for a while, just to remind him we can win without him trying to do everything and dropping so deep that our keeper can whisper in his ear.
Anyway rant over, back to tonight....

Hart,
Johnson
Jagielka
Upson
Cole

Walcott
Gerrard
Barry
Milner

Defoe
Crouch

[Ginger Ninjas]

If this really is a new start, then Terry and Lampard will never play for England again.....Even if we win 5-0, 6-0, 100-0, those two will walk back into the side. They were both utter shite in the World Cup and someone NEEDS to stand up to them. Terry showed how much he respects Cappello at the WC with that stupid press conference. I really thought Cappello would be the man to turn round and tell him to oxf*rd off. As for Lampard...he was just oxf*rd at the WC. This isn't an anti-Chelsea thing, as our options at left back scare me if Cashley ain't fit.
Also Rooney should be benched for a while, just to remind him we can win without him trying to do everything and dropping so deep that our keeper can whisper in his ear.
Anyway rant over, back to tonight....

Hart,
Johnson
Jagielka
Upson
Cole

Walcott
Gerrard
Barry
Milner

Defoe
Crouch

I agree with the rant, but not the team. I'd go for...

Hart

Johnson (nobody else)
Jagielka
Dawson/Cahill (Upson has proven he's not up to it at the highest level, give someone else a chance)
Cole

Barry (begrudgingly)
Milner

Johnson
Gerrard (needs to play here)
Walcott

Rooney (or Bent?!?)

[3 veesinarow]

Hart,
Johnson
Jagielka
Upson
Cole

Walcott
Gerrard
Barry
Milner

Defoe
Crouch

Reuters, Wednesday September 1 2010 LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - England suffered a further injury setback on Wednesday when striker Peter Crouch withdrew from the squad for Friday's Wembley Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria with a back problem.

[Maguire]

I agree with the rant, but not the team. I'd go for...

Hart

Johnson (nobody else)
Jagielka
Dawson/Cahill (Upson has proven he's not up to it at the highest level, give someone else a chance)
Cole

Barry (begrudgingly)
Milner

Johnson
Gerrard (needs to play here)
Walcott

Rooney (or Bent?!?)

I totally agree with you mate. I was thinking this side earlier (with Dawson) however my only issue was the lack of experience at centre-half. Then again they have to play at some point.

[TBM]

Joe Hart's selection for England tonight, is cracking news for Shrewsbury - who net £500,000 from Manchester City due to a clause in their sale to the Premier League side based on international appearances. Happy days

[Hoop Blah]

Totally agree with the theory behind not playing Upson, although I'd probably opt for Cahill over Dawson but there isn't a lot in it between all those centre halfs.

Not sure on the front line, think I'd be tempted with Milner in front of Gerrard and Barry in the middle with Walcott and Johnson out wide. I still don't like playing Rooney up on his own though so pairing him with someone like Defoe is probably the right way to go.

Johnson and Young deserve a good chance with this new broom, but how we give that to them I'm not sure yet.

[Maguire]

4-4-2 with ROoney and Defoe up front then

Rest of the side is fair enough really.

[Skyline]

I see Bobby still has the poorly-fitting wig.

[PEARCEY]

Churchy just hit the cross-bar with a good header for Wales......

[PEARCEY]

FFS Church goal disallowed

[Kitsondinho]

FFS Church goal disallowed

He was offside!

[Kitsondinho]

Reuters, Wednesday September 1 2010 LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - England suffered a further injury setback on Wednesday when striker Peter Crouch withdrew from the squad for Friday's Wembley Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria with a back problem.

Good point well made....ok I'll let Rooney back in the team!!

[PEARCEY]

FFS Church goal disallowed

He was offside!

Yeah he was but how Montengro ended with 11 players on the pitch is beyond me...2 or 3 should have walked. Heaven knows I'm feeling miserable now.

[Kitsondinho]

I only saw bits of it, but Wales seemed to be all over them.....the pitch looked worse than Wembley......which actually looks great tonight......and England are looking ok too!

[Row Z Royal]

Joe Hart's selection for England tonight, is cracking news for Shrewsbury - who net £500,000 from Manchester City due to a clause in their sale to the Premier League side based on international appearances. Happy days

Excellent stuff.

[PEARCEY]

I only saw bits of it, but Wales seemed to be all over them.....the pitch looked worse than Wembley......which actually looks great tonight......and England are looking ok too!

Very very frustrated. Wales should have had a pen, there were rugby tackles, blatant elbows, Bale constantly fouled etc etc and yet Montenegro still had 11 players on the pitch...plus to add to the woe James fcuking Collins put in a non-tackle and was left for dead by their striker whose shot beat Hennessy at his near post. Dreadful goal to concede.
England will win in Montenegro fairly comfortably but it will be very physical....and yes the pitch was shocking.

[Row Z Royal]

It's good to see the MadStad involved in the international football scene.

[Kitsondinho]

Who else saw dear old Boris on TV with his lovely wig on? Maybe we should sign his son!!