England v Brazil

[Maguire]

Great finish from Lampard, absolutely top drawer really.

And a good performance from England.

[cmonurz]

Great finish from Lampard, absolutely top drawer really.

Yep, quite what Chelsea are doing letting him go I don’t know. Would love it if he signed for United.

[Stuka]

Not a dig at you Stuka, but I do wonder what people want/expect from the England side. We are winning a lot of games, and playing decent enough English-style football. What more can we ask of the side, and Hodgson who, for the most part has confounded his critics so far. But for the Ibrahimovic show, he'd still be unbeaten as England manager.

I meant more the whole matchday was all right, I thought England played very well especially now Wilshire back, there is a marked overall improvement. For the record I go to England games quite a lot because it's easy for me to go, and have seen some right turgid shit in the last couple years but last night was a good game and quite enjoyable despite shuffling about in the cold and being early on a weeknight.

[Hoop Blah]

Great finish from Lampard, absolutely top drawer really.

Yep, quite what Chelsea are doing letting him go I don’t know. Would love it if he signed for United.

I still think there's an element of Abramovich wanting to get rid of the old guard so that the club can move on without them having a negative effect on the next manager as it seems they have in the past.

There's no doubt he can still do a job in a good side though and it was an excellent finish for his goal. I don't think he played that well BUT, if you need a goal, there's no English midfielder more likely to get you one than Lampard.

[ZacNaloen]

Papers saying he's getting a year extension.


We actually looked pretty damned good last night. Even Johnson looked good in defence. Would have been a comfortable win but for Cahill.

However, it was Brazil and I don't think they really try in friendlies.

[Gordons Cumming]

They looked like they were trying in the second half.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Thought we passed the ball accurately and creatively in the first half, some really nice football. Thought every player in the team seemed a different class to normal – more confidence and natural. Weak points were Wellbeck (seemed lacking in quality) and A.Cole (who seemed to retain that ‘golden era’ nervousness which crippled us in recent times). What a difference having a midfield of Wilshire and Cleverley, passing accurately and selflessly, unlike yesteryear watching Gerrard spoon it out for a throw or Lampard shoot it out the stadium ever kick.

Second half instantly noticed the dip in midfield quality with Lampard coming on – a lot less penetration in passing and a decline in shape and positioning. Great, great goal glossing over the cracks of what a lacking player he is and why even Chelsea aren’t interested in keeping him on.

Baines showed why he and Cole are neck and neck – personally I’m in favour of dropping as many of the haunted old guard as possible. Cahill’s confidence taught him a bit of a lesson, but otherwise I enjoyed watching a CB who has a bit of variety to his game.

Liked the formation, enjoyed Gerrard for once performing well in a more disciplined role and thought the game seemed to be given a good effort from both sides and the score was a fair result.

For once, I enjoyed and England performance and found myself clapping more often than swearing.

Sweet.

[soggy biscuit]

Interesting to listen to Tim Vickery on the radio yesterday before the game. Said over the last 10 years the PL has become quite big in Brazil and it is quite fashionable to follow an English team nowadays, saw a bloke walk past in a Derby shirt earlier that day. Also said this game wouldn't get that much attention as there were league games being played last night (even though they would have been at a l8er hour)

Also said Neymar is famous in Brazil for not watching football. Apparently he says he doesn't enjoy watching football and as a result knows little about other teams and players.

[BR2]

Wilshere runs about a lot (not so much diving last night) and once he learns that beating 2 players is enough because you inevitably lose the ball to the 3rd and put your side in trouble he could become a better player.A good passer of the ball but needs to be more disciplined in his positional play.

That's really the best you can come up with? Personally, after years of watching Gerrard underperform for his country* I thought it was excellent to see a young English midfielder step up and suggest he might really belong on the world stage.

(Mind you, it was only against the 18th rated club in the FIFA rankings.)

* He's been decent of late, and was last night.

A" good passer of the ball" is in my view a major compliment for an English player.
The boy certainly has potential but the hype has been enormous and I believe he is still some way short.
Also I like to see midfielders scoring goals and so far in his career Wilshere has scored 1 solitary Premier League and that for a player mainly in an advanced position is not very good.
Sorry if I don't buy in to the hype ,which I never did with Joe Cole, but hey the game is all about opinions and my opinion is that he has been overhyped and I quote the previous Barcelona manager when asked about Wilshere he said (broadly) that they have another half dozen as good as him in their Reserves so clearly Guardiola didn't think of him as being that special (yet)..

[melonhead]

would like to see cole and baines on the left at some point

[Ark Royal]

Good performance by England, but Welbeck in the starting lineup shows how desperately short we are for options up front.

As for Brazil, they just do friendlies for the cheque. England have only ever beaten them in friendlies; when it comes to the real thing in World Cups: drawn one and lost three.

[cmonurz]

Good performance by England, but Welbeck in the starting lineup shows how desperately short we are for options up front.

As for Brazil, they just do friendlies for the cheque. England have only ever beaten them in friendlies; when it comes to the real thing in World Cups: drawn one and lost three.

Lost 8 friendlies to them as well.

[cmonurz]

In 14 games, we have only lost to Argentina twice. That surprised me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_na ... eam_record

[southbank1871]

What did Hodgson learn from last night?
Walcott is a sprinter but has a long way to go in terms of passing.
Wilshere runs about a lot (not so much diving last night) and once he learns that beating 2 players is enough because you inevitably lose the ball to the 3rd and put your side in trouble he could become a better player.A good passer of the ball but needs to be more disciplined in his positional play.
Steven Gerrard could possibly play in his role for the next 2-3 years.
If Cahill and Smalling didn't play for their respective clubs they might find it very difficult to get in an England side.
Ashley Cole might as well retire now and let Baines have his chance (Cole caught out by pace in the first half and pace has always been his strength).
Welbeck?-in most other eras he probably wouldn't have got a game.

The game itself was quite enjoyable but ruined for the viewer by it being on ITV (as Silver Fox and I have been going on about for years).
The Uruguay v Spain game earlier was good to watch and served as a reminder that we are still a long way down the pecking order and shouldn't expect much from our national side for the next 10 years or so by which time English players might finally learn that keeping the ball is essential.

So the only real positive you took from last night was Steven Gerrard? That really does surprise me.

[Victor Meldrew]

What did Hodgson learn from last night?
Walcott is a sprinter but has a long way to go in terms of passing.
Wilshere runs about a lot (not so much diving last night) and once he learns that beating 2 players is enough because you inevitably lose the ball to the 3rd and put your side in trouble he could become a better player.A good passer of the ball but needs to be more disciplined in his positional play.
Steven Gerrard could possibly play in his role for the next 2-3 years.
If Cahill and Smalling didn't play for their respective clubs they might find it very difficult to get in an England side.
Ashley Cole might as well retire now and let Baines have his chance (Cole caught out by pace in the first half and pace has always been his strength).
Welbeck?-in most other eras he probably wouldn't have got a game.

The game itself was quite enjoyable but ruined for the viewer by it being on ITV (as Silver Fox and I have been going on about for years).
The Uruguay v Spain game earlier was good to watch and served as a reminder that we are still a long way down the pecking order and shouldn't expect much from our national side for the next 10 years or so by which time English players might finally learn that keeping the ball is essential.

So the only real positive you took from last night was Steven Gerrard? That really does surprise me.

So pleased that you are surprised,that has really made my day.
Read it properly first you numpty:
If you want a full run-down,

Hart looked back to his best
Johnson ,same as usual with good and bad but there is nobody better (Kyle Walker is an even worse defender)
Cleverley still learning and like with Wilshere needs to be more aware positionally
Rooney,not at his best playing so far forward but still the second name on the team sheet.

So what were you thoughts?
As usual you haven't yet posted any opinion.
BTW this is not the official England website for only posting positive things-I post it as I see it so take it or leave it.

Good result against a team that always treats friendlies as friendlies whereas we treat every game the same.

[southbank1871]

No need to get abusive.

I thought it was quite a refreshing display from England, as we were a bit braver in possession than we usually are. Wiltshire and Cleverley were central to this. I thought Gerrard looked pretty good playing alongside them and it's good to see him do more of the simple things well rather than constantly losing possession.

The defensive frailties were there again for all to see though. You've got to wonder why Rio isn't still in the picture.

Agreed on Hart, he was excellent last night.

[Ian Royal]

Not a dig at you Stuka, but I do wonder what people want/expect from the England side. We are winning a lot of games, and playing decent enough English-style football. What more can we ask of the side, and Hodgson who, for the most part has confounded his critics so far. But for the Ibrahimovic show, he'd still be unbeaten as England manager.

Being able to perform in a tournament and not just get knocked out by the first big team in half decent form.

Play better football. Much improved after the first 20 minutes. There's a lot of potential there. Will it be realised for a change?

[Victor Meldrew]

No need to get abusive.

I thought it was quite a refreshing display from England, as we were a bit braver in possession than we usually are. Wiltshire and Cleverley were central to this. I thought Gerrard looked pretty good playing alongside them and it's good to see him do more of the simple things well rather than constantly losing possession.

The defensive frailties were there again for all to see though. You've got to wonder why Rio isn't still in the picture.

Agreed on Hart, he was excellent last night.

I always thought it was compulsory to be abusive on Hob Nob when another poster doesn't agree with you.
On the question of Ferdinand he is not fit enough for a tournament due to take place when he is 35,the age at which a generally much fitter Jamie Carragher is now retiring.
I see no reason why Ferdinand should not be used for qualifiers when games are more spread out as ,on his day,he is as good as anything else that we have.
Last night was an occasion to look at other players and other combinations.
Beyond anything else it is clear that Hodgson doesn't like the player (quite understandable as one of the most objectionable players around with a view on everything that he has to tweet) and in the end it is his choice.

In our football I think the defending is dreadful and that is why so many strikers look so good and although at the moment we have not much choice in striking options,some decent midfield options we are lacking in defensive options where there is much of a muchness with nobody outstanding.

[Royal Rother]

The age thing is a good point.

The only position on the park where you can field a player of his sort of age in tournament football is the Pirlo role, where a stroller can control the game without running about much.

35 year old defenders, strikers, midfield dynamos just will not hack it (especially at the end of a season).

[cmonurz]

Was reading last night about Ashley Cole being one of the last of his breed – where his positional sense and ability on the ball makes up for his failing pace now that he is 32. The article suggested that in a few years’ time there simply won’t be international full-backs of his age, such is the evolution in attacking football, we are likely to see Gareth Bale-like players on the wing and as attacking full-backs in years to come. Oscar absolutely rinsed Cole a couple of times.