England vs Germany 19/11/13

[Starfish]

Our lot don't look very good these days. German should be disappointed at not getting more than the single goal.

Your ability to tone your comments to the level of the conversation is really quite impressive.

[P!ssed Off]

When is old Woy going to get the sack?
Absolute clown!
Bloody hell, I've just looked it up and he's on a 4 year contract. Stuck with him until 2016.
And which pillock scheduled back-to-back friendlies against 2 good teams?

[Handsome Man]

I thought it was OK. Some of the passing was neat and a draw would have been fair. If you compare Rooney with Lallana, for example, the younger players seem to be a bit better than the older players at the moment - better control, first touch and short passing - but that will be ground out of them over the next few years.

I'd sack Roy straight away and get a foreign coach in now if it was up to me, but we are not in a bad situation. Compared to four years ago, the passing is 100% better without Terry and I do have some faith in Hart, so there is room for a little optimism. We're not going to win the world cup, but a friendly draw should see some knockout excitement.

[Big Foot]

Only caught glimpses of the game last night but heard on the radio this morning that we didn't have a single shot on target. Is that right?

[bobby1413]

Big Foot - yea that is correct.

I personally Like Roy Hodgson and think he is the right man for the job.

The problem is deep rooted, and the team we have aren't going to suddenly start playing amazing football. However, what is possible, is that in about 5 years, the next new generation of players take over, it's already started happening with Lallana, Townsend, etc... just need more of those characters.

I often watch England games and cheer the other team on.

What is it with England players chewing gum? It's rediculous and is disgusting to watch them all chewing it in the tunnel and on the pitch. It wouldn't be so bad, but they seem to be eating constantly with their mouth full.

Germany last night - their players were stoney faced, serious and ready for action. They seemed focussed and ready to play - that's all they were there for, to play a game. I don't think any team were particularly amazing, but to have ZERO shots on target isn't acceptable (obviously)

[Ian Royal]

Only caught glimpses of the game last night but heard on the radio this morning that we didn't have a single shot on target. Is that right?

Did hit the post though. Townsend was a threat, but not supported well and double or tripled up on most of the time. Sturridge, Rooney and Lallana were pretty quiet, with Sturridge in particular not making the most of what he he did get. Cleverley was poor. Gerrard was good but sitting deeper in midfield. Walker got forward ok, but was loose in possession and occasionally missing when the Germans broke. Likewise Cole, without the getting forward well.

0 shots on target suggests a little more toothless than we actually were IMO. But the Germans were very solid defensively and pressed well all over the pitch. Second half, once Gerrard went off, we just weren't in the game anymore.

Hodgson has us playing far better football now, but we are still struggling with it at times and can't keep it up all game. Bit like 'ding to be honest. There were a couple of excellent passages of play where England moved the ball calmly and accurately arround the pitch with pace in one and two touches engineering a way forward through the Germans. Our counterattacking should have been better, but poor choices from the forwards meant the moves broke down.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

L8on Baines should be first choice left back imo.

Absolutely no way.

Ashley Cole has won everything at club level, is experienced, reads the game well, and for years was the best left back in the world. Perfect for the big occasion. Baines is good, but I would prefer Cole in the World Cup based on his experience which will prove vital.

[Big Foot]

L8on Baines should be first choice left back imo.

Absolutely no way.

Ashley Cole has won everything at club level, is experienced, reads the game well, and for years was the best left back in the world. Perfect for the big occasion. Baines is good, but I would prefer Cole in the World Cup based on his experience which will prove vital.

Agreed re: Cole.

However, you said this about Frank Lampard on the Lampard tribute thread

No way should Lampard be on the plane to Brazil ahead of Gerrard, Barkley, Wilshere.

So I'm a bit confused here

Lampard & Cole have both won everything at club level
Lampard & Cole have both got experience (100+ caps each)
Lampard & Cole both read the game exceptionally well
Lampard has been for years a truly world class midfielder
Cole has been for years a truly world class Left Back

So, I'm sure you'll now agree with me that Lampard should be going to Brazil ahead of the relatively unproven Barkley that you laughably suggested

LOLoyalROFLoyaLOLFan

[Big Foot]

I often watch England games and cheer the other team on.

[No Fixed Abode]

Only caught glimpses of the game last night but heard on the radio this morning that we didn't have a single shot on target. Is that right?

Yep - I thought we were going to be much better without Lampard in the side. We looked a dominant attacking force.

[Big Foot]

Only caught glimpses of the game last night but heard on the radio this morning that we didn't have a single shot on target. Is that right?

Did hit the post though. Townsend was a threat, but not supported well and double or tripled up on most of the time. Sturridge, Rooney and Lallana were pretty quiet, with Sturridge in particular not making the most of what he he did get. Cleverley was poor. Gerrard was good but sitting deeper in midfield. Walker got forward ok, but was loose in possession and occasionally missing when the Germans broke. Likewise Cole, without the getting forward well.

0 shots on target suggests a little more toothless than we actually were IMO. But the Germans were very solid defensively and pressed well all over the pitch. Second half, once Gerrard went off, we just weren't in the game anymore.

Hodgson has us playing far better football now, but we are still struggling with it at times and can't keep it up all game. Bit like 'ding to be honest. There were a couple of excellent passages of play where England moved the ball calmly and accurately arround the pitch with pace in one and two touches engineering a way forward through the Germans. Our counterattacking should have been better, but poor choices from the forwards meant the moves broke down.

Joachim Loew came out and said pre-match that Townsend was the threat and he had a plan to mark him out of the game - which was executed upon. Why weren't the England players &/or management staff intelligent enough to counter this? Could've mixed it up a bit and swapped wingers etc?

The passing moves that I saw and have read about from others all suggest to me that yes, we can keep the ball, but we can't do it effectively and that's going to be the falling down of this England side. I don't care how organised or thorough the Germans were, to have 0 shots on target in a home game is extremely poor.

[Big Foot]

Only caught glimpses of the game last night but heard on the radio this morning that we didn't have a single shot on target. Is that right?

Yep - I thought we were going to be much better without Lampard in the side. We looked a dominant attacking force.

England vs Chile (with Lampard)
Shots - 13, 5 on target

England vs Germany (without Lampard)
Shots - 8, 0 on target

LOL

[BR2]

When is old Woy going to get the sack?
Absolute clown!
Bloody hell, I've just looked it up and he's on a 4 year contract. Stuck with him until 2016.
And which pillock scheduled back-to-back friendlies against 2 good teams?

We can't always play poor sides like Montenegro or Poland and let our fans think we are ready to take on the world-these latest two games have been a reality check.
I'm glad Hodgson has given a number of players a chance but the depressing part about last night was that, but for 2 or 3 players, this would be regarded as our best eleven whereas Germany had a side missing 5 players at the very least and yet strolled through a game away from home in the week before the big Bayern Munich v Dortmund league fixture at so-called fortress Wembley.

There are just so many things wrong from having a keeper who just goes AWOL to defenders that can't defend to midfielders who can't pass a ball to strikers who can't shoot-other than that everything is just fine.
Our hope has to be that some players emerge over the coming months to challenge for places-the likes of Wilshere,Smalling,Cleverley and Barkley desperately need experience of regular first team football before being considered ahead of Huddlestone, Noble etc.

IMHO it is a case of Gerrard plus Townsend and then any others making up the numbers.
Townsend has done brilliantly and he is stronger, braver and fitter than Walcott.
Lallana has shown glimpses of being comfortable at international level as has Lambert.
Lampard is past it.
Milner is a jack of all trades and master of none.
Hart is suspect under pressure.
Cashley may struggle.
Cahill does struggle.
Rooney is a headless chicken and needs to play much more as part of a structured team rather than run about wherever he pleases.
Walker is a worse defender even than Johnson and is a poor passer.
The younger ones mentioned above have not done enough and Phil Jones always seems to get injured.
Sturridge is too greedy.

Can't wait for Brazil.

[Ouroboros]

Only caught glimpses of the game last night but heard on the radio this morning that we didn't have a single shot on target. Is that right?

Yep - I thought we were going to be much better without Lampard in the side. We looked a dominant attacking force.

England vs Chile (with Lampard)
Shots - 13, 5 on target

England vs Germany (without Lampard)
Shots - 8, 0 on target

LOL

ALOL!

So how many goals did we score?

[Big Foot]

Yep - I thought we were going to be much better without Lampard in the side. We looked a dominant attacking force.

England vs Chile (with Lampard)
Shots - 13, 5 on target

England vs Germany (without Lampard)
Shots - 8, 0 on target

LOL

ALOL!

So how many goals did we score?

0 in either, but had more chances to do so in the Chile game as you'll see from us a) having more shots and b) having at least 1 shot on target

[PieEater]

I generally agree with BR.

There are too many players that aren't good enough in the England side. I started counting how many headers we won from crosses after the three headers Germany had in our box before they scored, and we didn't win a single header from a corner or a free kick after that. Meanwhile the Germans won every header in our box as well as their own. Are the crosses just shit or are their defenders better?

In fact the only header I can recall we won all night was Jagielka at the far post and he headed it straight to a German defender.

I really wasn't impressed with Smalling who looks lost, Walker who can run fast but that's about it, Cleverly who isn't very, and Sturridge who dithered and wasted every opportunity he had. Rooney looks disinterest and does play any sort of pressing game.

On a brighter note Lalanna looks good, he hassles the opposition constantly and reminded me of Jem but with a lot more skill. Townsend looked like our best player which says a lot about the performances of the others.

[No Fixed Abode]

The obvious difference between the two sides was organisation and closing down of the ball, especially in Midfield. Gerrard gets the plaudits for his passing, but his defending is somewhat lacking and being captain he should have organised his fellow midfielders to stop Germany getting in the pockets down the side of the midfield and the gap between our midfield and defence.

When Germany were in possession you would only see the nearest England player to ball putting pressure on. When England were in possession, Germany were more organised by keeping areas of the pitch tight and closed down in groups, not allowing much time on the ball for England. This was more prevalent in the 2nd half as England tired and Germany could have easily extended their lead.

[Bandini]

You've got to choose Lampard over Cleverly. Milner shouldn't be anywhere near the side.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

L8on Baines should be first choice left back imo.

Absolutely no way.

Ashley Cole has won everything at club level, is experienced, reads the game well, and for years was the best left back in the world. Perfect for the big occasion. Baines is good, but I would prefer Cole in the World Cup based on his experience which will prove vital.

Agreed re: Cole.

However, you said this about Frank Lampard on the Lampard tribute thread

No way should Lampard be on the plane to Brazil ahead of Gerrard, Barkley, Wilshere.

So I'm a bit confused here

Lampard & Cole have both won everything at club level
Lampard & Cole have both got experience (100+ caps each)
Lampard & Cole both read the game exceptionally well
Lampard has been for years a truly world class midfielder
Cole has been for years a truly world class Left Back

So, I'm sure you'll now agree with me that Lampard should be going to Brazil ahead of the relatively unproven Barkley that you laughably suggested

LOLoyalROFLoyaLOLFan

You can't take both Gerrard and Lampard, and Gerrard is better so Lampard shouldn't be on the plane.

England have a wealth of talent in midfield, and in the long run we would be better off taking Barkley and Morrison etc over Lampard.

[Vision]

The obvious difference between the two sides was organisation and closing down of the ball, especially in Midfield. Gerrard gets the plaudits for his passing, but his defending is somewhat lacking and being captain he should have organised his fellow midfielders to stop Germany getting in the pockets down the side of the midfield and the gap between our midfield and defence.

When Germany were in possession you would only see the nearest England player to ball putting pressure on. When England were in possession, Germany were more organised by keeping areas of the pitch tight and closed down in groups, not allowing much time on the ball for England. This was more prevalent in the 2nd half as England tired and Germany could have easily extended their lead.

Oddly enough I thought that was the main difference between yesterday and Friday. We closed down much better and higher than against chile who knocked it around at will and had frequent forays towards goal. Until Gerrard went off the balance of possession was pretty much in England's favour.

Whether it suits people to think it or not, Gerrard is a hugely important part of this England side. That fact alone should be a demonstration of where this current side is when certainly his best days are behind him but there really isn't anyone better available to us at what he does at this time. Carrick is similiar but doesn't pose the threat at the other end Gerrard does.

It's also completely daft for anyone to think that Lampard doesn't have a part to play either. Given the paucity of striking options available to us a player with his goalscoring record and general composure in front of goal is a must. He might be a starter necessarily but there isn't a player in the current set up I'd feel more comfortable about if presented with a goalscoring opportunity.

I like Lallana. He offers something different to the more explosive pacier options of Townsend,Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott plus works as hard as Milner and Wellbeck so think the formers days are numbered.

Sturridge does have ability but his head and his feet seem to be on different planets at times.His miscontrol when put through by Henderson was farcical (I can only assume the sight of a Jordan Henderson defence splitting pass must have completely thrown him. I wouldn't necessarily write him off but he was awful .

Other than that, we're slowly improving in the ball retention stakes but obviously need to improve how creative we are with it. The last two games though have confirmed probably what we already knew that we're a pretty ordinary side (not bad just ordinary) when up against better sides.