England Friendlies

[winchester_royal]

Disagree. Wilshere should be an absolute shoe-in IMO.

[cmonurz]

I think Wilshere, Parker and Gerrard is a much more likely combination for next year, firstly because they are all actually midfielders.

Noticed last night how often two of the three midfielders were essentially standing on top of one another - Rodwell and Jones the biggest culprits - if Jones and Rooney go to the tournament, it should be as a defender and striker, nothing else.

Secondly those three are a much better balance of attack and defence, than two of Rodwell, Jones and Lampard around Scott Parker. Rodwell isn't a bad attacker, but he is nothing like Gerrard going forward, and equally none of these have Wilshere's passing and vision with the ball.

[Simon's Church]

oh yeah, forgot about Wilshere, Arsenal's medical team will probably have killed him by next summer though.
I also think, as discussed earlier, if we are to get anywhere in the tournament it will be by being solid in the middle and playing quick counter attacks down the wings and I don't think Gerrard has the tactical discipline to help us do that.

[No Fixed Abode]

I think Wilshere, Parker and Gerrard is a much more likely combination for next year, firstly because they are all actually midfielders.

Noticed last night how often two of the three midfielders were essentially standing on top of one another - Rodwell and Jones the biggest culprits - if Jones and Rooney go to the tournament, it should be as a defender and striker, nothing else.

Secondly those three are a much better balance of attack and defence, than two of Rodwell, Jones and Lampard around Scott Parker. Rodwell isn't a bad attacker, but he is nothing like Gerrard going forward, and equally none of these have Wilshere's passing and vision with the ball.

Gerrard is not even in contention m8. He started the season shit and he's now injured.

[sandman]

Fell asleep at the start of the second half. From what I saw it looked like two evenly matched, mid level, international teams with both lacking quality finishing.

[cmonurz]

Fell asleep at the start of the second half. From what I saw it looked like two evenly matched, mid level, international teams with both lacking quality finishing.

If you watched only the first half, then only bias can account for your conclusions, as Sweden weren't in it in the first 45 minutes.

[sandman]

Well this is the first time England have beaten Sweden in 43 years so that would suggest the two countries are pretty evenly matched and the Swedes kept the ball well without providing a quality finish. The Jones' run that ended with a miss when it looked easier to score would suggest that poor finishing was involved.

If you want a view full of bias check out Harry Redknapp, favourite for the England job after Capello and his assertion that there are only "two or three teams in the world who are better than England.".

[Ian Royal]

If we're going to play Gerrard or Lampard, and it HAS to be either / or, then IMO they have to be played as the attacking one in a midfield three. Lampard's strength is in receiving the ball near the box and stumbling through scoring a deflected goal. And hes brilliant at it. His creativity is otherwise mediocre and his long shots are pants. I'm inclined to consider Rooney for that role as well seeing as he plays well dropping deep and linking play. With someone else being the main striker. That way we don't change our striker and the attacking dynamic as much, mid-way through the tournament.

Parker & Wilshere if both fit, absolutely have to be the spine of the midfield IMO.

[RobRoyal]

Gerrard is not even in contention m8. He started the season shit and he's now injured.

That's a bit much, really, but I agree he has something to prove when he comes back and is no longer guaranteed a place in starting line-up (and possibly not even the squad, depending on the progression of the youngsters). It'll take him a while yet to regain form, you'd expect.

Quietly impressed with Lampard against Spain, perhaps he still has something to give the England team.

[RobRoyal]

Well this is the first time England have beaten Sweden in 43 years so that would suggest the two countries are pretty evenly matched and the Swedes kept the ball well without providing a quality finish. The Jones' run that ended with a miss when it looked easier to score would suggest that poor finishing was involved.

Not sure what history has to do with how good these two sides are now. The difference last night was that at least we created chances. Good chances, in fact, and should have scored three. Sweden created little.

[sandman]

Has everything to do with it as It proves both countries are well matched. England scored from an own goal and as you were all so keen to point out with Spain the other night you didn't take your chances.

[cmonurz]

England vs Sweden 30 years ago has no bearing on England vs Sweden today.

Want to use the same logic on England vs Spain? We rolled them over 3-0 a decade a go.

[RobRoyal]

:roll: Has everything to do with it as It proves both countries are well matched.

Wow. That's definitely the daftest thing I've seen on here that's preceded by rolling eyes.

Equally then I suppose you think Liverpool are better than Manchester City this year? Given that their history is far superior and that they thrashed City in April?

[melonhead]

Disagree. Wilshere should be an absolute shoe-in IMO.

apologies, forgot wishere in the attacking midfield spot ahead of rodwell

[melonhead]

:roll: Has everything to do with it as It proves both countries are well matched.

Wow. That's definitely the daftest thing I've seen on here that's preceded by rolling eyes.

Equally then I suppose you think Liverpool are better than Manchester City this year? Given that their history is far superior and that they thrashed City in April?

agreed totaly- englad by far the better team
shouls have scored more. would have with a proper striker

[Hoop Blah]

Disagree. Wilshere should be an absolute shoe-in IMO.

apologies, forgot wishere in the attacking midfield spot ahead of rodwell

He won't be playing in the more advanced roll in a 3, he'll be more likely to sit alongside someone like Parker and be getting on the ball as much as possible to dictate the game and make us tick.

He doesn't score enough goals to play that bit further forward where someone like Gerrard, Lampard or Rooney would be more comfortable (in a few years time it'll probably be the likes of Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cleverly or Barkley working infront of the Rodwells, Wilshires and McEachrans coming through).

On that note, the players that are coming through do seem to be more technical players than they were a few years back. Perhaps that shows that the work done by the FA is showing some sign of success (without being a finished job of course).

[TheMaraudingDog]

Young, Wikltshire, Cleverly, Gerrard

[sandman]

.

:roll: Has everything to do with it as It proves both countries are well matched.

Wow. That's definitely the daftest thing I've seen on here that's preceded by rolling eyes.

Equally then I suppose you think Liverpool are better than Manchester City this year? Given that their history is far superior and that they thrashed City in April?

City have gone out and spent money to improve themselves which you can't do in international football so my opinion that England and Sweden, as footballing nations, are evenly matched still holds up against your ill-thought-out argument. You're all getting over-excited yet again this time about a group who've come up from an Under-21 squad that failed to get out of their group at the European U-21 Championships last summer. It's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I don't really care.

It seems you have to be a card carrying member of the EDL on this thread and if you don't subscribe to the notion that England have a chance of winning the Euros because they've unconvincingly won a friendly against Spain and beaten Sweden or the first time in decades through an own goal then you should be thrown in the tower.That state of exasperation with the whole thread was what the rolly eyes were for.

[Hoop Blah]

If you can't alter the quality of your resources (or how you use them) how have the likes of Spain and Turkey massively turned around their international performances then sandman?

[LoyalRoyalFan]

carson did well with the one thing he was asked to do imo
and could still get the third GK berth

His awful kicking?

Every kick of his was wayward.