England squad...

[Extended-Phenotype]

Who f/cking cares how many passes some Belgian loser made? Did they score from any of these magnificent passes?

Young can make 1 pass a game if it's get's us a goal as far as I'm concerned.

[Wax Jacket]

I think whether or not it's Gerrard or Milner who plays next to Parker we'll suffer a little as both of them will be out of position. I guess there's a case for Jones playing in there and Milner doing a more defensive shift instead of Walcott/AOC.

Well as Gerrard played there v Belgium (and he was discplined) he's probably our best match to replace Rooney in the hole.

[Hoop Blah]

That must've hurt WJ!

I agree though, he is our best bet if we wanted to play someone in the hole, and then it would free Young up to play on either wing, but it doesn't look like Hodgson is going down that route.

[Wax Jacket]

I've been mollified by the thought that we're going to do nothing other than defend and try to nick goals on the counter

[RobRoyal]

Sad to say it, but my prediction for the starting line-up vs France is:

Hart

Johnson - Terry - Lescott - Cole

Milner - Gerrard - Parker - Downing

Young

Caroll


Milner was the only player who played 180 minutes of the warm-ups - I think Hodgson is keen on using his defensive abilities against France. The only genuine alternative on the left to Downing (AOC having missed his chance to shine against Belgium) is Young, but he was played behind the forward in both warm-up games to decent effect. Lampard's injury makes the possibility of Gerrard playing in that role less likely still.

Milner and Downing must be the least inspiring pair of wingers we've used in years, but that's the way I think we're going to go.

[Wax Jacket]

yeah you may be right with that actually

[TBM]

The fact he's played Young as the role behind the front man suggests he will do so against France.....

[Royal Monk]

Yes

[Extended-Phenotype]

It’s a shame but Rob might be right.

Young has been ok in the middle (scored one, made one – good stats) but wingers like him offer so much more flair and dynamics in a wide position, freeing up another creative role in the middle if he dared.

It’s not even a fluid 4-2-3-1 Roy uses; he’s literally using Young as a second striker in a flat 4-4-2.

The squad and occasion seem almost perfect for a 4-2-3-1 but Roy’s disciplinarian mentality is giving us a 25 yard gap between striker and midfield.

I appreciate this is a ‘knock it together the best you can’ task for Roy, but again – I’d rather see us learn while we fail, be that through evolving the personnel or the strategy.

This is going backwards if anything; counter-attacking football only now without anyone to genuinely counter.

[blindedbythelights]

needs a re-up on the implants

[buzzby]

needs a re-up on the implants

Looks like the Bobby Charlton comb over.

[bassavage]

I'm a fan of this counter-attacking 4-4-2 that Roy seems like he's going to go for, its similar to what our Brian has done over the last two seasons. However I think the players that Roy is going for in this system is where our problems lie.

The counter-attacking 4-4-2 requires two central midfielders which are prepared to sit infront of the back four. They do take part in the occassional attack, however they do not leave their position. Most importantly when they are in possession of the football they keep it simple, looking for the easy ball every time. Karacan and Leigertwood play in this role perfectly. Scott Parker can play in this role perfectly. For me, Steven Gerrard cannot play in this role at all. He needlessly goes for ridiculous 50 yards pass in a lot of his balls that he plays. One may come off in a game which everyone seems to remember and makes every pundit and fan cream themselves when he does it but he gives the ball away far too cheaply and in a system where the team tends to not have much of the ball anyway, this can be suicidal. As he is England captain, if fit, he will start. So where would he fit into this system I hear you ask? Well this brings me on to problem 2.

In our very own 4-4-2 counter-attacking formation we have two very quick, very tricky wingers in Kebe and McAnuff who are vital in linking the play up between the defence and the attack. James Milner doesn't have this ability to terrorise a left-back like Jimmy does. Milner is a very hard working lad where without Barry, Lampard and Carrick for one reason or another, where for me his best position would be in the centre of midfield. Ashley Young should be on the right hand side of midfield in the Kebe role and this then leaves Steven Gerrard as the man supporting the front man where his superhero match-winning passes that he tries 7 or 8 times in a game may be put to better use.

Also Glen Johnson doesn't have the defensive ability to play this system either. We don't need an attacking wing-back, just a solid defensive full-back, which Glen is not. Why Micah Richards isn't in there is scandalous.

Therefore my team for France on Monday:

Hart
Jones--Terry--Lescott--Cole
Young--Milner--Parker--Downing
Gerrard
Carroll

Probable team:

Hart
Johnson--Terry--Lescott--Cole
Milner--Gerrard--Parker--Downing
Young
Welbeck

[Ian Royal]

Sad to say it, but my prediction for the starting line-up vs France is:

Hart

Johnson - Terry - Lescott - Cole

Milner - Gerrard - Parker - Downing

Young

Caroll


Milner was the only player who played 180 minutes of the warm-ups - I think Hodgson is keen on using his defensive abilities against France. The only genuine alternative on the left to Downing (AOC having missed his chance to shine against Belgium) is Young, but he was played behind the forward in both warm-up games to decent effect. Lampard's injury makes the possibility of Gerrard playing in that role less likely still.

Milner and Downing must be the least inspiring pair of wingers we've used in years, but that's the way I think we're going to go.

That's what I'm expecting.

[M-U-R-T-Y]

Defoe now ruled out

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Defoe now ruled out

They're not replacing him and are expecting him back i thought

[No Fixed Abode]

Defoe now ruled out

News reports suggesting he'll come back to join up with the squad.

[TBM]

Apparently John Terry could miss the whole tournament IF he is risked against France

[M-U-R-T-Y]

Ah I see.

[M-U-R-T-Y]

Apparently John Terry could miss the whole tournament IF he is risked against France

Don't worry mate, he'll still be there to pick up the trophy.

[Ian Royal]

Apparently John Terry could miss the whole tournament IF he is risked against France

Don't worry mate, he'll still be there to pick up the trophy.

I've heard Spain, Germany and co are all chipping in for extra security to make sure he doesn't gate crash their winner's party.