England vs Germany 19/11/13

[Hoop Blah]

I'd agree with a lot of what BR says, and Ian Royals general view of the game.

Overall I thought we did quite well. Germany may have made a number of changes but they're a team who've been built over the last 6 or 7 years and with a well engrained method of playing and some excellent strength in depth. That means that when they do make changes they're still pretty strong.

We caused them problems at times and forced them into errors and put them on the back foot. They coped quite well yes, but on another day we'd have taken better advantage of the good positions we worked and the very disappointing stat of 0 shots on target wouldn't have happened. Looking at some of the stats we created 7 shots from open play. Germany created 9. We got in a almost 3 times as many crosses as they did (they played quite narrow, we played quite wide) and both teams played the same number of long balls. They made 563 short passes compared to 428 for us though, and crucially they completed more passes, made more key passes, won more headers and tackles and made better use of their attacking situations.

They got the played the moments better than us, which is obviously massively important, but on the general run of the game we did hold our on against a very good team.

[Hoop Blah]

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 .

Totally agree with the rest of your post Vision, but just to pick up on the Henderson bit, as much as he still looks below the quality we need, his performances have been pretty good of late.

Match of Day were highlighting a great through ball from Henderson to, I think Suarez, the other day. I don't think he's got the guile to be a long term solution over an above the more technical youngsters coming through, but if he keeps developing at this rate and can add goals to his game he might become a decent player.

[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.

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.

There's no doubt we needed to improve. Lallana barely touched the ball first half which didn't help. Neither did Cleverley nearly constantly giving it away. Townsend showed his inexperience by running down blind alleys too much thanks to the German defence. Sturridge failed to capitilise on the half chances that came his way. So yes, it was not a good attacking display. But as I said, 0 shots gives a much worse impression than it was.

Improvement needed, but not the totally one-sided travesty it might otherwise seem. There were certainly positives to take.

[Ian Royal]

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.

Gerrard saved the defence's blushes several times.

[sandman]

Well obviously but Kes couldn't possibly admit that.

[winchester_royal]

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 .

Totally agree with the rest of your post Vision, but just to pick up on the Henderson bit, as much as he still looks below the quality we need, his performances have been pretty good of late.

Match of Day were highlighting a great through ball from Henderson to, I think Suarez, the other day. I don't think he's got the guile to be a long term solution over an above the more technical youngsters coming through, but if he keeps developing at this rate and can add goals to his game he might become a decent player.

Henderson's been looking very tidy indeed for Liverpool of late, and don't think he's done himself any harm in his couple of short cameos for England in the last week. I don't think you can take him and Milner as they are very similar types of player, but based on current form I'd be tempted to take the younger guy.

[Ian Royal]

I thought Henderson's only contribution was that through ball and that he was a total passenger otherwise. Must be performing for Liverpool given their form (assuming he's playing) though.

[jd82]

that , is , a , lot of , commas

Typo in the username as well?

[Ian Royal]

thought Henderson's only contribution was that through ball and that he was a total passenger otherwise. Must be performing for Liverpool given their form (assuming he's playing) though.?

k, i dont really know , i mean yah henderson is not the greatest ever or even close , but what u expect from a 7 caps old youngster very less international experience. , playing just 30 mins ? think fans bring the club loyalties here .

as much i understand n see , henderson n townsend brought life to englands play . those 30 mins were the best part of englands play. again many would see this true for townsend , yahh quick nippy guy tries to dribble n direct approach , so yes he was good , n henderson ? nothing . thats how most look at it . the more showoff n direct a player more good . i know thats how it is , yes its obvious , n if townsend can correct his final delivery he would be really big , but ther are players required to do dirty work also , each player has different role , not all 11 player going to do what townsend does , and also hes on the wing so has more freedom , a cenral midfielder cant just run against opposition defense as he gets ball , the point is townseds job he did good , hendersons job he was good too.

both contributed to the game in those 30 mins , townsend had a go at the Germany defense , n wing play improved, henderson brought he energy to the game , ball retaintion was better , pressed more , so many times German players back passed coz had no way to go . these things are also very important part of the game . if you are asking him to play like xavi , its your fault , you cant have 11 messi or 11 ronaldo/xavi in ateam , players like henderson are the one who pave way for greats like messi-ronaldo hog the limelight .

henderson did his job , more than good , it was rooney n sturridge who couldnt muster a single clear shot at the german goal, on the contrary only clear cut goal opportunity was created by henderson , that through ball to sturridge . sturridges first touch was so bad that he couldnt control it.

I counted 1 touch for Henderson in his first 12 minutes on the pitch. Not. Good. Enough. That's certainly part of the reasoning behind saying he was a passenger.

[Wizard]

CM Punk