What a finish from Defoe! 2-1 now, it's just sod's law that we will probably win the game that means nothing. Other than that, there is a massive improvement in our play, Cleverley and Carrick work very well in midfield, I hope to see those two being prominent from now on, with Wilshere to come back as well, makes it even better
2-1 FT. A win's a win, I guess. Hopefully Roy can learn something from it. I thought Milner was very good today on the Right.
The worlds third best team win again Better work out than I thought it would be. Nice to see a few new caps and some decent individual performances.
I think our general play is a lot better with a 3 man midfield. The return of Carrick is also very important for us, we were doomed from the start when we had to rely on a 2 man midfield playing 90 minutes every game every 4 days in the Euros
HODGSON : note to self - remember to pick a balanced midfield playing actual central midfielders! I didn't catch the game - was Lampard playing as an auxillary midfielder making a compact 3? Or was he playing in the hole(or rather, the black hole where England are concerned)? Was Cleverley as deep as Carrick when in possession? Confident that Cleverley will be a good international midfielder.
Maybe, but from Welbeck's physique he looks like a player who could easily burn out so perhaps it isn't a bad thing. Having said that Welbeck can play any of the forward positions and RVP - cough *choker*- is made of glass.
This has been apparent since Italia 90 and was reaffirmed by Hoddle's England. I remember getting excited after seeing a young Gerrard play for England in a 3 at home to Ukraine in what was a very fluid team picked by Keegan of all people. Still baffled to this day as to why he decided to scrap it by the time the Euros came round. It's a little damning that I as a teenager could see the differences the extra man made yet most pundits and England Managers could not. Rooney being played in the hole impinges on the balance of the England midfield. He should be either one of the front 3 or on the bench. Christ, I feel like a broken record.
I do think with a fit Wilshere/Huddlestone that a diamond formation is an option. Still my favorite formation in football.
No width though and a diamond is possession based so we would struggle atm with hodgesons style of play! Imo anyway
It's a bit strange and not good. City are said to be after 5 young English players - weirdly Scott Sinclair is one.
True, but the full backs can provide the width as can the 2 forwards. I am rather imagining what I would do with the England side, rather than the Hodge.
I wondered about this as well as I didn't catch this one either. Soccernet had them lined up in 4-2-3-1 with Lampard and Carrick starting as the holding pair and Cleverly as the central attacking midfielder.
Yep my reading suggests the same, that Cleverly was for the most part the furthest forward of the 3 but that he covered for Lampard when he moved forward. Both smart players, they should work well together tactically although Lampard will be about 49 come the next World Cup. Still want to see Huddelestone, and of course Wilshere, as the deep lying player England. Carrick is too limited facing his own goal. That said, I would have no complaints seeing Carrick, Cleverly and Wilshere in a 3.
Carrick's going to be 33 at the time of the next tournie though. Not sure we can rely on him for the future.
I honestly believe a fit Cleverly is why SAF hasn't signed the midfielder United fans have been clamouring for.
I still hate Carrick. I'm not going to get over it any time soon. I think we could have beaten Italy if we had him.