The team was balanced and kept possession the other night. But when Rooney and Gerrard come back all that balance will go out of the window .
Parker is indeed a problem. Dropping Rooney into the vacuum behind the front man that seemingly saps all his technique, strength and speed makes life even more difficult for the midfield. I would like to see this tried. Cleverly almost as a false 9 wherein his main role is to offer an outlet to the deeper midfielders rather than looking to get behind the opponent's defence. Johnson - Caulker - Someone Fast - Cole -------------Huddlestone-------------- -----Rodwell(someone busy)-Wilshere--- -------------Cleverly------------------- -----Rooney----------Welbeck------- Huddlestone should be given a chance if only because of his ability to play the ball quickly and cleanly off both feet.
He's not the player Pirlo is, though, is he. Decent enough but there's a reason why he doesn't see the field every game for yanited with even Scholes and Giggs, (with a combined age of 77 years between them), being preferred on occasion. Just scanning quickly through the stats here it seems he only started and completed about 30 games last season for yanited in all competition. But, tbh, my point isn't that he's not a good player but rather that he's not someone we should be relying on ideally. I'd like to see some of the kids, like young Cleverly, being tried as I said before.
I rate Carrick highly.. he had a poor season the year before last, but otherwise there are not many that are better than him at what he does. I'm excited for 2014 as long as we keep our squad fit, and I can't wait to see Wilshere back. Personally I'd keep Walker at RB, he is ridiculously fast and although Johnson had a good tournament, I think Walker can be a world class RB in the future. I'd keep the midfield 3 of Carrick, Cleverley and Lampard.. but when Wilshere comes back I would swap him for Cleverley or Lampard probably. Also Adam Johnson looked really good, he will be an important player for us now, and I'm glad that Hodgson rates him. Ruddy and Butland had good games as well which can't be ignored, I now feel confident in our goalkeepers. My starting line up for the qualifiers if everyone is fit would be: ------------------Hart Walker---Cahill----Terry---Cole ------Carrick----Wilshere Johnson--Lampard---Young ----------Rooney subs: Ox, Welbeck, Carrol, Gerrard, Cleverley, Lescott, Butland, Bertrand
This is a ridiculous post. Out of around 50 games in all competitions he started 37 games (playing 90 mins in 34 of them). He was one of Man Utd's most used players last season. Taking into account knocks, unimportant games, suspensions, rest etc, he played a lot, and was one of United's more important players (this coming from someone (me) who has criticised him many times in the past)
I can only count 26 completed league games in the prem, (out of a possible 38, obviously), when I look at it. As well as the listing I gave before the listing here shows him as appearing in 41 games, (I'm not sure where your figure of 50 comes from, tbh ... you're not including pre-season friendlies and suchlike, are you?), but the other listing says 40 so I'd suggest that's probably about right. Either way if you then knock off the 6 or 7 he either didn't start or was brought off that's still not a spectacular level of confidence from his club manager, is it. I'd say that's about 20-25% less than you'd expect from a player who's considered a stalwart of his club side, assuming his club side is competing in all competitions which I think we'd both agree yanited are.
Carrick's never been particularly good for England, I can probably find match threads on this forum where posters are saying he should never play again. I have a hard time thinking he's the answer.
hodgson needs a slightly different metality towards posession imo although carrick was a twat not playing in june
Carrick can only play the way he is facing and is slow to get the ball out of his feet. If he was Spanish, he'd be totally unknown. On the plus side, his reading of the game is very good and uses body well to win possession. However, Huddlestone is a much better bet as an international midfielder than Carrick. A better and cleaner passer, and genuinely 2 footed.
Rob Green is going to have a long season in front of that QPR defence I have just seen on MOTD. He was probably to blame for the first goal ,but the others were down to the calamitous defence.
He's been pants for England. Some of that has to do with the midfield compliment he had in some matches
Which is why Carrick has had so much success in the champions league (and the likes of Xavi and Alonso keep saying that he would be admired more if he was Spanish) while Huddlestone is a bit part player for Spurs.
Well, by definition, that obviously wasn't true in the games he didn't play or only played for part of the match but, tbh, even if it WERE true, last season you had Cleverly injured for a fair part of it, Scholes came out of retirement and Giggs is... what is it? 38?
Carrick is infinitely better than huddlestone but he is still a good passer, just has the pace of a rocking horse, sandro looks better imo
still hoping wilshere can get back to fitness. He gave us a new dimension the times he turned out for us.
The words i want to say is,I hopes to view the result of England Senior Squad's success!they are both excellent!they will meet the gain time!
That was pretty bad, wasn't it but the thing I also noticed was how slow the rest of his side were to get back. He deserves stick for that ball but quite a few of the rest of them need a good kick up the arse as well.
per the recent talk of Fat Huddlestone he has joined Stoke on a season long loan- not sure his type of football will suit them and vice versa. Think a move abroad would have been better imo.