England Senior Team General Discussion Thread

U know what I mean though, the shape of the midfield would cater for all our cms without shoving them out wide

I did t mention obvious replacements like terry for sol etc

This is why I’m not adverse to this 5 man defence because we have good wing backs and not many good wide players further up

 

This is correct, but in 2004 almost everyone was there, except Rio, though Terry was a star player also. This XI against Portugal were more than strong, only the goalkeeper was average:

James, Gary Neville, Terry, Campbell, Ashley Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes, Owen, Rooney.

 

When you look back at that era, other than the obvious stand out names, just going of memory we were quite thin in quality in quite a few positions, funnily enough midfield was a strong point but full backs was pretty poor. When Neville was out in 2002 I'm pretty sure Danny Mills was the starting right back and Wayne Bridge back up left back to Cole which wasn't great.

 

That's how we lost to France and Portugal in Euro 2004 pretty much.

 

Bridge was a good player

 

Seeing you guys are feeling a bit nostalgic, I'll post one of my favourite copypastas:

"The age of Rooney"

The fire crackles as the children gasp in awe. Snow begins to fall outside the window and your tale comes to an end, but the youngsters are still thirsty for more. 'Tell us about the two he scored against Andorra again Grandpapa' one child begs. 'No, no! The legendary brace vs Kazakhstan!' implores another. The oldest boy pipes up. 'Be quiet you two, Grandad tells those ones all the time. Go on, tell us the one you promised us last time - the penalty vs Slovenia...Grandad..G-Grandad?'

The rocking chair creaks to a halt. A serene expression is on your face and all of Rooney's goals flash before your eyes in your final moments as the children embrace you. His one World Cup goal, The legendary double in Minsk. That tap in against Liechenstien. they know whats happening and are scared, but calm.
The last thing you hear as you slide into the black warmth of death is the youngest boy - old beyond his years, a football fanatic who spends every free moment outside kicking his battered leather ball against the wall 'Dont be sad, he lived a hell of a life...in the age of Rooney.'

 

Against Portugal we had a perfectly good goal ruled out that would have won the match. The ref in that game was the worst homer I have seen.

 

Yes, that goal was in Extra Time. Before that England sat back and let Portugal attack, and Eriksson brought on Phil Neville (!) for Scholes (!!). Terrible game management in any ways, and the referee's error doesn't absolve Eriksson.

 

Oh yeah I'd forgotten about that. I was remembering how we got the very early goal by Owen and then Portugal had most of the chances after that and finally scored in the 83rd minute. We were trying to hold on.

 

Michael Carrick reveals being away on international duty made him so 'depressed' he told England 'please don't pick me' after 2010 World Cup https://t.co/7N2NIfAMxo pic.twitter.com/iielmiqbxb

— Mail Sport (@MailSport) April 20, 2018

This is quite depressing but not really surprised tbh. Playing ( or not playing ) under Capello must have been tough!

 

Don't know if you can watch this in Sweden, but the bit about England starts around the 23 minute mark here.

It's kind of interesting, he talks about going to the 2006 World Cup as "magical", and then by 2010 it's sending him into a depression. Then again, McClaren followed by Capello... You can see why.

 

To be fair, I think 2010 sent us all into depression so he's not alone. I'm pretty sure I fell asleep during the Algeria game.

Ps: thanks for the clip, will try and watch it later on using my VPN.

 

Andy Carroll's performance versus Stoke has now led for him to get a call-up.

Joe Hart makes a couple more mistakes. The only reason why he'd be on the plane is for morale reasons. He has experience and is a good precense within the team, but that's it to be honest. Going off of form he shouldn't be anywhere near the team.

Apparently Southgate will see Shelvey play on Monday.

 

Watching the Tottingham v Man Utd semi final.

Harry Kane doesn't look fit.

 

The Spurs keeper was criticised for not kicking the ball away (for the second goal) but Davies should have been shot for his pathetically wimpy poor excuse for a block. He was subbed soon after.

 

I saw a stat that said he'd made 4 mistakes which have led directly to a goal this season. Pickford, Butland and Pope have 3 between them.

 

But surely it's no longer form and he's just a bad gk niw? He has been poor for at least two seasons now and wasn't he dropped at City for a bit the season before that?

 

Great. What does that have to do with Kane ?

 

He was playing in that very game. For Spurs. And as a result of what I pointed out, he trudged off yet again a loser. Hopefully Southgate will not permit that sort of pathetically wimpy defending when England play.

That would indeed be great.

 

Hart having another mare v Arsenal.
Its hard to believe he was once so highly regarded.

 

Hart is awful. Screw experience, he should not be at the wc

Also his tournament experience is hardly worth sharing anyway

 

He has two monumental weaknesses..
cant save anything to his left and cant judge set pieces.

 

Doesn't look to good for the Ox! I have a bad feeling he's looking very doubtful for the World Cup.

 

Always hard to tell, but certainly looks like it could be a reasonably bad one judging by Ox's reaction.

Bit of a blow.

He was looking like a starter