England v Ireland and Slovenia

[foxes_rule1978]

Ok babes.

Haha, learn to watch the game and then speak okay

[m4DD0gg]

Haha, learn to watch the game and then speak okay

 

haha you are deluded

[Dan]

Will get hounded for this, but I think Rooney is past his best.

 

Can see to control the ball well as he could and is not one of the fastest strikers anymore.

 

Anyone who hounds you for that is kidding themselves.

 

There was a time when he looked like he could be at the level of Ronaldo. Now he does less in 75 minutes than Vardy does in 15 average minutes by his standards.

 

Can't put my finger on him for England. It's hard to argue with that record but he has some absolute shockers. There's no inbetween.

[Wymsey]

Rooney seems to be a 'chunky' player.

Strong physically, but this could be the reason why he's often seen as a slow runner nowadays.

When he was a kid at Everton, and first 2/3 seasons at Man Utd, he used to run around a lot causing havoc - but this part of his game has gone.

[Dan]

It's been coached out of him after years of trying to make him something he wasn't.

 

He has undoubtedly got the talent, but I don't think he ever really fulfilled his potential. He could've been a legend of the game.

[Wymsey]

You should replace Andy Townsend at ITV - you're good at analysing players.

[Rincewind]

Who thinks certain players  are  picked for England just to draw in the crowds?

[Wymsey]

Who thinks certain players are picked for England just to draw in the crowds?

None, as they all play under-par when playing for their country.

[Rincewind]

None, as they all play under-par when playing for their country.

But are still selected.

[foxes_rule1978]

haha you are deluded

Still laughing, all your post and anyone on this forum would agree with me are just ridiculous

[The Doctor]

another idiot...

You know, computer monitors and mirrors aren't the same thing.

I should qualify this with a strong dose of not caring about England, I watch because it's football, but England are painfully average. Stroll through an easy group without ever looking world beaters then fall apart once you face a good side. The problem is you don't pick a team, you pick 11 names and keep playing them no matter how awful they play and how clear it is that they can't play together. If you think England are in any sense good enough now, you must be an ostrich.

[kingcarr21]

I missed the game as i was travelling back from Benidorm. Thank god i didnt put myself through that shite. Delighted for Vardy getting his cap but you have to question Hodgsons thinking.

 

Austin not even getting a minute in the friendly is an absolute disgrace. I really hope he gets a good run out vs Slovenia. Will Hodgson let him earn his 1st cap though if its a tight game, im not so sure he will. If Austin goes through these 2 fixtures without earning his 1st cap then why pick him in the first place. I would have liked to have seen Austin and Vardy on the pitch together i think they would compliment each other really well.

 

Clyne is another one. Jones is absolute shite how is he playing at RB when we have a natural RB in Clyne.

 

Our starting midfield doesnt exactly excite you does it. Henderson, Wilshere and Milner. These players will always be at the front of Hodgsons mind so why not let Delph and Barkley play from the start. In fact Barkley shouldnt even be in the squad he should be with the U21's imo. 

 

The fact Hodgson didnt even use all his subs is the biggest kick in the teeth to the likes of Austin and Clyne. He knows what he gets out of Townsend so a front 3 of Austin Vardy and Walcott would have been nice to see.

 

All in all a very disappointing showing by England. I mainly feel sorry for Austin. I really hope he gets a good bit of gametime against Slovenia. I cant see Vardy getting on the pitch simply because Austin didnt get on against Ireland. Heres hoping they both get on the pitch.

[My Nads]

At least he was attempting to make things happen even if his end product was questionable. Sterling, Lallana and Rooney were all absolutely diabolical.

Oh, I completely agree, they were shocking. I just meant while Vardy was on the pitch. I only ever watch Leicester play and as you know, we play the ball forward and and at a high tempo with maximum effort, so it was just frustrating to watch. Townsend had a few opportunities to put Vardy through, but just didn't bother. I'm not used to watching selfish players like that because we don't have any.    

[My Nads]

Croatia are better than us.

I wouldn't expect England to beat any team, except the San Marino's of this world. There's just something so wrong with the attitude in the England set up. I would like to see a manager that can fire up the players and pick players that feel proud to play for England, but it's just the "star" players with their crap attitude that get picked game after game. 

[Leicesterpool]

There are some players in that current squad that really irritate me, the press and pundits brag how good they are but players like Wiltshire, Sterling, Smalling, Walcott, all so overrated they maybe good for there clubs but put an England shirt on them...we see nothing.

 

Yesterday was the perfect opportunity to test things and show players like Heaton, Vardy, Austin... what they can do? but instead Woy seems so scared in dropping some of the regulars.

 

As many as people have said he's the typical Fa "Yes Man"

[Bayfox]

Well, I agree with Paul Scholes.

 

I was driving back from essex yesterday, so avoided radio on drive home and then twitter etc and watched it on +1, mainly to see if Vardy got a chance, I am seriously considering giving up on England, partly as we are so pedestrian and because we call Vardy and Austin up, and stick with Rooney.

 

Give these players a chance if you are going to call them up, not play 1 for 15 mins, up front on his own, Vardy would have been a much better option than woys mate Adam than he was ever going to show by playing through the middle, isolated on his own.

 

Only can hope that townsend gets the nod over sterling in the qualifier as he offered much more in his short spell than most the others. Wilshire was the only player to show any desire.

 

Would rather have a team of vardys than sterlings.

[kingfox]

There are some players in that current squad that really irritate me, the press and pundits brag how good they are but players like Wiltshire, Sterling, Smalling, Walcott, all so overrated they maybe good for there clubs but put an England shirt on them...we see nothing.

 

Yesterday was the perfect opportunity to test things and show players like Heaton, Vardy, Austin... what they can do? but instead Woy seems so scared in dropping some of the regulars.

 

As many as people have said he's the typical Fa "Yes Man"

Wilshere was England's best player yesterday, he showed glimpses of what he is capable of. Wilshere has had some decent showings in an England shirt, just a shame he can't seem to stay fit. Sterling was our biggest threat at the World Cup, since then he has turned into one of the biggest twat in Football, plus playing alongside Balotelli & Lambert hasn't helped matters. Smalling still isn't great but we've seen improvements with him this season. Finally play Walcott correctly he will be our most dangerous player.

I agree though yesterday he should of finished with a front three of Vardy - Austin - Walcott, as for Heaton I doubt he will even get capped.

[Nick]

The players seemed to have no relationship with each other whatsoever - the defenders looked more progressive on the ball than anybody bar Wilshere.

 

Vardy looked like he wanted the shirt at least, the rest of them looked weak and without ideas, just like in the last two tournaments.

 

Barkley and Rooney - dreadful.

[foxfanazer]

Anybody that thinks we are on the brink of anything other than further years of mediocrity are kidding themselves. The gap is getting bigger and will continue to do so until we address the real problems of the national team. Right from grassroots through to the premiership changes are needed.

English players look terrified to express themselves and seem to have been coached to just play slow, keep ball football. The amount of backward passes yesterday was infuriating to watch

[davieG]

Vardy would have done better if Wilshire was still on the pitch as he seemed to be the only midfielder looking for players running into space.

[Ollie93]

Anybody that thinks we are on the brink of anything other than further years of mediocrity are kidding themselves. The gap is getting bigger and will continue to do so until we address the real problems of the national team. Right from grassroots through to the premiership changes are needed.

English players look terrified to express themselves and seem to have been coached to just play slow, keep ball football. The amount of backward passes yesterday was infuriating to watch

 

I think this is partly to do with us, the fans, and the media. The pressure being put on them before every tournament to do well is massive. They are scrutinized after every game they don't perform well. Now I'm not defending that performance yesterday because It was shockingly bad and changes need to be made. 

[Larry_LCFC]

That game yesterday needed an injection of pace. Vardy was the right choice over Austin. That's not to say Austin shouldn't have replaced one of the other hopeless cases

[Dan]

They probably are just scared that their Opta stats go down seeing as everyone takes that as gospel nowadays.

I think this is partly to do with us, the fans, and the media. The pressure being put on them before every tournament to do well is massive. They are scrutinized after every game they don't perform well. Now I'm not defending that performance yesterday because It was shockingly bad and changes need to be made. 

 

I can't believe it's not the same, or at least similar with other supposed top sides.

[foxfanazer]

I think this is partly to do with us, the fans, and the media. The pressure being put on them before every tournament to do well is massive. They are scrutinized after every game they don't perform well. Now I'm not defending that performance yesterday because It was shockingly bad and changes need to be made.

I agree that there is a lot of pressure and expectations on them but I'd have to agree with Dan. International football is at the very top of the game and there has to come a time where we perform or put a plan in place to ensure the next 20+ years don't follow in the same vain.

If the team of 98-06 couldn't win anything then i struggle to see how a team that comprises of players like Smalling, Townsend and Barkley will. I know I must sound really negative but I've just become so disillusioned with England. I only watched yesterday for Vardy

[Guest Col city fan]

The players seemed to have no relationship with each other whatsoever - the defenders looked more progressive on the ball than anybody bar Wilshere.

Vardy looked like he wanted the shirt at least, the rest of them looked weak and without ideas, just like in the last two tournaments.

Barkley and Rooney - dreadful.

Completely agree.

Despite Hodgson being around now for quite some time, we still look like a bunch of individuals, not a team.

Yes it was a friendly and yes we are doing well in the qualis.

But I still want to see a spark, some fresh ideas, some risk - taking even.

To date I'm utterly bored both of Hodgson and his playing style.