England v Montenegro and Poland.

[Dan]

Very, very harsh to call him a bottler considering the luck he's had with injuries and timing before two of his four major tournies with England. Of the four he's been involved in, he's only really been 100% fit for two - in 2006 he wasn't even close to recovering fully from that metatarsal business, and in 2010 he was hurried back in at United after injuring himself in Munich and found himself in South Africa not quite right. Shame because that season (09/10) he was close to taking up a space in the bracket Messi and Ronaldo currently occupy.

 

2012 he was garbage (but then again, who wasn't bar Gerrard and Cole?), I'll concede - but 2004 he ****ing ran things for us.

 

Yeh it was pretty harsh admittedly but for someone of Rooney's stature to not have had a decent tournament for 10 years is ridiculous regardless of how it's happened.

 

I really do wonder if 2014 is his year.

[Dan]

I'm not judging it all on the amount of saves Hart was required mate. I just don't think they created an awful lot of chances and that was partly down to how well the defence coped with Poland and the pressing from everyone on the pitch, apart from the counter attacks we never let them have time on the ball and restricted them in finding space and allowing them to run at us.

 

Also it probably wasn't us taking our foot off the gas, international football is a lot different to domestic football, this is something England struggle with massively. Obviously all of our domestic Leagues are hell for leather, as soon as that whistle goes we chase the ball, we steam into tackles and a lot of the time we try and win games in the first half, that happens across all the leagues. On the continent that doesn't happen as much and that carries onto their national teams.

 

It's little things like that, that our players struggle with, you may think I'm talking rubbish but mate next few times you watch Super Sunday or something, watch how different the tempo of the games are in the first 15-20 minutes of the first half and compare it to the first 15-20 of the second half, its surprising trust me.

 

Points taken. Can understand what you're saying about tempo actually, I think continental sides do tend to play at a slower tempo, I just think when we do slow things down, we ought to be better at retaining the ball.

[Ric Flair]

Anyone saying Cole should be dropped needs to give their heads a wobble. He is easily in the top 3 left backs in the world. Baines is very good, but he isn't as solid as Cole, i think he is more of a left winger IMO. Problem is with Cole is people don't like him because he is an utter cvnt off the pitch, if he was a decent bloke he would be idolised in the same way as David Beckham.

 

Doft of the cap in acknowledgment at the use of the phrase " give your head a wobble " it's one of my favourites. Keep up the good work.

[Corky]

Baines/Cole is a toughie. Still think Cole is the better player but maybe its time to start persisting with a younger more dynamic side.

We could have had 4-5 yes but had Lewan been wearing yellow that would have been a very tough night.

It's typical we've got two more than capable left backs and not a right back who you would wipe your arse with.

 

I did like it when Tyldesley said that in Poland they wonder why Lewandowski doesn't reproduce his club form for the national side.

 

Of course, we'd never have that sort of debate over here

[foxfanazer]

Not a fan of Rooney's but he played well last night. Didn't think he was man of the match but ITV love to bum him. Overall he has underachieved for England and will continue to do so until he has a positive impact in a maior tournament. Time to prove us wrong Wayne!

I thought Cahill was superb last night, good positioning, dominant in the air and threw himself at everything, in particular the one just after half time. It will be interesting to see who will fill the centre back positions for the world cup

[Manwell Pablo]

Anyone saying Cole should be dropped needs to give their heads a wobble. He is easily in the top 3 left backs in the world. Baines is very good, but he isn't as solid as Cole, i think he is more of a left winger IMO. Problem is with Cole is people don't like him because he is an utter cvnt off the pitch, if he was a decent bloke he would be idolised in the same way as David Beckham.

 

I'd ignore him he's just got a vendetta.  

 

OT: Don't know why we've waited until the last two games to play like that, like watching a different team to the one so far in qualifying. 

 

As others have said I think we'll find it very hard in Brazil but at least we'll be there. 

[Corky]

And James Milner made a forward pass for Gerrard's goal too.

 

Roy is working wonders.

[Uncle Albert]

Paul Hayward has just tweeted that as it stands only 9 players will be in contention for Brazil who were in South Africa, Hart, Johnson, Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Carrick, Milner, Defoe and Rooney. Big changes in the last 4 years!

[foxfanazer]

And James Milner made a forward pass for Gerrard's goal too.

Roy is working wonders.

Who did Milner come on for? Didn't even see him

[Uncle Albert]

Who did Milner come on for? Didn't even see him

 

Townsend.

[Aus Fox]

Australia have been invited to play at Wembley next month, but with OZ not having a manager, they are yet to confirm they want the game. Mind you, no-one in their right mind is going to turn down a chance to play against England at Wembley....are they?

.....and 3-0.... i think you are being a little kind there....last week lost 6-0 to Brazil, 2 days ago....... lost 6-0 to France.......... (managed a scrappy 3-0 over Canada today) and no manager . An aging team and some disharmony.

Ohh and England in Rio YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think they will accept, after playing 2 big nations and losing 6-0 the last thing they want to do is play another big nation with the possibility of another big defeat, I think Australia will have a very low key build up to the World Cup they need to play teams who they can beat or at least be competitive against.

[Finnegan]

Will you be a top seed for the groups? When are they drawn?

[Uncle Albert]

No and December 5th/6th.

 

We'll be in pot 2 as it stands.

[Ric Flair]

I hope we get Brazil in our group. Is it possible?

[Finnegan]

Who's the strongest side in pot 3?

[Fox92]

Carrick is top drawer he was everything in midfield, left the showy stuff to Gerrard but Carrick was the puppet master. Townsend is a world beater in the making. Smalling got a lot of unwarranted stick, he was solid for me considering he's a centre back playing international football out of position. Hopefully we get a relatively easy group.

 

I like watching Carrick. For a holding midfielder, he passes the ball forward a hell of a lot - not just sidewards and back. Hardly loses the ball either.

 

I like Baines as well, always have admired him, but I don't think he's better than Cole. Going forward he might be, and his set pieces can be the difference at times, but I still think defensively, Cole is still ahead.

[Ric Flair]

I'm astounded we're 17th in the rankings. Years ago we were always about 4th or 5th when we didn't deserve it, now we're as low as 17th and yet in terms of results when it matters they are hardly any different to years gone by. FIFA are the pits

[Samilktray]

I'm astounded we're 17th in the rankings. Years ago we were always about 4th or 5th when we didn't deserve it, now we're as low as 17th and yet in terms of results when it matters they are hardly any different to years gone by. FIFA are the pits

Some laughable teams above us too.

[foxfanazer]

In the past 10 years Ashley Cole has been our best/most consistent player. I agree he does come across as a bit of a tit but on the pitch he is fantastic. I'd say he's probably the best left back I've ever seen

[Manwell Pablo]

Paul Hayward has just tweeted that as it stands only 9 players will be in contention for Brazil who were in South Africa, Hart, Johnson, Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Carrick, Milner, Defoe and Rooney. Big changes in the last 4 years!

 

Massive shame JT has thrown his toys out for me but we seem to be defending reasonable well.

 

Milner, sigh. Hate seeing him in a England shirt.

 

At least Barry has been put out to graze at last. 

[The Blur]

Glad Rooney is playing more attacking then keep dropping back. I think that headgear he is wearing is inspired from the film Total Recall where if the prisoners go over the perimeter line , their heads blow off

 

 

I think you meant The Running Man!

[Uncle Albert]

I hope we get Brazil in our group. Is it possible?

 

Yeah it is mate, we'll be 2nd seeds I think I read, we'll face either Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Brazil or three other South American teams in our group. God knows how they work all of this out.

 

Massive shame JT has thrown his toys out for me but we seem to be defending reasonable well.

 

Milner, sigh. Hate seeing him in a England shirt.

 

At least Barry has been put out to graze at last. 

 

What's worse mate in that 2010 World Cup squad there was places for Rob Green, Stephen Warnock, Matthew Upson, Emile Heskey and Shaun Wright-Phillips, none of which play Premier League football anymore.

 

If John Terry can keep his form throughout the season and can stay fit then Roy Hodgson should be trying to persuade Terry to come out of 'retirement', as long as Rio Ferdinand doesn't get mentioned and persuaded.

[whoareyaaa]

Am I right in thinking that the top 2 teams from the World cup group go into the knockout stages?

[Tubes]

Anyone know roughly what date in November the Germany friendly will be? Very tempted to use my last 2 days holiday at work on this!

[foxfanazer]

Am I right in thinking that the top 2 teams from the World cup group go into the knockout stages?

yeah. The teams that top the groups will play a team that finished second in another group