England vs Chile and Germany

[Jimothy]

Zaha is not overrated. If you saw him at all last season he was far too good for the Championship and this season he hasn't had a look in so far so you can hardly judge him at the Premiership level. Moyes hasn't picked him, but has constantly chosen an out of form Nani and the serial diver Ashley Young so he's either lazy as **** in training or he's pissed Moyes off. Saying that though Moyes has never been one to give youth a chance (just ask Everton fans) which goes against the whole Manchester United ethos.

Shut up about Zaha. He's not playing so he's out the equation. Until he's getting games, wherever that may be, then forget it.

[GingerrrFox]

Shut up about Zaha. He's not playing so he's out the equation. Until he's getting games, wherever that may be, then forget it.

 

Nah I'm alright thanks. Someone said he was overrated, I disagree. Entitled to my opinion. If you don't like it....**** off.

[Jimothy]

Nah I'm alright thanks. Someone said he was overrated, I disagree. Entitled to my opinion. If you don't like it....**** off.

He's not playing, your opinion doesn't matter. Until he gets some game time he's not even close to going to Brazil whether you think he's amazing or not.

[Leicesterpool]

Beaten by the German B team! just proves how far we are from them. They weren't that good but still beat us! Another big problem with tonight was we played to defensive and deep, that's Hodgson for yer!

[RedHux]

Zaha is not overrated. If you saw him at all last season he was far too good for the Championship and this season he hasn't had a look in so far so you can hardly judge him at the Premiership level. Moyes hasn't picked him, but has constantly chosen an out of form Nani and the serial diver Ashley Young so he's either lazy as **** in training or he's pissed Moyes off. Saying that though Moyes has never been one to give youth a chance (just ask Everton fans) which goes against the whole Manchester United ethos.

I saw him last season and the season before and he was pretty anonymous on both occasions. And that was against our bog standard championship full backs. I was actually disappointed because I'd expected to be entertained but if anything it was the other winger that caught the eye...bolassie I think?

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Zaha single handedly carried Palace out of the Championship last season

 

You're right, the likes of Glenn Murray, Julian Speroni, Yannick Bolasie and Mile Jedinak (Palace's POTY) might as well have not been there....

 

And to add to what RedHux has posted - Bolasie was also the one getting more change out of us too in comparison to Zaha.

[Guest MattP]

Best thing that could happen to us. Some of our fans actually think Smalling, Sturridge etc are World Class players.

Embarrassing. We are becoming a very average squad.

[Guest MattP]

If Zaha had played regularly at a lesser club like Swansea (who wanted him on loan) he would have been playing tonight instead of Lallana. He's one of the most naturally talented players available to England. Sir Alex said he signed him because he believed he could get to Ronaldo's level. That is no small comment from the best manager the world has ever seen.

lol

I thought the greatest manager the World has everseen said Bebe was the new Ronaldo when he signed him for 8 million?

Zaha is average. Moyes knows he's got a dud.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Ferguson also waxed lyrical about David Bellion when he signed him as a youth.

[Aus Fox]

So what have we learnt in these two friendlys?

Cleverly not ready yet, Henderson the same, smallish not good enough.

Cole is a better left back than Bains and should start if fit at the World Cup.

We are lacking a solid centre back who can organise the back line.

Llalllana is worth a place in the squad but Rodrigez is not of international quality.

Rooney and Sturridge don't work together.

All in all very negative results but I think a lot about the squad has been learnt over the 2 games and if a squad was to be picked today with everyone fully fit a few players involved this week would not be flying to Brazil.

It is important in these friendliest to work out not only who is good enough for international football but also who isn't and that has been helped.

[Finnegan]

Sorry but Germany weren't exactly blooding unknown youngsters. They may have rotated the squad to give the less experienced players a game but they're still all players that will go to Brazil and make an impact, injury permitting.

A few months AFTER a major tournament you're free to experiment and play whoever you want in friendlies but in the run up to a world cup why the **** would you mess around with the likes of Ravel Morrison? Some England fans are just braindead.

[C-man]

Was really disappointed but even more frustrated last night.

We were facing a 33-year old goalkeeper on debut - I rate Weidenfeller but he must have been nervous - yet I can't remember us testing him once. Townsend and Gerrard long-rangers the closest we got.

Germany defended as well as they have in a number of years, particularly during Hummels' short stay on the pitch. They won everything in the air.

I have to say I've enjoyed the comments about us 'dominating' them. It's not exactly a secret that Germany are best in transition and like to lead on their opposition to hit them on the counter. Fairly certain they were comfortable with us doing absolutely nothing between half way and their box but I'm sure Mertesacker et al will appreciate the back-handed compliment people are paying them for withstanding such 'domination'.

Delighted for Joe Hart - probably the one positive on a night where Walker, Smalling, Cleverley, Lallana and even Wilshere when he came on looked utterly lost at that level.

But my most vitriolic frustration last night inside Wembley was directed at Daniel Sturridge - the first time I had seen him in person. What an absolute embarrassment of a performance. No fight, no movement, no touch, no nothing. The sheer greed of the man is enough to make a Russian oligarch's eyes water. Until he learns to pass he will forever be wasting the talent he has.

Yes, Germany had rested a few players. So had England. But the overwhelming difference was that the young, vibrant and alarmingly more intelligent players they had brought in were on another planet to those Roy had the unfortunate task of bringing on. Really worried about our future.

[Guest MattP]

Sorry but Germany weren't exactly blooding unknown youngsters. They may have rotated the squad to give the less experienced players a game but they're still all players that will go to Brazil and make an impact, injury permitting.

A few months AFTER a major tournament you're free to experiment and play whoever you want in friendlies but in the run up to a world cup why the **** would you mess around with the likes of Ravel Morrison? Some England fans are just braindead.

I'll bet decent money Germany had a couple of players finishing that game that don't make the final 22 for Brazil.

[Ford Super Sunday]

From reading it seems a few Spurs fans aren't particularly enamoured with Townsend themselves. One fan even said that his best performances this season have been for England and they aren't convinced he has the final product.

 

I hardly watched either friendly to be honest so I can't comment on individual performances. The Sweden-Portugal legs were far more entertaining, friendlies rarely excite me, even if it is England. The results shouldn't really surprise anyone. The likes of Chile were always going to continue the good football style instilled into them by Bielsa and Germany are well.. Germany.

 

I'd hope the England team would step up a gear when in a competitive environment next year and less of the lacklustre, impotent attacking seen over the last two matches, but we're going to be a 'functional' team next year more than anything. I'm delighted France knocked Ukraine out because Ukraine are turgid but we'll probably be like that anyway.

[Bert]

Was really disappointed but even more frustrated last night.

We were facing a 33-year old goalkeeper on debut - I rate Weidenfeller but he must have been nervous - yet I can't remember us testing him once. Townsend and Gerrard long-rangers the closest we got.

Germany defended as well as they have in a number of years, particularly during Hummels' short stay on the pitch. They won everything in the air.

I have to say I've enjoyed the comments about us 'dominating' them. It's not exactly a secret that Germany are best in transition and like to lead on their opposition to hit them on the counter. Fairly certain they were comfortable with us doing absolutely nothing between half way and their box but I'm sure Mertesacker et al will appreciate the back-handed compliment people are paying them for withstanding such 'domination'.

Delighted for Joe Hart - probably the one positive on a night where Walker, Smalling, Cleverley, Lallana and even Wilshere when he came on looked utterly lost at that level.

But my most vitriolic frustration last night inside Wembley was directed at Daniel Sturridge - the first time I had seen him in person. What an absolute embarrassment of a performance. No fight, no movement, no touch, no nothing. The sheer greed of the man is enough to make a Russian oligarch's eyes water. Until he learns to pass he will forever be wasting the talent he has.

Yes, Germany had rested a few players. So had England. But the overwhelming difference was that the young, vibrant and alarmingly more intelligent players they had brought in were on another planet to those Roy had the unfortunate task of bringing on. Really worried about our future.

This is a great post, especially regarding Sturridge. He is the most selfish, lazy footballer I've seen for a long time. Literally, he will not do anything that won't benefit him. One point early on in the first half, he had a shot when there was 3 defenders in front of him. There was no way he was going to get it anywhere near on target. He's such a frustrating player because we've seen this season that he can actually do the bizzo.

[Ric Flair]

Is John Terry still a racist? Please please PLEASE can we get him back, beg him to come back. Our defence is absolutely horrifying. Jagielka is muck, Cahill is suspect and Chris Smalling. Don't even start me on Smalling, unbelievable that he's being given opportunities. Joleon Lescott is head and shoulders above any of them and yet he doesn't get a chance. Our full backs are worrying as well, Hodgson seems intent on playing Walker who isn't good enough and the jury is out for me on Leighton Baines, he gives the ball away a criminal amount of times.

 

Tom Cleverley is an absolute salad as well, powder puff and horse shit to boot. How is he getting the gig? Hodgson has a lot to answer for in my eyes. I can accept experimenting but not with crap players, don't meddle with shit.

[suffolk fox]

German Reserves 1 England 0 we really are very poor.

[Finnegan]

I'll bet decent money Germany had a couple of players finishing that game that don't make the final 22 for Brazil.

 

Oh yeah, maybe, but the same can be said of England. There's no harm in trying out genuinely potential candidates.

 

But the guy that said England should be bringing in youngsters for friendly experience is crackers. That's not quite what Germany were doing and not what anyone should be doing in the run up to the tournament. The likes of Sam and Draxler are in the squad on merit and do have a chance of making Brazil, even if they may eventually miss out. By contrast, calling for Ravel Morrison and Wilf Zaha is just silly.

[Super_horns]

Usually we win these high profile friendlies which increases the hype and expectation so maybe seeing that last night will dampen hopes potentially helping Hodgson and the team in Brazil deal with the mass media and pressure...could go out and express themselves more?

[Bert]

Oh yeah, maybe, but the same can be said of England. There's no harm in trying out genuinely potential candidates.

 

But the guy that said England should be bringing in youngsters for friendly experience is crackers. That's not quite what Germany were doing and not what anyone should be doing in the run up to the tournament. The likes of Sam and Draxler are in the squad on merit and do have a chance of making Brazil, even if they may eventually miss out. By contrast, calling for Ravel Morrison and Wilf Zaha is just silly.

I can see where you are coming from. But say these two have a second half of the season where it's impossible not to pick them (arguments sake). Then what big game experience do they have? None.

[Finnegan]

I can see where you are coming from. But say these two have a second half of the season where it's impossible not to pick them (arguments sake). Then what big game experience do they have? None.

 

Yeah maybe. But you've got to trust that a manager with Hodgson's experience is taking a look at the Premier League thinking "realistically, who's ready and who will be ready?"

You don't have that many games left to put together a consistent and well organized side. 

[Bert]

Yeah maybe. But you've got to trust that a manager with Hodgson's experience is taking a look at the Premier League thinking "realistically, who's ready and who will be ready?"

You don't have that many games left to put together a consistent and well organized side. 

I'm fully behind Hodgson, he knows what he's doing. Our biggest problem is we have so many people pull out so they don't miss a club game at the weekend it's hard to put together a consistent and organised side, and the replacements we currently have just aren't up there with our top players.

[Finnegan]

I'm fully behind Hodgson, he knows what he's doing. Our biggest problem is we have so many people pull out so they don't miss a club game at the weekend it's hard to put together a consistent and organised side, and the replacements we currently have just aren't up there with our top players.

 

I mean that's ultimately the root of it. You just have a ****ing awful generation of players. You're still one of the top footballing nations in the world, so of course you produce some quality players from time to time but the depth has gone flat out the window as the likes of MTWG and Flair have pointed out in this thread.

 

Most of Germany's bench tonight would have walked in to the England 11 and that's the difference. 

[Wycombe Fox]

It sounds like I ought to thank my wife for insisting we went to the pub last night rather than stay in and watch England. 

[Manwell Pablo]

And how will we know if these players are good enough then? I'd rather them play tonight at Wembley than against fvcking San Marino.

 

When they've had half as good a career as Steven Gerrard we'll know they're good enough, until then lets just stick to playing the best midfielder we have.