Manwell Pablo Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 I'll bet decent money Germany had a couple of players finishing that game that don't make the final 22 for Brazil. I'm hoping, with everyone fit, you could say the same about us. To be honest, with everyone available you could put you a decent international 11 imo, it'd be old and would certainly have weak links, 2014 would definitely be it's last tournament but it'd compete. We showed that when we took apart Poland and Montenegro. It's a shame not enough of the younger lads are showing promise and beyond next summers tournament we could look very ropey, Barkley and Townsend especially look exciting but I worry for our defence and there's not a decent international striker in sight for Rooney to play off. Not that he often turns up in a England shirt anyway.
Dan Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 A few things. Zaha isn't better than Lallana. Zaha is one of the most over-rated players of recent times and it absolutely astounds me that people think he's some star player because of last season. He's proven himself to be a good player at Championship level, good, not outstanding. I'd take him on loan here in a flash because our wide options aren't the best - but international quality? He's proven nowhere near as much as Lallana, who isn't perfect, but he's achieved far more than Zaha (such as starting a game in the Premier League). I can't comment on the whole of yesterday's game as I watched the second half of Sweden/Portugal, but sounds like England were back to being utterly dour. The first half wasn't a disgrace but it wasn't good either. It was a definite improvement from Friday but they'd need shooting if it wasn't. Saw the end of the game and Germany looked more like scoring than England did. Effortlessly knocked it around and played some lovely stuff towards the end even if it did take them a while to get going. Hodgson isn't perfect but he isn't the problem. It lies way before him. I like the fact he ignores reputation and picks less obvious names. Gives out a strong message to everyone if you ask me. There's no point chucking in the likes of Ravel Morrison, Tom Ince etc... now. The World Cup is only a few games away for England, there's no point gambling on players in the close build-up to the actual thing itself - save that for after July. On the whole, two poor results, no goals scored in two home games. At least there's a higher chance of people being realistic I suppose.
Dan Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 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 Ronaldo's level?! If he was ever going to be at Ronaldo's level he'd have been in their team a while ago.
foxfanazer Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 How come Dawson doesn't get a look in for England? Surely he's better than Smalling
Dan Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 How come Dawson doesn't get a look in for England? Surely he's better than Smalling So am I The defending for their goal was an embarrassment. Hart actually did very well but to be beaten in the air like that three times in the space of a minute? Ridiculous.
Corky Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 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? I hope so, realistically we have nothing to lose. Expectations are very low so anything beyond the group stage is a bonus. What we've learnt is that other countries are technically superior and have better pools of talent available. No major shock but because it was so obvious it shook a few people after the joy of qualifying. I hope Roy doesn't take Cleverley, don't rate him as an international at all. Lallana and Townsend have shown glimpses so far, Carrick would be an important member, but really, Hodgson has given everyone good enough out there a go, I doubt we've got untried hidden gems out there who could take the World Cup by storm.
Wycombe Fox Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 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? Straw clutcher!!!!
Dan Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 At the minute it'd probably be... Hart Forster Ruddy Walker Johnson Cahill Jagielka Smalling Dawson Cole Baines Gerrard Lampard Carrick Cleverley Wilshere Barkley Rooney Lallana Townsend Sturridge Walcott Welbeck Lambert Dear, oh dear, oh dear.
Leicesterpool Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 I've got to say Rooney looked really poor last night, the Germans were robbing him of the ball way to easy. If i had to pick an Man of the match last night I would have gone for Gerrard, he was the only one who looked like scoring.
StanSP Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 It's a shame Sturridge plays so well for Liverpool because that's what earns him his England call-ups. But as soon as he pulls on an England shirt, he is utter turd. Can't remember the last good game he had for England. Indecisive, too selfish, first touch isn't great. Surely we have better?!
Dan Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 I just cannot see what it is that Sturridge can do so well at Liverpool that he can't at England.
foxfanazer Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 I just cannot see what it is that Sturridge can do so well at Liverpool that he can't at England.one word. Suarez!
Guest MattP Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 I just cannot see what it is that Sturridge can do so well at Liverpool that he can't at England. It's far different chipping a goal in and doing a trick when 3-0 up agaisnt Fulham than is it agaisnt seasoned international defenders. He isn't that good and his footballing brain is woeful, he would actually rather take a shot and miss than pass.
Dan Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 one word. Suarez! He was doing it before Suarez came back from injury although he has helped. It's far different chipping a goal in and doing a trick when 3-0 up agaisnt Fulham than is it agaisnt seasoned international defenders. He isn't that good and his footballing brain is woeful, he would actually rather take a shot and miss than pass. True, but he just looks a totally different player, almost clueless.
Danno Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 He was doing it before Suarez came back from injury although he has helped. True, but he just looks a totally different player, almost clueless. Playing against people like Russel Martin each week would probably help.
Brainy Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 People just programme it in their heads the Germany "reserves" we played last night are bad players, when infact they're about as good as us. Maybe if we were to realise that we'd see that the performance last night was alright but our world ranking is probably about right at the moment.
foxfanazer Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 He was doing it before Suarez came back from injury although he has helped. True, but he just looks a totally different player, almost clueless. Good point.Even though he comes across as quite a confident player, to me it looks like the weight of expectation when playing for England really troubles him. Looks like he loses half a yards pace too
Bert Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 People are forgetting we played a "B" team against Chile on Friday too. But no, that's just "England are crap".
Manwell Pablo Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 People are forgetting we played a "B" team against Chile on Friday too. But no, that's just "England are crap". Well they were, didn't exactly inspire confidence in the second string did it, remember the difference here is Germanys B team actually got the result.
C-man Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 At the minute it'd probably be... Hart Forster Ruddy Walker Johnson Cahill Jagielka Smalling Dawson Cole Baines Gerrard Lampard Carrick Cleverley Wilshere Barkley Rooney Lallana Townsend Sturridge Walcott Welbeck Lambert Dear, oh dear, oh dear. Mine wouldn't be too far away from that, sadly.Unquestionably one of our biggest issues is the lack of exposure to the highest level opposition our players are getting. Of the squads that played last night, England had 10 of 25 players playing CL football. That includes Milner, Cleverley and Smalling who I suspect wouldn't play in the biggest games. Contrast that with Germany's A(.5) team, which was full of CL players; 15 of their 19 named players have played CL football this year. Seven of them played in the final last year, for god sake. Fans can question Roy's tactics as much as they want. The fact is that with the current set up of the PL and the apparent lack of high-class coaching, England will continue to lag behind in international football indefinitely.
Bert Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 Well they were, didn't exactly inspire confidence in the second string did it, remember the difference here is Germanys B team actually got the result. But if England won last night, I can virtually guarantee "Well it was only a Germany B Team" we played.
purpleronnie Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 But if England won last night, I can virtually guarantee "Well it was only a Germany B Team" we played. And rightly so.
Manwell Pablo Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 But if England won last night, I can virtually guarantee "Well it was only a Germany B Team" we played. Well it was. I think there is a level of performance issue and the performance in regards to Friday, it wasn't good enough even if we had players out.
Dan Posted 20 November 2013 Posted 20 November 2013 Mine wouldn't be too far away from that, sadly. Unquestionably one of our biggest issues is the lack of exposure to the highest level opposition our players are getting. Of the squads that played last night, England had 10 of 25 players playing CL football. That includes Milner, Cleverley and Smalling who I suspect wouldn't play in the biggest games. Contrast that with Germany's A(.5) team, which was full of CL players; 15 of their 19 named players have played CL football this year. Seven of them played in the final last year, for god sake. Fans can question Roy's tactics as much as they want. The fact is that with the current set up of the PL and the apparent lack of high-class coaching, England will continue to lag behind in international football indefinitely. Germany and Spain's depth is disgusting. The likes of Mata, Cazorla, Silva, Kroos etc... who struggle to get into their national sides would all walk into ours. I agree that there's only so much you can blame Hodgson for. Whilst people talk of Ibrahimovic missing out, there's going to be some serious talent missing from those two sides simply because there are better players from the same team.
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