Grandad. Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 Now the owl has said he knows what his team will be, I think I'm pretty sure it will be: Hart Johnson -- Cahill -- Jagielka -- Baines Henderson -- Gerrard Sterling -- Rooney -- Welbeck Sturridge Painful.
Kitchandro Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 I'm struggling to understand people's negativity. Neither Italy nor Uruguay (some people are talking like they're guaranteed 9 points) are anything special, and we've got a better quality, quicker and more balanced group of players than 2 and 4 years ago, without a doubt. It's a tough group, and we're not favourites for it, but I'd suggest there's very little between the 3 teams. I worry how we'll deal with the conditions in Manaus more than anything. I just hope Woy picks the best team, we've only ourselves to blame if players aren't in because they're 'too young' or some rubbish like that.
l444ry Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 The Luxembourg result was a bit embarrassing for the Azzurri but nothing more than that. Friendlies are looked upon in Italy as nothing more than training sessions, unlike English fans who treat these matches as must wins! Italy used three systems and six or seven subs against Luxembourg, and have been experimenting ever since they walked their world cup group. The main weakness for Italy is their lack of quality strikers. If Balotelli is off song then getting more than one goal per game is very unlikely. Having watched all their games since qualification it is seems to me that Prandelli's philosophy and build up to this tournament is based around extensive ball retention in all areas of the pitch with sudden longer balls to Balotelli or whoever plays the lone striker role. Hope not but this game has all the makings of a 0-0 draw.
fox123 Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 England will win their opener, might just be me being patriotic but I do not believe Italy are as good as everyone believes. Aside from Balotelli they offer nothing up front, their defence is not as good as it used to be, chiellini is thier star defender and like de rossi he is suspect to a rush of blood to the head. Their tactics are often negative and as long as England get at them we should win. I do hope Barkley starts but can't see it. He has been the stand out player when coming on in the friendlies, though on the flip side - what a sub to bring on to change a game if needed.
Nick Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 I can't call this - both teams have Jekyll and Hyde form. It depends which Italy and which England turn up on the night. I see this world cup going one of two ways for Woy, either getting absolutely mauled and trampled into the ground and not scoring more than 2 goals in the campaign or romping the group in a blaze of glory.
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 Can't wait for the inevitable Pirlo rimming.
C-man Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 I'm going to caveat the following statement enormously before anyone starts smashing their keyboard furiously in disagreement... I know this would never happen, he's the captain, he's had a great season, he'll probably retire after the World Cup, deserves to go out as a starter, he's one of England's all-time greatest players yadda yadda yadda, and I wouldn't criticise Roy for playing him BUT in my opinion, Steven Gerrard shouldn't start. From what I've seen of the warm-up games, we have looked far more purposeful when Barkley and Wilshere have been on the pitch. We've looked more dynamic going forward - those two in particular look like they have struck up a great understanding - and it doesn't appear that we lose much defensively at the same time. For me, England's most potent attacking line up whilst retaining a sense of defensive responsibility is: Hart Johnson - Jagielka - Cahill © - Baines Henderson - Wilshere Sterling - Barkley - Lallana Sturridge Some people have argued that Barkley et al should come off the bench when the other, shall we say 'less technical' players (Milner etc) have ground the opposition down in the heat. For me this is absolute garbage. You must play your best combination of players for as long as you possibly can - i.e. until their performance visibly starts to drop (e.g. they complete fewer sprints, their top speed falls etc). Every team has the added benefit of fresh legs that substitutes bring. Come on England, let's have a go at these old cvnts.
Bert Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 I don't know why anyone would fear Italy and I don't why anyone would think at this moment in time they're better than us. 2-0 England. What you on about pal? They won the World Cup 8 years ago you know.
ousefox Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 Think we'll draw 0-0 or 1-1. Don't think Roy would risk losing the first game by going all guns blazing.
Samilktray Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 What you on about pal? They won the World Cup 8 years ago you know. We're probably gonna face the same team who won it aswell
purpleronnie Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 Think we'll draw 0-0 or 1-1. Don't think Roy would risk losing the first game by going all guns blazing. He should we need to win it.
Fox92 Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 I'm struggling to understand people's negativity. My negativity is because Roy is negative himself.
ousefox Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 He should we need to win it. It's probably the game we need to win the least out of the three. A draw would be a good result.
Guest ttfn Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 My negativity is because Roy is negative himself. This here be guff.
purpleronnie Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 It's probably the game we need to win the least out of the three. A draw would be a good result. Really? So you think we'll do better against Uruguay and Costa Rica than Italy will? I agree a draw would be a good result but only because Italy are a good team, not because it would really help us qualifying.
Dan Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 Uruguay must be killing themselves laughing at both of our friendly results. I can see this being another 0-0. We'll sit back, won't force a save from Buffon all game and they'll once again fail to break us down.
Guest ttfn Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 Uruguay must be killing themselves laughing at both of our friendly results. I can see this being another 0-0. We'll sit back, won't force a save from Buffon all game and they'll once again fail to break us down. Uruguay who finished 5th in qualifying and only beat Northern Ireland 1-0? I'm sure they know better than to be throwing stones.
StanSP Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 One thing I'm most curious about is seeing how much of a cvnt Suarez could potentially be against us. He knows how to rattle all of us and will definitely be up to all his tricks at some point or other.
Dan Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 Now the owl has said he knows what his team will be, I think I'm pretty sure it will be: Hart Johnson -- Cahill -- Jagielka -- Baines Henderson -- Gerrard Sterling -- Rooney -- Welbeck Sturridge Painful. I will be very surprised if that isn't the team and that's why I don't think we're going to win.
Dan Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 Uruguay who finished 5th in qualifying and only beat Northern Ireland 1-0? I'm sure they know better than to be throwing stones. Costa Rica are going to win the group.
ScouseFox Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 I'm struggling to understand people's negativity. Neither Italy nor Uruguay (some people are talking like they're guaranteed 9 points) are anything special, and we've got a better quality, quicker and more balanced group of players than 2 and 4 years ago, without a doubt. It's a tough group, and we're not favourites for it, but I'd suggest there's very little between the 3 teams. I worry how we'll deal with the conditions in Manaus more than anything. I just hope Woy picks the best team, we've only ourselves to blame if players aren't in because they're 'too young' or some rubbish like that. quite incredibly, this
Bert Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 Uruguay must be killing themselves laughing at both of our friendly results. I can see this being another 0-0. We'll sit back, won't force a save from Buffon all game and they'll once again fail to break us down. But not at Italy's measly 1-1 draw with Luxembourg?
Fox92 Posted 8 June 2014 Posted 8 June 2014 This here be guff. Well I've seen nothing else to change my opinion. If it's England and we draw in a pre-World Cup match "it's ok because we arn't really trying". But if it's another team "Oh my God Uruguay only beat Northen Ireland 1-0, Italy drew with Luxembourg we're going to win the World Cup". Roy's too negative for me, always has been, so when don't get past group stages then the FA might look into a change. Hope I'm wrong, though.
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