England V Italy

[ScouseFox]

i think 0-0 is the most likely result but i'm certain if we got our tactics right we could win by a goal or two 

[Dan]

You could also counter this with the fact the some people massively over-rate other players because they don't want to be seen as a sheep/wanting to be different because it's apparently cool, and rimming the premier league.

Anyway, onto Rooney. You can't win with him, he starts people moan we don't win it's already going to be his fault. I don't understand why even when a player is picked a lot of our fans still won't get behind him? Again for me that's another instance of people trying to be different for the sake of being so.

He doesn't start and we don't win, people will moan that it was because Rooney didn't start.

I would start him on Saturday (it's inevitable anyway) but if he's playing poor, drag him and then consider not starting him the game after. Regardless of what others think, if Italy see Rooney not starting it's a massive psychological boost to them before the games even started.

 

Or on the flip side - they completely under-estimate a fearless Barkley.

[MattGamble92]

The negativity of English fans is so so boring. Can't understand why so many seemingly take pleasure in moaning constantly and terrorising players like Rooney that they just simply don't like.

The England team aren't supported. They are constantly followed by moaners and groaners similar to those who sit in our stands at the KP week in week out.

I always get excited for tournaments and I love my country so I'll always get behind us without fail. It's just amazing how in the minority I am doing that

[Grandad.]

Well in other news, don't know if its in another thread or not..

 

Welbeck has apparently limped off and is a doubt for Saturday, Rooney on the left and Sterling behind Sturridge is the preferred line up apparently according to Henry Winter. 

[ScouseFox]

Rooney on the left

 

[fox123]

Well in other news, don't know if its in another thread or not..

 

Welbeck has apparently limped off and is a doubt for Saturday, Rooney on the left and Sterling behind Sturridge is the preferred line up apparently according to Henry Winter. 

I don't watch Liverpool, but could Sterling do a job from the left?

[Grandad.]

 

I am warming to the idea of this.. 

 

Gerrard

 

Henderson -------- Wilshire

 

Sterling

 

Sturridge ----- Rooney

[Manwell Pablo]

Well in other news, don't know if its in another thread or not..

 

Welbeck has apparently limped off and is a doubt for Saturday, Rooney on the left and Sterling behind Sturridge is the preferred line up apparently according to Henry Winter. 

 

 

 

Surprised people are only just coming to the conclusion the most likely result will be 0-0 as well . Two European teams, playing in the middle of the jungle, scared of losing, one of which continually disappoints in opening games of tournaments, the other disappoints in tournaments full stop, seems the obvious money to me, there might be a goal or possibly even two at a stretch but if it's not one for the purists I'll be amazed 

[Grandad.]

I don't watch Liverpool, but could Sterling do a job from the left?

 

I honestly don't think you can have him there, not disciplined enough with defensive work, one of Liverpool's obvious faults this year. 

 

Sterling finished the season as our best player, playing in the role behind Sturridge and Suarez, caused defenders to shit themselves, watch highlights of the Man City and Norwich games mate, Sterling kicked on when he was central, was restricted when he was on the left. 

[ScouseFox]

I am warming to the idea of this.. 

 

Gerrard

 

Henderson -------- Wilshire

 

Sterling

 

Sturridge ----- Rooney

 

rooney up front hell to the yes. rooney on the wing we may as well pack up and go home. he's the least "winger-like" footballer i can possibly imagine. 

 

(except josh low, obviously) 

[Grandad.]

rooney up front hell to the yes. rooney on the wing we may as well pack up and go home. he's the least "winger-like" footballer i can possibly imagine. 

 

(except josh low, obviously) 

 

Yeah Rooney is a striker, an out and out striker. 

 

The tournament of Raheeeeeem! 

[ScouseFox]

Yeah Rooney is a striker, an out and out striker. 

 

The tournament of Raheeeeeem! 

 

would be the nuts if he played two up front and just said to sterling (and barkley who'd come on a replace him) to just get the ball, run away from pirlo and past whatever 35 year old plays at the back for italy these days.

 

there's been so much talking about so many different players, formations etc i still can't decide my first choice, let alone guess what roy's will be. i was dead set on rooney behind sturridge with sterling and lallana supporting but that's all change since the warm ups. just want it to be saturday already! 

[fox123]

I honestly don't think you can have him there, not disciplined enough with defensive work, one of Liverpool's obvious faults this year. 

 

Sterling finished the season as our best player, playing in the role behind Sturridge and Suarez, caused defenders to shit themselves, watch highlights of the Man City and Norwich games mate, Sterling kicked on when he was central, was restricted when he was on the left. 

Fair do's. Though in a 4-2-3-1 formation would he need to be so defensive? I could see him starting in the left of the 3 but floating inside to cause damage.

 

                              Hart

         Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines

                  Gerrard Henderson

            Lallana    Rooney   Sterling 

                           Sturridge

[ScouseFox]

Fair do's. Though in a 4-2-3-1 formation would he need to be so defensive? I could see him starting in the left of the 3 but floating inside to cause damage.

 

                              Hart

         Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines

                  Gerrard Henderson

            Lallana    Rooney   Sterling 

                           Sturridge

 

that's what i'd had down as my team for a few months but i can't have that anymore. rooney needs to be nowhere near the "no. 10 role". sterling and barkley would both be much better in that position, as would the ox if he was fit. rooney up front or no rooney is what the warm ups have taught us imo. 

[fox123]

that's what i'd had down as my team for a few months but i can't have that anymore. rooney needs to be nowhere near the "no. 10 role". sterling and barkley would both be much better in that position, as would the ox if he was fit. rooney up front or no rooney is what the warm ups have taught us imo. 

Would love to see Barkley there but can see Roy going for experience rather than risque.

 

Ideally for me

 

                            Hart

         Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines

                  Gerrard Henderson

            Lallana                   Sterling

                          Barkley   

                         Sturridge

[Grandad.]

Yeah, it seems Sterling is now nailed on for the number 10 role. Henry Winter, I know he is a journo and they can get things wrong, but he usually only tweets the truth and has said in an article that Hodgson wanted Sterling in this role behind Sturridge after his performance v Man City, same with Gerrard and Henderson. 

 

You would think even Roy has seen from the friendlies that Wazza can't play in any other position apart from up front and Sturridge isn't going to make way, just yet, anyway. Sturridge would be pretty naive not to think Roy would drop him for Rooney at any possible chance if Sturridge isn't scoring and Roy can get Rooney back into the lone striker role. 

 

I have given him a very hard time of it recently, but I honestly wouldn't mind Wilshire to play with Gerrard and Henderson, in a 3. Lallana seems to have gone off the boil, maybe a bit of burnout has hit him. 

[Dan]

If Rooney's on the left then Smacks of desperation. Fit him in at all costs.

 

Ric's post summed up my exact thoughts on Rooney better than I could put it. Never have bought into this myth that he's anything special as a 'number 10'.

 

Sterling behind Sturridge has serious potential however. Worked a treat at Liverpool, with Suarez though admittedly.

 

Here's a thought... if we're going 4-2-3-1 without Welbeck... Sturridge on the left, Rooney as the centre forward?

 

Though I do wonder if that's a huge waste of a potentially potent Sturridge.

[Grandad.]

In all honesty it could have been Barkley, the Ox or Sterling behind Sturridge and I would have been over the moon. 

Still think the diamond is the way forward. 

 

Henderson and Wilshire/Lallana hassling the **** out of the worlds greatest deep lying midfielder, Gerrard free to start attacks and Sterling running at the Italian defence from all angles, which would give Pirlo another job, he wouldn't be thinking of where to play a pass too when he next gets the ball, he will be getting dragged all over the shop and thinking about Sterling! 

 

With Sterling running at the defence, then that frees holes and gaps for Rooney and Sturridge to get in behind or be free in the box. 

 

These really are there for the taking, if we just believe!

[leicesterisme]

Yeah, think Sturridge will be a complete waste on the left, you've got to put him through the middle, he's our main man.

Starting to get very excited now, although a bit dissapointed it looks like he isn't going to start Barkley.

If we just go for it from the off we will cause them a shit load of problems and I geniunley believe we will destroy them.

If we set out to be solid we will more than likely lose 1-0.

[fox123]

Just out of interest, looking at the possible routes to the final, where would you rather us finish in the group?

 

We're drawn in a tough group to progress with, I can imagine, facing Spain or Brazil in the Quarters.

 

Win in the quarters, who knows?

[Grandad.]

To be the best you have to beat the best. 

 

1st or 2nd I fear nobody in the second round. Quarters then you expect to face the better sides in world football. 

[Dan]

In all honesty it could have been Barkley, the Ox or Sterling behind Sturridge and I would have been over the moon. 

Still think the diamond is the way forward. 

 

Henderson and Wilshire/Lallana hassling the **** out of the worlds greatest deep lying midfielder, Gerrard free to start attacks and Sterling running at the Italian defence from all angles, which would give Pirlo another job, he wouldn't be thinking of where to play a pass too when he next gets the ball, he will be getting dragged all over the shop and thinking about Sterling! 

 

With Sterling running at the defence, then that frees holes and gaps for Rooney and Sturridge to get in behind or be free in the box. 

 

These really are there for the taking, if we just believe that they're only playing with one man in Pirlo!

 

Edited.

 

I'm only joking but there is more to these than him. I don't think they're unbeatable at all but we've got a fvcking tough game here, make no mistake.

 

Cannot believe it's officially tomorrow. Unbelievable. Where has the time gone?

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I bloody love the Ox and if he's anywhere near approaching fit he has to start (more than likely post-Italy), has that change of gears that quite literally no one else in this squad has (maybe Barkley at a push) to frighten teams.

 

It's such a shame our defence is nigh on guaranteed to cock it because going forward we're actually quite brilliant, on paper.

[Fosse93]

Imagine if all players were fit, our front 4 could look like this

 

                    Sturridge

 

Chamberlain - Sterling - Walcott

 

Jesus.

 

IF Hodgson decides to play Rooney then I don't see any reason why we can't just play 4-4-2, lining up something like this:

 

GK. Hart

 

RB. Johnson

CB. Jagielka

CB. Cahill

LB. Baines

 

RM. Sterling

CM. Gerrard

CM. Henderson

LM. Lallana

 

ST. Rooney

ST. Sturridge

 

We just seem to have made a number 10 role when we don't really need one, I'd personally prefer to see us go 4-2-3-1 without Rooney though.

[Guest ttfn]

Tactically speaking Rooney will be fine on the left.

Whether he is playing well or not, he works his nuts off and has always done a great job for United in that position.

The question with Rooney, as ever, is whether his touch will be good enough on the day. He's looked horribly out of sorts recently and he's such a streaky player that his level of performance in a game tends to be fairly predictable based on the previous one.