The Round Ball Game

[EnemyoftheStoat]

what are you supposed to do. The England manager hands debuts to 2 of your players.
ITV cover the game. So you have to watch, although every bone in your body is screaming "don't bother , its an England friendly, do something else, anything else."

but you watch.......

anyway, lallana didn't come out of it too badly.

Oh, and if Leighton Baines comes up against some good attackers in the World cup. .....well it could happen.

I was saved from most of it - the first half anyway - by having to be in rehearsal although I saw a few minutes during the break, when the first goal had gone in, and apart from one dreadful corner Lallana was looking much the liveliest of the England midfield.

I liked the comment on the BBC Sports site that said something about the Saints players not fitting in because they weren't used to such low standards.

I was able to see most of the second half in the pub; as meaningless as the second half of any England friendly ever.

[eighthobstruction]

Oh, and if Leighton Baines comes up against some good attackers in the World cup. .....well it could happen.[/QUOTE]

Thought Lallana was a revelation ....but nobody on his wavelength....

....Was it team orders that Glen Johnson wasn't allowed to mark....run back quickly....go in his own 18yd box ....accident waiting to happen constantly ....brain of a peanut,,,,

[John Wright]

It's funny how you develop a soft spot for a team, John - Coventry is ever one because of that day in May. Thing I like about Pressley is that he always seems like a pretty decent guy - he was a good honest player who made the most of what he had.

Yes, I do like Pressley as a manager. But when he played for Cov in the mid '90s I don't recall any displays of leadership. He was a loose cannon on the field, I recall red cards. He was nicknamed by some as Penalty Pressley, and not because he took them. He became a leader of men during his time at Hearts.

[teamsaint]

Oh, and if Leighton Baines comes up against some good attackers in the World cup. .....well it could happen.

Thought Lallana was a revelation ....but nobody on his wavelength....

....Was it team orders that Glen Johnson wasn't allowed to mark....run back quickly....go in his own 18yd box ....accident waiting to happen constantly ....brain of a peanut,,,,[/QUOTE]

Lallana is a very good player, and a joy to watch. He has weaknesses, but I honestly think he is as good, or better than most of the existing attacking options , Rooney apart of course.
His finishing isn't absolutely top class, but his combination play going forward is fabulous. He is NOT a great corner taker, when Ward -Prowse is on the pitch for Saints he takes them. Now HE is brilliant at corners and free kicks , and will , I am sure play for England before long.
I also would be concerned at the defensive side of Lallana's game. He doesn't have the benefit of chamions league experience, and would need to be coached carefully if he not to let the team down when defending. Not much margin for error against the top 8 at the World cup.
As some people are discussing elsewhere, England might do well to have an eye to the future, and take a young squad to this WC, with a view to the next few tournaments.

Finding some quality centre halves would be a help too.


edit: I know I am biased, but why Nathaniel Clyne hasn't had a look in is a mystery to me. He is a complete full back. As good as Johnson going forward, and very good defensively. A better international prospect than J Rod, IMO.

[eighthobstruction]

Saints ....very left sided ????....

[teamsaint]

Saints ....very left sided ????....

after seeing this post, and about 7 seconds consideration, I have decided that it is enigmatic, and thus cannot reply, as it is a Monday.

Monalisasmileything.

[EdgeleyRob]

Forum action.

FA Cup 1st round replays.

Wolves 1 Oldham Athletic 2. Bigger fish to fry.
York City 2 Bristol Rovers 3.Forum derby.

FA Trophy qualifying round replay.

Stockport County 2 Barrow 3. No comment.

League games.

Dartford 1 Wrexham 5. Dartford scored first,then 4 goals in 19 first half minutes sealed it.
Chippenham Town 3 Truro City 1. Remain 11th


I didn't watch ingerland.

[johncorrigan]

I didn't watch ingerland.

Neither did I...how did they get on?
Scotland had one shot in 90 mins and wee Gogs managed another win against all the odds...cue comments on Beeb Scotty, sign of a good team, winning when they played poorly. Wish I'd seen Swedes v Cristiano!

[teamsaint]

England.
as expected really. Quite bright going forward without actually looking like scoring. Lallana and especially Townsend did well, and ought to go to Brazil.
But we were undone by the simplest of headers, after two similar warning in the previous 30 seconds.
Can see nothing other than a disaster for out defence at the WC, the players simply are way below the quality you need against the top dozen teams.

Really not sure about Hodgson's tactics either.

[eighthobstruction]

Really not sure about Hodgson's tactics either.

Tactics.....what tactics....unless they were to pass badly....play predictable inept interplay on the margins of the half way line....look like you are in a perfect position to overlap go for the line and cross - But NO , turn infield and interplay a mismatch of lucky/unlucky rebounds....in all situation telegraph a pass so Germans can intercept....in all situations loose the ball 75% of time....

[aeolium]

Hodgson should use this tournament as a learning exercise and put some talented youngsters in, like Ravel Morrison. Forget about pedestrian and unimaginative journeymen like Lampard, Gerrard and Milner. Better to get hammered entertainingly than in grey mediocrity.

[teamsaint]

do you really have Gerrard down as a Journeyman, Aeolium?!
Think he is playing pretty well at the moment. However, I agree that we need to develop a team, and now is the time to do it. We aren't going to win the WC, so lets get something positive out of it .

Can't ever remember such a paucity of Central defenders though.

[gurnemanz]

Bit harsh maybe to call Lampard and Gerrard journeymen, though I know what you mean. What worried me was the inability to cut out overhead crosses even when plenty of men were on hand to do so. It only has to go wrong once and you've lost the game, as happened yesterday.

[aeolium]

What I mean is that I don't feel with Gerrard or Lampard there is any kind of flair, technical ingenuity or subtelty/imagination in how they pass - you have only to compare someone like Özil, for instance, to see what is missing. And while players like that may be OK at club level, they just aren't good enough against the superior technique and imagination of the best South American and European countries. Hodgson has to unearth young players with unusual talent if he can, since at present only Rooney of the players in his squad is of real international class.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

hard to disagree with that view aeolium; Gerrard and Lampard have been well beaten at world cup level .... but the options of Wilshere Barclay etc look a tad immature ....

i feel that Roy H deserves credit not booing for trying out young/new team members ... now is the time to lose against Chile or Germany and he must have gained invaluable insight ...i would hope that Roy manages the England Team for at least this and the next World Cup .. give him the opportunity to build a real national team with a strong footballing personality