It's on the box tonight, Roy's first game in charge. I was a little underwhelmed with his squad, but I rate Roy and have been surprised to find myself almost a tad excited about this game. New era and all that. We'll see if that excitement transfers into the tournament too. For quite some time now I've been, well, bored watching England. I hope that changes. I think there's a chance that the shackles that Capello had them under will be loosened a little, and we could see a freeing of the imagination. I hope so anyway. Don't know nowt about Norway, 'cept that it's cold and few players famous in the 90s used to play for them (Ronnie Johnsen, Henning Berg, Jan Arge Fjortoft), or at least I think them three did. So I can't say much about them. I do know, however, that it is situated in Scandinavia and looks like a cold, dark place. Also, I've heard Oslo is well expensive, but a nice place. I dunno. I'll say 2-1 England, based on nowt but a gut feeling.
Hope Hodgson is brave enough to try a few new things, I'd like to see Walcott down the middle, maybe give Oxlaide Chamberlain a run-out. Not really bothered about score-line so much.
A few players not there either, Rooney and the Chelsea lot. Limits him somewhat. Carroll is gonna play, and I hope it'll be 2 up top, not just him.
I'm looking forward to this one. I think it makes sense to rest the Chelsea lot and I'd like to see Gerrard do well, because it seems like Hodgson will be using him a lot and he doesn't seem to have done much all season (but has anyone at Liverpool?)
I'm happy that Gerrard is captain, and I hope he is played centre-mid with team built around him. He's been wasted for England on the right too many times, and I think can and should be the driving force in the team.
Yeah I agree. I'm hoping, against all common sense and past experiences, that the team will actually end up playing to the best of their individual and collective abilities and play with pride and passion, galvanised by a new manager. I might even be prepared to change my view on how **** I think Carroll is, if he proves otherwise.
Carroll has turned it around lately, if Hodgson can keep his confidence up then he could be a Vieri type player for us. The media have picked on him because of his massive transfer fee and high profile at Liverpool but there is a player in there and he is by no means '****'
My problem with Carroll is, his cost, his wages and his laddish boozing profile. That and the fact that even our lovely Aaron must watch him and think *jesus christ, even I coulda scored then*. I really do hope there's a footballer in there, I'm happy to be proven wrong, so far the evidence is there hasn't been is all.
I think he did have issues but to be fair to the lad has turned himself around recently, might be short of international class but we don't have many options.
That's just cruel, he was scoring at the end of the season! I like Matty, hope he does well for us next season too! Indeed, and for me he's one of those players who COULD be fabulous but something tells me he won't be. As I keep saying, I hope Im proved wrong.
I like Carroll. He definitely cost too much, and has had a flaky season, but he's becoming his old self again I think. I reckon a lot of his problems were just from being young and immature. He'll grow up I think. So long as his fitness is good, he'll go far. Just worry that at international level he could be type of striker that gives away a lot of fouls and gets harshly penalised by refs un-used to his physical style.
O/T slightly but anyone seen the Gazza advert talking about England. Brought a lump to my throat. Anyone around in 1990 will appreciate the feeling that madman gave us. How anyone can say they dont give a stuff about England is beyond me. There may be things not right or you hate about it, Tory's Labour whatever- but its us. Come on England.
