I rarely take issue with you - but Gerrard was VERY ordinary - when we needed a captain's leadership and inspiration, he did little to affect the game- I ignore the great cross to Carroll of course.
Usually he plays at 100mph and his passes are aimless and he is a waste of space in the middle and cannot convert his club form to the international game. But for once I think he actually looked more like the real Steven Gerrard. He wasn't amazing, he wasn't England's best player, but that was the best performance I have seen from him in an England shirt. If he can get his passing going and stop trying force balls to players who are not ready to receive it ... that will be a step forward again.
Carroll was the hardest grafter in the team last night and fearless when going in with his head. Take a chance, keep playing him and see how he develops. Gerrard was ok. Didn't set the world alight, but he is having his last hurrah I think. We need to replace Johnson as RB. He made some very good last ditch tackles, but they were only last ditch because he was continually out of position. Terry hasn't got any legs. Even that spud crock Ledley King would beat him in a 100m race ffs! Impressed with Lescott and I have never rated him much.
jagielka and lescott at CB for the ukraine game. they used to play together a lot for england whenever we played a second XI, and always looked solid. also we only need a draw and its ukraine, so we don't need our best players. see if it works better than terry. i would say drop johnson at RB, except Jones isn't a right back and will be found out playing there internationally, while kelly is a waste of space. if richards or walker was in the squad i would say drop him, but there not, so keep him in. Cole is always england's best LB, so no point dropping him. gerrard had a decent game, plus he's captain so can't really be dropped. parker was pretty poor except for one good shot at the start. now i would say drop him, but barry and carrick are not there, i don't like milner playing that role in midfield and henderson is terrible. so for lack of better options i would keep him in. on the wing walcott has to start, after showing what he can do. i really don't know how milner got in front of him for the first 2 games, but that has to stop here. on the left i would go with chamberlain, because it's ukraine and he could do with a run out, for at least half the match, before young comes on. rooney has to come into attack, i don't think anyone here would argue with that. he is simply our best player. the question of who to partner him depends on how the team are playing. if they try and do a passing game, then welbeck, as he is better with his feet, but if hodgson wants crosses, then carroll, for obvious reasons. i think hodgson will try the latter and carroll will start. so, vs. Ukraine, i would like to see: ----------------Hart-------------- -Johnson--Jagielka--Lescott--Cole- --------Gerrard------Parker------- -Walcott------Rooney----Chambo- ---------------Carroll------------- Hodgson, however, will probably persist with Terry and Young instead of Jagielka and Chamberlain, but that will probably still be good enough for us to win comfortably.
I'd have Welbeck upfront against Ukraine purely because they seem to struggle against pace and quick passing. The physical side of the game, they are fine with, that's how they managed to deal well with Ibrahimovic for most of the game. Also, Rooney and Welbeck have a good partnership which they showed glimpses of for United. I like the rest of the team though.
I'm watching Czech vs Poland because Greece are boring, and the home Polish fans should be going mental over their match.
Russia, now we are talking about the biggest bunch of bottlers in world football. How can the best team in Group A by some margin, go out against the worst team of the tournament, Greece?!?! Now we have to see more of their rubbish in the next round.... Russian 0-1 Greece Russia - 28 Shots, 13 on target with 60% possession Greece - 7 Shots, 2 on target with 40% possession
That's why football is a funny old game. How on earth crappy Greece managed to get through is anyones guess. Also, how did Russia, not manage to go through? They truly deserve the award of supreme chokers. TO get beaten by one of the worst teams of the tournament, that literally have no top players playing for them, is hillarious. Even Poland have 4 or 5 quality players, Greece have bloody SAMARAS!
Looking at Group B, surely Holland are already out? They can only match Denmark's points tally which will not be enough as Denmark have a better head to head. Goal difference only comes after head to head results as shown in Group A where Greece progressed ahead of Russia despite having the same amount of points and an inferior goal difference.
