I'm surprised we don't already have a thread here to talk about the England game so I thought I'd start one. I'll start the thread off by saying England were shockingly bad against Poland, one of the worst performances I have seen from them in quite a while, the lack of pace in Woy's lineup was obvious from the start and Poland used their own speed down the flanks to cause problems at every opportunity, they really had a go and by the end of the game England were lucky to come away with anything, so on to the players... Joe Hart: He's been very reliable lately and wasn't really troubled too much before the goal, but he made a really bad decision to come for that cross, he never looked like getting anywhere near it from the minute he left his line. Glen Johnson: I'm not a huge fan of him, I think his defensive positioning is questionable far too often for him just to be unlucky, he made an important tackle from the Jagielka mistake but like the rest of the team he just couldn't seem to find a pass, some of the press ratings are being a bit harsh on him though, he definitely wasn't the worst player on show, I really wish Woy would put him at right midfield as he seems to want to play with a defensive wide man and I think Johnson would be better than Milner in all departments playing that role with Richards or Walker behind him. Phil Jagielka: He started well but seemed to get more and more nervous as the game went on and his big mistake could of been very costly. Joleon Lescott: He never really got into the game at all, he looked like a player that hasn't played much football recently and was bullied by Lewandowski from start to finish. Ashley Cole: Did he really want to be on that pitch? Too often he seemed to be just jogging around while men were breaking down that flank, at one point Cleverley had to run from 5 yards behind him to chase his man into the corner to try and make a challenge while Cole just jogged back watching, for me he was the worst player on the night. James Milner: I still don't get why he's in the team, yes he helps out defending and yes he works his socks off, but what does he really do? His crossing is average, he isn't really creative, he can't beat a man with skill, he isn't blessed with pace, he's hardly a goal threat.... I just don't get it, put Glen Johnson in his position if you want a defensive wide man and drop Milner for Richards. Steven Gerrard: Like the rest of the team his passing was woeful, and it's becoming more and more obvious with every game that his legs are going, he just can't take a game by the scruff of it's neck anymore like he used to, he did deliver the set piece that led to the goal though so that's a plus point. Micheal Carrick: He had one of his poorest games, he's usually very reliable without ever being spectacular, but again like the rest of the team he just couldn't find a pass and was very poor overall. Tom Cleverley: I really didn't understand why he was picked to play on the left, he still worked hard though and while he didn't offer too much going forward he did make a lot of good challenges, he had a tough job up against Piszczek who was excellent. Wayne Rooney: He was really poor throughout the game, his passing was off and his touch wasn't there, he kept working hard and didn't have a lot of service but overall he was one of the poorer players with the goal being his only real plus point. Jermain Defoe: He was a spectator for most of the game so it's hard to say much about his performance, although he did have a great chance drop to him in the box and he never even come close to hitting the target. Subs: Welbeck and Oxlade-Chamberlain came off the bench and the added pace made a difference straight away, why England don't try to add more pace to the team I'll never know. Welbeck should of had an assist but Rooney wasted the chance and the Ox made a few decent runs down the flank before it seemed like he was shifted into the center of midfield. That's how I seen the game anyway, reading some of the reports in the papers they seem to think certain players performed a lot better than I thought they did.
Pretty much agree with that Psycho, first thing i though looking at the team sheet. Where are the wingers!? No "exciting" players in the team at all, i would have started chamberlain just for the outlet outwide. Milner is a decent player, have nothing against but wouldn't have him in the team. Joe Hart did **** up for the goal but i always find it hard to blame the keeper when defenders should be winning the hears in the first place. What annoys me most about the side is that it can't keep the ball at all. Nice addition comas!
True, and with the huge lack of pace in the side it's not built for counter attacking neither, the whole team just seems so slow and predictable, the only player Poland probably feared was Joe Hart after his performance against Dortmund. I'd love to see England just try something different, actually try to attack teams for a change, something like this for example... --------------------Welbeck -------------------(Sturridge) Oxlade-Chamberlain--Rooney-------A.Johnson (Ince)-------------(Cleverley)-------(N.Dyer) ------------Wilshere--------Carrick ------------(Parker)------(G.Johnson) Baines------Jagielka-----Cahill------Richards (Bertrand)--(Caulker)---(Smalling)---(Walker) --------------------Hart ------------------(Butland) Pace up front, pace and dribbling ability down the wings with the ability to cut inside and creativity in the hole. The defensive midfield position is a little tougher, I went for Carrick and Wilshere when fully fit with Glen Johnson as a backup option, funnily enough I think playing a holding role in the middle of the pitch could suit him, he likes to get the ball down and play, he has a turn of pace and he definitely can tackle, he just has Titus Bramble-like lapses of concentration that often lead to goal scoring opportunities when he's in the back four. The defense should almost pick itself when you remove some of the "older" players from the equation, why Richards doesn't get selected anyway is beyond me, and the keeper is also an obvious choice with young Butland providing cover. It might not be the "best" team of players on paper, but it has plenty of ability and bags of pace with some trickery, something England has been missing for a long time, it's also a pretty young team overall so many of those players could play together for years to come.
Like your idea of completely rebuilding the squad Psycho, it might even make England worth watching again. Maybe. Glen Johnson though? Seriously, he's not good enough in his supposed proper position let alone at CM. No way. Phil Jones however, chuck him in at that slot and it's not looking too shabby, something to work with.
Long term I think Jones could be a very good defensive midfielder, the problem I have with him at the minute is that he isn't a midfielder or a defender yet, he needs a good run in one position to make it his own and then he could be considered for the national team. As for Johnson, I honestly don't think he's a bad player just not the best defender, he would do a much better job than Milner on the right in the current formation but that is far too defensive for my liking. The fact he has pace, can get the ball down and play and can put in a challenge could make him a very good holding midfielder as he can get away with a lapse of concentration here an there a bit more and still have an extra 20 yards to use his pace to catch up, of course he could be useless playing that role too but I would give him a shot to find out.
You seriously telling me he's an international quality centre midfield footballer? Never in a million years, not a single chance. No bias, he's not good enough.
I'd be more inclined to play someone who's position that actually is. Part of the problem with England is playing the so called best players and throwing them all in, many out of position. Has been for years, from Paul Scholes and now through to Tom Cleverly. Johnson isn't a bad player at all but he's no centre mid and given the youth and freshness of the rest of your squad should be considered in the past, not the future.
At the moment that isn't Jones neither though, until he gets a good run at club level playing just one position he will struggle to truly master the positioning involved to succeed playing there at international level, he will end up being that utility player that's handy to have around because he can cover so many positions but rarely becomes first choice for any of them. That leaves the likes of Barry, Rodwell, Livermore, Huddlestone, Milner or Henderson, and possibly Josh McEachran in a few years if he can live up to his potential. Barry is slow but can be effective at times, he's also one of the aging players that needs to be phased out, Rodwell hasn't progressed as expected and has looked out of his depth playing for City, Livermore and Huddlestone could be an option but both need to get more first team action, Milner would offer workrate if nothing else and I would rather not see Henderson in an England shirt.
True, but at the end of last season he finished off at CM and, personally, I think that's his future position. I think he's capable of playing either there or at centre half and agree that he needs to start in one or the other and stick to it. I'd be happy with either, just not both and/or utility. There's a good danger of turning him into the next John O Shea, who came onto the scene as an exciting, brilliant marauding full back and ended up a just above average man of many positions. Johnson has never played CM, nor will he ever. The names on your list show how poor England are there are as I think the truth is only Barry and Huddlestone are anywhere near good enough to fill that role. The rest just aren't, Milner could have been but he's been ****ed about all over the show by both City and England and I doubt even he knows what position he's supposed to be anymore.
I agree with Jones, I would love to see him given a good run as a defensive midfielder, he has the potential to be like a young Fletcher, I actually think he could become a much better midfielder than defender if I'm honest. Huddlestone is probably the best option from that list, Livermore is only 22 so could still be an option and McEachran is definitely one to keep an eye on, I agree the others aren't really of a high standard, that's why I suggested trying Johnson there, he could be useless playing that position but he could also surprise everyone.
Not really sure on McEachran, he spent a period of last season on loan at Swansea and was not rated at all. Hardly got a game. Not doubt has talent but rumour, and it's a small city and people are genuinely in the know about what goes on at the club, was his attitude stinks. Thought he'd made it when patently he hasn't.
You're right there. Especially when you consider the amount of attacking talent England has to call on. Players like Defoe, Carrol...... uuuh, Crouch? Does Heskey still play? what about D.Bent? Michael Owen! Michael Owen should have played!
On Johnson, he's England's best option at right back... and it's worth noting he actually plays better as a left back.
I disagree, I would say Richards is by far the best option, with the formation Woy seems to want England to play I would say G.Johnson is the best option for right midfield, a much better option than Milner.
