Totally agree with you Col. only thing that worries me though is how will we do when teams sit in so we don't get to counter.
That's usually against the weaker sides who put everyone behind the ball. We seem to be much better now at breaking this kind of opposition down with pace and creativity.
You might be right. If you look at the way the qualifying groups are going none of the usual big guns seem to be having an easy time (except us), perhaps it will be a more level playing field next time. As long as we go in with a plan, confidence and some freedom of expression. And avoid teams with clever fast strikers.
Most of the better international sides have clever fast forwards. Maybe for once we will be the ones scaring the opposition. The England side last night didn't include the likes of Wilshire, Oxlaide Chamberlain, Lalaana, Walcott, Barclay and Shaw. At last we have a strong squad, although I agree there isn't as much cover at the back.
Barkley has taken a big step backwards this season, even his old captain Phil Neville says that. Wislshire and Walcott seem very injury prone, never get enough game time but good players, as is Ox-C. Lallana, not sure where he fits in. Shaw and Chambers have to play more for their clubs. Mr Dyke's plans do make some sense..........in the meantime I suspect Henderson is on the teamsheet soon after Rooney and Hart.
Well done Wales, 3-0 win away in Israel, top of their group, 6 points ahead of favourites Belgium. Outstanding.
When England play the diamond with two up front Lalaana can be one of the two midfielders with Wiltshire/Carrick at the base and Sterling at the tip. We may play that against Italy with Rooney and kane up front.
One thing that stood out for me was how bad Delph looked. However points in the bank onwards and upwards, shame I'm going to France for my family holidays this year, might have gone awol if it was next summer.
I quite like Delph, but it can't have helped him playing in a poor Villa side this season. I wouldn't have him in the first 11 when everyone was available.
To be fair I was judging it on this one performance, seemed to loose the ball a lot and slow down the attack. Just thought with a bit more pace against that lot we could have scored a few more, also this could be telling against anyone with a decent defence
Delph is pretty quick and we also had Wellbeck and Sterling, the former is very quick and the latter is lightening quick! The only quicker option would be Walcott I'd have thought. We have pace to burn in this England squad and it is one of our biggest attributes imo. Oxlaide Chamberlaine is very fast and Lalaalna and Sturridge are no slouches. Maybe Delph was slowing down the play through a lack of confidence, rather than a perceived lack of pace?
Sorry, what I meant was to do with his decision making, getting the ball moving forward to the attack (way too many backwards or sideways passes) rather than his quickness across the pitch. I recognised the slowing down of attacking play from watching about 30 games of one particular side this season!
I hear you brother!! Yeah, I reckon he was probably lacking in confidence. I'd have Lalaana in there in a 4-3-3.
Watching Italy v England. Real shame we've put out a much weakened side. I'd have liked to have seen our full strength team against Italy. Mind you Rooney has just had one deflected onto the bar.
I found a stream of the match - nice if we could get something out of it - Rooney coming close. The featured TV game here is the Euro qualifier Israel v Belgium, who are having a harder time of things than Wales did, only 1-0 up. Mark Clattenburg just sent off Vincent Kompany for a 2nd yellow card, Fellaini scored the goal.
In Euro qualifying Belgium beating Israel 1-0 really helps the Welsh cause. In a friendly, Portugal 0 Cape Verde Islands 2 at half-time!
