Right, seems the pieces are coming together slowly. Still need a CB, DM, and LM at the very least. Will be interesting to watch Drinkwater against the dutch. Also, looks like we might get to see the Stone Roses link up again in our defence soon.
The stat in question that is most commonly used for this is 'completed passes'. E.g. Barcelona complete 600 passes v Getafe 200 passes, possession = 75% v 25%. Reason being it's difficult to legislate and time who has possession when the ball is mid-attempted pass/cross/hoof. Also, at goal-kicks, throw-ins, and corners while one team clearly has 'possession', the two teams may deliberate the pace of taking them very differently. Ultimately while the ball is not in open play, the action of standing over it, or with it in hands isn't contributing anything meaningful to the game. None of this really matters anyway, as it's an outdated stat that is being very much shown up in recent times to not contribute as significantly as was previously thought to the result.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...dele-alli-leaves-even-the-germans-envious-of/ Article praising the versatility of 19-yr-old Dele Alli. Hodgson says he could be as good a Bryan Robson....some accolade.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/503870/Germany-2-England-3-match-report-Kane Included this report of the match for no reason other than to show how awful modern journalism is. I can understand the writer putting facts down as they happen, but surely there should be some attempt to turn it into narrative later. If you hadn't see the match, I think you would struggle to follow this....why should the reader have to copy and paste...that's the journalist's job.
I thought that the transition from defence to attack was good yesterday and for too long England have been outnumbered in midfield playing formations that leave two against three. I think you need Dier, or someone similar to sit, and Alli and Barkley may be a little too offensive against strong teams in a midfield three.
This is one of my favourite England goals. Well, since Rickie's goals obviously. Lost track of how often I've watched it now.
Regular readers will know I've been saying this for a very long time - leave him out. Don't take him. He's yesterday's generation. Don't saddle the latest England team with a player who is way past his best, certainly at International level. Incidentally, I was interested enough to watch some of the Germany game just now and I was quite impressed with the England team. I thought Germany gave them far too much time and space, but then again, they were 2-0 up at the time, and it was a friendly. Vardy continues to impress, and what a goal of his. An absolutely beautiful bit of skill. It was the sort of thing that England players of the past wouldn't have had the courage or gall to even try, but his self confidence is so solid he can do those things on any level. There's just a touch of detectable arrogance about his play and that's great in a striker. It begs the question yet again - how on earth do these players get to the age they are without being noticed? One thinks of our own Rickie Lambert, for example. One can only hope that the wiry Vardy has the type of strength and speed that gives him the longest career possible at the highest level, because on the evidence of his performances since he came into the public eye, he absolutely deserves it.
It's been a long time since I enjoyed an England game, to this extent. Still need to do a bit of work, with the back four. Lallana seems to do his best work without the ball, rather than with, these days. Very good at reducing space, but all too often played the safety ball, to players in less space than he had, rather than run the ball into the space he had ahead of him. A perfect example was at the start of the second half, with Germany attacking. A misplaced pass, straight to Lallana, with the Germans stretched, and instead of driving into the space and taking the attack to them, he hit a first time, square pass to a Henderson, who could only knock the ball backwards to Clyne. Opportunity over. I see him more as a bench player now.
Kenya 0-1 Guinea-Bissau. Match got held up for half an hour after some rioting when G-B scored. Hopefully Vic didn't get tear gassed.
I am convinced that England will go a long way in the Euro 2016 tournament as at long last there is a top class international goalscorer in the shape of Harry Kane with great support from Vardy. It is a feature that has been lacking in England teams since the days of Alan Shearer, a natural goalscorer. Some might argue "What about Rooney?" My point would be that Rooney has had to play in a number of roles and positions that negated his strengths. It has also taken him around 100 matches to surpass Bobby Charlton's record!!
The only older player that I would take is Carrick, just to be introduced if holding on to a slender lead and to relieve and calm the midfield. Rooney and Cahill can stay at home
