It's probably worth noting that three of the four semi-finalists have at least one midfield "playmaker" in their side - Italy have Pirlo. Spain have Xavi, Iniesta & Xabi Alonso. Germany have Ozil & Schweinsteiger. Not sure about Portugal but they have plenty of flair and pace in the wide attacking position
Pirlo's armchair ride was more than ably assisted by Rooney and Wellbeck's complete reluctance to cover him when we did not have the ball. Standing 10 yards off the man and ostensibly covering a 'hole' (which probably did not exist) in no way pressurised him at all. I really felt sorry for Gerrard last night. There was no way that he could get forward to influence play when our forwards could not keep the ball and create space for him to move in to. But then he obeyed his manager's orders and sat. Interesting ploy by Italy to play striaght long balls rather than try and engage our midfield.
Yes; to be fair to Welbeck in the first 30 he won about 20 ariel battles & successfully flicked down or on. Rooney was too fat & slow to do anything about it. It became even more apparent when Carroll came on. Not only did he continue where Welbeck left off In the air but actually trapped the ball, turned and got the head up only to see Rooneys fat arse waddling away from him in a good impression of ladies power walking. And HE was the closest player to Carroll in an England shirt!
fordeck, i completely agree with that. the total lack of closing down was not good. i have to say though... gerrard was not exactly closed down either and it was a more open game than i expected... I do wonder if hodgson wanted them to do what they did or was it manc lazyness.. (sorry mancs but your lot were terrible) i think hodgson picking rooney was one or two/three decisions that really cost him... we were never good enough anyway but having young play 3.5/4 matches that badly was terrible. i'd have had him dropped anyway. Rooney coming in and wellbeck continuing to play was poor as welback couldn't hit the target or hold it up and rooeny complete disrupted the team.. finally if you add in the walcott factor (not an impact player, needs to start) well MR ENGLAND GENIUS didn't look to hot IMO. I'd have gone for the city use of milner to act as willing runner for gerrard in a 4-3-3 myself and having seen what rooeny could offe rin training i doubt i'd have picked him.
Gerrard was being played in a 4-4-2, its not a possession orientated formation. Its a formation that encourages organised, defensive football and direct attacks. Gerrard did what was asked from him in the formation. Dunno why anyone was expecting more from him.
I'm comparing what a PLAYMAKER would do (ala pirlo) to what the fashion of the day midfielders does. 442 had players like we pointed out in the thread... brady, giles, etc etc.. if you are a playmaker you'll do it... modric is a playmaker and does it for spurs in a variation of 4-4-2. the fact is like the article was stated, theere are not playmakers coming through now as far as i can see and the young players all want to be like gerrard lampard and fabregas... ie don't bother defending and run 30 yards up field while someone else supplies ball. people used to say torres was nothing without gerrard supplying him.. the truth was gerrard is nothing without someone also supplying him the ball... that someone used to be alonso and mascherano who both worked like dogs to take the ball off carragher before he donkeyed it 50 yards up the pitch..... if you really look at it its no wonder torres left seeing all he got was long balls form the back all the time and always looked frustrated. great sides need creative midfielders who want to get on the ball all the time and do things, not guys who want someone else to get on the ball and then give it to them when they are in good positions.
