Think Rickie will come up against the age barrier like Grant Holt did. Not that either is too old to be a useful player, but its a bit late for both to be making England breaks. I look forward to seeing Lallana, Cork and Rodriguez next season as a good season could earn them a call up.
harte will be one of the best keepers in the world, but why when he has the ball does he have to kick the snot out of it, it goes past our midfield and our lone striker has no chance and so the opposition attack again. also because terry is as slow broken donkey, our defence sits too deep inviting more attacks. roy works 442, but i hope he starts to use his midfield in future. i rate rickie that wellbeck, but rickie would not have got any quality ball from that team and style of play
England didn't need MLT's penalty ability, so they won't want RL's either I'm afraid. Its like we don't want to be good at penalties!
Carroll frequently won the ball in the air as the Italians did not attempt to challenge and he did well to bring it under control on a few occasions, where he lacked was picking the right option. Often running into trouble. Which brings me to Lambert and indeed England's selection policy compared to the Italians. Both countries are similar in that 99% of the players take part in their domestic league, but whilst England seem to try and pin there hopes on the next big young thing (chamberlain). Italy go for more experienced players who have enjoyed a number of appearances in the top flight and not necessarily for the biggest clubs. I think we should look into players in there late 20s as more viable options.
Generally because balls were then punted up to him. But I can't say that ball possession was a significant part of the English game before or after Carroll came on. Tbf to the lad, he was more effective than Rooney, although I realise that's almost damning him with faint praise. I think Rickie would have done every bit as well as Carroll, and perhaps a bit better, because Rickie has a far better football brain between his ears. And there was no pace to the game, so he wouldn't have been left wanting in that department. Besides, have you seen Rickie run these days..? He's found a yard or two.
I think you're being very harsh on Carroll. He's a threat in the air and would have been useful in the first half particularly and the first 15 minutes of the 2nd. We got a lot of crosses in during that period, but after that all we did was play 8 at the back and punt it long to Carroll who had no support and got no service. At least he chased lost causes and tried to rough up Pirlo a bit. England made a mistake picking Rooney and not starting with Carroll and Welbeck who did brilliantly together against Sweden. That being said Rickie is a great player IMO and I would have started him in all the games. As far as our strikers go there is no better passer of the ball or finisher in the country and he's also a target man
You could stick who you like up there but it would make no difference when you defend pretty much on your six yard line hanging on for grim life for over an hour because you are unable to compete in all other areas of the pitch your strikers are pretty much redundant we were dominated for the most part and this seems to be the norm at international level in meaningful matches.Ricky is better to concentrate on becoming a respected prem player and forget England
