I hope Harry Kane turns out to be as good as he appears to be. Always good to see a youngster come through, though he made need to move to a big club
Thought we played well last night, albeit against an awful side. The 4-3-3 with Carrick sitting worked well. Our attacking options are looking decent now, it's just central midfield where we are lacking. Against a top 20 world side, Delph henderson Carrick would get walked all over IMO
Although the opposition weren't great, we showed enthusiasm and a great deal of skill. I like to see England play in an attacking style rather than plodding along. Rooney played well and, for all people moan about him, he is one of the few players who seems desperate to play for his country and you imagine would play with an injury if he had to.
Picking the bones of last night's efforts, I would award the following ratings: Hart 5. Didn't do anything wrong, just didn't have anything to do. I thought at one stage in the second half the defence were trying not to make him touch the ball at all. Clyne 6. Did OK, but made a couple of errors and didn't get forward enough. Good at getting back when they broke out. Cahill 6. Solid but uninspiring, posed little attacking threat in the set pieces. Jones 4. Useless lump of dingoe's kidneys. Any decent striker would have rubbed his hands with glee. Baines 7. Easily our best defender for his attacking prowess, if that makes sense. His crosses posed a huge threat all night. Carrick 7. Did what he does, didn't put a foot wrong. Henderson 4. Woeful. Anyone who thinks he is ever going to replace Gerrard is going to be deeply disappointed. Delph 7. Linked up with Baines very well but didn't get into the box enough for me. Rooney 8. Worked his socks off as usual and should have had a hat trick. My MOTM. Sterling 7. Some lovely skills but should have been tearing an awful defence to shreds. Welbeck 8. Coming on nicely since he moved to Arsenal, but his starting place is definitely under threat now. Kane 7. Fairytale start to what will be a long England career. Has to start against Italy. Walcott 5. Invisible. A pale shadow of his former self. Barkley 6. Getting back to his best form now. Has to start ahead of Henderson surely?
Now, there's a surprise: He confirmed an agreement had previously been made with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers for Sterling, who scored England's third goal on Friday night, to return to Merseyside after the Lithuania game. Coincidence that 3 L'pool players have now gone back early.
Wales XI: Hennessey; Gunter, Williams, Collins, Davies, Taylor; Allen, Ledley, Ramsey; Robson-Kanu, Bale. to be fair - it's not a bad team! COYR!
Carrick is the difference for Man U. When he was injured they struggled, he is like our Schneiderlin.
I gave up ten years ago, when I used to scream at the television while listening to commentators discussing the Gerrard v Lampard debate, when all along the first name that should have been on the England midfield team sheet was Michael Carrick.
He did cement his position under Sven Goran Eriksson during 2006, however that tournament without much up front, things did not quite go quite to plan.
