For once? We've looked good throughout qualifying. Yesterday was arguably one of the weaker performances. People seem to have just got in this mindset that you have to totally be negative about England. Best unbeaten run since 1996 isn't it? This board melts down when Hat posts something negative about City or Bruce after yet another crap defeat, yet when England get yet another win you're actually expected to be negative.
6 wins. Only team with 18 points. You can only beat what's in front row of you. Sure, once the finals start we'll most likely do badly but why are people so negative during qualifying?
We haven't lost a game for a year, the last being Uruguay in the World Cup, though the average world ranking for the teams we've played since then is apparently 67th. Fortunately, I only watched the second half yesterday, so I quite enjoyed it.
Another Win which is all that matters for now. However,,,, As good as England were going forward the defence is as bad as it has ever been. Only Cahill is good enough for this level. We just go away with it last night. John Stones has to be moved upto the seniors after the U21's this summer and Clyne right full back. Left back is 1 from Baines, Shaw, Gibbs and Bertrand subject to fitness and form.
We have a very easy group, only group F gets close. We haven't beaten a major footballing nation in a competitive fixture for 13 years. Roy said to judge him on the World Cup, we finished bottom of a group Costa Rica topped, and didn't win a single game. I'm not going to get too over-excited about scoring a last minute winner against a country of 2 million people whose 'star striker' plays for a midtable Japanese side, with whom he has scored 1 goal in 13 games.
You're joking right?! When Hat posts his Bruce stuff every knee-jerker on the board goes along with it, to be honest he's entitled to his opinion it's some of the others that are highly dubious, you see it every match day on here!
This exactly, the minimum requirement has to be qualifying, only Turnip Taylor couldn't manage that in recent years. When we get to the finals expect half the team to be completely shown up and Rooney might bag 1 goal if we are lucky!
The tougher games will come when we play friendlys against France and possibly Spain in the early months of next season. Early season friendlys are generally played at a better tempo and are actually worthwhile.
You can't read anything into friendlies at all, I remember us beating Brazil a few years ago and the next thing you were hearing was about how we would hand Germanys arse to them on a plate. I'm excited by Harry Kane and that's the only thing that keeps me interested in England as you can guarantee the likes of Rooney won't show up when it counts
My point was that yes we have won these qualifiers but the performances have not always been the best. Yesterday, and particularly the 2nd half, I thought we put in a much more watchable performance.
Completely agree about Stones - he looks ready to me, and he's absolutely class. Everyone except Hodgson sees that we should have a specialist RB, and Clyne looks the best out there at the moment. And yes, it's hard to pick an LB out of the crowd at the moment. Those four you mentioned, plus Cresswell, all have their claims.
Woy showed his lack of intelligence when it comes to RBs when he put Henderson there over Clyne. Such a ****ing idiot.
Henderson was already on the pitch, he obviously wanted to bring an attacker on anyway hence Lallana. There's no way he decided to re-shuffle like that simply because he thought Henderson was a better RB than Clyne. I defend Bruce in the same way when Chester or even Livermore has played RB. Bruce does some bloody daft stuff, but there was a good reason for that.
Still makes no logical sense. What's wrong with making two subs? Why does replacing a RB at RB with a CM make sense?
It was a ridiculous decision and one that cannot be defended. You're right back gets injured, you put another right back on. It's not rocket science.
The problem is he didn't even pick a right back in the first place. Managers need to pick Jones at centre back or not at all - just look at his calamitous throw-in that started the move leading to the first goal.
True. People say he's this versatile player, but he's only ever looked competent at CB. 3 of that back 4 shouldn't be in the England XI. Smalling, Jones and Gibbs (who is decent but not as good as other LBs).
