England squad to face France (friendly)

[TornadoShaunUK]

He is, and Ben Foster is crap as well.

 

[The Major]

It's disappointing but I'm not going to lose to much sleep over this. A lot of debutants tonight. Not many of those will start a competitive game.

 

[Motown Fox]

Went to 4-4-2 by accident with Gerrard going off. Cappello should have put Crouch on and gone to 4-4-2 much earlier. But he just just takes too long. Only Gerrard showed any real gmmnf although it was his fault for not backtracking for the 2nd goal

 

[Blue Maniac]

Went to 4-4-2 by accident with Gerrard going off. Cappello should have put Crouch on and gone to 4-4-2 much earlier. But he just just takes too long. Only Gerrard showed any real gmmnf although it was his fault for not backtracking for the 2nd goal

What the feck is gmmnf?

 

[drummindefender]

oopmh?

 

[Motown Fox]

oopmh?

Thats correct with bit of gggrrrr:icon_bigg

 

[Spanky Fox]

England are ****ing crap and will always be ****ing crap untill Cockpella ****s off

 

[TommyK]

Man against boys last night.

Jordon Henderson IMO was rubbish and didn't do anything the whole of the first half. Is he supposed to be a holding midfielder/play maker or what?
Walcott was also sh!t.

 

[Han]

I really don't understand what Capello is trying to achieve. He seems far too happy to play a slow, defensive game. We saw it in the world cup and nothing has changed since.

I also don't think that we have the right sort of players for the 'continental' 4-5-1/4-3-3.

The way the back 4 were pumping the ball up to Carroll, you'd have been forgiven for thinking it was 4-4-2. Poor formation and poor tactics.

France looked more like a premiership side, good fast passing and high intensity. That's the way that England should be playing.

 

[Hazzman]

I really don't understand what Capello is trying to achieve. He seems far too happy to play a slow, defensive game. We saw it in the world cup and nothing has changed since.

I also don't think that we have the right sort of players for the 'continental' 4-5-1/4-3-3.

The way the back 4 were pumping the ball up to Carroll, you'd have been forgiven for thinking it was 4-4-2. Poor formation and poor tactics.

France looked more like a premiership side, good fast passing and high intensity. That's the way that England should be playing.

He's a tactical dinosaur.

Very rigid in formation choice and has failed to at least recognise England's style.

That said the players looked technically inept, no team spirit and lack of intelligence.

 

[Han]

Perhaps the players will now realise that they (the England team) simply aren't up there with the best in the world. That could inspire some fighting spirit.

I won't hold my breath though becuase the easy qualifying stages draw the players into a false sense of superiority and raise the expectations of supporters.

 

[Miles Away]

Seems many are coming to the reality that England simply aren't that good, irrelevant of the man in charge.

I hope those people keep their expectations in check when we breeze through a shit qualifying group heading into the Euros. Not good enough and never will be until the culture of football changes from the bottom up.

This England team needs to be blown to bits and the U21's given every chance at senior level. In the short term it will lead to a decline...in the long term it could serve to break the mediocrity and put a settled side together of hungry young players.

At this point it is either limp on endlessly, getting beat in the quarterfinals of every tournament, or rip the roots out and start from scratch.

 

[Hazzman]

Perhaps the players will now realise that they (the England team) simply aren't up there with the best in the world. That could inspire some fighting spirit.

I won't hold my breath though becuase the easy qualifying stages draw the players into a false sense of superiority and raise the expectations of supporters.

It's the biggest problem. You can be a set of lesser players but hard work, effort and teamwork leads to glory. Even more in international football. England have none of it. Take Ghana at the last World Cup for example; they worked for each other and nearly achieved a semi-final berth. Capello seemingly has no concept of this with him blowing hot and cold on players and refusing to get rid of the bad eggs.

I completely agree that technically we are not good enough. So rather than trying to replicate a continental style, we shouldn't reject our style or culture. High tempo, high pressure rather than slow, slow, slow.

 

[Han]

I think that, despite the over-exaggerated tripe that ITV were spurting, Carroll showed what a bit of 'fresh blood' can offer the team.

He was eager to get on the ball and generally worked his socks off.

The England camp has become more like an old boys club and that has led to complacency. A fresh crop of players being introduced would do a world of good, regardless of their ability. Before the world cup, Germany were considered a "growing" team as they had carried out a similar exercise, didn't do them too much harm though!

 

[drummindefender]

Don't rate Carroll at all. He is in a rich vein of form, but I am convinced long term he will never be good enough for this level

 

[Spanky Fox]

Next up is the Argentina in February and i can see Messi tear the English a new hole.

 

[Han]

Don't rate Carroll at all. He is in a rich vein of form, but I am convinced long term he will never be good enough for this level

I agree, I was only using his willingness to do well as an example of what new players can bring.

ITV were well over the top in the praise for him. It reminded me of The BBC's commentary of our game against Newcastle last year.

 

[Feriol]

I agree, I was only using his willingness to do well as an example of what new players can bring.

ITV were well over the top in the praise for him. It reminded me of The BBC's commentary of our game against Newcastle last year.

I Think he would have been very effective with another striker along side him. He won most of his battles.

IMO There is a place for him in the England squad, some muscle can be useful sometimes, and Heskey is out of the running now.