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Quote from: The Red Baron on September 08, 2014, 10:20:58 pmQuote from: Filo on September 08, 2014, 10:11:30 pmI thought Delph was excellent, and grew into the game after his early yellow cardGave the ball away too easily for my liking, although he's not the only culprit there. Can't have gave it away too much considering first half he had 100% pass success rate.
Quote from: Filo on September 08, 2014, 10:11:30 pmI thought Delph was excellent, and grew into the game after his early yellow cardGave the ball away too easily for my liking, although he's not the only culprit there.
I thought Delph was excellent, and grew into the game after his early yellow card
We didn't look too bad tonight. I don't think we are far off being a good side. We are just a bit succeptable to giving away the ball in the middle. I can see Hodgesons plan in playing Delph, to break up the Swiss play, but I'm not yet convinced he has that top quality needed to help us be serious contenders. Up top we have great options and threats with Rooney and Stirling, Sturridge and Welbeck who will only get better. Defensively we have a young promising line up, and I am excited to see the players Shaw, Stones and Chambers will become. We have plenty of creativity in midfield too with Lallana, Barkley and Wilshere. My only concern is a lack of a ball winner in the middle in the Makalelé or Busquets role. Someone who is prepared to do the dirty work, put big tackles in, break up oppositions attacks and then play the ball out. I really don't think we are far off having a potentially very strong side. Tonight was a good test and we got through it fairly well with a positive result. We just get opened up a little too easily for my liking, and against the best teams that will cost us.
But as you say we need to find a holding midfield player
Quote from: boro_rover on September 08, 2014, 11:22:56 pmWe didn't look too bad tonight. I don't think we are far off being a good side. We are just a bit succeptable to giving away the ball in the middle. I can see Hodgesons plan in playing Delph, to break up the Swiss play, but I'm not yet convinced he has that top quality needed to help us be serious contenders. Up top we have great options and threats with Rooney and Stirling, Sturridge and Welbeck who will only get better. Defensively we have a young promising line up, and I am excited to see the players Shaw, Stones and Chambers will become. We have plenty of creativity in midfield too with Lallana, Barkley and Wilshere. My only concern is a lack of a ball winner in the middle in the Makalelé or Busquets role. Someone who is prepared to do the dirty work, put big tackles in, break up oppositions attacks and then play the ball out. I really don't think we are far off having a potentially very strong side. Tonight was a good test and we got through it fairly well with a positive result. We just get opened up a little too easily for my liking, and against the best teams that will cost us.I agree with the points you make, Delph showed he has the pace and is left footed to play the left part of the diamond he needs to continue his improvement and he could continue in the squad. But as you say we need to find a holding midfield player and he may have to drop to the championship to find one. George Thorne 21 years old playing for Derby may be the answer? The attacking options are good and you can also add Walcott and Ox to the list you mentioned. But depends on what formation we play, some of the attacking midfielders like Lallana and Barkley will have to work on their defensive qualities. Wiltshire needs to work on his fitness and improve his pace to continue in the starting eleven, he likes to run with the ball and short passes.
And so it starts again. A decent performance against a thoroughly moderate side. It's a stepping stone towards the Euro finals, where England will finish in 8th place again.
What a novelty seeing a right back who can defend,does anybody remember the last good defensive right back?,i think Stones is going to be some player.
Quote from: BillyStubbsTears on September 09, 2014, 08:03:43 amAnd so it starts again. A decent performance against a thoroughly moderate side. It's a stepping stone towards the Euro finals, where England will finish in 8th place again. I do t understand what point you are trying to make there BST. I think most people are pleased by the overall performance but feel we are not there yet. Anyone will agree we are miles away from being as good as the best teams at the minute, but the foundations look relatively solid. We have a young promising squad with plenty of potential, I've the next few years we could have a very strong squad.
Delph was quite good, reminded me of Paul ince. We should have scored more, but they also had very good chances, Baines and jones are no whee near good enough and never will be, we need to blood younger guys in these positions.
Rooney wasn't awful last night. He created 4 goal scoring chances. More than any other player on the pitch.
I Don't see over expectation on here Billy,just a measure of relief that there has been an improvement of sorts.Like it or not the Swiss don't just make clocks any more,i agree the ranking is totally wrong,i never take notice of the FIFA Rankings anyway.For me we have beaten a Second Division International team in the Swiss,we are of the same standard,the first division would comprise of Brazil,Germany,Italy,Spain,France,Argentina,Holland etc.We are in the second group standard with Colombia,Russia,USA etc,the only way we can compete properly,is if there was a miracle and a lot of changes were made top to bottom,we are slipping there's no doubt about it,a few more years and we will be rated as good as Scotland and Wales.