Good call on Townsend, Hodgson, there's hope for you yet. He's a little more dangerous than James Milner, one feels. Front 3 all had good games and look how many chances they made. Wellbeck always looks to attack, not endlessly recycle back to the midfield, good choice on left. Finishing still needs some work but good effort at long last. Now Poland I'm afraid! 
Remember 73? And they'll certainly have a lot of support seeing as there's more Polish living here than in Poland.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ October 12 2013, 7:51 AM BSTNow Poland . . I'm afraid!
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI.
Jan Tomaszewski
.........Vividly.
Can't help but be a bit worried about our chances, Poland were the ones people said to keep an eye on after the Euros but they haven't performed. Yet! Hodgson's played it like we were still in the 80s with 2pts for a win and drawing wasn't a huge loss. Sorry but 4 wins and 4 draws until Friday is poor, it's not like we had France or Spain or Italy in the group! Hodge is going to be one if these everything's a drama coaches, taking us to penalties with Burkino Fasso, if we do get there. He has that look about him.
We Swiss have very good memories of Roy Hodgson...a good qualifying and a 1/8 finals in the USA (with an inferior Swiss team) in the 90s, so I won't crap him. But it seems as if he's not the right man for England. And yes, 4 wins and 4 draws is surprisingly meager for an ex world champion.
Good performance overall, tonight- if a little lax at the back.
Shame that neither Sturridge nor Welbeck could really find their feet.
But we're going to Rio - so that's good.
Quote: Lazzard @ October 15 2013, 11:03 PM BSTGood performance overall, tonight- if a little lax at the back.
Shame that neither Sturridge nor Welbeck could really find their feet.
But we're going to Rio - so that's good.
I agree about Sturridge and Welbeck - they didn't look right together either. Barkley needs a proper try out before the Finals in different combos. He might be the answer.
Great game of football for the neutral. I must say England's all attack policy was refreshing. It was literally end to end stuff. If that's how they're playing from now on they're going to be very watchable. However defences such as Italy's might be licking their lips somewhat because they looked vulnerable on the break and not all sides will be as porous at the back as Polski.
I've openly voiced my opposition to Hodgson but fair's fair that was good stuff.
Pretty good results all around with Wales and Northern Ireland getting creditable draws and Scotland winning at home. I'm not sure how those Swiss boys got on but they don't count right?
Game of the night had to be Montengro 2 v 5 Moldova. Unbelievably 0-1 half time. 7 bookings!
Great game, well done to the Poles for turning up, and their fans, their enthusiasm for the event was fantastic seeing as they were already out. And superb effort from England, looked much more like the old England of the 90s rampaging down the field with a bit of urgency. England at their best, forget trying to keep the ball and look fancy, we'll never do it like Spain or Italy, just storm down the flanks and barrage them with attacks. Townsend has transformed us into a decent attacking force once more.
Weak points - goal scoring/finishing's pretty awful, only Rooney has the finesse to finish well. Creating that many attacks should've brought at least 4 goals against Poland. Sturridge is a bit of an Andy Cole for England so far early days to write him off but...
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ October 17 2013, 6:00 AM BSTWeak points - goal scoring/finishing's pretty awful, only Rooney has the finesse to finish well. Creating that many attacks should've brought at least 4 goals against Poland. Sturridge is a bit of an Andy Cole for England so far
This is the worry, you're right.
Suddenly we've got these thundering, brilliantly placed crosses coming in, only for the strikers to stand on the ball.
Not sure where we go to find the player(s) for this though.
Could we perhaps clone Rooney from one of his failed hair transplants??
Just had a peek at the qualified teams, seeding system and likely pots of the World Cup draw and come up with the following best and wort case group scenarios...
BEST
Switzerland (How the heck are they a top seed ahead of Holland?)
England
Iran
Algeria
WORST
Brazil
England
USA
Ivory Coast
And another thing...
Much a sit pains me to say it (ardent Chelsea fan and all that) I thought Lampard's contribution was decidedly lacklustre.
The only time I heard his name was for a few dodgy passes and a yellow card.
I wonder if he thinks his numbers up - his heart didn't seem in it.
Quote: Lazzard @ October 17 2013, 11:44 AM BSTAnd another thing...
Much a sit pains me to say it (ardent Chelsea fan and all that) I thought Lampard's contribution was decidedly lacklustre.
The only time I heard his name was for a few dodgy passes and a yellow card.
I wonder if he thinks his numbers up - his heart didn't seem in it.
You do know he only came on as a late sub?
Mind you, I was watching in a pub with a mate and we both said Lampard had been totally anonymous in the first half. Then we checked, realised he wasn't playing, and concluded Carrick had been completely anonymous. 