England vs Poland 15/10/13

[Silver Fox]

Yep, pretty enjoyable game to watch, at least in the first half. Second half England really should have gone for it a bit more with the attacking skillz they had on display so it led to some nervy times really, until Gerrard did the business. Rooney wasn't great for the first 30 minutes but then he turned it around after some macro motivational booing from me (I said to my m8 he wasn't playing well, almost immediately he whipped his hat off and scored) Townsend is quite an awesome talent, I look forward to him getting crucified when he has his first less then amazing game for England Roll on summer featuring wall charts and sticker albums, although I'm sure it would be much better if Montenegro were there

[soggy biscuit]

World Cup ticket applications by country so far

Brazil 4,368,029
United States 374,065
Argentina 266,937
Germany 134,899
Chile 102,288
England 96,780
Australia 88,082
Japan 69,806
Colombia 55,379
Canada 49,968

[Royalclapper]

Spirited and composed display by England, Rooney was superb and the forward play is looking quite promising. There are obviously a lot more threatening teams out there in the football universe than Poland and Montenegro, nonetheless, 6 goals in two home games and only 1 conceded was a top effort from the players and Hodgson's tactics so congratulations to them.

[Sanguine]

Townsend was brilliant, he is the player that Walcott should be.

[Sanguine]

Sturridge is like a different player to 2 seasons ago

Except he was terrible tonight.

Be nice to Kes. The iconic image of our qualification is Gerrard, tearing away from goal, arms spread in celebration. It's a wonder he hasn't choked himself with his Chelsea scarf.

[Sanguine]

Carrick. Oh dear.

Well, this went well.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... ard-poland

[HoneyRoastHoax]

From what I recall Baines gave the ball away a lot.

[Hoop Blah]

Townsend was brilliant, he is the player that Walcott should be.

I think he's a very good example of the kind of ability we have playing in our leagues that nobody really notices that much and, more importantly for me, the difference between an athelete with some footballing ability and a quicker player who's technique and ability on the ball make him a danger.

Hodgson really isn't getting enough credit for plucking Townsend out of nowhere and getting him into the squad. He might not have had too many other options at the time, but he took a gamble and it's paid off (at least in the short term).

Overall it's been a great couple of games for England fans. The biggest difference for me is that Hodgson, or perhaps just the players (it's hard to tell) have suddenly found a way to throw off the shackles and play without the fear that seems to have crippled us in the past. Hopefully this isn't just a one-off set of games and they've found a permanent fix for it.

[Alan Partridge]

Really enjoyed it to be fair, England looked a threat all night against a reasonable side. Still areas of concern but there are always going to be because England aren't the finished article but are a damn better watch than anything I can remember.

Thought Smalling did pretty well considering he hasn't been 1st choice for Man Utd always this season and was chucked into a big game, Baines is a superb player and for me would be England's first choice left back, nothing against Ashley Cole who is also very good but I just think these days Baines offers more. Centre half is a slight concern, neither look brilliant, steady but nothing superb and against better sides could get found out. Townsend has been a revelation, I said to floyd in the summer Spurs have got the deal of the century for Bale as although Townsend isn't as good as him he would get some game time for Spurs and is decent, he looks more than decent. Gerrard was very good also but this is the major worry for me, him and Carrick/Lampard. It's too slow and immobile and the Poles on the counter could have scored 2 or 3 where the midfield was AWOL and incapable of getting back. If England want to move forward then Barkley and Wilshere need to be given more game time so that they go to the World Cup confident they can play at that level. Gerrard and Carrick vs the Germans or similar sides with young athletic good footballers in their midfield will get torn to pieces.

But overall it was job done twice with 2 very good performances and I think England should have some optimism about Brazil, they aren't going to win it but QF maybe even a SF isn't completely out of the question.

[St. Brynjar]

Was a big vote of confidence in 4-4-2 last night. Getting Walcott and/or Oxlade-Chamberlain fit alongside Townsend would give us proper exciting wingers. In central midfield we're very strong with any of Carrick, Gerrard, Lampard and Wilshere looking good for a start, and that's ignoring Gareth Barry's great form for Everton. Who knows, if everything goes well in Brazil we might even make it to the quarter finals.

[YateleyRoyal]

Was a big vote of confidence in 4-4-2 last night. Getting Walcott and/or Oxlade-Chamberlain fit alongside Townsend would give us proper exciting wingers. In central midfield we're very strong with any of Carrick, Gerrard, Lampard and Wilshere looking good for a start, and that's ignoring Gareth Barry's great form for Everton. Who knows, if everything goes well in Brazil we might even make it to the quarter finals.

How is it a vote of confidence in 4-4-2 seeing as we didnt play 4-4-2?

[Cureton's Volley]

1 in 4 chance of a group we have a reasonable chance of winning, in which case QF a possibility. Otherwise last 16 at best.

Still, at least we are going to have some mental nights in Walkabout - with daily kick-offs in UK time at 5pm, 8pm, 11pm or 2am

I hope to God we get a 2am KO on a Fri night / Sat morning against someone big, it would be immense LOLs

[Super_horns]

With no expectations (from realistic fans) we'll probably do quite well now!

Well done to Hodgson for being bold and if the youngsters can come in and perform like Townsend then its encouraging for the future.

[Super_horns]

1 in 4 chance of a group we have a reasonable chance of winning, in which case QF a possibility. Otherwise last 16 at best.

Still, at least we are going to have some mental nights in Walkabout - with daily kick-offs in UK time at 5pm, 8pm, 11pm or 2am :shock:

I think its only a couple of games but still@

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup

[No Fixed Abode]

Headlines are terrible today.

"Gerrard and Rooney send England to Brazil World Cup"

So the other players and ones involved in earlier games had no influence on qualification, it's solely down to Gerrard and Rooney.

[YateleyRoyal]

Apparently the Sun has rated every player 10/10.

[Cureton's Volley]

1 in 4 chance of a group we have a reasonable chance of winning, in which case QF a possibility. Otherwise last 16 at best.

Still, at least we are going to have some mental nights in Walkabout - with daily kick-offs in UK time at 5pm, 8pm, 11pm or 2am :shock:

I think its only a couple of games but still@

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup

Shame, it appears there is only one 2am KO which is on the 15th July (Sat night/Sun morning)

[Cureton's Volley]

Apparently the Sun has rated every player 10/10.

There wasn't even one 10/10 performance!!

I'd only have given Townsend a 9 for his first-half performance alone...

[TBM]

Sturridge is like a different player to 2 seasons ago

Except he was terrible tonight.

tbf i don't think Sturridge had a good game at all - he kept trying to score the perfect goal. He could have hit the ball a lot sooner, instead kept trying to get it on to his left foot.

Wellbeck was good though, nice to see a forward chasing back and tackling by his own corner flag

[No Fixed Abode]

Sturridge showed his Chelsea form last night.