Euro 2012 - Group Stages

[southbank1871]

Joe Hart

Ashley Cole I'd say.

[Bandini]

Joe Hart

Ashley Cole I'd say.

Agreeing with everything SBers is posting on this thread.

Good result last night.

[Bandini]

Ref that Guardian report. The headline is:

"Euro 2012: England draw with France after Joleon Lescott opens scoring"

The sub-editors will be disappointed with that effort in all fairness.

[soggy biscuit]

Disappointed with Gerrard for Nasri's goal. Gave his man too much time to get his shot in. Would have won if it wasn't for that.

[southbank1871]

Agreeing with everything SBers is posting on this thread.

City clique ftw.

[TBM]

Fact is Sweden have 1 world class player and then a team full of low to average type Premiership quality. If we don't win then we deserve to go out in the groups.

You could have just described England tbf.

tbh i thought someone like silver fox would have posted this.

Of the starting XI yesterday, Hart, Lescott, Cole, Terry, Milner, Ox, Young, Wellbeck

Thats 8 players who finished in the top 3 this season or won a [major] trophy

[southbank1871]

It was only a quip m8, no need to get all rattLOLed.

[cmonurz]

Good use of 'quip'.

[Wax Jacket]

Disappointed with Gerrard for Nasri's goal. Gave his man too much time to get his shot in. Would have won if it wasn't for that.

wasn't Gerrard per se but the whole midfield were where you'd expect the back four to be tbf

[cmonurz]

^That. We just defended too deep, back four often pegged back inside the area with the midfield sat only 10 yards further forward.

[Gordons Cumming]

We'll never win anything until we master the basic skill of ball retention.

Every other team are capable, why can't we? It really is quite simple.....

It drives me mad.

[TBM]

It was only a quip m8, no need to get all rattLOLed.

I will not stand for people slating the nation that i love

[Silver Fox]

Fact is Sweden have 1 world class player and then a team full of low to average type Premiership quality. If we don't win then we deserve to go out in the groups.

You could have just described England tbf.

tbh i thought someone like silver fox would have posted this.

[TBM]

nothing personal m8, just had to pick a random name who likes to be controversial.......take it as a compliment.

[Tails]

We'll never win anything until we master the basic skill of ball retention.

Every other team are capable, why can't we? It really is quite simple.....

It drives me mad.

I thought we had a few periods of decent ball retention.

[southbank1871]

It was only a quip m8, no need to get all rattLOLed.

I will not stand for people slating the nation that i love

EDLOL

[cmonurz]

I think it’s about the mobility of our central midfield pairing, and I don’t think it’s a problem, just something that needs to be coached into Parker and Gerrard and whoever as part of the new system. When we did enjoy decent possession in the first half, it was Parker and Gerrard both in playmaking roles, covering half the pitch providing options to the full backs and wingers. As they tired, Parker in particular, the pace of our game slowed (both started picking the ball up off the feet of the centre-backs, rather than making space to receive the ball), and our ability to retain possession suffered.

Parker ran himself into the ground. The pairing need to work better as a unit to avoid that happening.

[ZacNaloen]

I think it’s about the mobility of our central midfield pairing, and I don’t think it’s a problem, just something that needs to be coached into Parker and Gerrard and whoever as part of the new system. When we did enjoy decent possession in the first half, it was Parker and Gerrard both in playmaking roles, covering half the pitch providing options to the full backs and wingers. As they tired, Parker in particular, the pace of our game slowed (both started picking the ball up off the feet of the centre-backs, rather than making space to receive the ball), and our ability to retain possession suffered.

Parker ran himself into the ground. The pairing need to work better as a unit to avoid that happening.

we'll improve immeasurably in this regard if Wilshere ever comes back from his drugs ban injury.

[Hoop Blah]

Disappointed with Gerrard for Nasri's goal. Gave his man too much time to get his shot in. Would have won if it wasn't for that.

wasn't Gerrard per se but the whole midfield were where you'd expect the back four to be tbf

I thought Johnson, or the back four, should shoulder the majority of the blame there. He (they) just seemed a bit too narrow which pulled Milner deeper to deal with the ball out wide and then that dragged Parker and Gerrard a bit deeper as well. We didn't get tight enough as a result and they worked the space very well. A goal that could've been defended better but probably still one that you can just about hold your hands up and give credit to the opposition for scoring a good'un.

I too thought Gerrard played pretty well, as did the rest, and it goes to show that we aren't miles behind the rest as plenty seem to have said we definitely are. I don't think the French are all that great, despite this undefeated run (remember Ireland had made it something like 14/15 games undefeated, so it's not that difficult in international football), but they do have match winners, and I can see them having an outside shout for a final spot, so not being too threatened by them is a good performance from any team. I'd liked to have seen us close a bit quicker on the edge of the box though (not just for the goal).

[Hoop Blah]

nothing personal m8, just had to pick a random name who likes to be controversial.......take it as a compliment.

Can't be too much of a surprise for you SF, you do like a belittling/dismissive comment on 'team England' now and again.