England v Slovenia [poll attached]

[Hoop Blah]

We just dont click as a national team but chuck Lampard/Rooney/Gerrard/Cole/Terry etc into Brazil, Spain, Argentina and they will be one of their best players.

You can't really believe that ?

John Terry wouldn;t get in any of the top sides. He's in our team on reputation rather than merit (coupled with the fact that we've not got a decent centre back to replace him with !)

Of the others they are almost all just too inconsistent at this level to get close to being world class. I think they would all struggle to get into the sides you mention, let alone be one of their best players !!

They're inconsistent for England because of the way we play, not because they're not good enough (IMO).

I'm not a big fan of Terry, and he's not had his best season following all the distractions that seem to effect him, but he's been an excellent defender over the years and I still think he'd probably get into the Spanish or Brazilian teams. Have you seen Puyol over the last couple of seasons? Lucio is a good player, but I've not seen enough of the Juan bloke alongside him to say he's better than Terry.

Could a Gerrard ofrLampard fit into the Spanish midfield? Not certain, but they'd certainly give them something different than the players they've currently got and Gerrard didn't have a problem fitting in with Alonso and Torres at Liverpool so perhaps he could make them better than they already are?

[Row Z Royal]

As an aside (and apologies if it's been said already) but when was the last time we departed in the group stages?

[papereyes]

1958?

Didn't qualify in 74, 78 and 94 so they possibly count. 82 had two group stages.

[Stranded]

As an aside (and apologies if it's been said already) but when was the last time we departed in the group stages?

1958 I think, though 1982 was a group stage but not the first group stage.

[Hoop Blah]

As an aside (and apologies if it's been said already) but when was the last time we departed in the group stages?

Isn't it never at the WC?

Sure I've heard that somewhere, mind you I swear SSN tried to say that France haven't won or even scored a goal in a World Cup game outside of France since a Platini penalty in 1986 (not sure where in France they think Germany) so I wouldn't trust my reading/listening of the media.

[brendywendy]

cant see why these teams bother with having them really if thats true

in fact , where theyve done away with them totally like at arsenal they seem to have suffered

Arsenal >>>> all but 2 other teams in the league.

Suffered.

the point was, how have man u, and chelsea, and even liverpool managed to outperform them recently when they are carrying half a team of average english types

[TBM]

the point was, how have man u, and chelsea, and even liverpool managed to outperform them recently when they are carrying half a team of average english types

Exactly - which was the point i was trying to make!

[Hoop Blah]

the point was, how have man u, and chelsea, and even liverpool managed to outperform them recently when they are carrying half a team of average english types

Exactly - which was the point i was trying to make!

One arguement against that is that we produce lots of good solid players to build a base for an effective side, but we don't produce enough of those quality match winning individuals who can turn a game.

They're the ones that make an average team into a very good team and we have to buy in a lot of those.

...that's the argument, although I don't think it's totally water tight (see the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Joe Cole...but it is a pretty short list!).

[Row Z Royal]

1958?

Didn't qualify in 74, 78 and 94 so they possibly count. 82 had two group stages.

As an aside (and apologies if it's been said already) but when was the last time we departed in the group stages?

1958 I think, though 1982 was a group stage but not the first group stage.

Christ. Still, it's better than not qualifying at all...right?

[TBM]

Rumours are the team is going to be

----------James----------
Johnson Upson Terry Cole
----------Barry----------
-----Cole ----- Lampard-----
--------Gerrard
---Rooney---- Defoe

So a 4-1-2-1-2 formation

[Maguire]

Why am I starting to feel nervous about this game?

I hate pretty much every player in the side and I've never thought for a single minute that we'll win the WC. So why oh why am I practically paralysed by the fear of getting dumped out tomorrow afternoon?

Same here........i know we wont win the WC but for some reason i'd rather lose in the next round than be kicked out in the group stages

Exactly. The 1/4 finals I could take but losing out to the fcking Yanks

[Row Z Royal]

Rumours are the team is going to be

----------James----------
Johnson Upson Terry Cole
----------Barry----------
-----Cole ----- Lampard-----
--------Gerrard
---Rooney---- Defoe

So a 4-1-2-1-2 formation

With Johnson and ACole providing the width, I presume?


That's a pretty outlandish line-up tbf.

[rfcjoe]

Find it a bit mental that Frank is untouchable tbh.

[Row Z Royal]

Find it a bit mental that Frank is untouchable tbh.

Over and above the Kes-baiting, 'greed.

Not really sure what he's done in the last two games.

[TBM]

Rumours are the team is going to be

----------James----------
Johnson Upson Terry Cole
----------Barry----------
-----Cole ----- Lampard-----
--------Gerrard
---Rooney---- Defoe

So a 4-1-2-1-2 formation

With Johnson and ACole providing the width, I presume?


That's a pretty outlandish line-up tbf.

I think we know Solvenia will put 10 men behind the ball and leave 1 upfront.....

So if we play a more attacking formation then *hopefully* we can unlock that and then revert to a 4-4-2

[rfcjoe]

Find it a bit mental that Frank is untouchable tbh.

Over and above the Kes-baiting, 'greed.

Not really sure what he's done in the last two games.

Not b8in' anyone, m8. He's been atrocious, and it amazes me that he is still getting mentioned.

[Row Z Royal]

@TBM

If that's the case then he needs to ditch having a plan and just tell Barry to protect the centre halves and tell the front 5 to do what they fecking want.

If it doesn't work then change it, but if it does, stick with it. If you get one, push for two and then three and then four. Let them be classy and exciting - don't try to rein them in or stop them playing their own game.

Don't be like Brendan Rodgers!

[paultheroyal]

Rumours are the team is going to be

----------James----------
Johnson Upson Terry Cole
----------Barry----------
-----Cole ----- Lampard-----
--------Gerrard
---Rooney---- Defoe

So a 4-1-2-1-2 formation

Would be delighted with that.

[paultheroyal]

England will win tomorrow because since 1982, England have won 62% of all World Cup games on the BBC and 30% of those on ITV.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Find it a bit mental that Frank is untouchable tbh.

Over and above the Kes-baiting, 'greed.

Not really sure what he's done in the last two games.

Same as everyone else (only fatter)