England v Slovenia [poll attached]

[TBM]

as do Gerrard's 40 yard hail marys

He's top scorer though!

[Gordons Cumming]

England's best bet is to get in the box behind the full backs.

When on his game Lennon is the best we've got....................sadly.

[papereyes]

as do Gerrard's 40 yard hail marys

He's top scorer though!

Level with Rob Green?

[Hoop Blah]

as do Gerrard's 40 yard hail marys

Not entirely sure what you mean there, but if you've got a team camped infront of their 18 yard box* and playing narrowly to reduce the space, the ability to switch the play with a good long pass is actually quite valuable.

Gerrard's short passing often lets him down, but his range of long passing is good. His ability to score from outside the box might well be crucial too (as might Lampards if he can get a deflection or too).

[Wax Jacket]

Gerrard's short passing often lets him down

which is a massive failing in an attacking central midfielder

[Baines]

but his range of long passing is good.

The range of his long passing is good. The accuracy of his long passing is bad.

[Hoop Blah]

but his range of long passing is good.

The range of his long passing is good. The accuracy of his long passing is bad.

Is it 'eck!! He might not nail it every time, but he's better than most.

Gerrard's short passing often lets him down

which is a massive failing in an attacking central midfielder

Of course it depends on where and when he's doing it and what he's been asked to do, but although I don't think his short passing is as good as it should be (Lampards is better for example) his other strengths make him the best attacking midfield the county has. Like Scott Davies, he's better off playing infront of a couple of central midfielders so that if he does give the ball away like that he's not doing so on his centre halfs toes.

There aren't many better at what he does in the world either, so I think he can be cut a bit of slack for a few wayward interchanges along the way.

[papereyes]

as do Gerrard's 40 yard hail marys

Not entirely sure what you mean there, but if you've got a team camped infront of their 18 yard box* and playing narrowly to reduce the space, the ability to switch the play with a good long pass is actually quite valuable.

Gerrard's short passing often lets him down, but his range of long passing is good. His ability to score from outside the box might well be crucial too (as might Lampards if he can get a deflection or too).

I think its over-rated. He can certainly hit it but it always seems to my eyes that some poor sod in Row C or D has to duck as the ball pings out of play.

[papereyes]

fwiw, Gerrard's strengths are highly physical and physique related. He's strong, he's fast, he's aggressive, he can hit a ball at goal with some strength.

he has little subtlety or guile.

[Hoop Blah]

fwiw, Gerrard's strengths are highly physical and physique related. He's strong, he's fast, he's aggressive, he can hit a ball at goal with some strength.

he has little subtlety or guile.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I totally agree that his strengths are based around his sheer physical power, but don't underestimate his technical ability and vision either.

He might not be a subtle little gem along the lines of Iniesta, but his reading of the way opportunities unfold, where he needs to be to get into goalscoring opportunities and his vision in and around the box (witness plenty of 1-2's with the likes of Rooney or Torres) are still top class, IMO.

[TBM]

"The goalmouth here in PE resembles an allotment. Divots and returfed patches everywhere"

Its just crying out for a David James mistake

[Zammo]

Just like Wembley.

[Row Z Royal]

Just like Wembley.

Just like most English League pitches after about 3 games of the season.

The carpet's laid for our stars to shine.


Clichés ftw

[Victor Meldrew]

Heard some of the discussion on Talksport over the team as they think it will be.
The love child of the media and great favourite on here isn't selected (if we are to believe Talksport).
Now everybody ask yourselves "why not?"
Ancelloti doesn't rate him.
Capello obviously doesn't rate him so why do so many English fans and pundits think he should be playing?

I am not a fan of his-for all the fancy flicks there are so many times when he gives the ball away or gets caught in possession-he is also slow and a poor tackler as well as being very right-footed.
It's a mystery to me why Fabello selected him in the first place but having picked him in the squad I am amazed like everybody else that with Milner,SWP and Lennon doing nothing much to warrant selection it looks as though Cole won't start.

Portugal showed yesterday what can be done against lesser sides and man-for-man I would say that England have a slightly better side than Portugal( although we have no superstar like Ronaldo) so if we are to make an impression in this world cup I would suggest that almost any eleven from our squad playing in any system should have enough to beat little Slovenia-and that's not being arrogant English,just logical.
Robert Koren is their main playmaker ffs who has left West Brom on a free-Milner is being talked of as a £30,000,000 transfer to City.

[Hoop Blah]

...although we have no superstar like Ronaldo...

I know you hate everything Man Utd but I think that's a bit harsh on Rooney, and to a lesser extent Gerrard.

Interesting to note that for all his hype and ability Ronaldo is another big name player who's struggled to make any impact so far in this tournament, and indeed for his country for a while now.

[Hoop Blah]

Just like Wembley.

Just like most English League pitches after about 3 games of the season.

The carpet's laid for our stars to shine.


Clichés ftw

Is that a whoosh or are you actually having a pop at the quality of pitches in England?

[Row Z Royal]

Having a swathing pop.

I appreciate that there are notable exceptions.

[Hoop Blah]

Flipping heck I've heard it all now!!!

Having a dig at our excellent pitches over here is taking the England bashing to a new extreme.

[TBM]

interesting to hear that the john terry press conference was a "set up" to make out there is unrest in the camp so Slovenia think we're not fully focused on the game. Mind games by Fabio!!!?

[Row Z Royal]

Flipping heck I've heard it all now!!!

Having a dig at our excellent pitches over here is taking the England bashing to a new extreme.

I said that they'll have an excellent chance if the pitch isn't a putting green? What's wrong with that?