richart
Major Champion
Good game, and we played some decent stuff. Good movement up front, ball to strikers feet from midfield, good delivery from wide and very few humps from the back. At least it looked promising, and something to build on.:thup:
England V Poland
- Thread starter SaintHacker
- Start date
sawtooth
Tour Winner
Thats the best that I've seen England play for a long time. Well organised, slick passing, good movement, committed, quick tempo the lot.
MOM for me was Townsend by a country mile, I actually thought that apart from the goal Rooney didnt play that well, he gave the ball away a bit too much for my liking. But hey ho it was a solid team performance and we got that all important win.
MOM for me was Townsend by a country mile, I actually thought that apart from the goal Rooney didnt play that well, he gave the ball away a bit too much for my liking. But hey ho it was a solid team performance and we got that all important win.
richart
Major Champion
Agree he needs to hold up the ball more, rather than always go for the first time flick. I think he has lost a bit a pace as well, but might be the weight of his headband. I think Carrick's passing helped and when he went off and Lampard came on we started giving the ball away cheaply.
Townsend and Baines men of the match for me.
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
Echo the last couple of comments. Much better than we're used to imo.
Great movement and passing to feet.
Wide men (Townsend and Baines) not afraid of taking people on and risking losing the ball.
And best of all.... trying to kill the game off with a 1-0 lead rather than playing to not concede.
We did look a little shaky at the back on occasion and maybe a better team than Poland would have given us more problems, but they are no mugs and you're never going to completely deny any opposition chances for 90 minutes.
Great movement and passing to feet.
Wide men (Townsend and Baines) not afraid of taking people on and risking losing the ball.
And best of all.... trying to kill the game off with a 1-0 lead rather than playing to not concede.
We did look a little shaky at the back on occasion and maybe a better team than Poland would have given us more problems, but they are no mugs and you're never going to completely deny any opposition chances for 90 minutes.
Gerrard and Rooney both gave cheap ball away, Frank didn't unless he was given a short pass, which was frequent as soon as he came on.
Baines is good going forward and even I would have looked good down that Polish right hand side but, they broke down his side a couple of times and skipped past him a few times also in the 2nd half far too easily, he won't always be able to be that far forward and I don't think he's as good a defender than Cole, he's good as an attacking left back but not the full package by a long chalk yet.
richart
Major Champion
Baines did have Welbeck playing in front of him, and didn't exactly get a lot of support defensively.We really need a decent left sided midfielder. Baines is a good solid player, no baggage, very rarely has a bad game, and has the best left foot in the team. Gives England more options, especially against weaker teams that we will be taking the game to.
I don't disagree with that, I do think he's weaker in defence and more attack focused, he won't have that luxury in Brazil if he's pinned back!
StuartD
Tour Rookie
Is that the other 31 countries :rofl:
sev112
Tour Winner
Gerard in particular had a mare - I don't know what all the commentators are going about him having a great game?!
What made Gerrard's giveaway passes worse, was that it was usually after we were in their half and he decided to take it back into our own half before he gave it away, conveniently when all our defenders were up the pitch . Even my 10 year ol daughter was shouting at him not to give the ball away by the end!
Bloody good goal to be able to put it away while being pushed over though
Golfmmad
Tour Winner
Can't believe the comments about Rooney, he was far and away the best player on the pitch last night. Followed closely by Townsend. Everything ticked around Rooney and ok he did give the ball away a few times but it's always going to happen when he's trying to set others up. My only criticism of him is that he should be more selfish around the penalty area and shoot more himself.
I couldn't understand why he took Carrick off and replaced him with Lampard. It was Carricks guile and passing ability which fed the front players, which was missing against Montenegro. We lost that when Lampard came on and in relative terms he gave the ball away more than anybody else.
I just hope Rooney doesn't get injured before the World Cup because without him we're doomed! He is that important to England - nobody else can give us what he can.
It was a great goal well taken by Gerrard, but he disappoints at times. Last night he seemed to just wander around in the middle and didn't seem to offer himself and want the ball - a kind of, don't give it to me, give it to him!
I couldn't understand why he took Carrick off and replaced him with Lampard. It was Carricks guile and passing ability which fed the front players, which was missing against Montenegro. We lost that when Lampard came on and in relative terms he gave the ball away more than anybody else.
I just hope Rooney doesn't get injured before the World Cup because without him we're doomed! He is that important to England - nobody else can give us what he can.
It was a great goal well taken by Gerrard, but he disappoints at times. Last night he seemed to just wander around in the middle and didn't seem to offer himself and want the ball - a kind of, don't give it to me, give it to him!
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Well, I was really thinking of the three teams they get in their group but, yeah, you get the idea! :thup:
richart
Major Champion
Perhaps they should introduce a 'World plate' for the countries that don't qualify.:ears:
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
Perhaps they should introduce a 'World plate' for the countries that don't qualify.:ears:
And they'd probably fail to qualify for that too!
harpo_72
Journeyman Pro
Rooney is good but not England 's saviour, he was not brilliant the other night he gave away too much ball and got a little too complicated. Sturridge was disappointing, he got a bit greedy and his positioning was a little poor. Wellbeck have the best of games but he is good and his control is good, he holds it up and is strong. Townsend was a revelation, missed the understanding with smalling but smalling came and filled in a tricky position. Baines was great, his crosses were dangerous. Gerrard was poor, carrick was okay, but without Gerrard pulling his weight he had a tough night.
I understand the build from the back stuff, but why just pass it back to the keep to hoof it to the opposition? Got to stop that, perhaps Barkley should have replaced Gerrard ...
I understand the build from the back stuff, but why just pass it back to the keep to hoof it to the opposition? Got to stop that, perhaps Barkley should have replaced Gerrard ...
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
And they'd probably fail to qualify for that too!
I doubt we'd qualify for a uk cup!
Golfmmad
Tour Winner
cookelad
Tour Winner
Robobum
Money List Winner
S
Snelly
Guest
Enjoyed watching the uber-chavs for change. Played some decent stuff. Especially Baines and Townsend although it was disappointing to see the latter diving to try and win free kicks. I thought Rooney was his usual overrated, average self for most of the game but it was a beautiful header, perfectly placed from a superb cross.
However, they have just about no chance of success at the Finals. Brazil will win and they and at least 6 other teams can give England a footballing lesson. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional.
However, they have just about no chance of success at the Finals. Brazil will win and they and at least 6 other teams can give England a footballing lesson. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional.
Golfmmad
Tour Winner
That's a hell of a footballers comment right there!
Maybe, but apart from Townsend, who else comes close?
