chrisd
Major Champion
I'm sure that he'll start with Rooney, he looks more likely to score than all but Sturridge
England
- Thread starter paddyc
- Start date
Beezerk
Money List Winner
From that pic it looks like he's going to snap his leg in half, that's far from the truth.
I agree it was a red card on the basis it was reckless but it was an honest (if not badly judged) attempt to win the ball and he was a country mile away from Valencia's leg unlike what your photo shows.
rosecott
Money List Winner
What does being "hooked" mean? I'm not having a go, I just have no idea what you're trying to say - it may well be an age thing.
paddyc
Challenge Tour Pro
Dumped,axed,dropped. I think!
Given the hook, the pull. Basically not taken.
actually comes from early stage shows where the stage manager would literally use a long hook to pull bad performers off the stage
havent seen it but I assume they didnt win by that comment?
richy
Journeyman Pro
Rooney?
G
guest100718
Guest
It was just a a warm up for both teams, but a reasonable game to watch. If sterling is going to be as rash as that in a friendly could we trust him to keep his cool on the biggest stage? Ox looked good and some good stuff from barkley too.
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
If we'd drawn against Luxembourg we'd all be going mad this morning...
4th June 2014: Italy 1 -1 Luxembourg
As for the starting line-up, I agree with LP...
...although for someone who doesn't support England, he does have rather a lot to say about them
4th June 2014: Italy 1 -1 Luxembourg
As for the starting line-up, I agree with LP...
...although for someone who doesn't support England, he does have rather a lot to say about them
Cheifi0
Challenge Tour Pro
I like that team apart from Rooney should start, but he's got to stop coming so deep. I was impressed with Ox and any one of him Barkley and Sterling would make good impact subs. Who would you play instead of Henderson? Wiltshire? I am always worried is going to get come off injured whenever he goes into a challenge.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
If we'd drawn against Luxembourg we'd all be going mad this morning...
4th June 2014: Italy 1 -1 Luxembourg
As for the starting line-up, I agree with LP...
..although for someone who doesn't support England, he does have rather a lot to say about them
Sorry didn't realise I couldn't talk about them if I don't support them ?
richy
Journeyman Pro
How can you say it's too early for Henderson? He's had a really good season, much better than any Man Utd player ( I'm assuming you're a Man U supporter going by you biased views).
I wouldn't say Rooney for sure either. When was the last time he played out of his skin? I wouldn't say he's finished but he definatly isn't putting the performances in like he was 2 years ago. At the moment he's getting a start based on reputation. I hope he proves his critics wrong and FINALLY scores at the World Cup because that means we may do quite well.
richart
Major Champion
I don't think we should start with Sterling. He is great running into open spaces, using his pace, but the games, especially in the qualifying are going to be tight. Little room given, and we can not afford to give the ball away cheaply. Sterling didn't impress me in the last few Liverpool games, when teams sat back against them like Chelsea.
Barkley is real class. Has pace, strength, a football brain, and should be in the team to start with. Reminds me of a young Michael Ballack. A player that can hold the ball up, but also seems to be able to find space when others can't.
Rooney has to be told to hold the ball up. Stop doing first time flicks, or long passes that rarely come off. In the heat, against teams like Italy we can not keep giving the ball away.
My team would to play Italy would
Hart
Johnson
Cahill
Jag
Baines
Gerrard
Henderson
Barkley
Lallana
Ox
Sturridge
We can't afford to lose the first game, so no Rooney for me. Bring him in for later games if we need a more positive result.
Someone has to mark Pirlo tight so would put Henderson up against him. Lallana and Ox to tuck in to keep the midfield tight.
Barkley is real class. Has pace, strength, a football brain, and should be in the team to start with. Reminds me of a young Michael Ballack. A player that can hold the ball up, but also seems to be able to find space when others can't.
Rooney has to be told to hold the ball up. Stop doing first time flicks, or long passes that rarely come off. In the heat, against teams like Italy we can not keep giving the ball away.
My team would to play Italy would
Hart
Johnson
Cahill
Jag
Baines
Gerrard
Henderson
Barkley
Lallana
Ox
Sturridge
We can't afford to lose the first game, so no Rooney for me. Bring him in for later games if we need a more positive result.
Someone has to mark Pirlo tight so would put Henderson up against him. Lallana and Ox to tuck in to keep the midfield tight.
Gonna be slightly controversial here, but although he looks like he's gonna be a star. Did I miss something where Barkley scored and assisted 20 goals last season? If I recall goals and assists together was at most 10?
if he's in the team it's as an attacking option and for me that's not enough. I remember about 4 stunning games, a few bits and bibs. But in way the finished artical. I agree rooney not on fire, but still got 20 goals last year and will get assists. whilst playing in a poor team too.
Im im all for building for the future, but not sure if Barkley warrants a start when compared to rooney, lallana, sterling or sturridge as an attacking option.
if he's in the team it's as an attacking option and for me that's not enough. I remember about 4 stunning games, a few bits and bibs. But in way the finished artical. I agree rooney not on fire, but still got 20 goals last year and will get assists. whilst playing in a poor team too.
Im im all for building for the future, but not sure if Barkley warrants a start when compared to rooney, lallana, sterling or sturridge as an attacking option.
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
Rooney scored and assisted more goals than Sterling, Lallana and Barkley last season.
Some people just don't want to like him. I've never thought he was world class, but comfortably in the next bracket alongside most of players in England's golden generation.
It will probably happen to Barkley in time. Wilshere was our great hope 4 years ago too.
Build em me up and knock em down!
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Come on, rooney's got to play! He's established, been there and done it. All these other guys have potential but this is the World Cup! Italy would be delighted to see Rooney on the bench!
Oh, and that was a nailed on red card. Can't believe anyone trying to justify such a reckless tackle! Could easily have resulted in a serious injury, the fact that it didn't is not a defence!
Oh, and that was a nailed on red card. Can't believe anyone trying to justify such a reckless tackle! Could easily have resulted in a serious injury, the fact that it didn't is not a defence!
Beezerk
Money List Winner
But isn't the whole point of this World Cup, IMO at least, to bed in the up and coming youngsters? Give them the experience of big games in the biggest football tournament of all.
People are starting to talk like we have a chance of winning it again, it'll be the same old "experienced" players who've done sod all internationally getting picked, and yet again we'll fail abysmally with a boring "backs to the wall but weren't they brave by losing on penalties" story again!
last night was the most excited I've been in a long time watching an England team, we seemed to have more ideas and guile on the ball than in the last 20 years (18 actually since 1996
)
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
I think that is the problem. He isn't world class but is expected to put in world class performances and when he doesn't he gets slaughtered
