2014 World Cup thread

Agree with first part of this post, but what did Gerrard do that was so bad? Thought he did well personally. Also I thought Rooney was pretty bad. His cross for the goal was great but the bad outweighed the good significantly. He squandered our best chance to equalise.

What else did he do that was bad? It was a single chance. If our final ball was better we wouldn't have to rely on a single chance.
 
What else did he do that was bad? It was a single chance. If our final ball was better we wouldn't have to rely on a single chance.

Biggest fault was his positional sense. Left Baines exposed far too many times, but then again he is not a left winger

Square pegs in round holes and all that
 
Play a left winger there.

That's essentially what people are suggesting.

Rooney can't play out wide and Sterling was far better behind Sturridge. Rooney has to either play where Sturridge is or not at all, but he wont be dropped because of his name alone. Admittedly it's not all his own fault, he can only play in the positions he's given but if he's not playing well enough to be the lone striker then he can't be forced out wide weakening the team.
 
That's essentially what people are suggesting.

Rooney can't play out wide and Sterling was far better behind Sturridge. Rooney has to either play where Sturridge is or not at all, but he wont be dropped because of his name alone. Admittedly it's not all his own fault, he can only play in the positions he's given but if he's not playing well enough to be the lone striker then he can't be forced out wide weakening the team.

Barkley/Ox/Welbeck - Rooney - Sterling
 
What else did he do that was bad? It was a single chance. If our final ball was better we wouldn't have to rely on a single chance.

A single chance but a guilt edged one. Chances like that don't come along often against good teams and you simply have to take them. But apart from that his defensive discipline was poor, and he blew two half chances by not hitting the target. Also the sole corner and free kick he took were just dreadful.

Besides as an attacking player he should be doing more than not doing much that was bad (Not just singling out Rooney here, it's obviously the same with the whole attacking quartet).

Anyway I'm interested to know why you thought Gerrard was bad?
 
Man, this World Cup is just batshit insane. Every game so far has been spectacular.
 
Man, this World Cup is just batshit insane. Every game so far has been spectacular.

There's been more action in the games played so far than the whole of the South African world cup.
 
Not sure everyone is ignoring the **** midfield performance of Henderson and Gerrard. Yes Henderson was full of energy and did well but it was not enough. Italian players dropped between the lines (Between CBs and CM) and Pirlo passed it to them so effortlessly. It was poor positional play from English midfielders. England needs a pure DM to mark the players.

Wilshere was just poor, he thought he can dribble past players like Messi. There were 5-6 Italian players and he opted to dribble every single time and lost it.

Welbeck and Sterling played well, in the second half even Sterling faded away. He just started to loose ball many times trying to do everything on his own (you can't blame him for that).

Rooney and Sturridge both were ****, not sure why only one gets the blame. Yeah apart from wonderful cross Rooney didn't do anything but apart from tap in Sturridge didn't do anything playing in his favorite position. There were hardly a clear cut chance created so not sure why only 1 is getting all the ****.

Subs were pathetic though, Rickie Lambert would have been better option and also needed someone like Milner to protect the defense better.
 
?? If anything I'd say Wilshere is one of our best players at looking for a forward pass. He offers more technical quality in tight spaces than Henderson and Gerrard, and moves beyond the ball more than those two with his attacking thrust and one-twos.

He is a great player for breaking down packed defences driving from deep as he does for Arsenal. Thus he was a good option when Italy decided to set up shop and challenge us to break them down. This goal is a good example of why Roy brought him on;

Arsenal vs Norwich (4-1) jack wilshere's goal of the season ! -HD 720p - Video Dailymotion

Wow he did it once and is now living off it. He is not that talented at all. Watch him more closely and you will see Wilshere is nothing but terrible going forward.
 
Why are England fans always so ******* negative...

It was a good performance and we created many chances against the Italians and deserved to win the game.

Is there negatives... Of course... But seriously that was a massive improvement from our performance against Italy in Euros yet people are moaning???
 
Also few saying Italy aren't great, what exactly is not great about their team? Every team has weakness just like Italy with full backs but apart from that their team is class. Just because Serie A is on decline doesn't mean Italy NT is not.

Buffon is still a very good GK.
Their defense is superb with Barzagli, Chiellini and Bonucci. Not sure why Paletta played as he was awful. Abate and De Sciglio should have played as wing backs with 2 CBs.

De Rossi, Pirlo and Verratti/Marchisio. There aren't many midfield trio than them. At max Spain and Germany.

They don't play with typical wingers though, but that gives them advantage to control the game.

They still have Insigne, Cerci, Immobile on the bench. IMO Insigne should start as he is offers different from the typical Italian team.

Italian team is underrated and they are very good team. Also their defense is lot better than it looks on paper.
 
Whilst I thought our performance was good I do think the tactics were odd.... with Italy why not pack the midfield like they do and then play them at their own game.... defensively they are really suspect.

I'm disappointed we didn't get a draw at least however as we clearly deserved it.

Still think we can progress. Would drop Rooney altogether if not going to play him as a striker as he's so so so poor playing in a wide position and left us exposed many of times with poor old Baines.
 
Gerrard is past it now and people who cannot see that are blind to it. He will struggle in the Champion's League next season.

I keep reading everywhere that Henderson had a great season for Liverpool, but for England he truly is **** and I would much prefer Wilshere to start, because wilshere can at least pass in a straight line consistently.

Rooney needs to be dropped, great assist, but missed an easy opportunity late on.

Glen Johnson, you sir, are sky bet average.

When we bought on Lallana, Barkley and Wilshere, the game changed and we dominated, that's how we should start each game.
 
On a last note; Joel Campbell is a beast.

I full expect him to have a great season in the EPL based on his performance for Costa Rica yesterday. The foul on him at the end was outrageous and I just hope his leg is alright.
 
Gerrard is past it now and people who cannot see that are blind to it. He will struggle in the Champion's League next season.

I keep reading everywhere that Henderson had a great season for Liverpool, but for England he truly is **** and I would much prefer Wilshere to start, because wilshere can at least pass in a straight line consistently.

Rooney needs to be dropped, great assist, but missed an easy opportunity late on.

Glen Johnson, you sir, are sky bet average.

When we bought on Lallana, Barkley and Wilshere, the game changed and we dominated, that's how we should start each game.

Both statements are absolute rubbish, they are not in the side to catch the eye and change the game.

Henderson is the legs, Gerrard is the protection and ball-player and to say he is past it after his best season for many years is an overreaction
 
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