Euro 2012 Match Discussion Thread

[LFCMarshall]

Glen Johnson is terrible.

Is it just me or do i find this remarkable, it is not a Liverpool fan thing, i think he made at least 2 vital challenges today.. Lawrensen said he was brilliant, savage on twitter also said he was one of the positives... cant see why people are saying he is ****?

 

[Quasit]

Is it just me or do i find this remarkable, it is not a Liverpool fan thing, i think he made at least 2 vital challenges today.. Lawrensen said he was brilliant, savage on twitter also said he was one of the positives... cant see why people are saying he is ****?

Some people only see that own goal and judge by it.

 

[Mike.]

Is it just me or do i find this remarkable, it is not a Liverpool fan thing, i think he made at least 2 vital challenges today.. Lawrensen said he was brilliant, savage on twitter also said he was one of the positives... cant see why people are saying he is ****?

Positioning wasnt always great, but his recovery was excellent, and he made some key key tackles and blocks. Certainly wasnt ****, thought he was very good.

 

[craig curtis]

Is it just me or do i find this remarkable, it is not a Liverpool fan thing, i think he made at least 2 vital challenges today.. Lawrensen said he was brilliant, savage on twitter also said he was one of the positives... cant see why people are saying he is ****?

I thought johnson played well tbh made one mistake not getting out quick enough for first goal but apart from that played well and made good challenges!

 

[Silverfoxx]

Really hope Roy will go to into the last game aiming to take the crowd out of it early.

Would play with Walcott and Young on the wings as Young, Rooney, Welbeck know each other game well and take off young for chamberlain if young as dire as tonight.

Milner was dire as well tonight.

 

[Vanjagl]

I thought Walcott cant cross?

He can't. That was a shot.

 

[LFCMarshall]

Dont worry about club colours for England, Carroll was pretty immense, but Welbeck is better at attacking space. Of course he could go left field and start Welbeck on the left as inside forward, but that's too outrageous for him. Ukraine left loads of space against France today, Welbeck and Walcott could have a field day.

Gerrard - Parker
Walcott - Rooney - Welbeck
Carroll

Now that would be way too ambitious for Hodgson, Although is tempting!

 

[Quasit]

Milner is needed on next match. Walcott or Ox should start on left.

 

[Quasit]

He can't. That was a shot.

Looked pretty clear cross to me. Only RVP would take shot from there rather than cross.

 

[craig curtis]

Hope not but think will start with young on left, i would even start with downing instead of young after these performances:O

 

[Vanjagl]

Looked pretty clear cross to me. Only RVP would take shot from there rather than cross.

Joke.

 

[Quasit]

Joke.

My joke radar is bit off. Had to think for minute if it's a joke or not

 

[thekill]

And then he scores and assists Welbeck goal helping England win

I said this after he scored so yes i was dreaming on how on earth did the walcott we know scored that ^^)

 

[CJACKO11]

What a game of football that was, first half was decent and we looked mainly in control. Brilliant goal and if only they combined like that for Liverpool last season then Swansea would still have Rodgers and Sigurdsson. Got off under the cosh abit in the 2nd half and it showed with 2 sloppy goals, first a poor tackle by Carroll and then a poor tackle by Milner and we got punished by both. But the best thing of the night was maybe in the past England sides would have thought that was over. This time was different, they believed and actually showed passion, well that and the manager (who shock horror media is not Redknapp who you all wanted) making the right calls at the right time. Genuinly thought it was a totally different Walcott playing especially with that 20yarder, he really changed the game for me. Sensational performance again by Welbeck and was capped off with a brilliant goal, really good to see England score 3 genuine good goals. On a negative i thought Young and Milner were average again and although Johnson's positioning was poor (like it always has been) he did make up for it by tracking back very quickly which is something i slated him for not doing against France. Very happy with this result and performance overall and it will give everyone a huge boost by the way we won this and also the fact we have Rooney to call on from now on.

On a different note and this is not just because i support Chelsea because as many know i'd rather they didn't play for the national sides but. Both Robbie Savage and Alan Hansen tried to slate his performance and there was just no ground for it at all! Hansen tried to blame him for the second goal saying he lost Mellberg until Shearer pointed out JT was never the one marking him. And then Savage went on Twitter posting on numerous occasions "I'd drop Terry where is Rio etc, his lack of pace will hurt England". Now ok, i take the point he got beat once or twice by Zlatan in a foot race today but on both occasions Terry got back to him, showed him outside and as Zlatan tried to go inside he won the ball back off him. He also made 2-3 sensational crunching tackles on Zlatan, no wonder he was a bit slower today when he had a 6ft5 13 stone player in his pocket!!!!

 

[Mike.]

What a game of football that was, first half was decent and we looked mainly in control. Brilliant goal and if only they combined like that for Liverpool last season then Swansea would still have Rodgers and Sigurdsson. Got off under the cosh abit in the 2nd half and it showed with 2 sloppy goals, first a poor tackle by Carroll and then a poor tackle by Milner and we got punished by both. But the best thing of the night was maybe in the past England sides would have thought that was over. This time was different, they believed and actually showed passion, well that and the manager (who shock horror media is not Redknapp who you all wanted) making the right calls at the right time. Genuinly thought it was a totally different Walcott playing especially with that 20yarder, he really changed the game for me. Sensational performance again by Welbeck and was capped off with a brilliant goal, really good to see England score 3 genuine good goals. On a negative i thought Young and Milner were average again and although Johnson's positioning was poor (like it always has been) he did make up for it by tracking back very quickly which is something i slated him for not doing against France. Very happy with this result and performance overall and it will give everyone a huge boost by the way we won this and also the fact we have Rooney to call on from now on.

On a different note and this is not just because i support Chelsea because as many know i'd rather they didn't play for the national sides but. Both Robbie Savage and Alan Hansen tried to slate his performance and there was just no ground for it at all! Hansen tried to blame him for the second goal saying he lost Mellberg until Shearer pointed out JT was never the one marking him. And then Savage went on Twitter posting on numerous occasions "I'd drop Terry where is Rio etc, his lack of pace will hurt England". Now ok, i take the point he got beat once or twice by Zlatan in a foot race today but on both occasions Terry got back to him, showed him outside and as Zlatan tried to go inside he won the ball back off him. He also made 2-3 sensational crunching tackles on Zlatan, no wonder he was a bit slower today when he had a 6ft5 13 stone player in his pocket!!!!

For the most part he was outstanding, though I very worry about his lack of pace, bearing in mind Zlatan isnt quick. Having said that, Rio wouldnt be the replacement as he isnt much quicker atm anyway. 12 months ago, yes. Now, no. But Terry was struggling, and a quicker forward would have left him for dead. My issue is that he needs to keep the line around the 18 yard box like he was earlier, and not allow the line to drop deeper under pressure, even though that is something he would naturally prefer ( ie at Chelsea) since we are not playing the 4-2-3-1, it invites way too much pressure, he miust marshall that line at the at 18 yard mark at all times, we let it slip against france, and again today. Thats my only concern, and the only reason I would consider Jags. Even if picked, I wouldnt have replaced him with Rio as Savage says, if pace is what you are looking for, then it would be Smalling or Jags. But in fairness not an issue, since this is likely his last tournament

 

[CJACKO11]

For the most part he was outstanding, though I very worry about his lack of pace, bearing in mind Zlatan isnt quick. Having said that, Rio wouldnt be the replacement as he isnt much quicker atm anyway. 12 months ago, yes. Now, no. But Terry was struggling, and a quicker forward would have left him for dead. My issue is that he needs to keep the line around the 18 yard box like he was earlier, and not allow the line to drop deeper under pressure, even though that is something he would naturally prefer ( ie at Chelsea) since we are not playing the 4-2-3-1, it invites way too much pressure, he miust marshall that line at the at 18 yard mark at all times, we let it slip against france, and again today. Thats my only concern, and the only reason I would consider Jags. Even if picked, I wouldnt have replaced him with Rio as Savage says, if pace is what you are looking for, then it would be Smalling or Jags. But in fairness not an issue, since this is likely his last tournament

I totally understand and agree with them points but today he could afford to push up a bit more because Sweden didn't have any real pace upfront. If he comes up against quicker opponents i fully expect him and Lescott to sit much deeper as you say even on their 18 yard line. But as for today i did not think he personally put a foot wrong and people single him out because of other things which is wrong. When Johnson plays bad i/no one uses the fact he stole a toilet seat to judge his performance so why should it be different for someone else.

 

[Mike.]

I totally understand and agree with them points but today he could afford to push up a bit more because Sweden didn't have any real pace upfront. If he comes up against quicker opponents i fully expect him and Lescott to sit much deeper as you say even on their 18 yard line. But as for today i did not think he personally put a foot wrong and people single him out because of other things which is wrong. When Johnson plays bad i/no one uses the fact he stole a toilet seat to judge his performance so why should it be different for someone else.

The only reason I personally pick him up is that he is the senior defender, so its his responsibility to control that line even under immense pressure. I think the France goal, and possibly the second Swedish goal could have been avoided, if he had got them to push out quicker. But the second Swedish goal was terrible by just about everyone.

A few times we dropped even deeper, and he must make them step up even though he is more comfortable deeper, we cannot defend on the 6 yard line.

 

[Redrup]

Milner was useless today, I was confused before the game about why he was playing.

Walcott when he came on just completely turned things around, coming off his best season to date he put in a fantastic performance. Hoping his calf is fine now.

Will be interested to see how we look with an eager Rooney up front, he has some catching up to do for the Golden Boot

 

[CJACKO11]

The only reason I personally pick him up is that he is the senior defender, so its his responsibility to control that line even under immense pressure. I think the France goal, and possibly the second Swedish goal could have been avoided, if he had got them to push out quicker. But the second Swedish goal was terrible by just about everyone.

A few times we dropped even deeper, and he must make them step up even though he is more comfortable deeper, we cannot defend on the 6 yard line.

I agree with this and it was apparent with the France goal, JT and Lescott were on the 6 yard line and Gerrard and Parker 3-4 yards in front of them. I do think he has to take joint responsibility for that as all 4 of he, Gerrard, Lescott and Parker are all leaders and experienced enough to know where not to and where to be.

 

[zzeezzy]

I was pleasently suprised by Hodgson tonight, he definitely got the subs right and I thought the approach was much better, although we could literally of killed for a regista in the middle of the pitch, although hats off to Gerrard he has been impressive and the captaincy definitely inspires him.

Only problem imo is Johnson's positioning at times was suspect and he recovered well, but aganinst better teams you might not have a chance to recover, it could be the difference between us conceding due to his loose positioning. Also Terry, he was immense and put in some great tackles, but like other people have stated earlier in this thread, his lack of pace in a pressing 4-4-2 formation is criminal and could leave us heavily exposed. I personally think Jagielka should be playing over Terry, but then against it probably is his last tournament, found it quite funny when Zlatan Ibrahimovic completely out paced him though.

It was a cracking game, but mostly due to us conceding two very poor goals, but I think for the next game it has to be Rooney and Welbeck, Welbeck can exploit the space and works really hard as well, it was an absolutely sublime finish, if it was Messi we would be absolutely raving about it, really excited about Welbeck though.

I think this is turning out to be quite positive for England though, sure it is just a few games but the team spirit seems to be back and looks like our players actually want to play for each other! Not to mention after this Euro's we have some cracking players to come back for the World Cup Qualifiers, Walker, Wilshere, Smalling, Nick Powell!

But potentially it is a very strong line up for the Qualifiers: -

----------------Hart----------------

Walker-----Cahill-----Smalling----Baines/Cole

---------Wilshere---Rodwell---------

A.Johnson----------------------Young/Walcott

-----------Welbeck------Rooney/Carroll

I think it is quite exciting times for England after this Euro's. we could really field a good squad with decent young talent.