Cole out of the Montenegro game, Rooney and Sturridge picked up knocks but are going to be ok...Montenegro without Vucinic which is big.
Think we will beat Montenegro. Dunno about Poland. Hopefully they can nick a point against Ukraine and then we should be alright. There's a reasonable possibility that Ukraine could go into the last game needing to rack up a mammoth goal tally to overtake our goal difference (currently 7 better than them)...against San Marino. Could be fun.
Last edited by Simon; October 8th, 2013 at 6:52 AM.
P.S. does anyone care?
Why would anyone not care? If we lose this we don't go to the World Cup. It's the fucking World Cup.
I was hilariously satirising myself to annoy that boring child Bennedy.
I think some people are mistaking the (welcome) absence of the usual England hype machine and apathy.
We're starting to view the national team the way it actually is rather than the way we wish it were, so there's less boastful screaming and more realistic thoughts of how we might do and some useful discussions on what we might be able to do to get better.
Booooooooooooooooo!Originally Posted by Simon
We've gone way too far the wrong way.
Although I was joking, even the thought of England at the World Cup doesn't get me excited any more. It's been nine years since we were even watchable at a major tournament. Genuinely more excited about seeing Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy etc than England. Would only need one decent game against a shitbox team in the groups to get me interested again but the last time I can remember us playing really well in a tournament match was probably...Croatia in 2004? Arguably Portugal the same tournament? But even in that game we defended for 85 minutes after Owen's early goal.
EDIT: I was out of my head during the Sweden game in 2006 but I think we played well there?
Last edited by Simon; October 8th, 2013 at 7:50 AM.
Why'd you think that?
The current crop of players isn't as strong as we've been used to since around Euro 96. We got a very favourable draw for qualifying and I have no serious worries about us not making it, but in Brazil I'd be expecting more of the same as we saw in Euro 2012; solid and capable but not among the favourites. We were only a better Glen Johnson contact away from getting to the semis last time around and with the players we currently have I'd say anything similar would be a success.
As long as we're able to combine a realistic outlook with sensible planning and a little bit of hope I don't see that much of a problem with the toning down of the victory rhetoric.
But you'll be in the pub an hour before our first game, Three Lions will come on and you'll be well up for it. And that is what is on the line.
We're a solid quarter final team as we have been for the last 20 years. I think it's pathetic that other countries go into tournaments not trying or not hoping to win and would never want England to be in that position. That's when I'll stop supporting England.
"Victory rhetoric"? What does that even mean? I've never met anyone who has seriously ever believed that England have been the best team going into any tournament that we've entered in my lifetime. Even 96 we were terrible for at least four years before that and Venables was getting all sorts of stick going in. But these are knock-out cup competitions and you don't need to be the best. You just need to be reasonably solid and very lucky.
The only time i remember thinking England would genuinely going to win an international tournament was Euro 88. Due to our qualifying record and the perception we were robbed at Mexico 86 i seem to remember most media coverage saying it would be between us and Holland. It was a major shock to see us lose all 3 group games.
The king of comedy strikes again.
Don't expect us to play very well over these two games. We should be solid against Montenegro and I could see a 2-0 win there. I think Poland will be a tougher game and that could quite easily end in a draw. Hopefully Sturridge stays fit and brings with him the goals he has been scoring for Liverpool.
Have Rooney and Sturridge really played together for England? I can't seem to remember them on the same pitch many times. Something about them two up front together quite excites me.
hahaha, I didn't expect it to be you to take the bait.
Why would anyone not care? If we lose this we don't go to the World Cup. It's the fucking World Cup.
Wonder what formation we will go with. People are saying Townsend might start, big shout for a game of such importance.
I reckon Roy will play it safe and go 4-3-3 rather than 4-2-3-1
Hart
Walker - Cahill - Jagielka - Baines
Lampard - Gerrard - Wilshere
Rooney - Sturridge - Welbeck
If we do go 4-2-3-1...
Hart
Walker - Cahill - Jagielka - Baines
Gerrard - Wilshere
Townsend - Rooney - Welbeck
Sturridge
Hart
Walker - Cahill - Jagielka - Baines
Gerrard - Lampard
Milner - Rooney - Wellbeck
Sturridge
There is zero chance that Rooney will be played out of the centre. Sturridge might but it's unlikely. I think Walcott is quite a big miss.
Walcott is our best player so yeah he's a huge miss.
I hope yous get pumped.
I hope...nope. Literally no opinion on Scotland.
Apparently in this hypothetical Nation League that UEFA want to set up to replace international friendlies (weirdly it hasn't had much traction in the media, I'd have thought it would be a huge story), Scotland will be in Division Six
We aren't playing tonight. Congratulations football god. I will piss myself if yous don't qualify from the "easy" group.
Sounds to me like you're just another Scot looking for a way to justify the fact that you've pissed yourself.
He's definitely not our BEST player but he's one of the few proven top level match winners we've got.
5 goals in 40-odd appearances and three of them were in the same game, hardly a top level match winner. Rooney, Gerrard and Hart are the only match-winners we have, and Hart's gone to shit. We've got a couple with potential coming through like Sturridge and Wilshere but I doubt any opposition manager looks at us and sees a match-winner beyond Rooney at the moment.
10/10 for the flamboyance shown to discredit 90% of his career and one of the most important England performances for a good while.
First half of the n. Ireland games been rather entertaining so far.
Townsend chosen ahead of Milner, now that inspires a bit of confidence.
Walcott frightens the shit out of international defences - he's a very important player for England.
Townsend?!?!
Andy the England and Rangers supporter
Fucks sake Rooney. That sums up his half, he has been gash.
Think Rooney's been one of our better players, some great tracking back, making things out of nothing and is looking seriously hyped. Poor finish with his chance but I'm happy with him so far.
Gerrard and Lampard though, not entirely happy with and Walker has been sloppy at times. Some good stuff from Townsend though.
GET IN!
Townsend, fucking superb.
Townsend, class.
Sensational from Townsend
The value of genuine pace in international football
Ahahahah
Carrick? Fuck off.
I think Townsend's been shit, they should have Jim Beglin on for a game like this.
Oh great, now for the inevitable 20 minutes of bricking it.
Cracking goal!
Fucking Townsend boys. Beefy called it when he was at Yeovil.
Spot on for once from Tyldesley, Hodgson deserves credit for taking a risk on him.
Just like his Freddy Eastwood shout. He should be a scout.
What a debut, better than Lamberts. We should play 11 new players on Tuesday.
Fucking hate you cunts even more bursting my correct score coupon. Townsend was shit till the goal.
We should just play Welbeck, Lennon, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rooney, Sturridge, Townsend as a forward 6.
Most of the attacks would break down, but it'd be fun to watch.
Last edited by turdpower; October 11th, 2013 at 4:50 PM.
Townsend was our best player even before the goal, stunning debut.
I don't like to blow my own trumpet.
We moan a lot but come in that was a very decent performance. Lovely stuff.
England looked extremely dangerous every time they moved forward, it was genuinely entertaining. Townsend looks so hungry, what an incredible goal, really happy for the lad. Can you imagine how good Sturridge will get over the next few years? I think he's still to mature fully, it's quite exciting for you lot how immense he could be.
They're a good team, not world-beaters, but there was an industry there tonight that's often been lacking and a sense of teamwork whereas sometimes there feels like a bit of a disconnect between individuals. Credit to Woy for setting them up to go for the jugular. Sure, there was some luck, but that was a deserved win.
Sturridge seemed a bit selfish at points, but I was very impressed with Andros Towsend.
Wellbeck looked like an annoyance to Montenegro's defense as usual without really threatening too much, and Rooney looked in decent form.
One more win and we're going to Brazil!
Twitter's going a bit mental about Chiles's Polish comment.
What was it?
Yeah I thought when he said it that people would get him in it.
"There will be 15,000 (Polish people) here on Tues - good job, I need some building work doing"
Silly.
But seriously, some people are going mental.
Just saw somebody trying to equate it to Rodney Marsh's joke about the Tsunami.
Haha, hope he gets sacked. Not because it's outrageous, just because he's a massive prick.
he's a fucking idiot usually and that's a stupid mistake. Fuck him. If they were playing India would he say "good thing, I fancy a curry!"? Same thing. Dickhead.
Is Jack Wilshire annoyed that someone called "Andros" plays for England?
And he's a bit brown looking too.
This was only made today and Chiles is making it happen, love it.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/tomphillips/...a-twitterstorm
I think Jack he only wants players whose surnames sound like counties
Joe Hartfordshire in goal.
How is it possible for Northern Ireland to be so bad? I know they've not got as many players to pick from as they did a few years ago but they have some good ones in there.
Now do the whole XI.
Colin Murray made the point that they just become as good as the team they are playing. When they play Russia etc. they match them yet when they play Luxembourg they fall down to their level. Fair observation.
£200 on tonight, must be mad considering it's bloody Poland!
I don't want rip to lose all that cash but........I hope yous get pumped.
Doesn't seem likely. I think we will be very cautious and end up drawing 0-0.
Poland are bollocks, if nerves get to us it could be tight but I'll say 2-0...one early in the second half, one late on. Apparently Hodgson might play Carrick and Milner ahead of Wilshere/Lampard and Townsend
They could have beaten Portugal as well. It's a joke, beating Russia plus matching Portugal home and away (only separated by the quality of Ronaldo's finishing really at home) then serving up the sort of shite on display against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg. It's fucking stupid, too, because winning the easy games is what will get easier groups in future. Dropping down the group tables is disastrous for future draws.
Somehow I'm still behind Michael O'Neill.
Big things needed in next 2-3 years
New GK
New captain (J.Evans has to be that man in all aspects hopefully)
New RB (Hodson isnt good enough)
Find a good CM balance. It's shot to pieces at the minute.
Didn't Evans get sent off for something idiotic the other day?
What a dig that was from Townsend.
Breaking with pace through the middle is working a treat for Poland. Gerrard and Carrick are too slow.
This has been the most entertaining England game since 2004.
It's not working that well, Poland shouldn't really still be in this. England are unfortunate that the best openings have fallen to Welbeck. Welbeck is the new Park Ji-Sung, except no where near as good a finisher. He's an effective player up until the moment he gets the ball, then he's more often a liability than a benefit. His movement, work rate and pressing are excellent, but it all goes to shit when the ball bounces off one of his big trampoline feet or he has to think about what to do with it. England need to get Sturridge in the areas Welbeck has been.
There's 1-0 anyway. England should go on to drill them now, Poland look really bad.
Baines has been brilliant.
He's still not as good as cole.
Baines has been better then Cole for the past 3 seasons.
Disagree, defensively cole shits on him from a great height.
Im im not watching the England game cause unlike my confused friend Andy I'm watching scotland, LIKE HE FUCKING SHOULD BE!
I agree Cole is better defensively and on his day he is better but he doesn't have as many as those as he used to. Baines has been far more consistent now for a long long time.
How are Scotland doing?
I hate this bollocks where they don't show pitch invaders nowadays. If they had that back in the old days we'd have missed out on Peter Schmeichel chucking around some Turkish fanatic and getting death threats, or Dida diving after a "slap" from a Celtic fan.
Yeah and that mad bloke at Euro 2004 who fucked himself into the net.
Very well. Under a bit of pressure early first half and again right now but we're looking good.
criminal if you lot fuck this up here
I bloody love international football. Get rid if this club shit lets just do this everyweek.
Weird decision to get Lampard on for Carrick. Unless Carrick has an injury or something.
Baines offers much more attacking wise though. Depends what you want in your full backs really.
They are both very good, its a nice problem for England to have i suppose.
Super Stevie Naismith!!! YAS!!! Lovely stuff!!!
Ozil carried off injured. Great.
Why are England games so exciting for 23 of every 24 months? And so terrible when it comes to the actual tournaments?
I was a bit surprised how good you were when you played us as most reports have you down as shit obviously having barely seen any of Scotlands games that's all I've got to go by. Don't know if it's been a turnaround since Strachan took over or just poor management from the previous managers.
They are like a lot of decent but not great teams. When something is on the line they shit themselves and panic.
Cause yous are a bunch of bottlers.
if I ever see James Forrest in a Scotland top again after the performances from the full backs and wingers tonight it will be too bloody soon. Absolutely shit.
Furst bit of elation I've had for years watching England. Good stuff.
well scripted - Stevie G, great player, great captain, well deserved. Chuffed for him.
Give us the cup
AHshgaskhagsgahe;jsalw
I prefer watching this younger England team, shame that this World Cup will probably ruin them for the new generation.
Yeah definitely. Two genuinely good performances, albeit against crap teams. No reason to think we will do any better than the quarters again but going that far playing decent football would be an improvement on the shit we gave been served over the past nine years.
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