Euro 2012

[Revolver]

The stat in particular that I was thinking off was after 75-80 mins I think, which was England had 7 shots, Italy had 24.

Yeah but the majority of which were from outside the box, except half three or four which they well and truly messed up. Italy really weren't that good. If we had played either Spain or Germany however I would have been fearful of a cricket score, or perhaps a rugby score, 9-3 sounds reasonable.

I was reading Alan Hansens column in the telegraph and he commented on 4-4-2 being out of date but needing to find what works for the players. I would like to see a 4-2-3-1 like Hansen comments on or a 4-3-3 but for some reason England, no matter who the manager do not seem to play anything other than 4-4-2. I would much rather sacrifice one "great" player for a team and formation that works though.

It isn't a great read but I like Hansen and he talks a lot of sense,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... usted.html

[skeletor]

As you said, probably because someone would need to be sacrificed to make the formation work. To be honest if any England manager was to do it, I would of thought Roy would considering there was no Ferdinand, Scholes (I know he is old, but better than Parker and attacking, Pirlo is the same age I think and he was brilliant) or Carrick in the team.

[Revolver]

I kept saying we should have taken Paul Scholes with us. He is just so calming on the ball and knows what to do with it and how to keep it.

We could have played Gerrard, Parker & Scholes in the midfield 3 and I honestly think it would have been a good line up. Scholes not having to chase back, just support the attack and Gerrard and Parker hang back. Of course, Gerrard could pick his moments and join the attack.

Midfield is our problem. With or without Rooney I do not see a shortage of options up front and the back line has plenty to choose from with Jagielka, Cahill, Lescott, Jones, Smalling, Richards, Walker, Cole, Baines, Dawson (at a push ). We just have no class midfielders

[skeletor]

What about Henderson and Downing?

Oh you said "class"...

[BlacKBlazE]

We have no decent Central Midfielders.. plenty of wingers...although for
the World Cup we should have a lot stronger team with Wilshire, Walker and Lennon plus maybe at a push Lampard and Scholes or even Joe Cole?

[Revolver]

We have no decent Central Midfielders.. plenty of wingers...although for
the World Cup we should have a lot stronger team with Wilshire, Walker and Lennon plus maybe at a push Lampard and Scholes or even Joe Cole?

Scholes will be fully retired by then let alone from international football which he already is. Lamps will be lucky to play many qualifiers I think. Joe Cole could have a few years in him but I highly doubt he would be a central midfielder unless we were struggling. Lennon isn't that great either. Walker is about the best right back we have though. In my opinion Walker>Richards>A lot of others>Johnson.

[BlacKBlazE]

We have no decent Central Midfielders.. plenty of wingers...although for
the World Cup we should have a lot stronger team with Wilshire, Walker and Lennon plus maybe at a push Lampard and Scholes or even Joe Cole?

Scholes will be fully retired by then let alone from international football which he already is. Lamps will be lucky to play many qualifiers I think. Joe Cole could have a few years in him but I highly doubt he would be a central midfielder unless we were struggling. Lennon isn't that great either. Walker is about the best right back we have though. In my opinion Walker>Richards>A lot of others>Johnson.

Maybe but I think he could do another 2 years easily as a game changing sub? If Roy asked and he was still making a difference I'm sure he'd consider it.
Lampard must have 3 or 4 years left in him and Joe Cole had a good season at Lille or whatever and with kuyt gone he'll be playing 1st team for Liverpool.

Lennon in my opinion is one of our best wingers for pace and speed I'd rather he played over Young or Milner.
I agree with Walker but Richards is a CB I have no idea why he's getting played at RB!

[Revolver]

Scholes is a waste of a sub really. He dictates games, he doesn't change them.

Richards is a good right back because he is good going forward, he's wasted in CB. He's like a RB with the physicality of a CB. Smallish and Jones are supposedly CB's but have done well at RB for man Utd.

It's ok saying Lampard has four years in him but why bother, his best is long gone and we would be better served to play. Gerrard & Wilshire. come the next world cup Lampard and Gerrars will be what, 34? We can get away with one in the team but not two. Gerrars does more all over the pitch, Lampard is a luxury attacker better use in a 4-3-3 like in Mourinho's Chelsea team. He had the likes of makelele & Essien playing holding and then having Drogba to aim at with Duff, Malouda, Robben or whoever else on the wings.

England should be looking at 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 as the way forward.

[BlacKBlazE]

Well he could also start and be subbed at half time for someone I'd like to see him in an England shirt again even
if it's just qualifiers.

Richards could be an attacking CB and be more useful because he's never going to get in at RB and he's better than Cahill,Jones,Smalling and Jagielka....Ferdinand probably has no chance of going.
Lampard I expect will always be picked to go and I'd rather have him over Gerrard although it will probably never happen because Gerrard is just fucking amazing? Parker and Wilshire might get
a chance though. I think we should be playing 4-1-2-1-2 with Parker holding and as much as I hate to say it Gerrard sitting behind Rooney and Carroll/Welbeck... works a treat on fifa.

[Revolver]

4-1-2-1-2 sounds crazy. Where is the width? The Full backs will be fully fucked by half time. Either that or we will have no wide threat at all whilst they sit back. Playing lots of CM's doesn't work, it didn't even work for Leicester when Sven used his god awful diamond formation and that was in the Coca-Cola Championship!

Play Gerrard behind the front two I think is a waste again. As he ages one of the few things that will never disappear is his ability to start a counter attack with an amazing 50 yard pass. Again, we only saw his passing ability a few times in the Euro because we didn't play the right options up front and out wide.

Richards an attacking CB? What the fuck is an attacking centre back? Dion Dublin?