The "i'm not interested" international friendlies thread

[soggy biscuit]

[stealthpapes]

Not being funny but why did we play a South American side so close to the World Cup, everyone knows they will go in hard and play dirty and now cos of it Ox is out with knee ligament damage. We would have been better off playing a Norway or Iceland

The presence of Costa Rica and Uruguay in the group, I would imagine.

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

I've got shoes (and pants) older than half that team.

[LUX]

Luxembourg drew 1-1 away to Italy last night.

[sandman]

It was a high scissors tackle and Sterling needs to learn from it rather than have people like Andy Townsend making excuses for him, definite red.

[Hoop Blah]

As others have said we were pretty decent going forward, although lacking a bit in composure and final ball, but quite a mess at the back. Some of that I think was down to the gapping holes left by the midfield as we committed men forward. My worry is that Hodgson sees that and goes a bit more defensive in the WC because of it.

I thought Jones did ok in the back four but the other three didn't really look comfortable but, throw each of them in alongside 3 of the other first choice defenders and they'd perform a lot better. We're not going to be the strongest defensively who ever we put out though so it's no surprise.

Lampard and Wilshire didn't do enough to force their way ahead of Henderson for the Italy game although the latter did well at times but he seems to have developed a habit of trying to be too clever too often. Wilshire to come on for Henderson if we're looking to open a game up is a good sub to have up your sleeve though.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was the real bright point, apart from his knock, and he may well have pushed himself up the pecking order a tad with a dangerous display. He's a cracking player who should be a key player for England over the next ten years. Much the same report for Barkley for me too. Like Wilshire he seems to try a bit too hard at times but at least he's willing to try things and not just play the easy pass all the time. We don't want him to lose that so you have to take the rough with the smooth as not everything he'll try will come off. I can't see him getting in the starting lineup yet but what a prospect we have for the future (I wouldn't bet against him starting games later in the tournament as he grows into a role in the team though).

The bookies and press seem to think the front 4 against Italy will be Sturridge, Lalana, Rooney and Milner. I still think Welbeck might get the nod ahead of Milner but his Peru performance might've given Milner the edge in a game we'll not want to lose.

[YateleyRoyal]

Not being funny but why did we play a South American side so close to the World Cup, everyone knows they will go in hard and play dirty and now cos of it Ox is out with knee ligament damage. We would have been better off playing a Norway or Iceland

The presence of Costa Rica and Uruguay in the group, I would imagine.

LOL at TBM

[Mr Angry]

Congratulations to Gibraltar, who beat Malta 1-0 for their first ever International victory in their 5th game.

[stealthpapes]

I really liked Lambert's finish. Not really noticed much about him over the last few years but that was well, well struck.

[Royalclapper]

Crazy challenge by Sterling, he bodged the attacking move and then was way over zealous in trying to make amends.

Agreed with Glen Hoddle in that Ox & Barkley can get England out from their tournament default setting of 8 players sitting on the edge of our own box defending and never getting forward. The defence simply isn't good enough to hold out against constant attacks. Lallana could do with having a start on Saturday as he looks like he needs to learn how to protect the ball a lot better IMO, starting Milner is not our best option either as it just encourages the opposition to get at us with little attacking threat and pace in return.

Apparently it was $100 for a ticket to the game yesterday.

[TBM]

Not being funny but why did we play a South American side so close to the World Cup, everyone knows they will go in hard and play dirty and now cos of it Ox is out with knee ligament damage. We would have been better off playing a Norway or Iceland

The presence of Costa Rica and Uruguay in the group, I would imagine.

LOL at TBM

- i mean its not as if we haven't known who's been in our group for a few months now, is it.........

This was a warm up game, to get used to the heat, not to test our best XI out against a South American team

[LWJ]

The Ox is 3 days older than me, how depressing

[Hoop Blah]

I really liked Lambert's finish. Not really noticed much about him over the last few years but that was well, well struck.

I think that finish, and a couple of the balls he played through for runners, showed why Hodgson was probably right in taking him instead of Carroll (who I've favoured for the most part). Lambert is more consistent a striker of the ball than Carroll and although you could imagine Carroll spanking one in like that, you'd probably expect him to miss more of them than Lambert would.

[No Fixed Abode]

Hodgson "Lampard was immense" v Ecuador.

[Silver Fox]

Sems harsh, but nicer than fat I suppose

[LUX]

rofly-pofly

[winchester_royal]

Have to say I found Hodgson's post match comments thoroughly bizarre...praising the likes of Wilshere and Rooney who were pretty average and then laying into Barkley who was one of the few bright points.

I like Roy, I just hope his conservatism doesn't produce another turgid big tournament campaign.

[Maguire]

Have to say I found Hodgson's post match comments thoroughly bizarre...praising the likes of Wilshere and Rooney who were pretty average and then laying into Barkley who was one of the few bright points.

I like Roy, I just hope his conservatism doesn't produce another turgid big tournament campaign.

Think it was a reaction to the press doing their usual trick of heaping tonnes of pressure onto one player ahead of a big tournament.

Barkley played his way into the game and has that drive and directness you often see from talented players in their youth (Gascoigne '90, Owen '98, Rooney '04) but which seems to leave players as they get older, slower, and taught to take more responsibility. Hodgson is right though, he's raw and needs to keep possession better once he's turned his man (as i've already said once this thread).

[winchester_royal]

He did indeed, but no more so than the likes of Milner and Lampard who managed to lose it without trying difficult things. Just thought it was a bit of a dick move to pick on a 20 year old's performance which was actually pretty good...but if there's a master plan behind it then I'll happily take some humble pie.

[TBM]

He did indeed, but no more so than the likes of Milner and Lampard who managed to lose it without trying difficult things

But Lampard and Milner are coming to the end of their England career - Barkley is just beginning. I think thats the point Mags is trying to make here