England vs Norway friendly

Green, Parker, Gerrard and Carroll all start according to Hodgson.

Parkers health must have improved.

The back 4 will be Jones Jagielka Lescott and Baines.

I predict a real 0-0 borefest.

It's one of those friendlies England can't win:

England lose or draw - We're useless
England win by 1 or 2 goals - We didn't score enough
England win by 3 goals or more - The opposition was useless

Anyway, I'll say 2-0 England, one goal either side of half-time.

Duty281 wrote:And also Hawk-Eye will be independently tested for its possible uses for goal-line technology but the officials will have no access to it. Am I the only one that thinks you don't some expensive system for goal line technology - just a simple camera parallel to the goal line will do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18190250

Back to the football, it's one of those friendlies where England can't win:

England lose or draw - We're useless
England win by 1 or 2 goals - We didn't score enough
England win by 3 goals or more - The opposition was useless

Anyway, I'll say 2-0 England, one goal either side of half-time.

For the Belgium game yes, not this one Duty.

FreekShow wrote:

Duty281 wrote:And also Hawk-Eye will be independently tested for its possible uses for goal-line technology but the officials will have no access to it. Am I the only one that thinks you don't some expensive system for goal line technology - just a simple camera parallel to the goal line will do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18190250

Back to the football, it's one of those friendlies where England can't win:

England lose or draw - We're useless
England win by 1 or 2 goals - We didn't score enough
England win by 3 goals or more - The opposition was useless

Anyway, I'll say 2-0 England, one goal either side of half-time.

For the Belgium game yes, not this one Duty.

Thanks for pointing that out!

No problem Duty.

I'm with you on that 2-0 scoreline. Should be a routine win.

TSC wrote:The back 4 will be Jones Jagielka Lescott and Baines.

I predict a real 0-0 borefest.

So team for tomorrow will probably be something like this:

Green
Jones
Cahill
Lescott
Baines
Milner/Walcott
Gerrard
Parker
Young
Carroll
Defoe

Although I hope we give the Ox a go at some point!

cool an england thread for the game- lol last game when i stuck one up- i got more comments about how it shouldnt be on here . STRANGE place this sometimes.

anyway back on topic.

i predict a 4-0 win for england

FreekShow wrote:

Duty281 wrote:And also Hawk-Eye will be independently tested for its possible uses for goal-line technology but the officials will have no access to it. Am I the only one that thinks you don't some expensive system for goal line technology - just a simple camera parallel to the goal line will do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18190250

Back to the football, it's one of those friendlies where England can't win:

England lose or draw - We're useless
England win by 1 or 2 goals - We didn't score enough
England win by 3 goals or more - The opposition was useless

Anyway, I'll say 2-0 England, one goal either side of half-time.

For the Belgium game yes, not this one Duty.

er no - hawkeye is brilliant. a camera is not good enough due to the fact that the view will be obscurred by the goalkeeper or defenders most of the time.

I'm thinking 2-0 England, goal either side of half time, Defoe and Gerrard for the goals.

Judging by what Hodgson said about what he wants his defenders to do when they get the ball, plus Carroll is starting, I can say a fair few long balls being played, possible Gerrard dropping deep and pinging a few long balls and then hope one of the wingers can get the flick on or more probably Defoe.

They'll be well set up as all Hodgson sides tend to be but don't expect any fancy football under this new regime. To be honest, England don't have the players that can keep possession anyway so it won't be much of a change.

got to play to our strengths, chelsea showed that there is no point trying to play fancy but non effective football

mystiroakey wrote:got to play to our strengths, chelsea showed that there is no point trying to play fancy but non effective football

That's because Chelsea couldn't play fancy football, you need possession of the football to do that. Big difference.

I hope tonight it's not long ball after long ball. Andy Carroll can play a little.

FreekShow wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:got to play to our strengths, chelsea showed that there is no point trying to play fancy but non effective football

That's because Chelsea couldn't play fancy football, you need possession of the football to do that. Big difference.

I hope tonight it's not long ball after long ball. Andy Carroll can play a little.

What is your point? they play winning football. whats the big difference??

mystiroakey wrote:

FreekShow wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:got to play to our strengths, chelsea showed that there is no point trying to play fancy but non effective football

That's because Chelsea couldn't play fancy football, you need possession of the football to do that. Big difference.

I hope tonight it's not long ball after long ball. Andy Carroll can play a little.

What is your point? they play winning football. whats the big difference??

Chelsea's lucky CL triumph is by no means the blueprint for the England national team because you're not always going to be able to rely on luck.

If England are going to adopt a rope-a-dope approach then Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan were the perfect example of that, not Chelsea.

There is no such thing as 'non effective fancy football' either. You need the ball to score a goal and international football has always been possession based whether you like it or not mystiroakey.

Freek show I agree.

These days possession wins you matches, and I'm sorry but Chelsea's win was the luckiest I have ever seen, I mean if Barca or Bayern took their chances, we wouldn't be seeing the open top bus parades and celebrations.

England haven't got Paul Scholes who can dictate the pace of a game and keep hold of possession, something the best sides can do. England's strengths are their wingers and their box to box midfielders. The best they can do is stick 9 men behind the ball and frustrate the opposition (Only against the big teams obviously, not Norway) and then counter attack with fast paced passing and plenty of players bombing forward. They need to get the ball to Young and then have him whipping the crosses in for Carroll and then Gerrard and maybe Lampard having plenty of shots whenever possible.

freekshow your doing that thing again pal- over analyzing

england have to play to there strengths, its our only chance. Chelsea won by keeping regimented and playing to there strengths at the time. They desereved the cl , and have prooved over the years to allways frustrate barca- . Barca as a team hasnt won one game v chelsea in the last 9 games!! because chelsea know how to counter there football.

mystiroakey wrote:england have to play to there strengths, its our only chance. Chelsea won by keeping regimented and playing to there strengths at the time. They desereved the cl , and have prooved over the years to allways frustrate barca- . Barca as a team hasnt won one game v chelsea in the last 9 games!! because chelsea know how to counter there football.

You talk as if Chelsea carried off the ultimate master plan against Barca when in reality they won three lotteries in succession. Good luck to them though.

So England play to their strengths, which is what? Only come out of their shell when they are a goal down and hit it long (Hoof!) at every opportunity? We've seen it tournament after tournament and it's got us nowhere.

freekshow- chelsea had a game plan and they won- they stuck to it and it paid off! what is so difficult to understand?

Hodgson hopefully will figure out the best way for england to play- thats why he is the manager- but we cant try and play possesion football- it wont work!

This is the last harrah for these players(hopefully!!!)

If we had picked a young team- which i had hoped for then i would be very happy to try and create a more possesion type game for us to play- but we havent have we, this tourny isnt about building for a later tourny, its about trying to do the best we can with what we have got!

In fairness to Chelsea, how many clear cut chances did Bayern have in regulation. For all their possession, Cech wasn't pulling out saves every minute.

Our strengths lie in soaking up pressure and then using physicality on the break, be it in strength or pace. We aren't technically great, so theres no point in trying to play Spain etc at their own game.

mystiroakey wrote:freekshow- chelsea had a game plan and they won- they stuck to it and it paid off! what is so difficult to understand?

Hodgson hopefully will figure out the best way for england to play- thats why he is the manager- but we cant try and play possesion football- it wont work!

This is the last harrah for these players(hopefully!!!)

If we had picked a young team- which i had hoped for then i would be very happy to try and create a more possesion type game for us to play- but we havent have we, this tourny isnt about building for a later tourny, its about trying to do the best we can with what we have got!

The majority of your posts.

Okay then mysti you are right.

I'm sorry but Barca SHOULD have scored at least 8 goals overt the two legs, and I'd say 90% of those chances were genuine goal scoring opportunities, they put 10 men behind the ball in the Nou Camp and were very lucky Barca didn't take their chances. Bayern should have scored 3-4 goals in the first half alone except Gomez messed up every chance he got.

Your right though in one aspect Mys, England can't play possession football, they don't have the players capable of playing that way, which in a game that is now all about keeping possession, that is worrying for the England team.

Well Chelsea were the playing the best team in the world, you're gonna need luck.

England team: Green; Jones, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines; Milner, Parker, Gerrard, Downing; Young; Carroll.

---------------Green
Jones---Jagielka---Lescott---Baines
------------Milner----Parker
Young------Gerrard--------Downing
-------------Carroll

I'd guess

I was thinking that it's a 4-4-1.

Young behind Carroll, and a straight four behind him with Milner and Downing on the wings.

Maybe or perhaps a 4-1-2-2-1

FreekShow wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:freekshow- chelsea had a game plan and they won- they stuck to it and it paid off! what is so difficult to understand?

Hodgson hopefully will figure out the best way for england to play- thats why he is the manager- but we cant try and play possesion football- it wont work!

This is the last harrah for these players(hopefully!!!)

If we had picked a young team- which i had hoped for then i would be very happy to try and create a more possesion type game for us to play- but we havent have we, this tourny isnt about building for a later tourny, its about trying to do the best we can with what we have got!

The majority of your posts.

Okay then mysti you are right.

I know he won't do anything, but bit harsh not to count Downing Crimey

We'll be playing 4-4-1-1 I think. Flat four in midfield of Milner on the right, Downing on the left with Gerrard and Parker in the middle. Young will be playing just behind Carroll which is the 'Rooney' role in essence. Come on England!

Come on england. First game for hodgson. Pearces game was a bit of mess in fairness so i want to see a distinct shape to england at the worst today

Yeah, what I meant was what Duty said.

TSC wrote:The back 4 will be Jones Jagielka Lescott and Baines.

I predict a real 0-0 borefest.

Is Jaggy going to Ukraine?

azania wrote:

TSC wrote:The back 4 will be Jones Jagielka Lescott and Baines.

I predict a real 0-0 borefest.

Is Jaggy going to Ukraine?

No. Seems odd that he is playing.

Here's a list of Norway players. Can't say they're all household names....

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/norway/startseite/nationalmannschaft_3440.html

Riise still about hey!

good goal

1-0 england

Carroll and Young playing well, linking up in promising ways.

Milner has been pretty poor though, I hope he isn't starting come Euro 2012.

switzerland 5-3 germany, not a full side out but bloody hell great result for the swiss.

What I expected so far, well disciplined so far from England when without the ball, they look limited out on the wings however, should move Milner inside into the hoile behind Carroll and Move young wide left and Downing wide right.

Only bad thing really is Townsend's excrutiating commentary, Parker headed the ball over his own bar, Townsend claims he good at that

Or, take off Milner and put on Walcott or Chamberlain.

There's a reason Milner had been moved into a more central position in recent years is because he has no pace at all and doesn't beat his man. His strength is passing and crossing.

Yeh you could also do that Crimey, shows how limited England are these days, makes me feel better about Wales in thinking we have Allen and Ramsey in our midfield, fingers crossed for a good result over Mexico

matyre remember england do have wilshire- hopefully!! anyway

lol norway love SG

There's a blast from the past, Egil Olsen. The man that took Wimbledon down!

yawnn i almost wanna watch eurovision. this is dry

One of the most disappointing things about this friendly is I don't feel we've learnt anything more for the Euros.

I think the thing we should take from it is that the trio of Gerrard, Young and Carroll are probably our best option.

Anybody remember the England/Argentina friendly from 05? What a game that was!

Agree with Crimey in that not much would have been learnt in this. I was expecting a goalfest after Young scored early.

the only thing i learnt was that green looked v assured- we have a half decent back up keeper- he did the basics perfect. didnt have to save to much but he had alot of the ball.

tonight highlighted what i said earlier, england are poor in possession and unfotunately intl footy is all about possession.