England v Ireland and Brazil v England

First topic message reminder :

The regular season might be over, but Roy Hodgson's England have two friendlies to negotiate before they can put their feet up for the summer. Tonight, England host Ireland in the first game between the sides since the abandonment of 1995 sparked by crowd trouble. Then on Sunday, England make the long trip to Brazil to sample the conditions and atmosphere ahead of next summer's carnival.

Player-wise, Steven Gerrard (shoulder), Andy Carroll (heel), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Tom Cleverley (calf) and Kyle Walker all miss out for England tonight. Ashley Cole, England's only consistent world-class player over the last decade, will captain his country against Ireland. Predictions:

England 2-0 Ireland
Brazil 1-3 England

You would never get this problem in England #Fact

We are the English, and the English are the best at everything. #fact

WE INVITED FOOTBALL AND WE GAVE IT TO THE WORLD, WELL ROY IS GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND HE IS GOING TO BRING IT BACK

(If you have seen a certain movie you will get this)

England will be playing four four fu**ing two.

haha love it!

Benson and Hedges need to be given the call up.

I literally just watched that film (surprisingly for the first time) and I kept saying how much I wished Hodgson spoke like that. The team talk especially.

Have you seen the series after?

When he is the manager of league 2 side Wirrel County?

ITS LOL

I love how the game's been called off (for now), having made us fly over there. Jolly on the beach anyone?

Sounds like its on for Sunday now. I'll be in Bulgaria, hope I can find somewhere to watch it. Rooney is still England's key man and looked a class above the rest on Wednesday.

The world cup and Olympics are soon to be held there!!

Whats going on!!

chris.wilkerson13 wrote:Sounds like its on for Sunday now. I'll be in Bulgaria, hope I can find somewhere to watch it. Rooney is still England's key man and looked a class above the rest on Wednesday.

First off, enjoy Bulgaria, I love it over there.

Second, Rooney looked dreadful for nearly the entire game. England's best player - God help me - was Carrick imo. Rooney just doesn't look fit or interested these days, either for United or for England. Maybe he needs an extra £100k a week to convince him to make an effort?

Not sure why Rooney's getting a lot of criticism, for me he was our best player on Wednesday. Only one that looked interested and passed the ball well.

Game back on now I see. I suppose the only alternative was 5 a side beach soccer!

Ta Azzy, set for rain apparently so the promised 'satellite' TV best be good!

He looked a tad rusty but his brain is still 50 times sharper than any other attacking player. Possibly an indictment on Walcott and the Ox.

Game on.

Brazil 4-0 England my prediction.

England 4-2 Brazil mine

Brazil 2-0 England. Only because Brazil won't be playing their best side either.

Just about a perfect Sunday isn't it? Lie-in, roast dinner, Yorkshire Pudding, Cricket on the telly in the afternoon, then a nice relaxing game of football in the evening. Am I missing anything?

Oh yeah. An England win against Brazil. And England will win.

Brazil 1-3 England

6/1 England for the win on betfair!!

Remember its a neutral ground...

BIG good value Odds..

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/england-football-team-theo-walcott-1925015

Only 14 fit players for England apparently! Theo Walcott may get his wish to play as a centre-forward for England which, judging by his crossing ability, is probably his best position.

Wes Hoolahan starts for Ireland tomorrow! Trap has seen the light!!!

Hodgson obviously more likely to start Rooney as the centre forward and Walcott out wide.

The only way Walcott should play through the middle is if England/Arsenal play two up top. He's a decent finisher, but against better opposition he got found out, as he doesn't possess the upper body strength to play with his back to goal.

I don't think his crossing is as bad as some people make out. He got double figures for both goals and assists in the league last season. Only Suarez, Bale and Van Persie were directly involved in more goals.

Be funny if Neymar scores a hat-trick, wonder what the general response will be from his critics. I see comparisons to ibrahimovic and peoples ridiculous assumptions that he was overated, until he taught us a lesson in Stockholm. One things for sure if neymar plays poorly then you do wonder whether or not barca have made a big mistake, I really hope he does play well and that's its a good game.

Not really sure what your talking about john but ok!

Hoolahan does start for Ireland today, but it seems he will be playing CM. Not really sure why, he's most definately a CAM, and struggles when played in the CM especially when alongside someone who isn't particularly defensive minded (McCarthy today)

mystiroakey wrote:Not really sure what your talking about john but ok!

Just waiting for neymar to produce and then the idiots labelling him a YouTube great but in reality **** to go quiet. Was not really making any point, just irritates me people labelling players ****, when they've never even seen them play.

Expecting roys negative tactics and a party for brazil. Load of rubbish from Roy post match about `positives` but in reality we`re going nowhere fast.

Ireland playing in black. Standard

Georgia keeper sent off.

Sky Sports News ‏@SkySportsNews
SKY SOURCES: ENGLAND TEAM TO PLAY BRAZIL: Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Jones, Lampard, Carrick, Milner, Walcott, Rooney

Ireland 2-0 up

Wessi with a lovely ball for that goal

England side's in. Milner, Jones and Baines come into the starting XI replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge and Cole. According to Sky Jones will do a man to man marking job on Neymar, and Walcott will start up front.

If Shane Long could finish Ireland would be well ahead here

Looking at the team surely it's going to be Walcott on the right, Milner left and lampard pushing on I support Rooney?

So whats the score gonna be tonight then fella? How many are England gonna win by

Ent wrote:Looking at the team surely it's going to be Walcott on the right, Milner left and lampard pushing on I support Rooney?

I'd rather that. I'm just going on what Sky Sports said. Jones going man to man does make sense, as he did a good job on Ronaldo at the Bernabeu, but if Sky are correct England look unbalanced on paper.

Steffan wrote:So whats the score gonna be tonight then fella? How many are England gonna win by

You ran away after Froch started winning, nice to see you back. I guess you like Brazil's colours as well?

Dunno why itv are gushing over that brazil team, it doesn't look that great to me.

Adrian Chiles's backpack on the seat next to him

Duty281 wrote:

Steffan wrote:So whats the score gonna be tonight then fella? How many are England gonna win by

You ran away after Froch started winning, nice to see you back. I guess you like Brazil's colours as well?

Yeah I do. Bet you hated that Lions match yesterday

Predos?

Going for 1-1

I'm going 1-0 England. Proper old school defensive performance

2-1 Brazil.

Would like to see Walcott playing up front with Rooney in behind but fear we have moved from 4-4-2 to the even more defensive/ boring 4-5-1.

Jeas i took the 6/1 thinking we were playing in bulgaria..

Its a bit of a tougher proposition in RIO!!

This picture is shocking...

sportsville wrote:Would like to see Walcott playing up front with Rooney in behind but fear we have moved from 4-4-2 to the even more defensive/ boring 4-5-1.

Who would play wide in that formation...

Ent wrote:This picture is shocking...

I thought it was my tv. The coloured ball doesn't help either.

Interested to see Neymar play. I have see him a few times in the Olympics and friendlies in this country and not been too impressed.

Pitch looks a bit ropey too, balls bouncing a bit strangely.

Ent wrote:

sportsville wrote:Would like to see Walcott playing up front with Rooney in behind but fear we have moved from 4-4-2 to the even more defensive/ boring 4-5-1.

Who would play wide in that formation...

They could have played Milner right and kept Oxlade-Chamberlain on the other side.

Walcott ends up playing too deep for England. He would be better playing of the shoulders of their centre backs.