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

not sure mate- but we will see after the game

Oh dear. We are never gonna hear the last of this if they win it

ffs

It was fun while it lasted I suppose.

Some belting goals!

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

Best goal of the night there.

haha you have your brazil flag out Steffan!!

didnt notice,.,

Ent wrote:Best goal of the night there.

defelcted cross. Ox's was the best build up

FFS. Could of done with that 50 bluddy quid.

Great finish. In fact 3/4 goal tonight have been excellent.

I never thought I'd say it, but England don't look nearly as lid at the back without Terry and Ferdinand. Jagielka and Cahill seem unable to deal with any ball behind them, past them, or to follow up any shots on goal. Pretty dreadful performance from them.

you backed em and all..

Its ok not over yet- and i backed 4-2 england at 500/1!!

Oi, don't take our "Just like watching Brazil" chant.

It's arr sang!

mystiroakey wrote:

Ent wrote:Best goal of the night there.

defelcted cross. Ox's was the best build up

Nah ball bounced off Rooney for that one two, can beat a volley like that with the ball coming across you- superb technique.

The USA have beaten Germany (minus a few Bayern players) 4-3.

Terry and Ferdinand were both world class in their day. Jags is merely a good to very good player and I've never bought the Cahill hype

Dawson is a player i have always wanted at center back.

FreekShow wrote:The USA have beaten Germany (minus a few Bayern players) 4-3.

darn backed the draw

Dawson is an honest plodder. Nothing more.

Ent wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:

Ent wrote:Best goal of the night there.

defelcted cross. Ox's was the best build up

Nah ball bounced off Rooney for that one two, can beat a volley like that with the ball coming across you- superb technique.

we shall see.

Why no replays today!! crazy!

Good result, if a bit lucky.

England seemed better after Johnson came off,he was sitting too deep and not allowing the defense to push up as a unit.

A better second half perfomance by England

Im sure the press will do headlines tomorrow like 'Brave in Brazil' and if England keep on like this they will win the world cup next year etc

An enjoyable game either way though fellas despite the disappointing result

Eddie Stobbart Trucking Songs. WTF!

Good result in the end, much improved 2nd half!

Need Wilshere to get fit and keep fit. If he does we become so much better

2 games vs Brazil unbeaten now, with 4 goals scored. Not too shabby

FreekShow wrote:Eddie Stobbart Trucking Songs. WTF!

Yeah I seen that. Practically every song they advertised I hate

FreekShow wrote:Eddie Stobbart Trucking Songs. WTF!

Was wondering what was going on there.

2-2 draw with Brazil is decent.

If your unhappy with that, then your an idiot who sets ridiculous expectations.

Yep good game in the end- First half shocking- second half very good goals and entertainment

6 fingered tractor boy wrote:2 games vs Brazil unbeaten now, with 4 goals scored. Not too shabby

3 isnt it? Drew 1-1 in the first Wembley game.

ent that was not deflected by rooney!!

quality goal. Take it back!!

I'm sure Hodgson would have been wondering about the point and purpose of these friendlies tacked on at the end of the season. Still, there were some good positives found in the second half for a patchwork England side after a terrible first half display. Terrific finish by Wazza. Oxlade did very well off the bench. Theo would be an amazing footballer if he could pass. Lampard held the centre of the park together. The defence was a bit hit-and-miss, especially Johnson.

Overall, well done England.

GSC wrote:

6 fingered tractor boy wrote:2 games vs Brazil unbeaten now, with 4 goals scored. Not too shabby

3 isnt it? Drew 1-1 in the first Wembley game.

We won 2-1 at Wembley. Rooney and Super Frank scored!

In the first game at Wembley, Terry scored and Brazil equallised in injury time as I recall Olly.

USA beat Germany 4-3. Wonder if the Germany media will explode like ours would!

GSC wrote:In the first game at Wembley, Terry scored and Brazil equallised in injury time as I recall Olly.

The one in Feb this year? We won 2-1.

mystiroakey wrote:ent that was not deflected by rooney!!

quality goal. Take it back!!

It takes a big deflection, the ball changes trajectory...

6 fingered tractor boy wrote:

GSC wrote:In the first game at Wembley, Terry scored and Brazil equallised in injury time as I recall Olly.

The one in Feb this year? We won 2-1.

No Olly, the first England game at the new Wembley as memory served. I referenced the win last year in this topic already

GSC wrote:

6 fingered tractor boy wrote:

GSC wrote:In the first game at Wembley, Terry scored and Brazil equallised in injury time as I recall Olly.

The one in Feb this year? We won 2-1.

No Olly, the first England game at the new Wembley as memory served. I referenced the win last year in this topic already

My mind doesn't stretch back that far!

Joe harts a bit of a knob isn't he;

"The ox smashed it up"
"Some spinaroonie on that one"

Muppet.

GSC wrote:In the first game at Wembley, Terry scored and Brazil equallised in injury time as I recall Olly.

Yeah i went to that game

Actually yes It was a deflection on 3rd viewing I saw it

It was a huge deflection, the shot was going straight at Cesar.

The first goal was a superb finish, pretty good ,exciting game. This is not a very good Brazil side though, if you think 6 or 7 years ago they had Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano, Kaka, Cafu, Juninho, prime Cesar etc who were all among the very best in the world now the only player whose genuinely world class in his position is Thiago Silva. I don't think they will get past the quarters next year.

A pretty weak England side dug in well and showed flashes of quality. Hart played very well and I think Johnson defended well but the centre backs are worrying. I'd be bringing Gerrard in for Lampard and Wilshere where Jones was and move Jones to centre back. I don't think Jagielka is good enough nor will he get better whilst Cahill has improved.

Not sure about the attack. Rooney is clearly the class player of all our options but where does he fit best? Would loved to have seen Big Andy in there bullying some space. Walcott is still short of a few brain cells and Milner isn't enough of a threat going forward to play as one of a front three. Shame Young has had a bad year with fitness cos I like how he plays with Rooney.

Overall that's positive. Go away to a huge occasion very limited in numbers and come back looking decent if lucky to draw.

Annoyed they got the late goal to draw. BUt yep a good second half. from England and puts a positive on things.

Brazil are not a great great team any more.. They are closer to Englands level than the top top teams.

Naymer did show he was a class above the rest though, and same goes for Rooney .

A note on walcot. He did run rings around the opposition. He just had a bad day on the ball. He isnt usually that bad. I think we should stick on him.

"Not sure about the attack. Rooney is clearly the class player of all our options but where does he fit best? Would loved to have seen Big Andy in there bullying some space. Walcott is still short of a few brain cells and Milner isn't enough of a threat going forward to play as one of a front three. Shame Young has had a bad year with fitness cos I like how he plays with Rooney. "

Rooney should lead the line. Zaha will be a forward option soon- who truely has it all and some!!. Wilshire(TOUCH WOOD) off course needs to be in the middle , and that will allow rooney to play higher up the pitch as he wont be needed to keep things ticking in midield anymore!.


BTW I thought Rooney had a completly free role last night..

Wilshere is a big key in the team for me, I don't support Arsenal but an injury free year for him would be one of my main wishes of this season. I think I prefer Rooney leading the line too, as long as the wingers have the desire to move in behind when he drops, which theo definitely has. Lennon's lack of desire or instinct to do this is one thing that holds him back. Zaha in a year or two I think will be the other one of the three but he is too raw just yet for me.

Certainly a lot of 'wingers' eager for that top three. Walcott Ox Lennon Young Zaha Milner with Sterling Downing Jarvis Cleverley Welbeck Sturridge also options to play there. Sinclair Johnson Lallana and more could all throw their hat in with very good seasons.

Wilshere is the key really I agree.

If he plays he can push up behind Rooney in attack, and he'll be able to keep possession for us a lot better.

Jones should play at RB for me. Johnson/Walker are good attacking FB's, but they're a liability defensively

It's got to be Gerrard, Carrick & Wilshere in the middle three. Lampard just plods along at this level and you could see the heat got to him, struggled in the whole game with just simple passing. Milner is basically guaranteed to start because Roy's negative tactics are dependent upon Milner basically defending for 75% of the match. Walcott was dreadful last night, touch and passing was awful, basically runs and runs and loses it at this level against top players.

It's an OK result, nothing spectacular. England have always done well against better teams and then we face minnows in qualification games and it goes to pot. Brazil are nothing special anymore and their previous results show that. I think we were more scared of the name & reputation of Brazil rather than the actual players they currently have, hence us being so negative in the first half. I think it going to be a struggle to win this group if Montenegro beat Ukraine, possibly a play-off route is more likely playing like this.

Well the qualification is still in our hands.. I think the lads will step up and that we are still favs to top it..