The Official *England's Journey to Brazil 2014* Thread

[Calder106]

First topic message reminder :

Wilshere out for 6 weeks according to BBC. Hairline fracture on foot. Considering Arsenal have been nursing him through the season because of his ankle injuries I think it would be a risk taking him (not questioning his ability) due to the tight schedule of games.

[Guest]

Two in the middle with Rooney closing down Pirlo, wasnt it? Issue was, Rooney was so unfit, Pirlo basically controlled the game. Rooney looked like he'd completed a marathon, before a ball was even kicked. We still got the 0-0.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I hope Ben Foster breaks a finger

What a joke

Always told you Ruddy was competing for the Number 3 goal-keeping slot   

So basically he's gonna go and then retire again

Doesn't sit well with me, but anyways hopefully we won't see any of the backup GK's at any point!

[Mat]

I agree, hope we don't see Hart or Forster at any point.

[Duty281]

England will be playing 4-2-3-1 against Italy, that's one thing we can be sure of. If Roy was going to play 4-3-3, then he would have taken Carrick along at the expense of either Lallana or Oxlade.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Big John on talksport right now

Disappointed and angry not to be included, but happy to be on standby from where he was five years ago, would never turn down the opportunity (cough Ben cough)

Said he's committed to Norwich until the board tell him otherwise, makes a point of us taking a gamble on him when he was in no mans land

Love Big John

[Hammersmith harrier]

I'd stick Welbeck on Pirlo to be honest, he did the job of controlling Alonso very well and his work rate is a must plus being a threat on the break.

[Mat]

Would you like some crisps with that pint of bitter you have there Olly?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Would you like some crisps with that pint of bitter you have there Olly?

I'm a very bitter young man Matthew you should've worked this out by now!!  

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I worry that Foster is considered our number 2. Hes bang average

[GSC]

Karl Darlow should've gone.

Hes like Butland, but good and not sat on the bench

[Marky]

England will be playing 4-2-3-1 against Italy, that's one thing we can be sure of. If Roy was going to play 4-3-3, then he would have taken Carrick along at the expense of either Lallana or Oxlade.

Yeah, because we couldn't possibly play three in CM when the squad only has these guys who can or have played in CM this season;

Gerrard, Henderson, Lampard, Wilshere, Lallana, Barkley, Milner, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain

[Duty281]

I never said England can't play three in the middle logistically, I merely said England won't play three in the middle, and Carrick not being in the twenty-three is a testament to that.

It will be two in the middle, as England have played best with.

[Mat]

I worry that Foster is considered our number 2. Hes bang average

Fantastic goalkeeper.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I worry that Foster is considered our number 2. Hes bang average

Fantastic goalkeeper.

He makes more comedy errors than Rob Green ever did. If he told people he played Playstation a lot he'd be the modern day version of 90s David James. And that was not James at his best.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I worry that Foster is considered our number 2. Hes bang average

 

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I'd be happy for us to play 4-3-3, I have no problem with 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. Think it leaves us a little lopsided, but it depends how the midfield covers. If we play 4-3-3 then I'd play Barkley or Ox with Hendo/Stevie. Little more discipline than Lallana and a little less Poopie and broken than Wilshere.

I'd worry that at least one of Rooney and Sturridge would end up marginalised, but if they sort out the fluidity then it means we can promote the strengths of Baines and Johnson getting forward and hide their deficiencies with good cover in a way that actually doesnt detract from the team.

[Mat]

I worry that Foster is considered our number 2. Hes bang average

Fantastic goalkeeper.

He makes more comedy errors than Rob Green ever did. If he told people he played Playstation a lot he'd be the modern day version of 90s David James. And that was not James at his best.

He has the odd dodgy moment such as that throw against Stoke yesterday, but can think of very few moments over three years where he has cost us goals, Maiga's goal for you lot at Upton Park is the last one I can think of

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Hes perfectly fine, not better or worse than Ruddy really. Hes bang average like Ruddy is. Theres a couple of young keepers and I think Forster is probably better than Foster and Ruddy.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Let's all take a moment to think of the squad selected today by Harry Redknapp in a parallel universe

Would've been triffic with Crouch, Parker, Defoe, Dawson

[Duty281]

In that parallel universe, Olly, with 'Arry as England's gaffer, we wouldn't have qualified!

And Shearer has had a rush of blood and thinks that, "at a push", England could make the semi-finals.

[Duty281]

Wayne Rooney, in determination to be at top-shape for the game against Italy, has taken two fitness trainers with him on a family holiday to Portugal. #dedication

You sense he wants to do well at this tournament; a tournament which could very well be his last World Cup.

[GSC]

Getting into the World Cup mindset, he also hasn't turned up for the holiday, and has disappointed his family.

[Duty281]

But that was going to be the best damn holiday ever!

[Crimey]

He has taken them because he needs it, a really poor professional, I don't know of any other top level footballer these days who so consistently becomes so unfit.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Great. A man takes fitness coaches away on holiday with him and is a poor professional. You understand how nonsense that point is?

[Crimey]

That is professional, but it is certainly only because he always ends up getting really unfit every time he doesn't play for football for a couple of months. One professional act doesn't make up for a career of being unprofessional.

I don't know of a single other top level footballer who comes back after the summer in such poor shape.

[GSC]

I'm not sure its unprofessional as much as I don't think Waynes a natural athlete.

[Crimey]

I know he isn't the only one, but he has been shown smoking, eating fast food etc. during the summers and I think that is unprofessional really.

[GSC]

Tbh if thats unprofessional, as you say you'll be picking up a long list of unprofessional athletes.

[Duty281]

Wazza's favourite meal is apparently Burger and Chips.

Bet he loves a fry-up, and a bacon sandwich or five as well.

He would have been fine if this was the sixties.

[Guest]

Get it right Duty, it's Spag Bol

[Duty281]

Ronaldo's body doesn't look...natural. Weird hips, to say the least.

[Duty281]

So what's everyone's expectation of England this summer? What would you be happy with?

Personally, as long as England reach the semi-finals, playing some attractive football, I'll be happy. I feel that the quarter-finals would be par for the course, and a tad underwhelming.

When was the last time England beat a major nation at a major tournament? Argentina in 2002. Too long.
When was the last time England beat a major nation in the knock-out stages of a major tournament on foreign soil? Never.

Time for England to right those wrongs this year.

[GSC]

I can accept going out of the group stage, but not if we produce the same timid and unimaginative performances as 2012

[compelling and rich]

i'll be happy if we get out of the groups or at least put up a fight. think we all know we are not the best but bit of fight and passion would be enough

we all know rooney doesnt look after himself off the pitch, only stays fit by playing week in week out. fergie has said as much

[mystiroakey]

I just want us to play half decent attacking PL styled footie in the vein that teams like everton, liverpool and southampton have.

I dont want to see us playing like a disjointed Man U, or a Roy hodgson in the past bar his last two qualifiers which wasn't to bad tbf.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Not everyone is a natural athlete Crimey and it's obvious that Rooney struggles with his weight but to call him unprofessional for upping his fitness program while on holiday is pathetic.

[mystiroakey]

Surely for doing what he is doing can only be seen as professional.

[Duty281]

Former England captain Tony Adams has criticised Roy Hodgson for not doing enough to coax John Terry out of international retirement, saying that Terry and Cahill are the best central defensive partnership in the country.

I'd be inclined to agree with him as well.

[NickisBHAFC]

100% agree. Should of gone full out to get Terry playing in Rio this summer.

[Crimey]

I literally just said, one act of professionalism doesn't make up for a career of unprofessional actions.

There is a lot more to Rooney's weight problems than not being a natural athlete, he is the only top level football that seems to have this problem, unless he is just unique in making it to such a high level while not being a natural athlete.

[mystiroakey]

Yeah to be fair I didn't read the initial exchange of words.

Anyway no point dredging up the past. He is trying to get as close to 100 percent as possible so good on him.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Sturridge is on holiday in Miami WITHOUT A FITNESS COACH

And disobeying Woy's no long flights instruction

Terrible professional

[owen10ozzy]

Aren't England due to fly out to Miami ahead of it for the initial camp and game?! Sturridge probably just meet them out there, sensible I'd say if that is the case.

[owen10ozzy]

Scratch that they have to come back for friendly with Peru on 31st!

We don't give ourselves any chance with our preparation it must be said! Players have only just finished up there season and they are off on holidays (though some have been involved in end of season friendlies..why oh why?!) ..they are then called to Portugal for a 5 day camp next week before the game..play Peru then fly out to Miami for training camp...

Miami?..a place which bares no relation to the conditions we will face in Manaus or belo horizonte which is 3000 ft above sea level! Not only this but the team will only fly into Rio 5 days before there first game against Italy...a flight which will take almost 9 hours!!

I won't be surprised to see the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Co looking like dead corpses by the time Italy rolls around!

[Ent]

Shambles isn't it.

Can't see anyone doing a keano mind and going mental about preparation.

[Duty281]

Where's yer bleedin' positivity, Owen?!

[NickisBHAFC]

Yeah, not quite sure what Woy is thinking in this preparation tbh.

[Duty281]

Miami is, on average, ninety degrees Farenheit in June, and fairly humid as well - granted, not as humid or hot as Manaus, but it's all about slowly adjusting to the conditions.

England will be as ready as Italy come June 14th.

[mystiroakey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A14_u7oi63g

Gazza's pass on 6:17    

best pass ever

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