Euro 2012

[The Nal]

Couple of observations on England, having missed that match and watched the extended highlights last night.

- Rooney is not fit. Nowhere near. Must have watched him play for Utd 60 times over the last couple of seasons and the other night is the worst I've seen him play in a couple of years. Overweight, slow, poor touch. The (great) ball Gerrard put through for him in the first half would've resulted in a goal normally. As per below. Can he step it up for Sunday? Lose a few pounds etc? I doubt it.

Looks at this similar counter attack vs Arsenal from 1 min 55. Hes in the middle of the trio running forward. Difference in speed is staggering. Could the fat bastard not have stayed fit for 5 weeks?

- Ashley Young - Absolutely lost as a wide player when he needs to defend. He seems to be only able to play wide off the frontmen. His positional play defensively is Sunday pub league standard which also affected his forward play as hes constantly out of position. He seemed to be marking Ashley Cole for a lot of the game. If I was Roy I'd have the Ox in there vs Italy. The Italians are tactical masters and they'll piss all over Englands left hand side if Young plays like that.

Edited June 21, 2012 by The Nal

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Not according to Blatter who has changed his tune.

"After last night's match #GLT is no longer an alternative but a necessity,"

Funny how after a goal line decision has gone Englands way it's "a necessity". Shall we ignore the fact that it was offside?

[A-Rob]

- Ashley Young - Absolutely lost as a wide player when he needs to defend. He seems to be only able to play wide off the frontmen. His positional play defensively is Sunday pub league standard which also affected his forward play as hes constantly out of position. He seemed to be marking Ashley Cole for a lot of the game. If I was Roy I'd have the Ox in there vs Italy. The Italians are tactical masters and they'll piss all over Englands left hand side if Young plays like that.

Edited June 21, 2012 by A-Rob

[the_hedge]

Couple of observations on England, having missed that match and watched the extended highlights last night.

- Rooney is not fit. Nowhere near. Must have watched him play for Utd 60 times over the last couple of seasons and the other night is the worst I've seen him play in a couple of years. Overweight, slow, poor touch. The (great) ball Gerrard put through for him in the first half would've resulted in a goal normally. As per below. Can he step it up for Sunday? Lose a few pounds etc? I doubt it.

Looks at this similar counter attack vs Arsenal from 1 min 55. Hes in the middle of the trio running forward. Difference in speed is staggering. Could the fat bastard not have stayed fit for 5 weeks?

- Ashley Young - Absolutely lost as a wide player when he needs to defend. He seems to be only able to play wide off the frontmen. His positional play defensively is Sunday pub league standard which also affected his forward play as hes constantly out of position. He seemed to be marking Ashley Cole for a lot of the game. If I was Roy I'd have the Ox in there vs Italy. The Italians are tactical masters and they'll piss all over Englands left hand side if Young plays like that.

[eFestivals]

Couple of observations on England, having missed that match and watched the extended highlights last night.

- Ashley Young - Absolutely lost as a wide player when he needs to defend. He seems to be only able to play wide off the frontmen.

You're dead right about his exceedingly poor defensive skills, but wrong with the other part. After all, to play wide off the frontmen would require him to be playing wide.

He doesn't play wide. As soon as he crosses the halfway line he starts drifting inside - it's exactly the same problem as England used to have when they played J.Cole on the left.

In general I like Ashley Young, there's no doubt he's a skillful player. But he's just not working on the left for all sorts of different reasons.

[thetime]

Who could play on the left? Has the ox got the experience and discipline to do the defensive part? Couldn't Rooney play there? He has done with utd enough.

[The Nal]

You're dead right about his exceedingly poor defensive skills, but wrong with the other part. After all, to play wide off the frontmen would require him to be playing wide.

He doesn't play wide. As soon as he crosses the halfway line he starts drifting inside - it's exactly the same problem as England used to have when they played J.Cole on the left.

In general I like Ashley Young, there's no doubt he's a skillful player. But he's just not working on the left for all sorts of different reasons.

[jump]

Who could play on the left? Has the ox got the experience and discipline to do the defensive part? Couldn't Rooney play there? He has done with utd enough.

[thetime]

I like how you have over looked Downing.

[eFestivals]

Who could play on the left? Has the ox got the experience and discipline to do the defensive part?

Ox is far from perfect on the left - he has the habit of coming inside too often too. But he's not as bad at it as Young has been.

Defensively he's far better than Young in that position. Again not perfect, but better than Young or (gawd help us) Downing.

[The Nal]

[pink_triangle]

I find it funny how the pundits spend the time before the game discussing Ronaldo who everyone at home knows everything about anyway. Nothing to do with the fact that they don't know much of the other players of course!

[kaosmark2]

Czech player rolls around and gets Nani booked

[The Nal]

I find it funny how the pundits spend the time before the game discussing Ronaldo who everyone at home knows everything about anyway. Nothing to do with the fact that they don't know much of the other players of course!

[pink_triangle]

Ronaldo looks so fired up for this tournament, he could win the thing for Portugal on his own. Think he is enjoying playing in a messi free tournament.

[LondonTom]

Really wanted to the Czech Republic steal that one!!!

On the other hand Portugal seem to need to read the rules of the game, and Ronaldo needs to get some accuracy.

[A-Rob]

I wish England would pick a formation, stick to it, and allow players to grow into the roles...

You don't see many other sides changing EVERY game...

But I suppose its in Hodg we trust

[thetime]

I don't agree, I think Roy is doing well with adopting the formation for each game depending on the opponent he's playing

[jump]

Ronaldo looks so fired up for this tournament, he could win the thing for Portugal on his own. Think he is enjoying playing in a messi free tournament.

[The Nal]

Gomez starting on the bench tonight apparently for any potential gamblers out there.

[lharris92]

Gomez starting on the bench tonight apparently for any potential gamblers out there.

[Ed209]

I know its not great for football, but having to work with a right smug pair of them, I really hope Germany get knocked out.

COME ON GREECE!

[Ed209]

arse

cracking finish though

[pink_triangle]

I think Germany have coasted through this tournament not needing to get out of 2nd gear all the way to the semi. Scary thing is not only will they be the most fresh, they also have the best reserves.

[Ed209]

Is it bad of me to kind of hope we bow out gracefully in the quarters tomorrow? There's nothing but humiliation awaiting us in the semis.

its a terrible attitude I know, but I'm still mopping up my 8 year old, 14 year old and 28 year old tears from the last 3 times.