Hodgson - I dont know why I'm here; smint?

[Liverpool]

3 forward thinking mids and 3 strikers is a bit mad for hodge

[Norbs]

whats the formation with that lot?

Four fwee fwee

[Tee]

Been pissing down all day here in London....reckon Jovetic and co are going to test Hart as much as possible from range...with a wet surface it could be a very tricky night for the dandruff-free one.

[BobTheCharmer]

most school kids will never be 'proper' footballers.
most stand around freezing their little bollocks off, up to their ankles in mud, hardly ever seeing the ball.
only a keen minority actually are up for it.

the futsal game ensures a faster pace, more control, more touches and contribution from all players. its surely a better option to try and progress the better lads and girls with potential, while still providing a fun activity for the others.
anything that encourages more participation and activity must be a good thing, surely.

Is participation a problem? Its a while since I was at school, are the numbers wanting to play a lot less than previously? I guess with all the other distractions it probably is when I think about it. Fair enough. But I wouldn't have wanted anyone telling me back then I couldn't have a proper game, regardless of being stuck on the wing in the freezing weather, it was part of it.

I do see the benefits for the better players to enhance their technical ability, I just wonder if we're all looking at a one solution fits all. Is it the training methods, the quality of the coaching, the attitude of the players over here, or a combination of all 3?

I don't think we should be trying to copy anyone else. We should be using ideas from abroad and integrating them into what we already have. Football would be **** beyond belief if all teams played like Barcelona for example. I think thats why our clubs teams have done well over fairly recent times in Europe, combining that great british will to win with foreign flair. I think we're all too keen to overlook what is good about the british game and are almost embarassed to acknowledge it at times.

I personally think everyone should just accept England won't win anything again, theres no shame in it, just like Scotland, Wales or N Ireland will never qualify for a tournament ever again.

[dww]

4-2-3-1. Hodgson must have had a bump on the head

Actually it'll be 4-5-1

If we score first we'll switch to a 8-1-1 if we're feeling adventurous.

In general though hasn't 4-2-3-1 been one of the starting formations Roy has used a lot as England manager. In a way it just goes to show that everyone trying to run back into three lines is much the same as everyone trying to run back into 4 as far as tactics go. I don't think anyone seriously thought the problem with Roy was as simple as playing 4-4-2 it is the way he sets out to play any formation.

Also, Gerrard and Lampard at this stage of their careers and with their mentalities in the 2 seems like it is asking for trouble. It'll take Gerrard at his best to make this work.

[Liverpool]

Is participation a problem? Its a while since I was at school, are the numbers wanting to play a lot less than previously? I guess with all the other distractions it probably is when I think about it. Fair enough. But I wouldn't have wanted anyone telling me back then I couldn't have a proper game, regardless of being stuck on the wing in the freezing weather, it was part of it.

I do see the benefits for the better players to enhance their technical ability, I just wonder if we're all looking at a one solution fits all. Is it the training methods, the quality of the coaching, the attitude of the players over here, or a combination of all 3?

I don't think we should be trying to copy anyone else. We should be using ideas from abroad and integrating them into what we already have. Football would be **** beyond belief if all teams played like Barcelona for example. I think thats why our clubs teams have done well over fairly recent times in Europe, combining that great british will to win with foreign flair. I think we're all too keen to overlook what is good about the british game and are almost embarassed to acknowledge it at times.

I personally think everyone should just accept England won't win anything again, theres no shame in it, just like Scotland, Wales or N Ireland will never qualify for a tournament ever again.

the cost of kids football has shot up in recent years, pitch fees have rocketed. Its about £20 a week now to play for a team, so imagine having 3 sons wanting to play as well as the boots and kits etc

[baitman]

I personally think everyone should just accept England won't win anything again, theres no shame in it, just like Scotland, Wales or N Ireland will never qualify for a tournament ever again.

im not that arsed about england, i would like to see them do well, but am more bothered about the future of LFC.

futsal will hopefully generate more home grown coutinho's. they are not gifted cos they are 'brazilians' but because they have grown up with a style of fast, zippy passing and pressing on a small pitch. intensity

[Gazzla]

Sounds like Andros Townsend is gonna start.

Who the hell is Andros Townsend? I've genuinely never heard of him

[BobTheCharmer]

im not that arsed about england, i would like to see them do well, but am more bothered about the future of LFC.

futsal will hopefully generate more home grown coutinho's. they are not gifted cos they are 'brazilians' but because they have grown up with a style of fast, zippy passing and pressing on a small pitch. intensity

But how many coutinho's do we need? I'd like homegrown players up to the standard of Agger, Lucas and Mignolet with the odd Suarez and Coutinho thrown in. In reality there is no way we shouldn't be able to bring through a player like Lucas. I think the Suarez's are rare breeds that regardless of training will just come about. Carragher was a great servant, the problem is a player like his getting a reasonable run of games behind him in order to develop.

[Exiled_red]

one thing i have always thought would benefit england is having a few top players playing in Spain/Italy/Germany.

Just don't seem to get many players leaving england

They would benefit from players playing abroad, but I think that there are too few players who have the technical/tactical ability to succeed in many of the other leagues. Also a lot of players are buying into the PL being the best league in the world, that and the fact that most British people can't be arsed learning a foreign language

[BobTheCharmer]

the cost of kids football has shot up in recent years, pitch fees have rocketed. Its about £20 a week now to play for a team, so imagine having 3 sons wanting to play as well as the boots and kits etc

fair enough. I used to play anywhere and everywhere, the local football club that is 4 tiers below the conference, we'd get kicked off the pitch but go straight back the moment the groundsman had gone. Now its circles by a high steel fence. The school playing fields are off limits I've heard and the set of goals at the local rec have been removed. Its not easy for kids to play anywhere. Grim really. I'm pleased I was a kid in the eighties and not now. Even the video games had playability over graphics. Sigh...........

[AnfieldForever]

Who the hell is Andros Townsend? I've genuinely never heard of him

Neither had Hodgeson last week!

[Reece]

Is this the thread for all tonight's internationals then?

16 year old Liverpool 'starlet' Harry Wilson is on the bench for Wales.

[Oberon]

Really odd question, can anyone produce or find a picture of woy as an owl, not compared to one but covered in feathers? Please. Google is not my friend, so far.

[Stanbull]