England v Italy match thread

[Exiled_red]

Sterling in there is a surprise!

That's an awful team

[Chazza]

So how would you have done it. How do you stop pirlo in a 442 ?

Get close to him for a start

[Gibbo]

@GuillemBalague: special mentions to Baines and Cleverly. But Sterling to be the star (or close to it)

[AnfieldForever]

What a dreadful team

I was just thinking that myself

Can you imagine Woy trying to get that lot to defend!

[Exiled_red]

Kind of agree, as covered before kickoff today. But an attacking four of Welbeck, Ashley Young, Milner, Rooney (the **** one) is just laughably **** compared to the decent teams in the competition. Just not in the same league.

[Exiled_red]

Hodgson, post-match: "Possession is a red herring. Just stick it in the onion bag more than the other side."

You've made that up haven't you?

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Just because of how dire the United lot where, I visited RedCafe.. There is not 1 bad word said about Hodgson from what I read.

Then I went into the Ashley Young thread, loads saying he was ****e. Then others saying, "his forms dropped since Hodgson took over" "it's the tactics, he's not a defensive winger"

ERM OKAY so when he's near their 18 yard box why did he do **** all? Cos he's playing defensively? And it must be hard to pass a ball 5/10 yards when you're not playing upfront all of a sudden.

Cunt

[Icon]

@Now__Football: England successfully manage to avoid Germany in the semi-finals.

[Exiled_red]

So now England are out we can all strat to enjoy the tournament again

[dom9]

So how would you have done it. How do you stop pirlo in a 442 ?

Well, I think that playing so deep without ever pressing the ball is a pretty bad idea, full stop. It was turgid. You can not hope to win any trophy playing like that. And after all, your point was that this is perfect tournament football. Which it clearly is not.

Anyway, I'm happy. England got what they sowed when they appointed this dinosaur.

[Exiled_red]

@Now__Football: England successfully manage to avoid Germany in the semi-finals.

[el matador]

Get close to him for a start

Thats why you play one up front and one behind to keep close to pirlo.

You cant do that effextively in. an orthodox 442.

The fa know were miles behind and gareth southgatw in particular is at the forefront of the new academy changez.

[Liverpool]

lescott, johnson, gerrard, henderson, carroll, baines, milner will all still be round, possibly terry its only 2 years away

[el matador]

Well, I think that playing so deep without ever pressing the ball is a pretty bad idea, full stop. It was turgid. You can not hope to win any trophy playing like that. And after all, your point was that this is perfect tournament football. Which it clearly is not.

Anyway, I'm happy. England got what they sowed when they appointed this dinosaur.

Every time englNd tried to play a high line pirlo put a 40 yard pass over the top of both terry and lescott. Balotelli must have gotten through five.or six times.

England were always a man light in the middle so pressing isnt an option really. whats the point of chasing the ball around and then leaving gaps between your mid and defence.

They did what roy knows and it nearly worked. England were very nearly in the semis. Whether they deserved it or not is irrelevant. greece did the same thing a few years back. Two lines of 4 and use counterz and they won it.

[Exiled_red]

Rooney should be dropped he's been dire since he came back and has been very poor in an England shirt for years, but no manager has the balls to drop him, and there's no chance of it happening while the Bodge is in charge.