England v Italy match thread

[Chazza]

Capello would've easily taken us into the semi-final.

I don't think he would have done, not with that group of players.

Without the injuries maybe but the severe lack of central midfield cover is a massive issue

[Gibbo]

At least our lads are coming home relatively unscathed.

Good experience for Hendo, and now Brendo can teach them how to play real football.

Toss up between Johnson and Gerrard for Englands player of the tournament.

[Liverpool]

More touches per hour played. Nine or seven a side on mini or three quarter pitches means that weaker players have to get.on the ball. less players means more touches per player.

The way some of the england players run from the ball its understandable. I completely agree with this change and southgate is at the front of this.

Good move imo

is it not possible to lump it forward playing 7 a side? it might make a small difference but at the end of the day, theyll soon move up to a 11 a side pitch and revert back

[dww]

I don't think he would have done, not with that group of players.

Without the injuries maybe but the severe lack of central midfield cover is a massive issue

Difficult to tell. Better tactics and that group of players could definitely have given Italy a better game. I don't think 'easily' is fair and you have to take into account how badly Capellos methods worked in terms of the World Cup camp.

It would have been hard for Capello to make England less appealing to watch though.

[el matador]

No, I do understand it. It is not perfect tournament football is it. Here are three reasons...

A) it failed miserably so its not perfect

B) can't see any other teams left in the tournament playing like this so they probably have a different idea. I know who I would believe. Them, or you. A clue... It's not you.

C) the players were not played to their strengths. Gerrard, Rooney... neither play in those stilted roles for their club. Play Gerrard with parker and Henderson behind. Rooney in the Suarez role. That could work.


Anyway, I'm bored of this. Catch you later somewhere interesting.

Its perfect for england because nearly every team they.come across is better technically nd tactically. You cant outplay teams that are better than you in every respect so you.soak up the blows and wait for your chances.

Holland did the same against spain and nearly won the euros. The tactics are perfect for england. Howeverit will be.a different story in the qualifiers because a point youve.got.to take the game to the opposition.

[-V-]

People in the pub tonight starting to realise just how bad Hodgson's tactics are.

Same people who thought that he was a good manager and wasn't given enough time at LFC.

He's a ****ing fraud. **** tactics, **** team selections and absolutely dour on the sidelines. I think he spent the entire match sitting down looking troubled.

Exactly, how can people not see that they underperformed because of the defensive negative tactics

[Lee]

I don't think he would have done, not with that group of players.

Without the injuries maybe but the severe lack of central midfield cover is a massive issue

Really mate?

I know we had a bit of a light squad (especially in the middle like you said), but I think we'd have played more progressive than under Hodgson, and player for player I don't think England are any worse than Italy.

I'd like to think that he'd have canned Young and Milner.

No manager seems to have the balls to drop Rooney though, who is ****ing atrocious for England.

[el matador]

is it not possible to lump it forward playing 7 a side? it might make a small difference but at the end of the day, theyll soon move up to a 11 a side pitch and revert back

The more touches kids have of the ball ib training and in matches the more comfortable theyfeel on the ball. The americans came up with the million touch rule for their elite academy players and basically by the time their kida were 15 they should have touched the ball a million times.

The morw you do of anything the better you get.

[SimonNo7]

I think roaring as a player is running up is a bit different.

Fair enough. I think doing 'jelly legs' suggesting that the player taking the penalty is ****ting himself (well that's the way I saw it all those years ago) is just as bad as roaring at a player, but hey, each to their own...

[Chazza]

Really mate?



I know we had a bit of a light squad (especially in the middle like you said), but I think we'd have played more progressive than under Hodgson, and player for player I don't think England are any worse than Italy.



I'd like to think that he'd have canned Young and Milner.



No manager seems to have the balls to drop Rooney though, who is ****ing atrocious for England.

I honestly don't see that Capello would have done any better with that squad.

I think he would have picked a different group had he been in charge and would have employed different tactics but with that group of players I can't see how anyone could have got them further than the QF's especially when we new we would have been playing Italy or Spain.

[fah-q]

Not saying he would have beaten Italy but the one thing Capello wouldn't have done is allow Pirlo as much space as he had.

[el matador]

Exactly, how can people not see that they underperformed because of the defensive negative tactics

if england had tried to take the game to italy they would have been hammered.

they dont have the players who can do anything special and bar gerrard and rooney theyre all so so. another poster said that what can you expect to do with milner young rooney and wellbeck and i agree with that because of all the other sides left in the tournament that is the ****test front 4 bar none.

but who else is there ? who else could roy call on to make the difference ?

englands attacking players are inferior to the best sides. thats why theyre ****. If england had had a much better crop of young talent like the germans then theres no way that hodgson would be the manager.

There is a performance gap between what is required at the top level and between what england can currently deliver. when thats the case you cant take on teams and get humiliated so you shut up shop.

when the likes of ox, henderson, cleverley sterling and co prove themselves to be top quality and intelligent players the fa will need someone else to manage them because hodgson doesnt have the nous to.

he is a good manager for an average team and thats exactly what england are right now.

[Lee]

I honestly don't see that Capello would have done any better with that squad.

I think he would have picked a different group had he been in charge and would have employed different tactics but with that group of players I can't see how anyone could have got them further than the QF's especially when we new we would have been playing Italy or Spain.

IMO Italy were beatable. Hodgson does have the excuse of having a depleted squad, but even with the players we had out there we still had enough to beat Italy.

Hodgson has no plan b though. It's the usual rigid 442, hold back, hoof it long, uninspiring line-ups and questionable subs. I think Capello would've shaken it up a bit more and out-witted Italy.

I think I was being harsh by saying that he could've "easily" got us into the SF.

Can't you just join me in laying the boot into the fossil?

[el matador]

Not saying he would have beaten Italy but the one thing Capello wouldn't have done is allow Pirlo as much space as he had.

i also dont think we'd have played italy if capello had been in charge because we wouldnt have made it out of the group stages. hes more adventurous than hodgson and thats why i think england would never have played italy.

[Fredo]

Bronto, at last, can live up to his name now.