Problem 1
England's best players at the tournament just gone were Steven Gerrard (32), John Terry (31) and Glen Johnson (27). What will England do once these guys, the last remnants of a failed 'golden generation', retire?
Problem 2
Qualification for 2014 is being taken as a given. It is far from it. England face Montenegro, a side who matched them in scoreline and performance twice in Euro 2012 qualifying; Ukraine, who of course outplayed England in the last group game at the tournament just gone; and Poland, who possess a potent attacking force in the Dortmund trio. England are favourites of course (I'd put Poland second due to their attack), but complacency should be warned against.
Problem 3
Uruguay, Germany, Brazil, Holland, Spain, Argentina, Portugal, Italy, France. These are the teams who are already better than England, and by 2014 I should think you'll be able to add Denmark, Croatia, Russia and maybe even Belgium to that list. This is not an exaggeration: in 2014 England will be relying on the likes of Jack Rodwell and Phil Jones who, though good, are no Gerrard and Terry.
England's problems
posted on 25/6/12
I'm afraid the reality is that your best players in the tournament were Terry, Lescott and Johnson, and in that order.
posted on 25/6/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 25/6/12
Of some people are pinning their hopes on players like Jordan Henderson, England are in trouble. Can you imagine this guy tryin to compete in a midfield against the Germans and Spanish, sending a lamb to the slaughter springs to my mind.
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Yes I can actually. Henderson does not lose the ball. His ball retention and pass completion aregood. It may be the simple pass but thats fine. As long as we kkep he ball and keep it moving then that is an improvement on what we have now.
And that is what you need in a midfielder. Looking to the future. I would have the following midfield
Wilshere-----Rodwell------Henderson/Cleverly.
What were the problems last night? That we kept losing possession, that players weren't making themselves available for the pass.
posted on 25/6/12
To lose the ball, you have to have it! Henderson never has it. He looked ok in an average Sunderland team and looked out of his depth in an even more average Liverpool team.
posted on 25/6/12
To lose the ball, you have to have it! Henderson never has it.
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Are you basing that in the two games he played in this tournament? When our backs were against the wall, when as a team we had no possession, when we were defensing on our 18 yeard line?? Yeah, well done.
He wasn't average for Sunderland. He has been for LIverpool but he's been played out of positon for most of the season.
posted on 25/6/12
Mobs
people don't watch
They just look at results and then form opinions about everyone in the side.
Henderson hasn't been great. But there is one thing taht anyone who's watched him can't pick fault with. And that's techincal skills like first touch, one touch passing, possession and accurate passing.
He bores me to tears sometimes with his lack of directness but he can play tippy tappy very well.
Criticise him all day about lack of goal threat or not taking players on or not being a dynamic 'match winner'. Criticism fully deserved.
But passing and possession? pffft. He can do that all day without blinking.
posted on 25/6/12
Jan
Bar Wilshere who may struggle to get his form back after such a long and annoying injury, that midfield is very average. They would get destroyed by quality teams.
posted on 25/6/12
Bar Wilshere who may struggle to get his form back after such a long and annoying injury, that midfield is very average. They would get destroyed by quality teams.
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That midfield has an average age of about 21. We would get beaten in the short term by Germany, Spain, Italy etc, but in 4 years time that could be a good midfield. We have to start looking long term
We should learn from the Germans. They forgot about the results in the short term, they brought in lots of young players and built for the future. Khedira, Muller, Ozil, Boateng etc were not household names when they were brought into the team.
posted on 25/6/12
Fat Jan
They didnt just bring in young players. They brought in young players who were technically good.
posted on 25/6/12
Bar Wilshere who may struggle to get his form back after such a long and annoying injury
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i know as soon as you get out of rehab thats when the real work starts.......