dont put hendo witb gerrars and watch how much worse defensively it becomes, wilshere doesnt knoq what he needs to for gerrard.

Barf, pretty fair assessment.

The lack of cover for the defence, in midfield, is a reason why I'd be tempted to play Phil Jones, if he's fit, as he can do a good job as a defensive midfielder.

Hodgson on Barkley:

'That's not a criticism, but there were other performances out there today. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Phil Jones were outstanding, as was Jack Wilshere in the middle of the park, while Rickie Lambert scored a magnificent goal.'

So he thought Wilshere was outstanding and everyone knows Henderson wasn't great against Peru.

Expect Hendo to start tonight but Wilshere to play with Gerrard.

I'd rather play Shaw on the left instead of Welbeck. The boy has been attacking that flank all season and does a great job. He with Baines behind him is the way forward.
As for Wilshire

hendo was clearly told to sit by hodgson, he breaks forward enough when playing for us.

comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 15 minutes ago
I think that'll probably be the starting line up, GB.

50, you overrate Wilshere so bad. He shouldn't even be on the plane let alone starting and being England's best midfielder.
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Not having a dig but if Smalling Jones and Welbeck can get on the plane Wilshere deserves it 10 times more to be on it.

got a clueless manager in roy anyway.

All three are better for England than Wilshere is. Plus you're just deflecting anyway, none of those players play in the same position as Wilshere.

Wilshere is nowhere near England's best midfielder. Gerrard is, by a country facking mile.

Wilshere is nowhere near England's best midfielder. Gerrard is, by a country facking mile.


This^

Sums up how average we are

comment by Ilori (U18764)
posted 1 minute ago
hendo was clearly told to sit by hodgson, he breaks forward enough when playing for us.
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He's always going to be told to hold position more in a midfield 2, unless the other midfielder is more mobile and more defensively aware than Gerrard. None of our midfielders suit a midfield 2.

I'd much prefer if we had 3 CM's, either a DM and 2 CM's in a 433, or ideally if we changed to a 442 diamond formation.

Gerrard deep, Henderson as a right CM, probably Lampard or Wilshere as the left CM. If its a diamond then you coult take your pick as to who plays at the tip.

Dont forget, as an England fan i WANT Wilshere and Rooney to be awesome, its just they are not..not by a long way.

ANd we DO have quality mfs, Lallana, Barkley and Sterling are prety fkn good, as long as Gerrard has MEndo or another with legs then hes ok, but that Roys job to realise how o use the tools at his disposal.

For me id surround Gerrard with Barkley, Hendo and Sterling....we should swarm over italy with those in their. even with the heat we can swop Hendo with Lallana or bring in Rooney with 20 to go as a number 10...we have options this time.

Dont forget, as an England fan i WANT Wilshere and Rooney to be awesome, its just they are not..not by a long way.

Ditto bud

For all those saying that Wilshere is amazing:

http://www.specsavers.co.uk/

None of England's players are amazing for England so it doesn't matter that much.

Rooney will start, people need to accept this, so all the talk of an 11 without him is wishful thinking.

What hopefully will happen is that he's played on the left. That way we can play three cm's because Italy have a vastly superior midfield to us, plus extra bodies in there, so we'll need to play another cm to match up to them, in my opinion.

I don't think Rooney has the fitness playing in those conditions to act as an auxiliary midfielder like he so often has for United as the number 10, so a wide spot would be the best bet tactically.

Italy have a superior mf??? Really! I dont think they do.

That's because you don't really know anything about football, to be fair.

That's because you don't really know anything about football, to be fair.
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I guess you won a bundle when Greece won the Euro's then bud?
You can have the best team 'on paper' but it's what happens on the grass that counts.

England 2-0 Italy

How is that post in anyway relevant to what I wrote, TUX?

Paper v What happens on grass bud.

Cmon then darren. Name this awesome italian midfield.

So not relevant then. Thought so.

Pirlo, Marchisio and De Rossi will likely be their starting midfield, though it's hard to predict with Italy as they change formations.

DTKF

Look at Palace's midfield compared to many we face and then look at the results bud. That's all I'm saying.............Paper v Grass

Do Italy have a better midfield than England, TUX?

Is this the same italians that have not won in the last 7 consecutive games...some perspective for you; lest not forget the 1-1 draw with Luxembourg, they HAD won every previous encounter.

It seems you maybe overhyping the italians and dismissing England's players far too easily.