I was really surprised to see how deep Rooney was playing in his own end. That can't be part of Capello's strategy.
Not surprising with Rooney, if he's not happy with the service/chances he's getting he chases around and winds up way out of position.
The biggest issue for me is the continued inability of Gerrad and Lampard to work well together. There's just no chemistry there. The ball Gerrard played back would have been perfect if Lampard had dropped off into the hole, but it seems they don't have that connection to both be on the same page about it. They both played decently today, but as soon as it came time for them to link together it fell apart. It seems that one of them really has to take the alpha dog role, I'm just not sure either is able/willing to accept not being the one in that role.
I actually wouldn't even do 4-5-1 because Lampard won't track back for England
would go 4-2-3-1
with Carrick and Barry as the 2
Gerrard/Lampard/Cole as the 3
Rooney as the 1
be interesting who starts next game between upson and dawson, you would think Upson because Dawson didn't make the initial 23 but based on play this season...
I know I had to wake up at 4 am to watch their first win over Denmark. I will be doing the same tomorrow!
Robben is not expected to dress again tomorrow but could for the 3rd game.
Hup Holland Hup!!!
I was going to sleep in, but have decided to set the alarm and watch it live. Might even pour an early morning rum and coke. Too bad about Robben, was hoping to see how the coach was going to manage the 'big 4' offensively. Hopefully the team doesn't miss him too much.
England beats Slovenia and the US could win the group with the same win over Algeria. Interesting setup for this group that was supposed to be so EASY.
England's destiny is still in their own hands. I'd be surprised if they didn't make it out of the group stage. That being said, I suspect that the US wins this group and if they do, I admire how they did it.
The more I'm thinking about it but I would drop Rooney for the Slovenia game. He's either not fit or just completely off his game. He was shockingly bad today. I'd go with the Spurs duo of Crouch and Defoe. That may peeve little Wayne off so much he might actually do something, other than slagging off the fans, when he got on the pitch.
Lampard would also go in favour of Joe Cole, who seems like an obvious choice to me to make the first 11. Why he never got a shot against Algeria is beyond me.
Will any of this happen? Not a chance. I'd be shocked if we didn't see an unchanged lineup quite frankly.
Looking forward to watching some matches this weekend that don't feature England. It will be nice to sit back and relax!
Looking at the replays from the called off U.S. goal, right as the ball was being kicked Dempsey gave the Slovenian defender a huge shove in the back. It was the reason two Slovenian defenders were covering the guy second from the left in the image above.
That is the only thing that I thought could have been seen as a foul on that play, especially since the whistle was blown so soon, right as the ball was being kicked.
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