England v Poland - Official Match Thread - WQC

[Deleted member 18477]

Played very well tonight, maybe still lacking that clinical edge but good performance overall. Townsend was the best of a good bunch.

Welbeck isn't the best in front of goal but he does work hard tracking back. Not sure if that's enough to justify a starting spot though.

Oxlade or Walcott instead of Welbeck when fit? Townsend deserves his place currently... Walcott had started the season well for Arsenal before his injury...

The fact were disputing this is a promising sign to say the least... if Zaha goes out on loan it could make things very interesting in the wing department... he must go out on loan to a prem team though - no point wasting his time in the championship anymore.

 

[symyjym]

Oxlade or Walcott instead of Welbeck when fit? Townsend deserves his place currently... Walcott had started the season well for Arsenal before his injury...

The fact were disputing this is a promising sign to say the least... if Zaha goes out on loan it could make things very interesting in the wing department... he must go out on loan to a prem team though - no point wasting his time in the championship anymore.

Walcott is overrated, more often than not he just runs into people and always disappoints me.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Wellbeck had a good game

Walcott is overrated, more often than not he just runs into people and always disappoints me.

Wouidn't it be boring if we all thought the same thing?

I thought Wellbeck was abysmal tonight - an absolute waste of space.

I also think that Walcott would be a massive improvement.

So there you go.

 

[pasty]

Welbeck isn't the best in front of goal but he does work hard tracking back. Not sure if that's enough to justify a starting spot though.

Welbeck for me was the weakest link in both the last two games.

 

[symyjym]

Wouidn't it be boring if we all thought the same thing?

I thought Wellbeck was abysmal tonight - an absolute waste of space.

I also think that Walcott would be a massive improvement.

So there you go.

Fair enough, but Townsend is playing the Walcott position because he is out injured, and there has been a massive improvement without him.

 

[DumLum]

Sounds like England's very own Ashley Barnes!

No.

I am a big critic of Barnes but rate Welbeck.

Please will everybody just stop comparing Barnes to players that are a different league to him.

Goodnight.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Fair enough, but Townsend is playing the Walcott position because he is out injured, and there has been a massive improvement without him.

Townsend was indeed excellent. A real surprise to me, and to many others I would imagine.

I think Walcott could successfully play up front, and would be a substantial improvement on Wellbeck.

 

[symyjym]

Townsend was indeed excellent. A real surprise to me, and to many others I would imagine.

I think Walcott could successfully play up front, and would be a substantial improvement on Wellbeck.

Nah Walcott has as much of a football brain as a dog chasing after a stick, he never knows what to do with it when he gets it

 

[BensGrandad]

Added to the possibility of Walcott returning is the fact that Aaron Lennon is back in training at Spurs so will come into the reckoning. I thought that Welbeck did a lot of work tonight but fluffed his chances and also Baines had a very good 1st half but poor 2nd as he continually gave the ball away. Lampard was poor when he came on but this was made up for by Gerrard having a good game.

 

[Stat Brother]

Walcott will have Ozil making him look a much better player than he actually is, as Ozil would do with any of us.
If Walcott can make that stick then he's a shoe in for a start.

If he doesn't then there's plenty of others to take his place, as it is 1 or 2 will be missing out.
Walcott, Welbeck, Townsend, The Ox, they are not all going to Brazil.

As for Lennon, ha, bye bye, he'll not even be playing league football let alone t'internationals.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

I only got to see bits of the game and from what I saw, Townsend worked his balls off to earn his shirt last night. Looked much more effective than Walcott for me.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I only got to see bits of the game and from what I saw, Townsend worked his balls off to earn his shirt last night. Looked much more effective than Walcott for me.

Is the correct answer.

 

[keaton]

I think I hate having to read how much of a great captain Gerrard is, even more than I hate hearing much of great captain Terry was.

 

[Stat Brother]

I think I hate having to read how much of a great captain Gerrard is, even more than I hate hearing much of great captain Terry was.

At least it won't be for much longer.

When Ashley Cole's place is in doubt, you know the previous generation don't have too long left.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I would love to see Roy take a risk and play Baines instead of Cole for this tournament.

Cole is, however much you dislike him, a brilliant left back.

However Baines now has that FRESHNESS.

He basically became our left side attacker last night, and with Townsend on the other side we had some real WIDTH which was lovely to see.

I'm delighted for Townsend though. I watched quite a few QPR games last year and when he moved to them on deadline day it was just seen as a pretty boring signing. However he was the ONE player in that team that showed any fight and ability. Delighted it's been noticed at England level.

I am probably going to get shot down here but, when Walcott is back, I would say our players actually lend themselves to a potential 4 -2-1-3 formation.

Hart

Walker (although I thought smalling was excellent) - Jagielka - Cahill - Baines
Gerrard - Carrick
Rooney
Walcott - Sturridge - Townsend.

That's before you consider Welbeck, Wilshire etc etc

Again, not saying that would be anywhere near what Hodgson would go for as it's probably a bit risky and exposes the wing backs a little too much, but it's nice to have a group of players who are a bit more FLEXIBLE this time round.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Walcott, Welbeck, Townsend, The Ox, they are not all going to Brazil.
.

I would say those 4 are all nailed on to go..

Ox is the only doubt but that's down to injury, not ability.

 

[keaton]

I would love to see Roy take a risk and play Baines instead of Cole for this tournament.

Cole is, however much you dislike him, a brilliant left back.

However Baines now has that FRESHNESS.

He basically became our left side attacker last night, and with Townsend on the other side we had some real WIDTH which was lovely to see.

I'm delighted for Townsend though. I watched quite a few QPR games last year and when he moved to them on deadline day it was just seen as a pretty boring signing. However he was the ONE player in that team that showed any fight and ability. Delighted it's been noticed at England level.

I am probably going to get shot down here but, when Walcott is back, I would say our players actually lend themselves to a potential 4 -2-1-3 formation.

Hart

Walker (although I thought smalling was excellent) - Jagielka - Cahill - Baines
Gerrard - Carrick
Rooney
Walcott - Sturridge - Townsend.

That's before you consider Welbeck, Wilshire etc etc

Again, not saying that would be anywhere near what Hodgson would go for as it's probably a bit risky and exposes the wing backs a little too much, but it's nice to have a group of players who are a bit more FLEXIBLE this time round.

I think Johnson would start over Walker. Or Smalling. Or that Burnley bloke. Probably even el-Abd if he wasn't a Pharoah

 

[Grombleton]

Walker (although I thought smalling was excellent)

I thought Smalling was atrocious to begin with - terrible positioning (a few times the RCB had to come over and cover him as he had wandered off) and didn't quite seem to have the pace to link up with Townsend on the right. He grew in confidence as the game went on though and finished well. I know he's only as cover and he's a CB naturally, but i'd wonder if we can use any friendlies before the WC to blood cover for Walker/Johnson incase of injury.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Walcott is overrated, more often than not he just runs into people and always disappoints me.

I'm with you on this, fast but little else, but then I am rather anti-Arsenal, so probably biased. I'd pick Townsend ahead of him any day.