Estonia v England

[Kinky Gerbil]

I think Hargreaves and Gerrard need a run in the side as the central midfield pairing.

Regarding Carrick, he seems to have it all with a decent range of passing and good in the tackle, but when he has played for England he has not really done it.

Has he really been given much of a chance? few starts.

I guess thats what friendly games are for - not that we use them for that.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Has he really been given much of a chance? few starts.

I guess thats what friendly games are for - not that we use them for that.

With these 4 home games coming up, I think the friendly against Germany would be best used to get Hargreaves and Gerrard playing together. After the qualifiers then fine.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

With these 4 home games coming up, I think the friendly against Germany would be best used to get Hargreaves and Gerrard playing together. After the qualifiers then fine.

Or a B international?

We really need to start using friendly games better.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Or a B international?

We really need to start using friendly games better.

However it does not help that for friendlies a section of the orginally named squad ends up injured.

 

[Mr Blobby]

Estonia 0-3 England
Estonia 0-1 Croatia
Estonia 0 -1 Macedonia
Estonia 0-1 Israel
Estonia 0-2 Russia

Russia 2-0 Estonia
Israel 4-0 Estonia

Not sure why people see 3-0 as not good enough, its the best away result against them so far!

We had a great 3 days in Tallinn, it was very very hot and its strange at night as it doesnt get properly dark. The sun was up when I left for the airport at 5am (3am UK time) this morning!

 

[keaton]

But surely you would expect these to play well against the likes of Estonia.

Eh? I would expect the whole team to play well, but only those three did

 

[keaton]

A

Gerrard is our only really world class player so why nulify the effect he can have on the game by playing him deep and have him picking the ball off the defenders in his own half?

What exactly is this based on?

 

[Les Biehn]

I must admit I think there are a fair few positives to come out of those last 2 games.

Defence has looked good except for Brown (who lets be honest is only in there because he is versitile, he's gone as soon as Neville, Richards and the other CB are back). We now know we also have a decent third choice LB in Shorey. Also funny how the defence has looked so solid in Ferdinand's absence.

Midfield is finally looking like it might come to life (tentatively) while we have Hargreaves and Lennon to come back.

Owen scored, hopefully bringing his confidence levels up.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Also funny how the defence has looked so solid in Ferdinand's absence.

Is this the Ferdinad whom in his last 7 games for England, we have only conceeded 4 goals in?

 

[Brighton Breezy]

We should be starting Ferdinand and Woodgate together and Hargreaves and Gerrard in midfield.

 

[Les Biehn]

Is this the Ferdinad whom in his last 7 games for England, we have only conceeded 4 goals in?

Yes.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Yes.

Personally I would not have Terry in there, as I feel centre backs at that level need to be able to play the ball out of defence and he does not do that well enough.

Also he gets caught for pace, but as long as he shows passion that seems to be fine.

Still ho hum.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Good old English passion gets you a long way with the media it seems.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Good old English passion gets you a long way with the media it seems.

Indeed it does.

 

[Silent Bob]

The defence almost always looks solid. Rio is our best defender, I wouldn't say we were solid last night, they had a couple of great chances.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I think one of the big differences we had last night was a striker that can score goals. Owen did very little during the game, but took his chance, much like Lineker used to.

In games that Owen has been out, we have had one of Johnson, Defoe or Bent running around a bit, without looking like doing much (I know Defoe got a couple against Andorra).

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

The defence almost always looks solid. Rio is our best defender, I wouldn't say we were solid last night, they had a couple of great chances.

Rio is class, his pace always helps him male up for the times he is caught out

 

[Les Biehn]

Personally I would not have Terry in there, as I feel centre backs at that level need to be able to play the ball out of defence and he does not do that well enough.

Also he gets caught for pace, but as long as he shows passion that seems to be fine.

Still ho hum.

I agree with the pace thing, not sure it's true what you say about his passing. At Chelsea he just has to play it to the defensive midfielder but as far as I can tell his passing is fine, as good as Kings.

I like Ferdinand, just not sure he is the crux on which that defence should be built. Still think if him and terry could click that would be awesome. I actually rate Woodgate, King, Terry and Ferdinand and find it hard to seperate them as they all have slightly different strengths. I will admit that if it wasn't for his injury problems Woodgate would be my first choice as he has everything.

 

[pasty]

Anyone know why Carragher wasn't playing in the centre last night ?

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Anyone know why Carragher wasn't playing in the centre last night ?

or rb