***** Official England v France Thread *****

[chucky1973]

Can't see Walcott starting. The French will have Evra and Ribery coming down our right hand side and having Glen Jonhson, who isn't the greatest defender with Walcott in front of him could be disastrous. Milner isn't going to set the world on fire but he's solid, dependable and a willing runner to help out at the back. That's the way England will play under Roy, we'll be compact, make sure our shape is right (looking at you Gerrard) and try and sneak a goal on the counter attack with the pace of Young and Welbeck. Of course if we go 1 down then we're in the shit.

thats fine, but we are setting up for a defeat, we should be taking the game to the French, making them change they way they play, putting them on the back foot, the way we set up, they qill have 70% of the ball and will eventually score. Then as you say we are f***ed.

 

[Simster]

thats fine, but we are setting up for a defeat, we should be taking the game to the French, making them change they way they play, putting them on the back foot, the way we set up, they qill have 70% of the ball and will eventually score. Then as you say we are f***ed.

We're not good enough to make the French change the way they play. I think Southwick has it spot on, but really can't understand why Johnson has been picked given how much this has affected the balance of the rest of the team.

Oh, and you're never f***ed in football if you're only one goal down.

 

[chucky1973]

We're not good enough to make the French change the way they play. I think Southwick has it spot on, but really can't understand why Johnson has been picked given how much this has affected the balance of the rest of the team.

Oh, and you're never f***ed in football if you're only one goal down.

we are with Downing in the team!!

 

[chucky1973]

We're not good enough to make the French change the way they play. I think Southwick has it spot on, but really can't understand why Johnson has been picked given how much this has affected the balance of the rest of the team.

Oh, and you're never f***ed in football if you're only one goal down.

and sorry forgot to add, if we played with walcott from the start, the French would play different. they would have too. currently they can be offensive as they like as we dont have an attacking threat.

 

[Norman Potting]

I predict a dull game with England scrambling a winner right at the death.

 

[Albumen]

Downing and Milner as wingers, but like to cut inside. We'll be narrow as ever, the French will win. It's what we do in our next two games that matters.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

This is the first time I am not the least bit excited for England at a major tourny. I can't stand a number of the players and if we fail the media will go for Roy's neck.

 

[Silent Bob]

Downing and Milner as wingers, but like to cut inside. We'll be narrow as ever, the French will win. It's what we do in our next two games that matters.

They don't cut inside, they just have no particular pace or skill to beat a man so will get nowhere.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Lots of negative nancies and cautious carols on this thread.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

and sorry forgot to add, if we played with walcott from the start, the French would play different. they would have too. currently they can be offensive as they like as we dont have an attacking threat.

Funny, you slag off Downing, then praise Walcott (at least I think you are). Downing may not be the best, but Walcott is as bad - he has learnt nothing in 6 years, he has pace but nothing else, I would never have taken him in the squad.

 

[Silent Bob]

Funny, you slag off Downing, then praise Walcott (at least I think you are). Downing may not be the best, but Walcott is as bad - he has learnt nothing in 6 years, he has pace but nothing else, I would never have taken him in the squad.

Downing may not be the best, in fact I'm fairly sure he's not. Walcott's a much better player, he plays regularly for a lot better team than Downing's ever been at, despite his flaws and the criticism he gets, he has attributes which make him dangerous. He has scored goals this season, he has set up many goals this season. Theo Walcott's worst performance is Stewart Downing's best.

 

[Simster]

Funny, you slag off Downing, then praise Walcott (at least I think you are). Downing may not be the best, but Walcott is as bad - he has learnt nothing in 6 years, he has pace but nothing else, I would never have taken him in the squad.

I agree with what you say about Walcott as a wide man, but think he might be more influential in Ashley Young's position, just behind the lone striker.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Downing may not be the best, in fact I'm fairly sure he's not. Walcott's a much better player, he plays regularly for a lot better team than Downing's ever been at, despite his flaws and the criticism he gets, he has attributes which make him dangerous. He has scored goals this season, he has set up many goals this season. Theo Walcott's worst performance is Stewart Downing's best.

I could score in Arsenals team ! I have several Arsenal supporting friends and they mostly beleive he doesn't belong in ther team and should be sold this summer. Oxy-Chambermaid has progressed more in one season than Walcott has in his career.

 

[chucky1973]

Funny, you slag off Downing, then praise Walcott (at least I think you are). Downing may not be the best, but Walcott is as bad - he has learnt nothing in 6 years, he has pace but nothing else, I would never have taken him in the squad.

Not really prasing Walcott, just feel that he is our match winner looking at the team we have available and he is one player that on hs day can cuase teams problems and he does seem to come good in big games.

 

[Silent Bob]

I could score in Arsenals team ! I have several Arsenal supporting friends and they mostly beleive he doesn't belong in ther team and should be sold this summer. Oxy-Chambermaid has progressed more in one season than Walcott has in his career.

That's what I mean about the criticism, (many) Arsenal fans have turned on him. Robin Van Persie hasn't though. Oxlade-Chamberlain is the new hypebeast but has been unable to take Walcott's place in the team. Whether he has progressed or not is another question, but when the level he's at is better than the level of the player we're comparing him to here I'm not convinced it matters.

 

[Simster]

Incidentally, it's going to be 37 degrees at some point today in Donetsk, so at 5pm it will still be bloody hot.

Surely this will massively favour the team who holds the ball the most. i.e. not England.

 

[tottenhamseagull]

The media pressure will be hiked up tomorrow regardless of the result. So we have that to look forward to tomorrow.

 

[del strangefish]

Does anyone have link for this one?
Heard Al Jazeera Sport were showing it but with Arabic commentry only.

 

[Springal]

Reports the OX is starting tonight... good news if true