*****Official Thread - Miami Vice - England v Ecuador*****

[Pavilionaire]

I think Hodgson has made a mistake by taking Smalling ahead of John Stones. Glen Johnson worries me defensively, and Milner isn't good enough to cover right back. Stones plays with Jagielka and Baines and Barkley ahead of him. I fancy he'd slot in well. He'll be there or thereabouts in 2 years, I feel sure.

 

[Mellotron]

These games mean very little. For the record Italy drew 1-1 at home to Luxembourg this evening.

The results mean nothing, but performances and trying out formations, systems, combinations are important.

 

[The Legend that IS Lawro]

Well said Glenn 'some of our lads were on their feet'.....

 

[Surf's Up]

Well said Glenn 'some of our lads were on their feet'.....

Wait until they play in Manaus, it's even hotter and more humid than Miami!!

 

[carteater]

uh oh, that means i loose some of my vcash

 

[Driver8]

Well said Glenn 'some of our lads were on their feet'.....

Except Wilshere.

 

[Sheebo]

Brilliant attacking play, movement, tempo etc for 60 mins. Shocking defending for most of the game. Ox and Barkley were class!

 

[pornomagboy]

The ox is out

 

[nwgull]

The ox is out

Not yet. Having a scan tomorrow.

 

[Hugo Rune]

The ox is out

The scan will confirm this, it was sadly clear to see from how he went down and limped off. I wonder who'll replace him?

 

[Hugo Rune]

I wonder who'll replace him?

Carrick & Cleverly are the midfielders on reserve. May as well take 22!

 

[brightonmark1234]

Ian Abrahams ‏
Roy Hodgson has defenders Jon Flanagan & John Stones, midfielders Carrick & Cleverley, forwards Jermain Defoe & Andy Carroll on standby

 

[Hugo Rune]

Carrick & Cleverly are the midfielders on reserve.

I hate Man Utd, they don't deserve to have any players going to Brazil!

 

[Hugo Rune]

I hate Man Utdl!

Me too. Wouldn't be so bad if half of Sussex didn't support them!!

 

[BN9 BHA]

Plenty of England flags on show tonight, didn't see any Brighton flags.

 

[keaton]

Ian Abrahams ‏
Roy Hodgson has defenders Jon Flanagan & John Stones, midfielders Carrick & Cleverley, forwards Jermain Defoe & Andy Carroll on standby

I think I would take one of the defenders. None of the rest will add anything and Smalling and Milner looked poor yesterday

 

[Mannie]

Chiles is a disaster.

Can just about stand Chiles, but Townsend drives me nuts - always states the ble*din' obvious moments after it has happened.

 

[northernseagull]

Hodgson is utterly delirious if he believes Jack, Lamps and Smalling had good games!! How he can't bring himself to praise Barkley is beyond me... Jack fell over every time he touched the ball, Lamps did little to dominate the centre of the pitch and Smalling was all over the place. I hope this is a little bit of reverse psychology on young Barkley.

 

[strings]

Hodgson is utterly delirious if he believes Jack, Lamps and Smalling had good games!! How he can't bring himself to praise Barkley is beyond me... Jack fell over every time he touched the ball, Lamps did little to dominate the centre of the pitch and Smalling was all over the place. I hope this is a little bit of reverse psychology on young Barkley.

I absolutely think it is reverse psychology. Hodgson knows that Ross Barkley needs to tidy up a few small aspects of his game to become a brilliant player (and not just a very good player).

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

These games mean very little. For the record Italy drew 1-1 at home to Luxembourg this evening.

Quite. I was discussing friendlies over here and very little attention is paid to them. They are viewed as leg-stretching exercises and nothing more. The result is irrelevant. Interestingly the qualifying games are viewed rather routinely as well with little hype or hysteria.