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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jul 10, 2014 9:35:50 GMT
I agree and the job's a hell of a lot easier with 20/20 hindsight!
My hope is that some lessons have been learned, or we could get another painful lesson from the might of Switzerland in the Autumn.
Could be worse. Our Scottish cousins are playing Germany away in their Euro qualifiers...
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jul 10, 2014 9:02:12 GMT
I think Baines was always going to be first choice given the season he'd had and Cole's lack of action. I personally still thought Cole was the better suited for a World Cup but he was never going to start. If he had have gone then Hodgson would have had to drop Baines after the Italy game when he looked a bit nervous. This would have meant he'd made a mistake in the first place. I think Shaw will be our first choice easily in two years if we make it through our qualifying group. God knows what sort of team we'll have though. And to suggest Barry as the holding midfielder, at his age and after so long out of the England fold, just shows the dearth of talent we have. You're right about dearth of talent Jimmy. Whether it's the small number of English players in the Prem or poor coaching, we are desperately short of intelligent defensive players. Right across the back line and defensive midfielders. I'm not convinced about Hart either. He had a poor tournament and there are questions about his temperament. I watch the game waiting for his mistake. If I've no confidence, how do the defenders feel?
Baines could have been helped by Hodgson if he had got the balance of the team right. Lallana would have been a better bet on the left.
Against Italy maybe a midfield diamond would have been better. Gerrard (or even Jones) holding and staying put to protect the dynamic duo of Cahill/Jagielka, Lallana and Milner wide to protect the full backs with either Sterling or Barkley behind Rooney and Sturridge.
Might have made us a bit more solid with a bit more threat.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jul 9, 2014 12:10:33 GMT
On the positive side, England looked better than 4 years ago and also 2 years ago at the Euros. We kept the ball better and had a bit of pace and some new players.
But, we don't create many chances, we have no patience, intelligence or tactical awareness or discipline. This team is defensively weak. We have a "celebrity footballer" culture which doesn't lend itself to the team ethic and, similar to the Premier League, we try to score with every attack every time we get the ball. We were in a tough group to start with (2 top 10 ranked teams ahead of us) and Costa Rica surprised everyone.
What worries me about Roy is that he got the balance of the team badly wrong. He did not plan for the weaknesses of our defence. In hindsight, not taking Cole was a mistake, and it was clear that neither Gerrard nor Henderson are anything like international holding midfield players. Barry would have been better in this role.
And that's the problem. Until somebody like Ramsey has the courage to pick the most suitable players for the team, even if they're not the best "media Celebrity" players the papers recognise, we will always have 11 individuals that produce less than the sum of their parts. Contrast this with Costa Rica, who have 11 "lesser" players who deliver way more than the sum of their parts.
We don't need to copy anybody else's system. We would improve if we simply picked a "team" instead of trying to get our 11 so called best "star players" onto the pitch at the same time.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 27, 2014 10:31:54 GMT
Negatives
1. I don't know much about football 2. Our definition of "good" players may need to be re-visited 3. Winning is more important than taking part (notable exception: Australia) 4. You don't always get what you deserve (Croatia v Brazil, Italy v Uruguay) 5. Following England is invariably frustrating and disappointing
Positives 1. Our press and pundits appear to know even less about football than me 2. Football can still surprise, delight and amaze me. (Spain v Holland was an incredible game of football) 3. Organisation, tactics, fitness and commitment is still a great leveller 4. Football, thank the Lord, is still very much a team game, though often decided by moments of individual brilliance 5. Supporting Stoke City in the 21st century is like living in a fairy tale
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 16, 2014 13:50:30 GMT
I think everybody is relatively positive about our younger players, and we definitely looked better at keeping the ball and more potent in attack.
The depressing reality is that our professional footballers don't seem to be as intelligent and seem to have limited tactical awareness and discipline.
With Italy, it's not just about keeping a lead, it's how they use possession to dictate the pace and control the game.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 16, 2014 13:27:30 GMT
I thought Wellbeck did OK on the right too, Mick, which is maybe why Johnson didn't look as exposed as Baines.
I was surprised when he was the first change, unless it was related to his fitness.
When Roy stuck Ross Barkley on the left of midfield, it just smacked of the old England fault of desperately trying to get all your best players on the pitch with little regard to the balance or shape of the team. As an amateur punter, I must admit I was scratching my head about some of the changes.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 16, 2014 13:13:14 GMT
I'm with Pugs on this. Italy gave us a lesson in teamwork and tournament football.
We play as "celebrity" footballers - all the focus is on individuals.
For Italy, the team ethic is key. All players are tactically disciplined and aware, do their jobs and give an 8 out of 10 performance.
They are also patient. We go bombing forward like kids, trying to score every time we get the ball. They wait, keep possession, and are smart enough to exploit an opportunity when Rooney has been sucked in, Baines is upfield and there's a big hole in our left back area.
Pugs is dead right. They have more intelligent footballers than us. They are happy to let us huff and puff while they control the game.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 16, 2014 8:46:30 GMT
Absolutely agree with Britsabroad, General and Millsy above.
No fear of failure and go for it against an average Uruguay. Suarez can't be fully fit, and he's the only one that can hurt us.
We kept the ball so much better and looked really dangerous when possession changed. our quick breaks could kill them.
Wellbeck left, Rooney centre, Sterling right. I don't think this will restrict Sterling, but we'll get so much more out of Rooney and the team as a whole.
I also thought Italy again demonstrated why they are so good at tournament football.
Tactically aware and flexible, used possession to dictate and control the pace of the game, brilliant at disrupting play or fouling when necessary high up the pitch before attacks or breaks develop, took their chances when they arrived. They may not have the fire power to do really well, but it would not surprise me to see them in the semis. They just know how to play international tournament football. We don't.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 12, 2014 13:52:38 GMT
I have us down to get through the group in second (Italy first: 0-0 v Italy, 1-1 v Uruguay and 2-0 v Costa Rica), beat Colombia 2-1 and then bow out to Brazil in the QFs 2-0. About par as you say...... I'm kind of with you and FM on this.
I still do the same thing I did since I was about 9 (West Germany 1974), which is pick who will qualify then map out the quarters, semi and final etc. 49 now and really need to grow up but never mind...
This utterly unreliable theory tells me that we may be better qualifying as runner up, keeping us in Brazil's half of the draw. I would prefer them in a one-off QF than Spain. Also, if by some miracle we were to beat them, it may take us to a semi final with France/Portugal, avoiding Spain and Argentina/Germany.
I'm sure all variables will change, and we'll probably go out in the quarters, or even lose to Columbia, but I wouldn't be unhappy with qualifying as runners up.
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Cold rational analysis screams that defensively we are just not good enough.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 4, 2014 14:02:20 GMT
I think he knows he's got a problem at Right Back. Johnson too prone to go wandering off on his own. I don't see Jones as a right back and I think Milner may have played there before. At least he'll keep our shape and get back when he should.
It could be a way of waking up Glen Johnson and saying you've got to listen to what we're telling you. All this talk of the Liverpool way is OK, but they conceded 50 goals in 38 matches.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 4, 2014 13:53:45 GMT
I'm not sure it's that straightforward.
Johnson had a proper mare against Peru, and all the old doubts about positioning, tactical discipline and basic defensive ability re-surfaced.
To me, Phil Jones has done nothing in the last couple of years to make me think he is even a back-up international full back. In fact he seems to have gone backwards since he left Blackburn, and also looks injury prone.
In fairness to Roy, we are desperately short of English right backs. I think Milner has the opportunity to be considered as first choice right back. I wouldn't mind this. He is proven at international level, has had a decent season, is tactically disciplined and will do the job asked of him, can get up and down and is as fit as a fiddle.
There are so many issues with our defence its worrying. The squad is unbalanced. Not sure how fit Jagielka or Jones are (to say nothing of Rooney, Wilshere and Chambo), Shaw is a rookie, Smalling is sub standard and we haven't really got any recognised defensive midfielders.
We know what Lampard can do, and he is surely only back up if we have an injury crisis. We know that Lambert's plan B. We're going to chuck him on for the last 20 if we're chasing and go 2 up. So do this in this game. The best thing to do in my amateur hour opinion would be to play Barkley behind Rooney up front and look at some viable options.
It looks like Roy's trying to give everybody a game as a squad harmony exercise, but I'm not sure if there is time.
Edit: Sorry Paul, beat me to it - again. I wouldn't be surprised to see Milner play at RB in this tournament - he could be the best of a bad job.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 3, 2014 15:46:02 GMT
I think Italy will go all out to beat what they see as a poor England team in that first game. We must be ready to hit them hard on counter attacks through the middle of midfield and not out wiDE where they are better equipped to cope. Barkley from the start and Rooney on the bench would be my gamble for that game
I couldn't agree more with every post you've made on this thread today Pete.
Absolutely perfect analysis of the current situation.
Difficult to say on Rooney. Roy will see him in training and the next couple of games and will have to assess his fitness, sharpness and confidence. He is a player who needs to be 100% to perform If he's ready, I would play him. He is still our most naturally talented player, capable of turning a game with a moment of brilliance.
I'm more worried about Sturridge against top quality international opposition. He can go into his shell a bit, but has hopefully benefitted from a brilliant season with Liverpool. I'm with Paul's original idea: use Barkley from the bench, bring off Sturridge and push Rooney up front.
The formation in attack is more like options than problems. It's the back 5 that worry me. Hart always looks as if he's got a mistake coming, Baines is great going forward but is sometimes guilty of ball watching and being caught out of position, and those 2 are head and shoulders above the other 3. We haven't got an international RB, Jagielka's not fit and Kenny Miller turned away from Cahill in one step to stick the ball into the net. Ballotelli and Suarez must fancy their chances...
However cautious England are, I expect them to concede. Might be a good world cup, because there aren't many teams who look solid at the back.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 2, 2014 9:52:02 GMT
Definitely Sir Stan in the early 60's.
In addition to the effect on the team's performance and crowds, the impact on the club's profile was immense. He gave the club almost global recognition.
I wonder if the centenary match v Real Madrid would have happened without him? Also his testimonial v The Rest of the World brought some of the best players in the world to the Victoria Ground.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 29, 2014 15:05:38 GMT
Thank you. If they get Falcao fit they might be dark horses. And we could well meet them in the 2nd round...
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 29, 2014 15:00:30 GMT
Would that be James Rodriguez? Heard good things about him this season in Europe.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 29, 2014 14:56:09 GMT
I agree Paul. Italian football not flush with cash and they would be looking to find cheaper, higher risk options.
North Stokie is right too. We will have to become a club that unearths a few nuggets to polish up and sell big.
There is clearly a limit as to how much the Coates family/Bet365 will want to put in.
Maybe there is an opportunity to have one last real push, try to keep Bego, Ryan, Arnie, even N'Zonzi, and add Diouf and maybe Riviere to Bardsley. With a bit of luck, that team could surprise a few next season. With the family owning the stadium, space for development, the club could be ripe for selling to an ambitious new owner.
Either way, more exciting times ahead.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 29, 2014 14:47:31 GMT
i did fancy Brazil but i've just seen they get Spain or Holland in the 2nd round, Germany and Argentina look to have easier routes Or Chile? Seems to be a growing number of people who think Chile will get through a the expense of Holland. Either way, Brazil's 2nd Round game should be a corker! Yep, similar to 82 when Brazil went out to Italy early in the knockout stages. Brazil had a fantastic team, Socrates, Falcao, Zico etc, but defensive lapses and a Paulo Rossi hat trick sent them out. As well as 3 goals, Rossi missed an absolute sitter too.
Spain look to have the most complete team, especially if they get Costa fit and firing. But if Argentina's attacking players click there could be fireworks.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 15, 2014 11:16:01 GMT
you are so annoying mickmillslovechild that's me sorry if bringing a bit or realism into it annoys you so much though There are a few of us who have crossed swords with MMLC, but he's bang on the money here.
More chance of Lord Lucan and Shergar than Lukaku and Schurlle.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 14, 2014 20:19:28 GMT
Yep, but I guess the trick is finding them before they make it in The Prem. Are we relying on Hughesy to do that or Cartwright and the Beswicks boys?
For every Benteke and Bony, presumably there is a Cornelius and Zigic.
I'm also with you on Guidetti, but MH must have seen something in him. He went to a lot of trouble to push through the Ireland deal to take him on loan.
Still going to be the hardest and most high risk position to fill. Get that one right and we've got a decent side.
I think they all have an input. I'm sure Arnie and Muniesa were Sparky buys. Pieters seems to have been a Carto job. Yeah we're going to have to take a punt on someone from abroad, it's a gamble, but the aforementioned players shows they do come off. What's the alternative? Another gamble that costs about £15m and £50k a week more.
Realistically the days of signing a proven Prem striker are gone. We're out on fee and salary.
I think the Guidetti loan is a good indicator of where we are. Taking a chance on a lower cost hope with potential. And that is fair enough. Arnie and Muni have shown that this policy can bear fruit.
If not, its another loan for a promising youngster at one of the big clubs.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 14, 2014 15:53:14 GMT
The fact that he hasn't tried Ryan Shotton at RB even when G-Cam's looked a bit knackered suggests he just doesn't fancy him. So I would like to see a young(ish) natural RB. WD mentions a striker in the Lukaku/Bony mould. Both of those would be the best part of £20m, so I can't see that happening. I'm not sure we can match Diouf's wage demands. This is the key position. Maybe Guidetti will come good if he gets fit? Other than that, try to keep Bego, and maybe have a look at Redmond. I don't get the calls for Sidwell or another CB, and names like Moses, Zaha and Richards just sound pie in the sky to me. Neither Benteke not Bony were anywhere near £20m were they? Guidetti has done nothing to be worth a contract. Yep, but I guess the trick is finding them before they make it in The Prem. Are we relying on Hughesy to do that or Cartwright and the Beswicks boys?
For every Benteke and Bony, presumably there is a Cornelius and Zigic.
I'm also with you on Guidetti, but MH must have seen something in him. He went to a lot of trouble to push through the Ireland deal to take him on loan.
Still going to be the hardest and most high risk position to fill. Get that one right and we've got a decent side.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 14, 2014 13:57:27 GMT
The fact that he hasn't tried Ryan Shotton at RB even when G-Cam's looked a bit knackered suggests he just doesn't fancy him. So I would like to see a young(ish) natural RB.
WD mentions a striker in the Lukaku/Bony mould. Both of those would be the best part of £20m, so I can't see that happening. I'm not sure we can match Diouf's wage demands. This is the key position. Maybe Guidetti will come good if he gets fit?
Other than that, try to keep Bego, and maybe have a look at Redmond.
I don't get the calls for Sidwell or another CB, and names like Moses, Zaha and Richards just sound pie in the sky to me.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 13, 2014 16:07:33 GMT
Under promise and over deliver. The Golden Rules of Marketing and PR.
If this is a PR soundbite, I think it will come back to bite him soundly in the arse.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 13, 2014 16:03:22 GMT
and equally.... this idea that he's the best in the Premiership and should be first on the WC team sheet despite no other club ever having bid for him and no-one at all apart from Stoke fans calling for him to be in there is based on absolutely nothing other than Stoke fans who have decided that they know far more about football than international and domestic football managers Are you sure no one has bid for him? Either way there seemed to be a lot of voices who thought they knew better than the current Premier League Manager of the year these past 10 years and incidentally disagree with the razor sharp judgement of the current Stoke manager on the Shawcross for England issue. Agreed. Just because he hasn't been sold, doesn't mean that there has been no interest or even offers for Ryan. Maybe he wanted to stay at Stoke during that time. He was close to Tone who kind of "discovered" him, and likes the club and area.
Not sure how you can defend the selection process for the national team Millsy. Disregarding the evidence of our own eyes, Ryan's experience and club captaincy, the views of his fellow professionals, even the stats make a case for his inclusion in the squad. If the barely fit Jagielka or Cahill get injured, we are down to the also injured Jones, rookie Stones or crap Smalling.
Ryan will fall further behind Caulker next season if he signs for Liverpool as rumoured. By signing for Liverpool, he will suddenly be deemed to be of international quality, like err, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 13, 2014 15:39:27 GMT
Even disregarding the implications for FFP, these figures seem to have been plucked out of thin air.
If you assume he will need at least 18 "top 5" players (back of fag packet guestimate, average £15m each), that's £270m + the small matter of the £150m per year wage bill required to sustain that.(Based on the equivalent of Liverpool and Arsenal, currently the 4th and 5th highest wage bills). That looks like a total somewhere north (or should that be east) of £700m.
This sounds like a pitch to sell TV subscriptions and football shirts to the locals.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 12, 2014 15:46:04 GMT
We're also asking a lot of Sterling. He's played in a team with a lightening quick attack with the cleverness of Suarez and Coutinho.
He could be the new Aaron Lennon. All pace but a rabbit in the headlights in international football.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 12, 2014 15:40:00 GMT
Agree TD. What worried me was that Pirlo played in between Rooney and the centre mids (Gerrard and ?) and we never got near him. We barely kept the ball, had an attack and Roy didn't change the system.
Maybe Pirlo will be a bit slower, but he could have played that game at walking pace he had so much time.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 12, 2014 15:29:05 GMT
I'd be tempted to go with Hart Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines Gerrard Henderson Sterling Rooney Lallana Sturridge Hmm. I do really like the look of that XI. Looks OK when we're attacking, but I can't see Italy or Uruguay failing to score against that team.
I wonder if Milner will have to play as a holding defensive midfielder? We just don't seem to have one. Barry lacks pace and looks past it.
Also, in those conditions we need to keep the ball. Are we relying on Gerard and Henderson to keep it ticking over?
Looks like Roy is going to get men behind the ball then break quickly. Maybe he'll swap Chambo for Lallana for that pace. Also if Sturridge gets lost, he could play Barkley as the no. 10 and push Rooney upfront.
We have some attacking options, but defensively it's going to be hide behind the sofa time.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 9, 2014 14:20:59 GMT
You've got to pick the draw haven't you? West Brom have the most draws in the Prem and Stoke have the second most. Between us we are the draw kings. We are probably a tiny bit better than WBA but they have home advantage. It all points to a draw. Anyway even with our improved form you would have to be some kind of fruit loop to put real money on us winning away. I must be a fruit loop, or have just got a bit over excited by the Hughesy renaissance, but I fancy Stoke City for an away win.
Stupid I know, and after 40 years I should know better than to tip Stoke to win away.
We are confident and in form and pushing for 9th. They are finally safe and unsure who their manager will be next season. They played in midweek.
I think they'll score but we'll win 2-1. Starting to sound a bit like Punters Advice!
Disclaimer: please gamble responsibly. Never back actual real Queen's English money on Stoke City to win away.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 9, 2014 10:49:01 GMT
I think we have got adequate cover at CB. Realistically our priorities have to be a striker (who can also play wide)and a "natural" right back. If we got those 2 right I think it would improve the team. Spot on and they have to be our 2 big money signings as they're where our first 11 needs strengthening most. If we get some decent cover loans at CM and WING then well have done well. Yep, just posted on another thread that I think Redmond would be worth looking at. Sensible wages, good age, still developing. Could play wide right, but also cover wide left and behind a front man. If I was greedy, I would also take Leroy Fer on a double swoop!
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on May 9, 2014 10:34:13 GMT
I think we have got adequate cover at CB. Realistically our priorities have to be a striker (who can also play wide)and a "natural" right back.
If we got those 2 right I think it would improve the team.
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