Football Focus

[red devil]

Steven Gerrard's Heat Map...:)

http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article10125913.ece/alternates/w620/Gerrard3.jpg

[Otta]

I shared that on FB yesterday. It even got a show on MOTD.

Crazy crazy match, can't argue with

1. United's first half performance

2. Mata's second goal

3. Gerrard's sending off.

What I do argue with quite strongly is Jones not seeing red. But hey ho, still 8 games to play, I don't think yesterday has settled anything.

[maxxi]

He's on the bench but not starting Kane is typical of Hodgson's middle-management approach.

Whatever happened to putting players who are bang in form straight into the team? I thought the keeping-with-the-tried-and-tested died a death after the pathetic 'Golden' generation?

[Jah Lush]

I think Hodgson got it spot on to show loyalty to the players who've already done a good job for you, i.e Wellbeck, who not only scored but put in a man of the match performance, get the result and then introduce him. Didn't take him long to score and impress did it? That may not have been the case if he'd come on from the start. He'll be more than ready to face the Italians on Tuesday now.

[red devil]

I thought he did the right thing not starting Kane. Bed him in gradually. There's already too much press hype surrounding him, which is exactly how the 'Golden Generation' came about. Better to send him off to the Under-21 tournament in the summer and see how he performs at that level first...

[titch juicy]

Agree completely with Jah Lush and Red Devil. Softly softly approach. He doesn't need anymore pressure heaped on him and Rooney & Welbeck are both bang in form for England.

[maxxi]

We'll just have to disagree - Welbeck et al were part of the problem at last WC finals - they didn't perform.

Sure they've 'done a good job' against mediocre opposition but then England have a habit of doing well in the qualifying. I think Kane needed to start not come on when the team were 3-0 up with 20 mins left. Starting a game when it's all up in the air is a different thing.

Still - I'm sure Rooney's miss three score one approach will see England through like it always does.

[maxxi]

...until the next finals of course.

[titch juicy]

Most strikers miss a couple for a every goal they score. If it was a friendly I would've started him. Not when there's more pressure.

[maxxi]

Really TJ? But surely a home banker v Lithuania is as low-pressure as a competitive start can get? Otherwise when does he start a competitive match? If loyalty is all-important then surely not until the others have failed, i.e. in the EC finals when it's suddeny crucial.

A point doing the rounds today is that if Sterling had a 'long standing toe complaint' (there's an ironic pun in there somewhere) he shouldn't have been risked anyway and Kane could have started alongside Rooney and Welbeck (though personally I think Sterling did better then m.o.t.m. Welbeck).

My point about Rooney maybe a bit harsh (calm down RD) - I think he's improved a LOT for England over the last year or so - just not so sure about him in tournament finals.

[titch juicy]

I just think because he's on such an unusual trajectory this season that everyone needs to calm down a little and nurse him into the team rather than throw him in, regardless of oppo. Not sure three strikers would've been right (Sterling and Kane very different). It just seems as though the country is so desperate for a superstar/saviour (an English Bale or somesuch) that if he's started and not performed against weak oppo the papers would've very quick to give it the old 'flash in the pan' headlines or blamed Hodgson for throwing him in too early. By holding him back it was a no lose all round- if we were losing/struggling and he came on and did poorly it wouldn't have been his fault but if he'd turned it round he'd have been a saviour. If he came on when we were winning and did nothing it wouldn't matter. Or, final scenario he comes on when we're comfortable and performs it does his confidence even more good with less pressure.

I'm probably overanalysing- but as it happens it seems to have been the right decision by Hodgson, either by luck or design

[Jah Lush]

What with the injuries and withdrawals I can see England playing 4-4-1-1 on Tuesday with Rooney playing behind Kane. That would suit both of them. Though I fancy Hodgson had that in mind anyway.

[Mick Mac]

Hodgson might be as inept in the Euro finals as he was in the WC. Happy for him to prove some people wrong but if I were England FA he'd never have got the job in the first place.

Also, it's not helpful for England to have no challenges in qualifying. Always good to qualify though! Unlike Ireland.

[Jah Lush]

1. He was the best qualified for the job when he got it.

2. Err... we're playing Italy on Tuesday and nearer finals (assuming we qualify) we'll hopefully have some tough friendlies lined up too.

[Mick Mac]

Best qualified by reason of his recent achievements at Liverpool? I think his managerial record is mixed and was also surprised Liverpool appointed him.

Playing Italy might help, but a friendly is a friendly.

[red devil]

Hodgson was the safe option for the club ties at the FA. Redknapp was most fans' choice at the time, but he carried too much baggage for them. There's a deep lack of quality English managers in the game...

[Jah Lush]

He'd got international experience as well as working all over Europe. Apart from Bournemouth Harry's never worked outside London.

[Mick Mac]

True - but the manager doesn't have to be English. I understand you would prefer that he is English but when the resources are particularly low its the time to look elsewhere (again).

Redknapp's tax case was the undoing of his chances, even though he was "innocent". Only the judge and Harry's dog thought he was innocent.

Will be interesting to see if England can do better come the finals - i'll be supporting them, but not too expectantly.

[JohnL]

titch juicy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Most strikers miss a couple for a every goal they

> score. If it was a friendly I would've started

> him. Not when there's more pressure.

Bale had about 11 chances and scored 2 against Israel - most

made by some great play by him

Looking at him play - he needs to be the superstar in the team

Maybe thats why he has problems at Madrid.

[Jah Lush]

Bale's problem at Madrid is Ronaldo.

[Otta]

I'm quite jealous of Welsh fans at the moment, if they qualify it will be huge for them and they'll love the tournament whatever happens.

Can't muster any interest in England because we'll more than likely qualify then more of the same. What's the point even watching?

[Mick Mac]

I think Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have strong chances of qualifying which with England it could be a clean sweep. Long way to go though. Would be nice to have them all in.

[Jah Lush]

Don't be so defeatist, Otta. Let's put that last line to politics.

Can't muster any interest in (name your party) because we'll likely qualify/fail/ then more of the same. What's the point even voting.

[Otta]

Well quite.

[maxxi]

4800

He shoots, he...etc