Football Focus

[Jah Lush]

England have three further high-profile friendlies planned after tonight?s game against Italy. They take on France at home and Spain away in November and also Germany away next March. That's a pretty daunting line-up of friendlies and just what is needed considering the weakness of the teams in our qualifying group.

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> England have three further high-profile friendlies

> planned after tonight?s game against Italy. They

> take on France at home and Spain away in November

> and also Germany away next March. That's a pretty

> daunting line-up of friendlies and just what is

> needed considering the weakness of the teams in

> our qualifying group.

And I'd be surprised if we got a win against any of those with our current national side, even more so against the Germans after seeing them playing the other night. They looked useful to say the least.

[Jah Lush]

Interestingly we beat the German Under-21s 3-2 last night which bodes well for the Under-21 European Championship.

[Mick Mac]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> England have three further high-profile friendlies

> planned after tonight?s game against Italy. They

> take on France at home and Spain away in November

> and also Germany away next March. That's a pretty

> daunting line-up of friendlies and just what is

> needed considering the weakness of the teams in

> our qualifying group.

Agree - they need more of that type of match - especially away from home, gives a much better idea of where you are.

[Mick Mac]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> Jah Lush Wrote:

>

> And I'd be surprised if we got a win against any

> of those with our current national side, even more

> so against the Germans after seeing them playing

> the other night. They looked useful to say the

> least.

well, they did win the world cup.

[Mick Mac]

Good game last night. England would have been happy with the result if it were an away qualifier - but what happened in the first half?

Excellent goal from Townsend. I though Rooney merited his place and Kane played quite well too, and v closely marked.

Midfield remains England's quandary - confusion reigned in the first half. England need a David Batty.

[Jah Lush]

England do not need a fooking David Batty. Playing Jones in midfield was a big mistake. He's a centre-back. Once Carrick slotted in there after Smalling's injury things looked much better and we looked more positive going forward. Terrific goal from Townsend, positive performances from Barkley, Rooney and Kane. Players who need to up there game if they want to stay in the squad, Delph, Walker, Jones, Gibbs and Walcott.

[titch juicy]

i thought Walker was an improvement on Clyne- who was awful.

My player ratings from last night:

Jones, Clyne, Delph, Gibbs, Smalling- shocking

Henderson, Hart, Mason, Walcott, Walker - OK

Carrick, Barkley, Rooney, Jagielka, Kane, Townsend- decent

I think Barkley is a tremendous prospect- but he needs to train on. Hope he can do so at Everton.

[titch juicy]

Also worth noting that Ryan Mason now has as many assists for England as Jack Wilshere. ;-)

[Ladygooner]

April fool?

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-and-chelsea-join-forces-to-commission-halfhalf-ashley-cole-statue-10147224.html

[Ladygooner]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150331/arsenal-and-puma-launch-left-footed-ball

and another one?

[Jah Lush]

titch juicy Wrote:

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> i thought Walker was an improvement on Clyne- who

> was awful.

Pretty much agree with all your ratings. I'd forgotten about Clyne but apart from last night's poor performance has really impressed me this season. Walker, though I like him, still has an awful lot to learn with his positioning defensively.

[titch juicy]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> titch juicy Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > i thought Walker was an improvement on Clyne-

> who

> > was awful.

>

> Pretty much agree with all your ratings. I'd

> forgotten about Clyne but apart from last night's

> poor performance has really impressed me this

> season. Walker, though I like him, still has an

> awful lot to learn with his positioning

> defensively.

definitely re- Walker. Pre-injury he had improved but still a way off being top-class. Our (Spurs) right hand side is a problem, as Townsend is not a very good player, despite the odd good goal for England.

[Mick Mac]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> England do not need a fooking David Batty.

Ha - got you there Jah.

[spaul88]

What a nice goal by Charlie Adam in the Chelsea v Stoke game. Only saw the highlights now also defoe back scoring really good striker he is.

Definitely looks like Chelsea going to win, they still ahead by 7 points with one less game. Unless there is a suprise ending and Arsenal take the league what a season that would be.

[Mick Mac]

Well - it will take Arsenal and MU to both beat Chelsea in the upcoming matches to make it interesting.

[Jah Lush]

BFS... Deluded knob jockey.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32240394

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> BFS... Deluded knob jockey.

>

> http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32240394

Be fair Jah, the vast majority of us already knew the man was a complete bell end, this just adds to mountain of evidence. Remember his remarks about managing Real Madrid? Has he considered a new career in stand up?

[Otta]

Although to be fair he probably wouldn't have done worse than McClaren in the England job.

[Mick Mac]

Yet today we find ourselves flung back into domestic issues with Lionel Messi, the best player in the world, taking a moment out of his busy schedule to note how much he misses Celtic in the European competition.

?The games against Celtic were special and I want to remember them," said the Argentine international.

?We know we would get a tough game if we drew them in the Champions League, but everybody involved in those Barcelona v Celtic games wants to go and play there again.

?It is the best atmosphere in Europe and we all want to experience that again.?

[Otta]

Have you lot seen this story?

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/15/bradford-fire-stafford-heginbotham-martin-fletcher

Pretty shocking stuff if true.

[Mick Mac]

Jeez. Awful.

[red devil]

Great photo...

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/82348000/jpg/_82348294_luiz_empics.jpg

[Bhoy in Singapore]

This used to be a much busier thread. Any reason it has died off?

[Jah Lush]

A few contributors no longer contribute. One did a flounce and the others have gone cold turkey. Though like methadone prescribed addicts still lurk with the temptation to have their say running through their veins.