FIFA World Cup 2014 - GROUP D [Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy - 14/19/20/24 June] **spoilers**

Matteysan said:
Why is Rooney basically playing a wingers role?
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He's trying to help him gain fitness, and running up and down the line should aid that... or kill him.

Looking at the tactical possibility too, the thinking being he's struggled to influence games floating behind the striker, and Lallana might be the better bet there (or looking at the deeper-lying playmaker, like Liverpool used last season), so he's trying it out. It's what these friendlies are for.
 
this_is_gav said:
He's trying to help him gain fitness, and running up and down the line should aid that... or kill him.

Looking at the tactical possibility too, the thinking being he's struggled to in influence games floating behind the striker, and Lallana might be the better bet there, so he's trying it out. It's what these friendlies are for.
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I guess so but to me Rooney should be up top or not at all. We have plenty of midfielders we can try different things with.

I just hope he doesn't do this during the WC itself.
 
I actually think we look half decent going forward, although there are still a few too many cheaply misplaced passes for my liking.

It's defence that looks a shambles, whenever Ecuador get the ball to feet in the final third we look very uncomfortable indeed.
 
Showing my age here and I remember the England team of Italia 90 getting pelters before the tournament but you could see there was real magic in the team and it needed a spark to get them going. I'm not seeing the same spark or the same magic, they don't appear to have geled at all this lot
 
Defensively England are terrible. Been very impressed with Barkley and ox, still would love to see them 2 start in the WC
 
Loki said:
Showing my age here and I remember the England team of Italia 90 getting pelters before the tournament but you could see there was real magic in the team and it needed a spark to get them going. I'm not seeing the same spark or the same magic, they don't appear to have geled at all this lot
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Did you collect the gold coin book of Italia 90 and the thick office type hardback sticker album?
 
I guess I'm in the minority about Barkley...I think he's been poor so far. Seen a lot of the ball and done nothing with it. Its all well and good running 60 yards but If the pass on the end of it is poor then you might as well not bother. Should have played Wilshire in early as well, another poor simple pass he should be making.

Smalling is just awful isn't he. He just chills out at the back, doesn't worry about positioning whatsoever.
 
Tute said:
I actually think we look half decent going forward, although there are still a few too many cheaply misplaced passes for my liking.

It's defence that looks a shambles, whenever Ecuador get the ball to feet in the final third we look very uncomfortable indeed.
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In this humidity neither side (even if Ecuador are more used to this) are going to be pressing much, so it opens up at both ends. It'll be more cagey against Italy in Manaus, even with so much riding on it. It'll be a boring game with teams worried about conceding possession and the opposition not wanting to press. That game is made for a Pirlo/Gerrard showdown.
 
Quite a few times I noticed Shaw hasn't gotten forward down the left during an attack. Seems a bit odd to me.
 
omnomnom said:
I guess I'm in the minority about Barkley...I think he's been poor so far. Seen a lot of the ball and done nothing with it. Its all well and good running 60 yards but If the pass on the end of it is poor then you might as well not bother. Should have played Wilshire in early as well, another poor simple pass he should be making.
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Agreed. For me he's done nothing to suggest he should start ahead of Rooney or Lallana in the #10 role.
 
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