International Friendlies - England vs Norway/Belgium [May 26th - June 2nd 2012]

aaron333 · 31 May 2012 at 13:23

My mistake.

BaZ87 · 31 May 2012 at 13:26

When did Parker pull out?

aaron333 · 31 May 2012 at 13:32

BaZ87 said:
When did Parker pull out?

Forgive me, I just woke up

My sentence doesn't make sense anyway, Lampards the one that pulled out aha

mp260767 · 31 May 2012 at 14:24

really don't see the point of these friendlies so close to a championship.

yes you can get injuries in training, but its just asking for trouble.

Cosimo · 31 May 2012 at 18:39

Lamps is out of the finals:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18265377

HangTime · 31 May 2012 at 23:13

^yeah not too sure myself, the idea is that in the final game before the tournament the manager will want to try out his first choice XI, but equally the first choice XI players will probably be wary of getting injured. At least the squad/backup players will be wanting to make a name for themselves, e.g. Jagielka vs Norway basically played his way into the squad, I don't think he would have replaced Barry otherwise.

BaZ87 · 31 May 2012 at 23:16

I think concerns over Johnson and Parker's fitness rather than Jagielka's performance vs Norway was the main reason he replaced Barry. He can provide additional cover for Johnson and Parker as well as another option at CB.

AGD · 1 Jun 2012 at 21:04

Shame that lamps is out. Our midfield is awful now - Henderson is shockingly bad.

Pigeon_Killer · 1 Jun 2012 at 21:06

They're all as bad as each other at International level so losing Lampard will have no impact on our chances at all.

jakeke · 2 Jun 2012 at 02:14

First time I was actually looking forward to seeing Lampard, thought he could do well in the deeper position

Robbo · 2 Jun 2012 at 07:19

Welbeck is starting up front for us tonight, I hope he does well. He's certainly got ability, but he doesn't always use it.

Stewy · 2 Jun 2012 at 08:32

Robbo said:
Welbeck is starting up front for us tonight, I hope he does well. He's certainly got ability, but he doesn't always use it.

Does he? Really? Someone like Sturridge, for example, obviously has the ability: good touch, good finish, just a big confidence player. Welbeck is just... average.

Robbo · 2 Jun 2012 at 08:32

Stewy said:
Does he? Really? Someone like Sturridge, for example, obviously has the ability, good touch, good finish, just a big confidence player. Welbeck is just... average.

I didn't specify how much ability.

Jimbeam3678 · 2 Jun 2012 at 08:37

Stewy said:
Does he? Really? Someone like Sturridge, for example, obviously has the ability: good touch, good finish, just a big confidence player. Welbeck is just... average.

Stewy you used good finish and Sturridge in the same sentence

Stewy · 2 Jun 2012 at 08:41

divaboy said:
Stewy you used good finish and Sturridge in the same sentence

Before he got sulky about playing on the right, I should have added

He does seem to rate himself though which isn't a particularly nice attribute.

Cosimo · 2 Jun 2012 at 09:22

Stewy said:
Before he got sulky about playing on the right, I should have added He does seem to rate himself though which isn't a particularly nice attribute.

The love for him at the beginning of the season has long gone and probably a reason why he’s sulky. Sure he’s got some skill but he's selfish and appears to have lost vision. Attitude is also a problem. I hope he spends the summer sorting that lot out.

Cosimo · 2 Jun 2012 at 09:50

I thought that I could put my feet up after Munich but was reminded last night that my season doesn’t end until today:

It will be a first opportunity to see Eden Hazard playing. Belgium should give England a run for their money in this one.

One More Solo · 2 Jun 2012 at 09:53

Robbo said:
I didn't specify how much ability.

Think you're doing Welbeck a disservice there, his touch and ability on the ball is very good, he just needs to build consistency.

crackerman · 2 Jun 2012 at 10:20

Blooming heck 50 quid to see a friendly. Should be a good game though. Belgium have a quality young side and in a couple years they should do really well. Thing is at the moment they get lumbered in very difficult qualifying groups as their rankings is very poor. Looking forward to seeing Vertonghen, although hoping he doesn't have to much of a stormer as everything isn't signed yet. Levy is probably still getting the carrier pigeons ready to organise the payments to Ajax.

Tom84 · 2 Jun 2012 at 10:29

Stewy said:
Does he? Really? Someone like Sturridge, for example, obviously has the ability: good touch, good finish, just a big confidence player. Welbeck is just... average.

Sturridge has never been a good finisher!!