England vs Montenegro 11/10/13

[leon]

wow, I wasn't expecting this to be a total tardfest.



Not sure why really.

Ian Royal! Are you back from the match?

[AthleticoSpizz]

erm...with our resources..probably yes

[southbank1871]

wow, I wasn't expecting this to be a total tardfest.



Not sure why really.

Ian Royal! Are you back from the match?

rofl

[AthleticoSpizz]

whats a rofl?

[southbank1871]

You're nearly as bad as Dirk at the internet.

[AthleticoSpizz]

yes and proudly so


Who's Dirk?

[leon]

And Montenegro is basically a principality.

So because Montenegro are doing better than their size and population suggests they should do, that automatically makes England shitter?

I think you're possibly taking this all a bit too seriously.

[southbank1871]

This is serious business leo (can I call you leo?)

[leon]

This is serious business leo (can I call you leo?)

you can. But I won't nominate you for most improved poster again in the end of year poll.

[just some bloke]

World Cup Qualification, 2014

Goals Scored

Netherlands 32
Germany 31
England 29

-----------
Portugal 19
Italy 17
Sweden 16
France 12
USA 12
Spain 12

----------
Luxembourg 7
Scotland 6
Mexico 5

[stealthpapes]

What an utterly bizarre thread. For once England look quite good against a half-decent team (let's ignore their small population for the time being shall we?) and actually beat them fairly comfortably and some posters still use it as an opportunity to say how shit they are.

First half was shit, with a brief burst of energy fading. Second half was actually a decent performance.

Montenegro missing at least three of main squad and had a keeper who'd been banned for two of last three years. It was a bit like me taking candy from prostak.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

I thought they played well against a team who put ten men behind the ball and set up to counter at every opportunity.

They handled the pressure of the occasion as well, which bodes well for Tuesday night.

[Ian Royal]

Now we're back to talking about the match, I only caught bits and pieces. But it was fairly clear Montenegro were shaped to frustrate England and maybe nick something. Often a type of play from an average team that will cause us problems as we lack real technical quality and the brains to pick our way through the massed ranks of defence.

I thought our forward line looked like it had plenty of potential and with some work and games could pose a real threat to anyone. I quite like the lopsided shape with one pacy winger and a forward like Welbeck who can put in a shift out wide and come inside posing a threat too. I wasn't paying close attention so I may have misread that though.

Cracking goal from Townsend.

HT chat was ridiculous. All doom and gloom because a decent team playing to stifle England had held out for 45 minutes. Helloooooo the game lasts 90. Thankfully, England didn't panic like Childs and just came out and got the job done.

We really need to find a first choice midfield that doesn't include Gerrard, Lampard or Milner though. By all means take them to the WC if we make it, but as reliable back up. Lets build a future with the first eleven please.

[Silver Fox]

Sorry

maybe its just me, but

Brought up through the 1960's (didn't we win something then?)/early 70's

I am used to better

Well, when you look back at the 70s you can't help but yearn for those tournaments England consistently failed to qualify for. (I won't be a dick and say how they didn't qualify for '66 or '70)

[AthleticoSpizz]

neeeeearly had me there, you dick

Do you ever say or do anything, other than just prey and leech onto other peoples comments?

Try saying something original, (when you are not sat in your glass booth laughing, being fed 50ps in a fairground)

[From Despair To Where?]

I think Hodgson is making a pretty decent fist of this international management lark, not that it really comes as a great surprise. Montenegro are exactly the sort of side England would have struggled to beat previously but he's shaking the squad up a bit and not relying on the same old names and there actually seems to be a Plan B.

I do think England are a some way off seriously challenging for major titles but Hodgson has the nous to make the very most of what is available to him.

[Sanguine]

I think Hodgson is making a pretty decent fist of this international management lark, not that it really comes as a great surprise. Montenegro are exactly the sort of side England would have struggled to beat previously but he's shaking the squad up a bit and not relying on the same old names and there actually seems to be a Plan B.

I do think England are a some way off seriously challenging for major titles but Hodgson has the nous to make the very most of what is available to him.

Can't disagree with that, and only one defeat as manager in 17 months (The One Where Zlatan Was God) bears that out. We aren't Brazil, won't play like Brazil, and Hodgson won't pretend he wants to. I do wish he'd stop picking James Milner though. The seeds of (imho) a decent young team have been sewn under Hodgson, and I think he's the man to see that team bear its fruit over the coming years.

[Maguire]

I think Hodgson is making a pretty decent fist of this international management lark, not that it really comes as a great surprise. Montenegro are exactly the sort of side England would have struggled to beat previously but he's shaking the squad up a bit and not relying on the same old names and there actually seems to be a Plan B.

I do think England are a some way off seriously challenging for major titles but Hodgson has the nous to make the very most of what is available to him.

In fairness to Capello, he did qualify for 2010 fairly impressively. Lost one game (away to Ukraine) but dished out some beatings along the way (took Croatia down 9-2 on aggregate over the two games).

I do agree though that Hodgson is turning out a pretty good team based on resources available. I hope they don't blow it tomorrow night, partly for the obvs reason but also partly because it would trigger a stupendous overreaction.

[From Despair To Where?]

I take your point but for every thumping handed out to Croatia, there's points dropped against sides like Israel, Macedonia or Montenegro, or unconvincing performances against the likes of Andorra and Luxembourg.

I accept the results under Hodgson were unconvincing at first but he now seems to be finding his team and the players, particularly the less experienced international players, are really playing some decent stuff. I know the draw in Ukraine was pretty dire but the squad was weakened by injuries in key positions but they got the job done. You can see a progression in the way the team is playing. I'm just glad the FA went for the sensible choice (Hodgson) over the popular choice (Redknapp).

[ZacNaloen]

Jesus can you imagine the oxf*rd circus if Redknapp actually got the job, Nightmare.