The EURO 2012 Thread

[Cressa121]

Yesterday was so frustrating. Did it really not occur to anyone to put pressure on Pirlo? Seriously? He's been around for years, we've seen how good he is at club and international level. Yet we gave him the freedom of the midfield. Even during the game, no one on the touchline or the pitch thought "hang on a minute, that Pirlo chap is controlling this. Let's start pressuring him when he gets the ball." I was baffled by it. Pirlo is a brilliant player as it is, it probably isn't a good idea to stand off him and give him as much time and space on the ball as we did.

Rooney was shit too. He's done absolutely nothing internationally since Euro 2004. Why play him, I mean, what does he do? He's one of those players that either looks like a world beater or a pub player, there's no middle ground. Unfortunately it's been the latter for England for too long now.

At least we should have Wilshere and Cleverly in the team by the World Cup. No pressure lads.

[Master]

Agreed Cressa, England were poor and were going to do a Chelsea and play for penalties.

At the top level we were exposed. Carrol was on the floor and lost the ball, Young looked good during the friend lies but in the tournament he was awful. Rooney poor so were the rest of the team. Cannot keep possession of a football. Joke.

[Cressa121]

Agreed Cressa, England were poor and were going to do a Chelsea and play for penalties.

At the top level we were exposed. Carrol was on the floor and lost the ball, Young looked good during the friend lies but in the tournament he was awful. Rooney poor so were the rest of the team. Cannot keep possession of a football. Joke.

We've had this problem for as long as I can remember.

The only thing I enjoyed about that game was Pirlo's little chip. Cool as ice.

[Master]

Agreed Cressa, England were poor and were going to do a Chelsea and play for penalties.

At the top level we were exposed. Carrol was on the floor and lost the ball, Young looked good during the friend lies but in the tournament he was awful. Rooney poor so were the rest of the team. Cannot keep possession of a football. Joke.

We've had this problem for as long as I can remember.

The only thing I enjoyed about that game was Pirlo's little chip. Cool as ice.

What a cunt, brilliant though and you have to have nerves of steel to pull that off. Unlike Lineker's attempt.

[Gandalf]

We did pretty much what I expected. Decent at the back and struggling to put the ball in the net asides from Sweden where we got a bit lucky. The penalties were very poor.

England need to start getting more scientific with penalties and focus upon other goalkeepers and what they do well and less so well. Same with spot takers. Considering how often we go to penalties we need to do our homework and plan for specific situations.

[Memphis]

I'd prefer we learn to pass the fucking thing first

[Gandalf]

I'd prefer we learn to pass the fucking thing first

Good point.

[Mark TKO]

curb the number of foreigners you can have in your squad in the premier league (one thing you can't slag Man United off for)

and drastic action at youth level - have games where they cannot play the long ball and have to take on players or pass to get the ball forward, anything !!

ok so it may take years to see a return - I don't care ! I do not want to have an international team that can't compete at the top level

AND I agree with Rob Beasley in the Sun today. Drop all the 30 somethings we have regardless of what they can still offer for 2014. Lampard, Gerrard, Terry, Parker, Cole etc.... Say bye bye

We cannot win in Brazil in 2014 fact - the climate won't suit us and we will still be a work in progress. So lets have a go with the youngsters and make sure they are fucking match fit !!

[Kirkland Laing]

I'd prefer we learn to pass the fucking thing first

They're starting that this coming season. For decades now youth (age five plus) football in Britain has been put two big kids at the back, two big kids up front and the rest of the team get sore necks watching the ball getting hoofed over their heads to the big lads for a knockdown. All this on full-size pitches which means seven year old goalkeepers defending the same area as Petr Cech.

Now they're going to do what they've done in europe for decades. Split the pitch five ways across and play five five-a-sides. Kids will get lots of touches of the ball and will actually get practice passing it, learn some technique. The idiot FA are only doing this for half the years kids are in youth football but at least it means we may produce some half-decent players in fifteen years or so. So in the 2030s Euros and World Cups we might have half a chance.

The new good technique kids will still have to convince English clubs that they'd be any good however which could be a real stumbling block. Can you imagine a sixteen year old Xavi and Iniesta trying to get signed by a Premier Legue club? Too small son, not physical enough.......