Last 16: England v Iceland 27th June, 8pm

[PoolieTom]

Fuck playing with wingers, our full backs need to be stood on the edge of the pitch on the edge of the Iceland box at all times. They aren't going to threaten us defensively. We could play with no centre backs tonight and still be untroubled.

Cahill and Smalling sat in our own half with their only jobs being 'pass to Dier' will be brutal. Get some width (with the full backs). Get players into the box.

Roy needs to sit and watch the Germany game from yesterday and just repeat their tactics. Full backs hog the touch line, bomb forward as much as possible. Let Dier bring the ball out himself from centre back, get four players in the box rather than just Kane.

It's so simple, yet Roy looks to be getting it all soooooo wrong tonight and a ball hasn't even been kicked. I'm going to need to sink quite a few beers tonight to ease the 120 minute 0-0 epic we are in for.

 

[JJH]

The first half of this post is the most sensible thing I've read about England on this forum. Then you let yourself down with the rest.....



I despair. It's fucking awful.

With the team selection?

If I had it my way we wouldn't even be playing 4-3-3, let alone the way we play it.

I'd have been all for it had we included wingers in the squad. It's pointless me speculating regarding formations, because it's obvious that Roy isn't going to change it.

 

[PoolieTom]

And don't get me started on Sterling. We will witness the single worst performance from any England player ever tonight.

 

[Laker]

I'd have dropped a defender for a striker, as crazy as that sounds. We clearly need more firepower and an extra man can't hurt:

Hart
Walker Smalling Rose
Lallana Rooney Dier Alli Rashford
Sturridge Kane

Not a 3-5-2 in the wingback sense, almost a 3-3-4 with 2 wide players.

We're trying to break through a wall here, 4-3-3 with one central striker just won't do it.

 

[PoolieTom]

With the team selection?

If I had it my way we wouldn't even be playing 4-3-3, let alone the way we play it.

I'd have been all for it had we included wingers in the squad. It's pointless me speculating regarding formations, because it's obvious that Roy isn't going to change it.

Partly the team selection, but mainly the comments about Lallana/Sterling to be honest. I suppose you've made up for it there.

 

[PoolieTom]

I'd have dropped a defender for a striker, as crazy as that sounds. We clearly need more firepower and an extra man can't hurt:

Hart
Walker Smalling Rose
Lallana Rooney Dier Alli Rashford
Sturridge Kane

Not a 3-5-2 in the wingback sense, almost a 3-3-4 with 2 wide players.

We're trying to break through a wall here, 4-3-3 with one central striker just won't do it.

PRAISE THE LORD - there is an England fan with sense. Is it too late to nominate you as League 2 member of the year?

Not too sure on the actual personnel you've picked, but the theory is spot on.

 

[Laker]

PRAISE THE LORD - there is an England fan with sense. Is it too late to nominate you as League 2 member of the year?

Not too sure on the actual personnel you've picked, but the theory is spot on.

Haha yeah I'm not comfortable with the personnel I've picked either however please can you blame the dearth of English talent on Roy and/or the Premier League as we are somewhat limited? ;-)

I personally like Jack Wilshere but I didn't want to be too radical. Sterling has been utter turd however. I am a little concerned by a central defence with just Smalling in it but we can't defend anyway so not much of a loss there.

League 2 member of the year? Pfft, such an award is below me. ;-)

 

[Stevencc]

That lineup is absolutely ridiculous.

I wouldn't even use that in FIFA let alone disgrace an actual football pitch with its presence!

We need to be creative and attacking to break down a team like Iceland but even Hodgson has enough tactical nous to know that there are ways to approach a match like this that aren't absolutely suicidal.

 

[The Unbeliever]

Good team

Are you RH in disguise ?.

 

[Abertawe]

That defence by Laker though bama:

 

[The Unbeliever]

Oh God, luckily for me I've got a Welsh surname so if things go pear shaped I can become a plastic Welsh fan

 

[JaseTheVillain]

I have an Irish surname, so I'm fucked either way... I do have Welsh great-grandparents though.

 

[PoolieTom]

We need to be creative and attacking to break down a team like Iceland but even Hodgson has enough tactical nous to know that there are ways to approach a match like this that aren't absolutely suicidal.

You mean like against Slovakia. That went well..

 

[Stevencc]

You mean like against Slovakia. That went well..

The correct response to a goalless draw is a batshit insane formation that forgoes anything resembling defence? That's like smashing your TV with a sledgehammer because it was on the wrong channel.

 

[PoolieTom]

And your (Roy's) response is to play the exact same way but just with different people? I'm looking forward to the 60th minute when we make some subs..

 

[Jockney]

People are talking about Iceland as if they're San Marino. They are unbeaten and have scored more goals than us --- against better opposition than we faced to boot.

 

[PoolieTom]

I would actually not even play a set formation tonight.

Hart in goal.
Smalling in defence to head the ball away if needed.
Dier in midfield to bring the ball forward.
Rooney and Alli in the middle ahead of Dier to receive the ball and play it out wide.
Walker and Rose to hog the touchline.
Lallana with a free role.
The rest (Kane and probably Sturridge and Vardy) in the box. 3 men marked by 2 defenders and 2 midfielders. I'd fancy our chances.

Simple.

 

[The Unbeliever]

Enstein's definition of insanity comes to mind

 

[Abertawe]

Gylfi's gonna get ya

 

[PoolieTom]

Enstein's definition of insanity comes to mind

I'm sure there will be a picture for this somewhere - Stevencc should change his avatar.

 

[Stevencc]

 

[Reaper]

Dont get why Stones doesn't play while we playing the possession game because he's miles better and comfortable than the other 2 on the ball and he can burst forward into midfield and create opportunities, he as to come into the starting lineup tonight for one of the other 2 imo.

 

[G.B]

personally i'd play without a goalkeeper cos reasons and that

 

[JimJams]

Dont get why Stones doesn't play while we playing the possession game because he's miles better and comfortable than the other 2 on the ball.

I thought that. But then I also think it's best to stick with a consistent back 4 unless someone is underperforming, and none are. So although it's a nice idea in principle it's also completely unneccesary.
Really we should be able to play anybody in this game and come away with a win.

 

[AnkleBiter]

People are talking about Iceland as if they're San Marino. They are unbeaten and have scored more goals than us --- against better opposition than we faced to boot.

Yeah I'm not convinced they'll completely park the bus, they had a good number of chances against Austria.

 

[Laker]

You need to think outside the box and adopt a gung-ho approach to life, it's much more exciting. Too many non-believers on this thread, next thing you'll tell me is the earth isn't flat.....

;-)

 

[JimJams]

Vialli thinks we have good players but no system.

Well he's half right!

 

[silkyman]

And don't get me started on Sterling. We will witness the single worst performance from any England player ever tonight.

Tenner to charity on that?

 

[JimJams]

I actually think he'll do well. At his best he's not just a pace merchant, he can dribble well too and go round players with good footwork, though we've not seen that in a while.

 

[silkyman]

Anyway, I've long thought that England managers had pressure on them to play certain players. The reason he's playing Sterling is clearly because he has taken a kickback from the Headline Writer's Association of England.

No matter the performance and result, something Brexitty will work.