The International Friendlies thread

[GodsGift]

So we won our three warm-up games as well as all TEN of our qualifiers. We're fucking mint.

 

[JimJams]

Exactly. We're gonna tear France up! J'adore HodgePodge.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

That was poor, the sending off didn't help but England should be able to break down a side with 10 men at home. We didn't get the ball in behind for Vardy anywhere near enough but that was probably down to Portugal's deep line, the substitutes changed the game and won it for us in the end, great cross by Sterling and nice finish from Smalling.

Thought we lacked width tonight with this dimaond, however I still think it's our best option currently and on the basis Roy has no out and out wingers we better hope it works. The team selection will be interesting for the Russia game now, onto Marseille now!

 

[Reaper]

Im hoping were saving our performances for the tournament because the last 3 friendlies have been poor, Vardy is wasted outwide, hes a goal scorer not a footballer, should just be an impact player only imo. I think we look better with a 4231 formation with Kane being the only striker and having 5 midfielders who are good at keeping possession and can create goals in tricky situations. This would be my team now for Russia having seen the last few games.

Hart
Walker Cahill Smalling Rose
Dier Wilshere
Lallana Alli Sterling
Kane

 

[JimJams]

The one thing England players have that others fear is pace. We don't use it, we seemingly don't know how to use it, when it comes to trying to play a passing or possession based game we will be hopelessly outclassed by sides that actually know what they're doing and have been doing it for years.
Then we'll look at whoever wins the tournament and look at their style of football, try to copy that for a couple of years, rinse and repeat. It's what we do.

 

[smat]

Pretty rubbish performance but it was very clear that Wilshere and Sterling are our best actual footballers and imo should be on the pitch. If we can't use Vardy's pace there's no point him being in the team, and I hope Rooney retires from international football after the finals. He just slows us down.

Still looking forward to it. We have the quality to top the group.

 

[Mustard]

I think if this game showed anything it's that we need at least two of Lallana, Wilshere and Sterling on the pitch. Without them there is just very little creativity/speed in the team. I'd be tempted to ditch this diamond and go with

Dier - Wilshere

Lallana/Rooney - Alli - Sterling

Kane

Vardy just seems wasted the way we're set up. Might be a good player to bring on if we're playing a Germany or Spain and want to hit them on the counter, but it's clear that Hodgson sees us as being less direct and more of a possession team in which case we need that creativity (although I think a counter attacking style would suit us better). I think the diamond shoehorns players into a system that doesn't really play to anybodies strengths. We're going to have a nightmare trying to break down teams with such a narrow formation, we need some width.

 

[JimJams]

The problem with the idea of bringing in Vardy from the bench is presumably that he'd be brought on if we're chasing a game, not closing one out. So if we're a goal down bring him on to use his pace, but if we are losing a match generally opposition defences will sit deeper. Vardys main threat is using the space in behind, so if they lessen that they lessen his effect. I don't think the idea of him being an impact sub is all that good an idea. To break a stalemate perhaps, to chase a game I think someone like Sterling might be a better option.
What I don't get is how Roy doesn't know how to get the best out of players he's had the whole season to study and friendlies to play and yet he still doesn't seem to grasp what works for them.
Yesterdays front pairing was a bit of a smokescreen really as Vardy and Kane were basically told to track back and then Rooney could move into the space vacated by the supposed strikers. Which made them more like advanced mids and him a lone striker.
The Vardy/Kane/Rooney thing is starting to get a bit Lampard/Gerrard/Scholesque.

 

[yellow]

If Roy's really set on starting with Rooney in a diamond then I think he should switch where Rooney and Alli were. Rooney would be better deeper, he's more creative and can be a good passer. Alli needs to be able to link with Kane.

My own personal opinion of the diamond would look something like:

Dier

Milner Wilshere

Alli

Kane Vardy
​

There's enough bite and creativity in that midfield for it to work well. Keep the front two close together, and get Walker and Rose bombing up and down (which worked quite well in periods of the first half last night). Dier can drop in to make a back three while attacking, so we always have numbers back if required.

 

[Benji]

The Vardy/Kane/Rooney thing is starting to get a bit Lampard/Gerrard/Scholesque.

Luckily Rooney and Vardy are both about 30 so there will only be 2 or 3 years of the debate instead of a relentless and boring 10.

 

[JimJams]

Maybe Kane will pull a Scholes and retire early from international football!

 

[Nilsson]

I agree with yellow on swapping Alli and Rooney. Either give Rooney the role he was given in the FA cup final or don't play him at all. Alli's stronger, faster and better at linking up with the strikers so he has to play in the hole.

Having Vardy and Kane do a job on the fullbacks was a bizarre decision from Roy. Let the defenders and midfielders worry about defending, we need those 2 concentrating on making runs to cause havoc at the other end of the pitch.

But it was only a friendly and they're played to learn things so hopefully Roy did.

As a positive I thought Walker and Rose were fantastic, in defence and attack.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

 

[mistermagic]

So England are playing a formation that doesn't suit them and Roy has openly stated that he'd rather have the best players on the pitch than the best system that suits the best players.
Personnally, I've always found the 4312 very tricky indeed. Liverpool and Lyon played it very well because they were actually playing with each other every day. It is my opinion that a national team (which spends very little time together) shouldn't be playing such a complicated formation. You either need the midfield 3 having massive engines in them (especially the 2 wide ones) or the strikers to help out but the latter option renders your attacking threat very minimal. I know that the pyramid has been reversed and that all players should be doing some defending (even the strikers) but the CFs marking the full-backs? Really? Firstly, it just doesn't feel right and they'll be quite tired and worn-out when they get the ball (a bit like if you played against Guardiola's Barcelona on every single occasion).
Saying this, I didn't feel that Kane didn't do that much defensive work on Eliseu on Thursday evening or at least nowhere near as much as Vardy did on the left wing. England almost had the shape of a 4411 (Rooney behind Kane) whilst defending. Then again if Kane does his "job", we see the diamond shape with Rooney (the AM!) up top.
Roy has basically taken a very exciting formation and rendered it negative and predictable.

For those reasons, I am also in favour of a return to a 4231. Of course, the big problem is that Roy won't drop Rooney. Formation notwithstanding, this will be, and will continue to be, England's downfall.

 

[JJ1532]

I don't think any formation is complicated, managers just make it complicated. For me, you get the best out of a 4-3-1-2(or diamond or however you want to describe it) by leaving the 2 strikers upfront. Unless the ball is with the CBs of the opposition, they shouldn't do any pressing. Thats the job of the 3 midfielders. Just leave Kane and Vardy alone, don't give them any real defensive instructions. Let them concentrate on scaring defences and focusing on their attacking.

Rooney wants to be a midfielder? Well play him as an attacking mid, but tell him he needs to track the ball when it goes out to the full backs and he needs to drop into midfield when teams are playing it through the middle. That way we should be able to keep it compact down the middle of the pitch and should have numbers in the right areas should we win the ball back.

When the ball goes out wide, thats the job for the CM on whatever side the ball is on to go out and cover. The opposite midfielder comes across as cover, or Rooney drops into midfield. That way if the full backs are overloading with the wingers, you simply drop into a 4-4-2, but have options upfront should you need to simply clear your lines. Defences will be wary of pushing too high up with Vardy and Kane up there. One ball over the top and Vardy is gone.

The problem we have is that Hodgson, to his credit, is desperately trying to play the style of football in the system people want to see. But I don't think he knows how to use the system properly. Hence why he has Vardy and Kane splitting and tracking the full backs with Rooney then the middle of what turns into a front 3 off the ball.

I don't think using Rooney in the attacking mid option is wrong. We couldn't quite get things right against Portugal, but with a bit more time for everyone to learn how to play together, I think it could work. That being said, I do think a midfield of Dier, Wilshere, Lallana and Alli suits us far better. Heck, I'd even put Barkley or Sterling in there ahead of Rooney. Pressure is on Roy now. The country will turn on him if we don't finish in the top 2 in the groups, maybe even 1st. Depending on who get in the last 32, if we don't get past them people might turn on him as well.

Its Quarter Finals or bust. And I think it needs to be the Quarter Finals in style. One of two things is going to happen. Either we do shit and Hodgson is sacked. Or we do well and everyone is happy. Wonder which one it'll be?

 

[mistermagic]

The problem we have is that Hodgson, to his credit, is desperately trying to play the style of football in the system people want to see. But I don't think he knows how to use the system properly. Hence why he has Vardy and Kane splitting and tracking the full backs with Rooney then the middle of what turns into a front 3 off the ball.

We couldn't quite get things right against Portugal, but with a bit more time for everyone to learn how to play together, I think it could work.

Exactly. Well put.

It's a bit late to be trying new things a week before a major tournament isn't it?

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

So England are playing a formation that doesn't suit them and Roy has openly stated that he'd rather have the best players on the pitch than the best system that suits the best players.

No I think he was talking about Rooney.

 

[DarkSithLord]

How does playing San Marino in a friendly benefit Croatia?

 

[JimJams]

Gets 'em nice and relaxed for the tournament. 90 minutes of target practice. Currently 9-0. Could go either way at this stage.

 

[Stevencc]

On a similar note France are three up against Scotland at half time.

 

[JimJams]

Teams like Scotland and San Marino should form their own breakaway tournament, they'd give eachother a good challenge.

 

[JoshBCFC]

Gets 'em nice and relaxed for the tournament. 90 minutes of target practice. Currently 9-0. Could go either way at this stage.

Ended 10-0, was a tight game. San Marino unlucky in the end, could've easily won.

On a similar note France are three up against Scotland at half time.

best international team in the uk by miles

 

[SALTIRE]

On a similar note France are three up against Scotland at half time.

Yeah I said last week I feared this match and by all accounts it could have been much worse.

My night has took a decidedly French turn as I've been watching a programme mostly about the French Revolution and its ideals, and even though the sods walloped us at the football, I still had tears in my eyes when I heard that anthem of theirs. I hope they win the Euro's even with pretty boys like big gay Giroud in the side.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Wales pasted by Sweden 3-0 in their final friendly game.

 

[Abertawe]

Didn't want to pick up any knocks, just went for a stroll about really.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I know they lost in the end, but what a finish by Josh King for Norway v Belgium. He's become / becoming a heck of a player. Adding more finishes like that to his game would be the icing on the cake.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Few surprises in recent days with Poland being at home by Lithunania and Spain losing at home to Georgia tonight!

Final warm up friendly tomorrow (Portugal v Estonia)

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Spain result tonight is a shocker, it's not like Georgia are even half decent.

 

[CEngelbrecht]

Spain result tonight is a shocker, it's not like Georgia are even half decent.

Now, now. It's always eleven against eleven from minute one. Render unto Caesar and shit.

 

[Stevencc]

https://cdn.streamable.com/video/mp4-mobile/q214.mp4

Quaresma's assist...