I think one of England's problems is they don't have a genuinely World Class match winner, like Ronaldo or Messi, just a few good players like Gerrard and Rooney. I think Gerrard has played pretty well in the last 18 months for England overall though it's fair to say he's fallen below his general performance level for Liverpool not for a lack of trying though.

I'd never accuse gerrard of never being passionate enough or caring enough about England, you can see he was always trying, maybe too hard.

He raised the bar so high with his fa cup, instanbul and champions league performances for Liverpool that anything less for England would always be criticised.

Has someone really just said ronaldos a 3/10 for Portugal?

Doesn't even warrant a reply.

Liverpool your 2nd team klinger?

Ah yes, the fabled 'Hollywood pass' a.k.a. the odious crime of attempting to completely wrong foot the opposition with a long-ball to a colleague.

Back in the 70s I was a student in Leeds and YTV had a Sunday afternoon highlights programme. Sheff United had a decent side at the time and were on quite a bit. Playing alongside Tony Currie (a Hollywood type if ever there was one) was a midfielder who's name is erased forever from my memory banks. I swear to God over several seasons I never saw this guy hit a forward pass. His pass completion must have been fantastic cos he never hit a ball further than 10 yards, always to the side or backwards. I'd end up screaming at the useless fucker cos it was about as interesting as watching the bloke who empties your bins.

Possession isn't the be all and end all of football and anyway at Pools' level it gets given away and given back again loads of times, usually by defenders hoofing the ball into 'areas.' Gimme a Hollywood passer any day of the week.

Possession is everything in football.

You cant concede when you have the ball.

And there is a nothing wrong with a good long pass.

Gerrard does it way too often. And does it when he doesnt need to.

And defenders that hoof it long under no pressure should be shot. At birth. Before they are born. Their mothers should be shot. And their grandmothers to make it certain.

Possession and ball retention is obviously important but to say it's everything is wrong.

If it was everything a team couldn't lose 7-1 for example yet have had more touches of the ball.

The best teams are the most explosive and clinical in the final third these days not the ones who pass it backwards and sideways 60 yards from goal.

The german side that did that let spain have the ball then took it off them. They didnt then needlessly give it back.

That german side is awesome.

Barcelona nd Spain lost it the last 18 months because they both gave up on their passing game. And in turn also gave up on their pressing game when they didnt have the ball. Its a mystery why either team did it.

Tony Currie was an absolutely brilliant player. Your critisism of him says all you need to know about ebnglish football fans.

If Tony Currie was born in any other country etc etc etc etc etc

Phils point about west brom is spot on.

Look at local football, and see how it works.

Even now, despite johnny foreigner showing us all hows it done, local league managers still set their teams up 4 4 2, have fullbacks that dont want the ball off the keeper, and have two strikers that make runs all day long into the channels, feeding off bits and pieces. And two center backs gleefully hitting long diagonal balls.

I need to have a word withone person that sets his team up to it. Its bloody rubbish.

People never fucking learn in this country, and tthis thread shows many never will.

Been playing 3-4-3 this summer in our pre-season games dibbs, it's a great system, have your kids teams give that a try yet?

I like you more every day.

Funnily enough, the younguns team have 5 new players, and they are quality.

Havent had any friendlies yet, but I think they want to set up like this:

3 -1 -4 -1-1

Sounds complicated but sort of works with everyones skills,

Should be good to see.

I like that one I think that's a one we might try.

4/4/2 sickens me. We've been playing a flexible 4/3/3 since I started having a say in about 2010.




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4-4-2 is the Sunday dinner of English football


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2 (Centre Halfs) -3 (Def Mid, 2 Wing backs)-2 (Centre Midfielders)-1 (Att Mid)-2 (Strikers) is the way forward.

Full backs are the worst positions.

No one wants to be one, and they are so last year. Decade. Century. Millienium.

And nowt worse than full backs that are scared to receive the ball from the keeper, and panic and either launch it upfiled, or run like a headless chicken with it.

im glad im not a full back (hides under table)

I'm a full-back and I can confirm I do all the things Dibble mentioned. I take offence to being last decade though. I'm very trendy.

I am a full back whose always wanted to play upfront, so I spend most my time up there.

I'm more baines than cole, with better hair.

I was very possibly the last ball paying full back ever seen in this town. Career cruelly cut short in 1997.

I was trendy in the 90's.

Oh fuck, I wouldn't admit to that when tripledicker is around.

It's why we clash.

FFS! How about you try to pay attention to what other people write before rushing to gob off some more?

Was that when you got too fat to play?? When Sunday opening came in and you could get a kebab at 10am??

Was he ever not too fat to play?

He was like an egg on legs.

Just shows how shit England really are though if Gerrard has been one of our best and consistent players over the last 7/8 years....which he has....when compared to other similar players from other countries!!!!

my apologies. But tp be fair it was a mouthful reading that. You need to simplify your posts.

'lovely lovely person'

'lovely lovely person'

'lovely lovely person'

'lovely lovely person'!!!!