International Football thread

[Gingerfinch]

I was trying to be realistic with Gerrard and Lampard, as I think thats what it will be.

If I was really in charge, I'd play neither and go with James-Ward Prowse and Ross Barkley...anyone who watched the U21s on Tuesday will know how good JwP is

What about Morrison? I heard he was pretty decent.

Still has too many attitude problems for my liking, having an on-field shoving match with team-mate Wilfred Zaha has done nothing to change my opinion.

Yeah saw that. Zaha was hardly blameless.

Didn't say he was, Zaha seemed to start the argument, but Morrison should of walked away, instead he shoved Zaha first.

Yep, both looked a little immature. best to do it now and learn from it, I suppose.

[SaintPowelly]

Morrison has a history of problems, which is why Man United got rid of him.

Not someone you would want at a tournament where you need a tight knit squad.

[Gingerfinch]

Morrison has a history of problems, which is why Man United got rid of him.

Not someone you would want at a tournament where you need a tight knit squad.

Mmm, maybe. Doubt he will get in, tbh. Next time, if he stays good.

[Gingerfinch]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... um=twitter

[sussexpob]

I was trying to be realistic with Gerrard and Lampard, as I think thats what it will be.

Ill look forward to seeing a 36 year old trying to man mark Oscar in 35 degree heat and 95% humidity...

[sussexpob]

In fact the conditions are going to be massive in the impact of this tournament and the way you have to play.

If you are going to go with Baines/Lampard/Gerrard/Townsend/Sturridge and Welbeck then you might as well book the plane tickets home at the end of the groups.... that direct style of play will kill you in a country that straddles the Equator in Summer!! You have to have players that make the ball do the work.

It doesnt take much to uncover the advantages of home games or similar conditions even when looking at local teams on the continent.... people hardly ever take points away in the Copa Lib, and in the Copa America the past winners linking to hosting the competition in a similar enviornment have proved huge.... Uruguay only win when the tournament is played on the flatlands, Peru have won when the semi and finals were played at high altitude, Bolivia stormed to their only final when hosting the tournament in the world highest capital, despite finishing dead last out of 9 in that years WCQ group(excluding the WC champions Brazil!).... I think even Brazil have only won the competition on neutral ground in Paraguay(most comparabile environment) and in Venezuela when the schedules meant they played away from the high mountain areas in the knockouts.... I remember in recent years Brazil also getting a hiding away to Venezuela, and Argentina being crushed in La Paz by Bolivia.

Bottom line is any South American journalist or football expert worth their salt will tell you that your teams composition and selection has to be made with regards to the conditions as a main priority. In the aforementioned Bolivia crushing, Argentina setup without their normal playmaker, in exchange for pace and power in midfield, and would subsequently admit that their players struggled to breath in the conditions, and hence were like sitting ducks to a Bolivia team that was ridiculously inferior... it didnt matter that the players they did have (Tevez/Rodruiguez/Messi/Di Maria) where absolutely brilliant, if a guy is playing in high altitude or intensly hot conditions, his skill is worth nothing if he cant run.

They have to play a certain amount of players who can control the tempo and hold the ball, if anything to conserve energy

[Alviro Patterson]

Welbeck is known for scoring goals anywhere in the final third.

Is he? He has never scored double figures in a year

Yep, followed his progress from youth level.

If Welbeck actually played a full season he will easily hit double figures.

[sussexpob]

Welbeck is known for scoring goals anywhere in the final third.

Is he? He has never scored double figures in a year

Yep, followed his progress from youth level.

If Welbeck actually played a full season he will easily hit double figures.

Yep, followed his progress from youth level.

If Welbeck actually played a full season he will easily hit double figures.

Last year he managed a staggering 6% shots to goal ratio, a goal every 847 minutes(in the Prem in excess of 1000 minutes), and only two goals in 23 starts, and about 40 total apperances....

Interestingly Hernandez played about 3-4 games less in total minutes played, and still scored 11 goals more than him, having a shots on target percentage 21% better, and a 19% better shots to conversion rating.... in fact, shots per game would also prove that Hernandez is a much better man at passing the ball to and getting into position to create chances because he create 19 more chances in less time.... credited with the same assists(4) in less game time as well.... and Man United seem to have forgotten about Hernandez.

Another way you could compare Welbeck is with Rooney last year, a man who apparently became a sellable asset after a pretty poor season.... had roughly double the game time but assisted 3 times more, scored 6 times more, had a better shots to goal/minute/ on target ratio and that was Rooney having arguably his worst ever year in a United shirt.

One can also include the fact that in Rooney and Van Persie, he was playing alongside the joint 3rd and 4th biggest Assist makers in the league last year, and for the team who collectively scored 20 more goals than the side finishing in second..... but if you only score 6% of your chances, chances are even with Messi and Maradona playing outside you, it would take 600 shots before you gained a passable tally for the season.... roughly 16 shots per game!

I am sure your knowledge of him scoring plenty of goals for his school can compare though.

[Alviro Patterson]

Throw all the statistics you wish (which are probably flawed) but I see what I like and I like what I see.

Opinions play a massive part in football to a point where it defines a player, my opinion of Welbeck he must leave United to fulfill his potential.

[Gingerfinch]

Wellbeck's never going to score loads og goals, be it for England, Utd, or anyone else. What he does have his pace, movement, work rate, and he's unpredictable. He's not your ready made striker. For these reasons, he imo should be starting for England. His movement by cutting inside, allowed Baines plenty of space, which worked out nicely.

[Durhamfootman]

and he's unpredictable.

he certainly is.

Unfortunately his inability to score unless he has umpteen gilt edged chances put on a plate for him is, sadly, only too predictable.

I wouldn't start him in a Newcastle team, so that ought to tell how low my opinion of him is..... and Newcastle are rubbish!

I'd have him in a Sunderland team.... but that is only so I can laugh at the poor old Sunderland fans

[Aidan11]

Platini is now talking about a 40 team World Cup Finals.

[Durhamfootman]

Platini is now talking about a 40 team World Cup Finals.

that's good, though, surely. It means England might win more than just the one match, in future finals.

[Durhamfootman]

more worrying is that I saw Blatter, on the telly, the other day, and he seemed to be suggesting that he was trying to change the rules, so that he could stay as president of FIFA for the rest of his life.

[st_brendy]

Hooper has no chance of ever getting into the England squad whilst he's sitting on Norwich's bench.

Jay Rodriguez, Fraizer Campbell, Gabby Agbonlahor, and Darren Bent I would say are ahead of him in the pecking order. And obviously Andy Carroll, once he returns from injury ("obviously" not because of his ability, or lack of, but because Roy has previously called him up). Maybe even Saido Berahino, if he can get a proper run in the WBA team.

As for Boruc, the man is a complete fruit loop. But he's also in some serious, serious form. Obviously I'm biased, but he's probably been the best goalkeeper in the PL so far this season. That said, Poland may well rest one or two players, Boruc included.

Boom