***Official*** Road to World Cup 2014

[GIMH]

He'll be in the squad but wouldn't say he's an automatic pick for the First XI. Think him and Carroll will battle over that spot, as well as the likes of Bent/Defoe. Wellbeck looks very promising but by no means complete.

That being said I'd remove Lescott from my list as it's by no means a guarantee he'll keep Cahill out.

 

[Furball]

Would be happy with 5th in our group tbh. Scottish football is at its lowest ever ebb.

 

[Pothas]

Brazil going to be under the most ridiculous amount of pressure ever.

Spain easily favourites but this could be Messi's great stage if Argentina can find the right combination, got an outrageous amount of talent in that squad.

 

[Pup Clarke]

I'd add that Richards and Sturridge should always be in the XI from now on.

 

[Uppercut]

I'd add that Richards and Sturridge should always be in the XI from now on.

Richards and Sturridge?

Not sure whether you're saying that from a Scottish or English perspective

 

[Pup Clarke]

Eh? It's not like I've just thrown two names out of a hat - there both young, hungry players coming off the back of good domestic seasons.

 

[Uppercut]

Everyone would have played Richards before the Euros but atm he's unpopular because he apparently didn't want to be standby. Plus Johnson had a good tournament. Sturridge is a good prospect but he's barely played a game since AVB left Chelsea, is rumoured to have attitude issues and doesn't fit into the system very well.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Plus Johnson had a good tournament.

Richards can play in the centre though. I know Terry and Lescott are sure to retain their places but I'd go with him.

 

[GIMH]

Moldova are the sort of side I see visit PP. very poor.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Milner even looks like an absolute plodder against this lot.

 

[Scaly piscine]

****ing finally someone hits it. I know the scoreline and everything but England have been pretty ****e. Given the ball away so many times in all parts of the pitch, been the same lack of movement (particularly in the second half) that means someone just holds onto the ball, holds, holds and then ends up having to rush a pass sideways or try a stupid flick on the edge of the box. They've just fed off Moldova's mistakes basically.

 

[Meridio]

Hmm, completely forgot this was on. Anyway, am going to the England - Ukraine game on Tuesday, will be ITSTL. Not really expecting much from England tbh.

 

[Scaly piscine]

That sort of ****ing ****e at the end of a game really pisses me off. If you don't want to keep playing football and score more then **** off and we'll pick someone who does.

Moldova aren't an awkward side. They're a minnow. It's not if, it's how many. That performance was as bad if not worse than the game against Italy. Imprecise. So many moments where the only top 15-20 side that would do that be England - those moments where they just waft a foot at the ball and it goes straight up and bounces out for a throw in.

The 'great movement' the commentators were banging on about in the later stages - I must have been watching a different game. They just jog up the pitch, then jog back again. There are almost no runs, no moves across the line.

 

[Meridio]

Anyway, in the most important game of today NZ ease past New Caledonia 2-0. Do get a little bit worried with some of the away playoffs in the island nations, we have had a few ****-ups in the past.

 

[Uppercut]

Trap under pressure after a poor performance yesterday. Poor old man's fallen victim to the tika-taka fad, far too many people in Ireland thinking we can actually play football.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Trap under pressure after a poor performance yesterday. Poor old man's fallen victim to the tika-taka fad, far too many people in Ireland thinking we can actually play football.

Doesn't help himself with some of his bizarre selections though.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Seems to be pissing off his playing pool one by one too. McClean the latest.

Mind you Foley, Gibson & now McClean not doing wonders for the fighting Irish reputation what with having a whinge and a cry rather than sucking it up and proving him wrong.

Meanwhile Moldova really do suck arse.

 

[Uppercut]

Doesn't help himself with some of his bizarre selections though.

The idea is to get players used to working together as a team and it's generally worked well, given their pretty dismal player pool Ireland have done very well under him.

He probably does go a bit far but the media and fans underrate giving players game time together at international level so, so badly. It's not like fifa where you just put in the player with a higher rating out of 100 and the team magically improves. Not how it works. 95%+ of fans are idiots.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

The idea is to get players used to working together as a team and it's generally worked well, given their pretty dismal player pool Ireland have done very well under him.

He probably does go a bit far but the media and fans underrate giving players game time together at international level so, so badly. It's not like fifa where you just put in the player with a higher rating out of 100 and the team magically improves. Not how it works. 95%+ of fans are idiots.

Yeah but you can't seriously think that continually picking players with no pace works. They were shown up in the Euros and he has basically stood by those failures when he has better options in Gibson and McClean not being used. Yes Gibson is now injured anyway but he has said he doesn't want to play at present. Makes you wonder why players don't want to play for their country.

 

[Uppercut]

Irish players that lose to Croatia, Spain and Italy are not "proven failures". Jesus ****ing Christ.

It's strange because for years the Irish fans had too low expectations of the team, very quick to accept failure from a set of pretty decent players. Now we have no quality at all and losing to the best teams in the world is considered a disaster.