Euro 2012 - Who will win it.

[canveyshrimper]

Like Carrick?

Definitely not. Wilshere as suggested above may be the best opton long term.

 

[Napster]

Someone who can't tackle,is way too old and wanted out of the England set up anyway.

yes, the one who has just been given another year by those also-rans Man U.

 

[Pubey]

Definitely not. Wilshere as suggested above may be the best opton long term.

Absolutely agree, but if you want a team for tomorrow that can hold onto the ball, then it's Carrick alongside Scholes is CM for me.

Wilshere is a fantastic prospect and hopefully will see the sea-change to England playing a more continental/possession based game, but we need several players to change, not just those in the middle of the park.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

yes, the one who has just been given another year by those also-rans Man U.

Why would England want to compound Manure's mistake?:unsure:

 

[OldBlueLady]

Like Carrick?

God, no! He's never produced much at the national level either! I'd rather have Gerrard or Lumpy holding the midfield until Wilshere is ready!

And Scholes retired himself from the national side so unless someone can persuade him otherwise, as they seem to have done with the Man U 1st team, he's not worth consideration.

 

[Gremlin]

Like Scholes?

No, he said with both feet.

 

[C C Csiders]

MY ratings for those that played for England throughout the tournament:

Joe Hart: Looked shaky at times in several games, choosing to parry dangerously at times. Hopefully, it was just first big tournament nerves, and he is as good as we like to think. However, doesn't (yet) instill the confidence the likes of Neuer, Buffon and Casillas do. Will be England 'keeper for many years. 6.5/10

Glen Johnson: Had an excellent competition, to my mind, and showed why Micah Richards isn't anywhere near the England team. Can be lackadaisical on the short passes, but showed good attacking instinct, and defended brilliantly 7.5/10

John Terry: I said he shouldn't be anywhere near the England team, not based on his trial, but based on my opinion that he was shot as an international player. I was totally wrong. Arguably our man of the tournament. 8/10

Joleon Lescott: A first international goal and a good tournament from a player you wouldn't have expected, at the start of the season, to be first choice centre-back at Euro 2012. Developed a good understanding with Terry and he may retain first-choice status over Gary Cahill next season in the England side. 7.5/10

Ashley Cole: I didn't think he was anywheer near his best throughout the competition. Gave the ball away on numerous occasions but still, by miles, our best left-back. Never looked confident that he would score his penalty last night, and it was a poor effort given that he has taken excellent penalties in shoot-out's in the past. 5/10

James Milner: Generally laboured displays and not up to international standard. Was the obvious choice in a selection based upon caution. A couple of brighter moments in the games and an easy chance missed against France. 4/10

Scott Parker: Good displays in a 'midfiled destroyer' way, butnever going to be a player to create much given that he mostly passes back or sideways. A poor man's Kevin Maher. 6.5/10

Steven Gerrard: Another proving me wrong with his best-ever displays in an England shirt (apart from last night). Gone was the Hollywood passing as he brought in discipline (was that the armband?) and pin-point accurate passing and crossing. Most of our good moments came through him. 8/10

Ashley Young: Dreadful. Produced less than a man with prostate issues. Knew he would be the penalty fall-guy. Hopefully a long time before we see him in an England shirt again. 1/10

Danny Welbeck: Showed enough promise to suggest he will be an England regular. Fantastic finish against Sweden, and a touch more composure would have seen him score (or at least make Buffon make a save) last night. Led the line well at times, and far more effective than his erstwhile Man U colleagues who should have been hooked last night rather than he. 7/10

Wayne Rooney: One I did get right. Having been banned for the first two games he should have been left at home. Scored the easiest goal he will ever score against Ukraine, apart from that showed nothing. Has never (2004 apart) produced for England and I would urge Sir Fergie to have a word and convince him to do a Scholes. 2/10

Theo Walcott: Starved of the ball when coming on against Ukraine and Italy, but a superb substitute performance against Sweden. Maybe we should show more faith in him or is he an impact player off the bench still? At 23 it's time for him to step-up 7/10

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Nothing in these Championships to suggest he can be the success so many seem to think he will be. In fact showed less than Aaron Lennon did at a similar age in the 2006 World Cup. Frequently looked lost and consistently chose the wrong option. 3/10

Andy Carroll: Excellent performance against Sweden and unlucky to be dropped for the abject Rooney. Performed manfully last night, but lacks pace and is best as an option from the bench against teams that don't like it up 'em. 7/10

Jordan Henderson: Did well to hide in the two games in which he came on - probably totalled around 5 touches so can only mark based upon that. Not everyone's idea of an international footballer. 5/10

Jermaine Defoe: One very brief performance - so not marked accordingly.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Spot on ratings there mate. Rooney has done very poorly in major tournaments ever since he became a star (2004 he was still a virtual unknown). Problem is he bangs in 30 goals a season for Man U and its therefore difficult for any england boss to drop him. The alternatives- Defoe, Bent- dont do it consistently. Realistically if him, Young and Wellbeck play together a lot for Man U, they should be able to replicate this for England but the evidence of this tournament suggests not.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Agree with pretty much all of that.

 

[Pubey]

God, no! He's never produced much at the national level either! I'd rather have Gerrard or Lumpy holding the midfield until Wilshere is ready!

And Scholes retired himself from the national side so unless someone can persuade him otherwise, as they seem to have done with the Man U 1st team, he's not worth consideration.

The last competitive tournament match Carrick played in, he was MOTM. He was then dropped the next game and so understandably disenfranchised with the whole situation. I'm not necessarily saying we should have pulled out all the stops to get Scholes and Carrick playing, but they are two players who a la Pirlo can pull the strings in midfield and keep the ball. Man Utd's stats were very impressive in terms of possession/passes completed etc. It then shows how much United relied on their centre midfield because Young and Rooney were very poor.

 

[Pubey]

Spot on ratings there mate. Rooney has done very poorly in major tournaments ever since he became a star (2004 he was still a virtual unknown). Problem is he bangs in 30 goals a season for Man U and its therefore difficult for any england boss to drop him. The alternatives- Defoe, Bent- dont do it consistently. Realistically if him, Young and Wellbeck play together a lot for Man U, they should be able to replicate this for England but the evidence of this tournament suggests not.

Wellbeck had a great first tournament, IMO. Young was very disappointing. I was quite impressed with Carroll when he played, fingers crossed he progresses because irrespective of all the jokes, he is very talented.

 

[Kris]

MY ratings for those that played for England throughout the tournament:

Joe Hart: Looked shaky at times in several games, choosing to parry dangerously at times. Hopefully, it was just first big tournament nerves, and he is as good as we like to think. However, doesn't (yet) instill the confidence the likes of Neuer, Buffon and Casillas do. Will be England 'keeper for many years. 6.5/10

Glen Johnson: Had an excellent competition, to my mind, and showed why Micah Richards isn't anywhere near the England team. Can be lackadaisical on the short passes, but showed good attacking instinct, and defended brilliantly 7.5/10

John Terry: I said he shouldn't be anywhere near the England team, not based on his trial, but based on my opinion that he was shot as an international player. I was totally wrong. Arguably our man of the tournament. 8/10

Joleon Lescott: A first international goal and a good tournament from a player you wouldn't have expected, at the start of the season, to be first choice centre-back at Euro 2012. Developed a good understanding with Terry and he may retain first-choice status over Gary Cahill next season in the England side. 7.5/10

Ashley Cole: I didn't think he was anywheer near his best throughout the competition. Gave the ball away on numerous occasions but still, by miles, our best left-back. Never looked confident that he would score his penalty last night, and it was a poor effort given that he has taken excellent penalties in shoot-out's in the past. 5/10

James Milner: Generally laboured displays and not up to international standard. Was the obvious choice in a selection based upon caution. A couple of brighter moments in the games and an easy chance missed against France. 4/10

Scott Parker: Good displays in a 'midfiled destroyer' way, butnever going to be a player to create much given that he mostly passes back or sideways. A poor man's Kevin Maher. 6.5/10

Steven Gerrard: Another proving me wrong with his best-ever displays in an England shirt (apart from last night). Gone was the Hollywood passing as he brought in discipline (was that the armband?) and pin-point accurate passing and crossing. Most of our good moments came through him. 8/10

Ashley Young: Dreadful. Produced less than a man with prostate issues. Knew he would be the penalty fall-guy. Hopefully a long time before we see him in an England shirt again. 1/10

Danny Welbeck: Showed enough promise to suggest he will be an England regular. Fantastic finish against Sweden, and a touch more composure would have seen him score (or at least make Buffon make a save) last night. Led the line well at times, and far more effective than his erstwhile Man U colleagues who should have been hooked last night rather than he. 7/10

Wayne Rooney: One I did get right. Having been banned for the first two games he should have been left at home. Scored the easiest goal he will ever score against Ukraine, apart from that showed nothing. Has never (2004 apart) produced for England and I would urge Sir Fergie to have a word and convince him to do a Scholes. 2/10

Theo Walcott: Starved of the ball when coming on against Ukraine and Italy, but a superb substitute performance against Sweden. Maybe we should show more faith in him or is he an impact player off the bench still? At 23 it's time for him to step-up 7/10

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Nothing in these Championships to suggest he can be the success so many seem to think he will be. In fact showed less than Aaron Lennon did at a similar age in the 2006 World Cup. Frequently looked lost and consistently chose the wrong option. 3/10

Andy Carroll: Excellent performance against Sweden and unlucky to be dropped for the abject Rooney. Performed manfully last night, but lacks pace and is best as an option from the bench against teams that don't like it up 'em. 7/10

Jordan Henderson: Did well to hide in the two games in which he came on - probably totalled around 5 touches so can only mark based upon that. Not everyone's idea of an international footballer. 5/10

Jermaine Defoe: One very brief performance - so not marked accordingly.

A bit harsh on Oxlade Chamberlain. He's only 18 and only broke into the Arsenal team mid-season. You can't write him off after one appearance. Wenger will mould him into a top class player, IMO, just as he has with Jack Wilshere (how we could have done with him at the tournament). Agree with your other marks, though.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I just want to echo the praise for CCCs take on the tournament .. he has it nailed there

 

[OldBlueLady]

A bit harsh on Oxlade Chamberlain. He's only 18 and only broke into the Arsenal team mid-season. You can't write him off after one appearance. Wenger will mould him into a top class player, IMO, just as he has with Jack Wilshere (how we could have done with him at the tournament). Agree with your other marks, though.

Yes, agreed, Defoe should have been used much more than he was. He'd have put that Welbeck chance away last night.

 

[Pubey]

Yes, agreed, Defoe should have been used much more than he was. He'd have put that Welbeck chance away last night.

But i doubt Defoe would have scored that crucial match winner against Sweden...

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Tiqui-taca all set for another stroll in the park this evening as Spain claim their place in Sunday's final.:thumbsup:

 

[MK Shrimper]

Tiqui-taca all set for another stroll in the park this evening as Spain claim their place in Sunday's final.:thumbsup:

Anything to make that orange c-unit cry.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Spain show the Ashleys how to take penalties.:smile:

 

[Ron Manager]

Wasn't a great performance from Spain, didn't really seem to get going till extra time. Not a criticism though, you're not going to get to 3 major international tournament finals without having to negotiate the odd penalty shoot out along the way.

Also, can't believe I've seen murmurings of Spain being boring from some quarters. They are quite simply effective and very good at what they do which is control teams and pass them into submission. Sure it isn't end to end stuff with loads of goal mouth action but that stuff is only really fun for the neutral, and as I've said before the game isn't played for the neutral.

I dream of the day England could do the same, and would take all the ill-informed 'boring' jibes with glee.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Just didn't understand the logic of not bringing Torres on, but so glad to see two of the biggest ********s in football (Ronaldo and Nani) beaten.

Anyone know if Nani had allowed Bruno Alves to continue with taking the 3rd pen, would it have made any difference? I mean, would the ref have allowed it? For me, this was the decisive moment at Alves never looked likely to score his after that, so I'm doubly glad that Nani was partly, at least, culpable!