Switzerland v England

[Jim Levenstein]

Good game the Swiss are no mugs and I thought we were by far the best team last night. Delph was very good after trying to emulate Bolger's sending off in the first 15 mins

 

[Beefy]

Lambert is definitely a valid 4th striker at the moment.

The pass from Rooney to Sterling - just seen it again. Makes it look so simple but it wasn't (sterling messed up a similar pass to Rooney in the first half). The pass had everything - pace, weight, precision. Sterling didn't have to think, break stride or take a touch. That's what Rooney offers which no one else has in the team at the moment.

And yes. I know it was 'just a 5 yard pass' - but it was the most important pass of the night.

Agreed - although Wilshere played a corker out to Rooney in the first half which rivalled it.

To me Rooney needs to play up front. No more of this sticking him out wide or in the hole. It looks like we may play the diamond going forward which means two central strikers and Hodgson just needs to pick whichever two he thinks are the best at that time. No more shoe-horning players into the side.

Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain to come back in, possibly Barkley too. We should be good to watch and incredibly explosive going forward.

 

[Pubey]

Agreed - although Wilshere played a corker out to Sterling (I think) in the first half which rivalled it.

To me Rooney needs to play up front. No more of this sticking him out wide or in the hole. It looks like we may play the diamond going forward which means two central strikers and Hodgson just needs to pick whichever two he thinks are the best at that time. No more shoe-horning players into the side.

Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain to come back in, possibly Barkley too. We should be good to watch and incredibly explosive going forward.

Someone said that it was the first time in ages where we had so many players in their 'main' position. Only Wilshere and Stones were out of position.

 

[londonblue]

They did well, thought they looked a better team when Lambert came on. He plays a lot better with the youngsters than Rooney does. Jones was a bit hot and cold, either excellent or at times poor.

He came on in the 89th minute!

 

[londonblue]

Lambert is definitely a valid 4th striker at the moment.

The pass from Rooney to Sterling - just seen it again. Makes it look so simple but it wasn't (sterling messed up a similar pass to Rooney in the first half). The pass had everything - pace, weight, precision. Sterling didn't have to think, break stride or take a touch. That's what Rooney offers which no one else has in the team at the moment.

And yes. I know it was 'just a 5 yard pass' - but it was the most important pass of the night.

I completely agree with you. It only looked easy because he made it look that way. Anyone could pass a ball 5 yards, but not everyone could play it to perfection.

 

[Napster]

Great game, not totally convinced by Stone but accept he's a CB. The future's bright.

 

[Pubey]

He came on in the 89th minute!

And only made one pass (an assist)

 

[dloman]

I completely agree with you. It only looked easy because he made it look that way. Anyone could pass a ball 5 yards, but not everyone could play it to perfection.

It was good though Sterling to Welbeck for the goal was sublime managing to dissect the three onrushing defenders and the keeper with no margin for error, unlike the Welbeck one in the first half when it would have been easier to find either Sterling or Rooney but he managed to mess it up completely.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Great game, not totally convinced by Stone but accept he's a CB. The future's bright.

We'll certaintly qualify for the French Euros in 2016.I wouldn't go much further than that.

 

[Pubey]

It was good though Sterling to Welbeck for the goal was sublime managing to dissect the three onrushing defenders and the keeper with no margin for error, unlike the Welbeck one in the first half when it would have been easier to find either Sterling or Rooney but he managed to mess it up completely.

But that's the point, Sterling could only make that (fantastic) cross because Rooney had taken any thought out of it. It basically came with the message 'cross me first time'.

Yeah that Welbeck cross/shot was a shame because it was another good quick counter attack. There were a few other chances as well (Wilshere 1-2 with Delph, Rooney from good play via Delph and Baines, Jones' header from a corner, Sterlings airshot). A lot to be positive about. Stop the couple of stupid errors and Switzerland were limited to a couple of shots from distance.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Delphs performance showed that Roy should look beyond the normal 5 or 6 teams for players. Jones was poor and does not look international class. I think him and Smalling have gone downhill since joining Man U, I hope the same doesnt happen to Shaw.
The formation worked well, though Wilshere is not the answer to the holding role. Surprised Clyne hasnt been called up as a right back, a specialist in that position should be selected not Stones who looks better at centre back.
Looks now that it will be a choice of Sturridge or Wellbeck up front. Oh and why does he always bring on Milner??? The guy does literally nothing. 50 caps of complete nothingness.

 

[londonblue]

It was good though Sterling to Welbeck for the goal was sublime managing to dissect the three onrushing defenders and the keeper with no margin for error, unlike the Welbeck one in the first half when it would have been easier to find either Sterling or Rooney but he managed to mess it up completely.

Agree with that too. It was such a good pass Welbeck used his shin and still scored!

 

[EastStandBlue]

Really don't know where I stand on Delph's performance. He was sublime with the ball at his feet, challenged the Swiss midfield and made some great, dissecting runs and passes. He rarely lost or wasted possession and contributed greatly in getting the ball out wide to our more dangerous players as quickly as possible. Having said that, he was woeful off without possession and needs settling down if he's to be a semi-permanent fixture. Stronger opposition would've ran him ragged and isolated him fairly quickly.

 

[OldBlueLady]

He came on in the 89th minute!

But it gave us a better shape and one the players seemed more comfortable with! It's to do with trying to accommodate too many players up top. Lambert doesn't ever play that wide or support role, unlike the way Rooney is (or has been) forced to.

 

[Pubey]

But it gave us a better shape and one the players seemed more comfortable with! It's to do with trying to accommodate too many players up top. Lambert doesn't ever play that wide or support role, unlike the way Rooney is (or has been) forced to.

How can you judge that from a 4 minute cameo where he only had one piece of possession. Yes he did well because he set up a good goal for Welbeck but I think you're overhyping things a bit - Switzerland had given up, which is why their defence was out of position and why Sterling had an age to play the ball to him.

 

[Rob Noxious]

And only made one pass (an assist)

But what a good pass it was - particularly liked the little dummy he did just before playing it which wrong-footed the defender in front of him.

 

[ozzie]

Well done Roy & the lads,at last a good game,looked good..Went to work happy today,it did reallyfeel good..No comments from the "locals today,shame its not friday-sunday.i would go on a bender!!! Good day -week so far for Brits & Irish,lets hope Wales do it tonight..Watched yesterday,on eurosport,our under 19, draw in Germany, 1-1..we missed a penalty as well.Should have beat trhe u-19 euro champs,in Germany...happy days...or a least one

 

[londonblue]

But it gave us a better shape and one the players seemed more comfortable with! It's to do with trying to accommodate too many players up top. Lambert doesn't ever play that wide or support role, unlike the way Rooney is (or has been) forced to.

What a load of...

You seriously saying you worked all that out based on about 2-3 fresh touches against a tired team pushing forward for an equaliser?

 

[Blue_Wes]

Really don't know where I stand on Delph's performance. He was sublime with the ball at his feet, challenged the Swiss midfield and made some great, dissecting runs and passes. He rarely lost or wasted possession and contributed greatly in getting the ball out wide to our more dangerous players as quickly as possible. Having said that, he was woeful off without possession and needs settling down if he's to be a semi-permanent fixture. Stronger opposition would've ran him ragged and isolated him fairly quickly.

Easiest way to answer that question, would you select him again?

I would do. I was sceptical, as were most about his call up, but open minded given how little we really see of him, the odd live game and 30-60 seconds on Match of the Day at most. Having seen him in both England games, I was pleasantly surprised. With players flaws, you often look to partnering players to cover/compliment them, and Henderson has been decent again this season, again basing that on what I've seen; the England games, and the Spurs thrashing. He definitely does cover well when the opposition are in posession, and like Delph is excellent in possession. They seem to compliment each other well, but only time will tell if it was a flash in the pan or not.

Would he be a first choice partner for Henderson? Probably not, but I'd certainly pick him in the squad again, and given how he grew in the game, the early nerves that led to the silly booking quickly subsided, I wouldn't hesitate to continue to use him in this qualifying campaign.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Easiest way to answer that question, would you select him again?

I would do. I was sceptical, as were most about his call up, but open minded given how little we really see of him, the odd live game and 30-60 seconds on Match of the Day at most. Having seen him in both England games, I was pleasantly surprised. With players flaws, you often look to partnering players to cover/compliment them, and Henderson has been decent again this season, again basing that on what I've seen; the England games, and the Spurs thrashing. He definitely does cover well when the opposition are in posession, and like Delph is excellent in possession. They seem to compliment each other well, but only time will tell if it was a flash in the pan or not.

Would he be a first choice partner for Henderson? Probably not, but I'd certainly pick him in the squad again, and given how he grew in the game, the early nerves that led to the silly booking quickly subsided, I wouldn't hesitate to continue to use him in this qualifying campaign.

In the squad? Definitely. In the starting eleven? It depends entirely on the opposition. At least for now.

Fortunately the hardest game of the campaign is now over and we're highly unlikely to be challenged by anybody else in the group. The midfield now has time to bed in and develop understanding against minor opposition that simply won't have the capacity to overrun us in the middle of the park. Others nations will however, and that's where I'm most dubious about Delph's role. Wilshere might be at the base of Hodgson's diamond, but does Delph offer much protection? Would anybody else offer more?

It's something we've lacked since Hargreaves retired. Hopefully Chalobah's loan spell at Burnley will be the making of him and he'll challenge for a space in Hodgson's 23 for the Euros, as otherwise I'm struggling to think of someone capable of grabbing that mantle.