norfolkbroadslim 223 Posted September 5, 2015 Redderz easily good enough to walk into this lacklustre side.Vardy seems to be a bit of dirty player. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lappinitup 629 Posted September 5, 2015 If this was a boxing match, the British Boxing Board of Control would never sanction it...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,520 Posted September 5, 2015 Couldn''t muster any enthusaism at all for this match. Watching in a pub this afternoon which was full of people, no-one had the slightest interst in the match that was on the screen. These kind of matches are more of a non event than an Ipswich match. 6-0.....St Marino....... well done .....yawn........I think I''d rather watch cricket.......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted September 5, 2015 If I''m being really, bluntly honest I don''t think San Marino are up to much - imho. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katie Borkins 1 Posted September 5, 2015 Thought San Marino''s number 7 looked quite handy. Otherwise a functional win on a poor pitch against a poor side. Kane''s finish was lovely though. Bet Snodgrass taught him that one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TIL 1010 4,660 Posted September 5, 2015 And in other news this win made England the first team to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals. You can only beat what''s put in front of you by the way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted September 5, 2015 Absolutely.As often as England don''t produce much to get excited about I still get behind them. I wouldn''t turn my back on Norwich when they''re rubbish (and we have suffered some rubbish) and I''m the same with England. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SwindonCanary 455 Posted September 5, 2015 A pat on the back to England for qualifying undefeated and still with 2 games to play      Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norfolkbroadslim 223 Posted September 5, 2015 3 games still left to play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB 998 Posted September 5, 2015 God that was a boring game, I fell asleep, what was the score?..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FCC 75 Posted September 6, 2015 Boring, poor quality, tippy tappy, rubbish. Why we can''t play with a bit of tempo I don''t know.Harry Kane, if he was half as good as the London media make out he would be replacing Messi at Barcelona. Having said that, compared with Vardy ......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,703 Posted September 6, 2015 I think England (and Wayne Rooney as an individual, to a lesser extent) are just flat-track bullies.Always seem to be ruthlessly efficient in the qualifiers (with the odd exception of course) whilst grinding out wins against second, third, and in the case of San Marino, thousandth rate opposition, but then run out of ideas when it really matters.England rarely need to get out of third gear in the qualifiers, and generally make it look easier than most of the big boys, but when those bigger sides need to turn it on in the tournaments, they can reach the higher gears. England, and Rooney, however struggle to reach those heights and never seem to genuinely threaten the bigger teams in tournament football.In England''s history, we''ve only ever won five knockout matches in a World Cup or European Championship outside of Wembley, and those are against Paraguay, Belgium, Cameroon, Denmark and Ecuador. Every time we''ve played Germany (twice), Argentina (twice), Portugal (twice), Italy, Brazil etc. in a knockout game outside of England, we''ve lost. I think it is possibly a mental block now. We know we''ve got a history of under-performing on the big stage and it is a difficult mindset to break out of. Spain had it for years and years too until 2008, when they opened the floodgates. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katie Borkins 1 Posted September 6, 2015 A few competitive friendlies, or a tougher qualifying group, would be a big help to our footballers.It''s like qualifying from League Two and going straight to the Premier League. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted September 6, 2015 Again, England are no different to Norwich.Norwich would beat most teams in the country. As England would beat most of the sides they come up against.But there are a few bigger/better sides you wouldn''t really expect Norwich to beat just as there are a few you wouldn''t expect England to beat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,703 Posted September 6, 2015 [quote user="GJP"]Again, England are no different to Norwich.Norwich would beat most teams in the country. As England would beat most of the sides they come up against.But there are a few bigger/better sides you wouldn''t really expect Norwich to beat just as there are a few you wouldn''t expect England to beat.[/quote]The difference I suppose is that Norwich do not, will not and never have had the resources, power and infrastructure of those bigger clubs. England however can match any nation in pretty much all these departments so probably should have fared better over time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HertsCanary93 222 Posted September 7, 2015 I''m confused... Haven''t we won every qualifier so far? How anyone can try and bemoan the squad''s efforts in these qualifiers is beyond me. I actually think it''s been a very professional job.Yes, completely outclassing our group is nothing to get overly excited about considering the opposition. However, it''s significantly more ridiculous to try and spin it as a negative.The game finished 6-0, it was probably as exciting as this fixture is ever going to be. You can''t have an exciting end-to-end game when one team is guaranteed 75% possession. What on earth did some people expect? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,586 Posted September 8, 2015 Now this is a boring game. Milner''s enjoying it though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katie Borkins 1 Posted September 8, 2015 Quite enjoyed the first half, tactically interesting. I like that we are trying to use our full backs as attacking weapons but not so keen on how easy it is to hit us on the break as a consequence. And I have Shaquiri in my dream team and he looks a bit crap.We need a few stiff tests, hopefully this will be the first of many so we go into a tournament with reasonable expectations for once. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,586 Posted September 8, 2015 I think we have four top notch opponents lined up,pre-tournament. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katie Borkins 1 Posted September 8, 2015 Well done Rooney.In other news, James Milner is a multi-millionaire. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SwindonCanary 455 Posted September 8, 2015 Reading Sir Bobby Robson''s book he really loved James Milner and I''ve always thought he''s been under rated Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katie Borkins 1 Posted September 9, 2015 Can''t see anything special about James Milner. Seems to be the epitome of a bog standard English footballer. Huff and puff but no creative capability. About as exciting as a dental check-up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Woodman 92 Posted September 9, 2015 How on earth have we come to the stage where Milner and Shelvey are in the top 4 midfielders in England? Or is it just that they are the ones actually playing for their clubs at the moment. I know Wilshere''s injured (again), but apart from him there''s a dearth of decent English midfielders at the moment. Shelvey was dreadful last night against a mediocre side. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy G 10 Posted September 9, 2015 I was thinking about the lack of midfield creativity, perhaps Howson should be getting his call up! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hogesar 9,503 Posted September 9, 2015 To be fair if Howson and us as a whole have a pretty good season and he''s a regular part of that he can''t be too far away considering the players getting involved in the England setup at the moment! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted September 9, 2015 I think Shelvey is quite good tbf. He''s got a bit more natural flair than Milner and Henderson.He needs games though. Thought it was a mistake to take him off last night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Woodman 92 Posted September 10, 2015 Not for me GJP, did ok in the San Marino game where he had space and time, but got caught out taking too much time too often v Switzerland. Better sides would have taken advantage of dispossessing him and attacking us.Maybe I''m being a grumpy middle aged man but I find it sad that we don''t have players like Hoddle, Gascoigne, Robson and Gerrard either in our side or coming through.The only one who remotely excites me is Barkley, so perhaps if we build our central midfield around him and Wilshere, rather than Milner, Shelvey and Henderson, perhaps we''ll be ok.We seem ok wider with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Sterling and hopefully Redmond. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BroadstairsR 2,096 Posted September 10, 2015 We seem to have a collection of skilful players, especially going forward.Harry Kane is a must for me as well. Natural, and gifted, striker.Now that the ''old school'' has gone, (Gerrard, Terry, Lampard, Cole etc.) we would seem to be lacking that certain player who can command and control.We need a ''character'' player to impose himself upon the team and also the opposition and the current squad doesn''t appear to have one. Hopefully one will emerge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted September 10, 2015 As I said, Shelvey needs games. Far too early to write him off when he''s still finding his feet at that level.But he''s got plenty in his locker. He can create/pick a pass, score goals, get stuck in and run at people with the ball. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HertsCanary93 222 Posted September 10, 2015 Shelvey was poor against the Swiss but he deserved his call up and I''m sure he''ll prove himself a decent option at this level. It''s hard to gauge our midfield as key players like Wilshere, Henderson and to a lesser extent Delph were all injured. With regards to the whole squad I''m happy with our wide players and should Sturridge get back to his best I think we have good options up front too. I''m very interested to see how the young back four holds up against the bigger teams in the Euro''s. It''s quite a young team which is needed after the phasing out of the ''old guard'' over the last few years. I hope they can step up and give the euro''s a good go. That said, the fact we had no success over the last 12 or so years when we''ve had some genuine top class players doesn''t leave me too hopeful for any finals soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites