World Cup 2014

[Smurf]

So, Jozy is confirmed out for Portugal (duh). Everyone else is good to go.

How do you think they line up? I think there will be, and must be a shift in tactics. The diamond didn't quite work the way it was supposed too...though it doesn't help that Bradley had a miserable game.

The easy answer is, same formation and minor player changes. Wondo or Iceman up top with Clint. Maybe Zusi comes in for Bedoya...

One things I've been thinking about today is playing a 5-3-2

------------------Dempsey---------Iceman---------------
--------------------------Bradley---------------------------
--------------Jones ----------------Beckerman-----------
Beasley--------------------------------------------Johnson
---------------Besler----Brooks---------Cameron---------


Not a big fan of it, but we have the players to make it work. Its fairly defensive, but gives a bigger role in the team to Fabian Johnson.


I'm worried they are going to sit in a 4-2-3-1 with Dempsey up top alone. I just don't fancy him in that lone striker role. To me he's always been best when having someone to play off of....going back to his days at Fulham.

I feel that we will see something pretty differently tactically.

 

[Uncle Si]

We don't have the center backs to play a 5 back system. Hopefully we set up in either a 4411 or a 4231. The 4231 makes the most sense. But I see Johansen alone at 9. Dempsey at the 10. Bradley and beckerman holding with Jones wherever CR7 is.

 

[Smurf]

We don't have the center backs to play a 5 back system. Hopefully we set up in either a 4411 or a 4231. The 4231 makes the most sense. But I see Johansen alone at 9. Dempsey at the 10. Bradley and beckerman holding with Jones wherever CR7 is.

Fair enough.

Jones had a really good game against Ghana...arguably our best player on the pitch.

4411 is most likely IMO, if not strait up 442.

 

[Uncle Si]

We don't have the center backs to play a 5 back system. Hopefully we set up in either a 4411 or a 4231. The 4231 makes the most sense. But I see Johansen alone at 9. Dempsey at the 10. Bradley and beckerman holding with Jones wherever CR7 is.

Fair enough.

Jones had a really good game against Ghana...arguably our best player on the pitch.

4411 is most likely IMO, if not strait up 442.

In a 442 Wondo needs to feature at some point. Your premonition to come true?

Still see us in a 4231 until we at least draw Portugal out. Remember they need the three points.

 

[Smurf]

there need for points is why I have a tendency to think we go 442. They will be susceptible to count attacking football. I wish we had a good winger to bring on late...


time for Julian Green to make an impact?

 

[Uncle Si]

there need for points is why I have a tendency to think we go 442. They will be susceptible to count attacking football. I wish we had a good winger to bring on late...


time for Julian Green to make an impact?

The 4231 is set up more to defend and counter (wingers that track, compact midfield with central routes out of pressure, two holding mids in front of two cbacks). the 442 would just have two players standing up top waiting...

if he goes back to the diamond I think we're in trouble.

personally, i'd be inclined to lineup with Jones and Beckerman at holding, bradley at CAM, dempsey and Zusi out wide, Johansen up top. I'd even use Yedlin at this point and possibly move Beasley to his nature wing position and sit Zusi. Have Dempsey and Yedlin run Ronaldo's side.

Ronaldo is not a 100%. and it would not surprise me if he doesnt play. Portugal lack the discipline in the back, are out atleast two starters and maybe as many as 4. Nani is not a threat on the wing without support through the middle. That lineup can overrun the likes of Moutinho (very good player) and Morales (umm...yeah)

 

[hawkfan68]

My concern is the lack of scoring punch (besides Dempsey) is going to hurt the US. That's where Altidore could have helped. Especially now that Pepe has to sit this one out. A defensive strategy may be best since Ronaldo is supposedly 100% and that Altidore is out.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Well the first 25 minutes or so was ugly. #3 for Uruguay should be tossed, I think he has a captain band on his arm though so maybe he gets a longer leash. I feel for Rooney, he's busting his ass but the upper "V" goalpost got him on that header, but he's creating opportunities as well. Hope the 2nd half is better for both teams.

Gerrard to Suarez!!

but seriously... thats just awful defending from the English.

Yeah I guess he forgot they aren't teammates lol. If you would have picked England and Spain to both go 0-2, I think the odds were 100-1. Gotta give it up to Suarez for coming back so well from his knee injury.

Today looks promising. Italy/Costa Rica for first place in D. Italy plays Uruguay next, so a lot left to be decided.

Switzerland/France for first place as well in group E.

Should be fun. More soccer!

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

I feel bad for England but I blame the FA and the media for 1) having poor coaches in previous world cups when players like Lampard et al were at their peak.

2) The media scrutiny means the job is essentially a poisoned chalice. What top coach really wants the grief? I somehow think this is karma for the way they disgracefully treated Bobby Robson in the 90's.

The decline in the English team will continue to happen while young English players are stuck in the Championship and league one at the expense of big foreign signings from abroad. Yes these signings help the clubs but it means in turn that a lot of English players aren't being developed.

Scotland learned this the hard way 10 years ago and are only now getting into a position where they may start to qualify again and that's only because financially Scottish clubs have been forced to develop young Scottish players.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Glad Costa Rica got that score before the half. They should have had a PK for the tackle in the box at about the 42 minute mark.

 

[Uncle Si]

I feel bad for England but I blame the FA and the media for 1) having poor coaches in previous world cups when players like Lampard et al were at their peak.

2) The media scrutiny means the job is essentially a poisoned chalice. What top coach really wants the grief? I somehow think this is karma for the way they disgracefully treated Bobby Robson in the 90's.

The decline in the English team will continue to happen while young English players are stuck in the Championship and league one at the expense of big foreign signings from abroad. Yes these signings help the clubs but it means in turn that a lot of English players aren't being developed.

Scotland learned this the hard way 10 years ago and are only now getting into a position where they may start to qualify again and that's only because financially Scottish clubs have been forced to develop young Scottish players.

Bit of a catch 22 really. The "big" foreign signings help the clubs which help the league which in turn promotes the sport throughout the nation..

but alot can be said for the inundation of foreign players taking up smaller roles. I dont think one can argue that Henry, Ronaldo and now the Ageuero's, Toure's, Suarez's etc. are good for the league and the players that line up with and against them. But the quota needs to be enforced more. also would be great to see the PL develop a better outlet for the academies.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Agreed! It's fine having the foreign superstars in the league to raise profile but the big teams usually have around 1 or 2 English starters in their teams, not much more. It would be fine if these players developed abroad like the Dutch and French but English players seem to embarrassingly fail to settle abroad for the most trivial reasons combined with the lower leagues of England overpaying for players.

 

[SeatownJay]

And England are officially eliminated. Nice win by Costa Rica. Way to represent CONCACAF.

 

[hawkfan68]

The Queen is thrilled she doesn't have to kiss Mario Balotelli.

France had another tremendous outing. They are looking like contenders. Costa Rica keeps rolling. With Italy's loss, Uruguay is still alive.

 

[Smurf]

there need for points is why I have a tendency to think we go 442. They will be susceptible to count attacking football. I wish we had a good winger to bring on late...


time for Julian Green to make an impact?

The 4231 is set up more to defend and counter (wingers that track, compact midfield with central routes out of pressure, two holding mids in front of two cbacks). the 442 would just have two players standing up top waiting...

if he goes back to the diamond I think we're in trouble.

personally, i'd be inclined to lineup with Jones and Beckerman at holding, bradley at CAM, dempsey and Zusi out wide, Johansen up top. I'd even use Yedlin at this point and possibly move Beasley to his nature wing position and sit Zusi. Have Dempsey and Yedlin run Ronaldo's side.

Ronaldo is not a 100%. and it would not surprise me if he doesnt play. Portugal lack the discipline in the back, are out atleast two starters and maybe as many as 4. Nani is not a threat on the wing without support through the middle. That lineup can overrun the likes of Moutinho (very good player) and Morales (umm...yeah)

Agreed on the Ronaldo bit. he's not 100%...

I like the 4-2-3-1 wit this squad, but i dislike your idea of Dempsey in any sort of midfield capacity. He's not much for defending these days. His work rate on that side of the pitch has slowed considerably.

Beasley is going to be at LB or on the bench. I think Jurgen favors other players on the left side of midfield over him.

I am a fan of putting Yedlin at RB and putting Zusi, Bedoya, or Johnson in front of him.

 

[theENGLISHseahawk]

2) The media scrutiny means the job is essentially a poisoned chalice. What top coach really wants the grief? I somehow think this is karma for the way they disgracefully treated Bobby Robson in the 90's.

Robson and Taylor got some right grief from the press, but times have changed.

Despite this being our worst world cup performance since 1958, none of the press are calling for Roy to go. It's a borderline love in.

Compare this to the media reaction of Brazil, Germany, Holland etc if they'd gone out in such tepid fashion. The England job is pretty much the most secure in World football. You're guaranteed 4-6 years, regardless of performance or results. They should be making appointments on a tournament-by-tournament basis like the Dutch. You only stick by a manager if they're producing (see: Germany, Spain).

The only manager since Taylor in the early 90's to get any grief was Steve McLaren, and that's only after he got the umbrella out and we failed to qualify from an easy group for Euro 2008.

 

[UK_Seahawk]

The problem is with sacking Hodgson is that he has done exactly what was asked of him. This World Cup was a write off with the eye on the next Euro Championships. This current tournament was all about getting young players experience at the top level which is why the likes of Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Lampard etc didnt feature.

I actually think England have been quite unlucky. They had a lot of near misses and some good play against Italy and Uruguay should have been down to 10 men.

I do agree that when England play they think they are Spain and try to knock it about thusly. It's a game that is alien from the way they play in our domestic League. I also think our squad depth is woeful especially up front.

 

[Hawkspur]

Hodgson was a pretty uninspiring appointment in the first place; he's not reknowned for entertaining football or pushing the envelope. I know that neither of those are vital but I think it would play to the strength of this squad to play like that.

I agree with English that the formation lacked a playmaker in midfield, but I fear the problem is on a larger more general scale. Having seen first hand the lack of time afforded many children in primary schools in the UK to play sport, I fear England could struggle to field a contender for a few years yet. A huge proportion of children here are only allowed to play football 1 lunchtime per week and I very rarely see kids playing football 'pick up' games, just running around working stuff out with gheir mates. The only exposure a lot of children have to sports is adult-led and involves a lot of listening, observing and standing in a line interspersed with a bit of time on the ball. Even in PE most schools only do a quarter to a third of the year (9-12 lessons) doing ball sports. It's certainly not true of every school, I've seen some that really encourage sports, but my experience indicates that that describes the situation for most. It's a big reason why I am moving back to NZ shortly; my eldest boy loves
running around kicking, throwing or hitting a ball and I think it's important for kids to be able to do so. I'm sure England is missing out on many potential sports stars who don't get adequate opportunities to get involved.

 

[Silky Johnson]

http://www.espnfc.com/video/latest-vide ... eo/1898830

These guys had me cracking up. Sorry England fans, not trying to pile on but saw this on ESPN and thought you might get a laugh.

 

[SeatownJay]

Men in Blazers have been entertaining all Cup long.