World Cup 2014 Brasil

(20-06-2014 10:08 )harri Wrote:  Possession isnt everything just look at Barcelona last season they dominated 70%+ possession and still manage to lose a game. England need to find a winger or a left footer or some sort because there are no width, they are always cutting in

That is correct. Possession isn't everything. But it isn't nothing either.

Before the World Cup started, I was saying that we should treat it as a blank slate. To leave behind the long-ball, 'park the bus' style we've been using for too long, with no success. The fact that we are now dominating possession in World Cup games, is a huge leap forward.

The problem is, it has brought about one of our worst World Cup performances if you base it purely on results. Because of this, the FA, and those involved with the England team need to be very brave, and keep pushing this new style.

To my mind, this is the problem in a nutshell:

RATIO OF QUALIFIED COACHES TO ACTIVE PLAYERS:

* Spain 1:17
* Holland 1:31
* Italy 1:48
* France 1:96
* Germany 1:150
* England 1:812


It has nothing to do with foreign players and everything to do with a lack of qualified coaches. That's why we evaluate young players based purely on pace and strength. The coaches we have -- no disrespect to them, most are volunteering their time -- don't have the aptitude to evaluate them on anything else.

The picture at under-10 level is frightening. The bottom line is that you can't have kids coached by "Mum & Dad" ("kick it!", "follow the ball!") until they are 12. That's why they can't force their way into a starting line-up. Dutch and German kids the same age are being drilled in technique and tactics, while our kids are being judged on how far they can punt the ball forward. They pick up far too many bad habits, far too soon, while foreign kids are absorbing a tactical understanding of the game that gives them a huge advantage.

I was shocked to see that in my son's team (of nine-year-olds!) kids already had 'positions' that they played all season. Compare that to Holland, where I understand from a Ruud Gullit interview, every kid plays every position until they get close to a professional Club's first team. This makes them all far more tactically aware and astute. Defenders know how to think like forwards and vice versa; midfielders have a better appreciation of how a forward picks and times his runs; everyone feels comfortable on the ball; etc...

The one glimmer of hope that I have is that this seems to be understood now. They've changed the rules for under-11s, for example, where all players from the opposing team have to retreat to their own half on a goal kick. This gives kids a chance to play the ball out of defense and not just get the biggest kid to punt it forward. It is a small, subtle difference, but we need to start making changes like this and at that level if we are ever going to compete at these tournaments.

(20-06-2014 02:13 )harri Wrote:  roy isnt the man to take England to a major tropy

England played very well against Italy, not so well against Uruguay. I think overall there was progress and Hodgson's taking England in the right direction. As for him not being the man to take England to a major trophy, I assure that nobody's the man to take England to a major trophy because we haven't got the players to do it. Look at the 23 man list of nominees for this season's Ballon d’Or - you see any English players there? No, thought not, the only Brit on the list was our Welsh friend Gareth Bale.

(19-06-2014 22:33 )JamesStandford Wrote:  Thing I want to discuss with everyone on this thread is if Terry would of made a difference? I believe he would have organised the defence more... When Terry plays we just look stronger defensively, he's had an excellent season for Chelsea.

You can never really know how things would have turned out if one or every aspect of a team was changed. But by crikey, JT certainly made a difference back in South Africa!

(20-06-2014 00:25 )William H Bonney Wrote:  The answer is 12 from Dynamo Kiev followed by 11 from Torino.

What about just in the World Cup finals?

Why isn't Chile in the vote! Dark horses for me, if they lose or draw against Holland they will more than likely play Brazil, or if they beat Holland then Holland will likely play Brasil, I think both teams have the potential to beat Brazil.

As for England well at least they can have a break after next Tuesday. Gerrard has been a great servant for club and country, but his slip against Chelsea cost them the game and possibly the title and against Uruguay his poor pass cost us the first goal and his poor header cost us the second. I think the lad should retire gracefully. I'd replace Jagielka, Sterling, Welbeck, Gerrard and Rooney for the final game and give Smalling, Oxlaide-Chamberlain, Lallana, Wilshere and Barkley a run out.

(20-06-2014 13:48 )FormallyInfernal Wrote:  

(19-06-2014 22:33 )JamesStandford Wrote:  Thing I want to discuss with everyone on this thread is if Terry would of made a difference? I believe he would have organised the defence more... When Terry plays we just look stronger defensively, he's had an excellent season for Chelsea.

You can never really know how things would have turned out if one or every aspect of a team was changed. But by crikey, JT certainly made a difference back in South Africa!

The short answer is unequivocally, YES, he would have made a big difference. Central defense is all about marshaling, leadership, positional sense and on-field communication. Terry has actually gotten better at all of that as he has lost some of his pace (and he was never that pacey to begin with). I think that that is why he was so strong for Chelsea last year. He makes the whole back line play better.

But this all points to another cultural problem with the English game. Why do we not bat an eye when a player 'retires' from international football? When did that become acceptable?

Here's an interesting story that an Italian friend of mine told me. He grew up a massive Sampdoria fan, back when they won the title with Mancini and Vialli. Those two players were Gods to Sampdoria fans and, at the time, they were fixtures in the Italian squad. Then Roberto Baggio explodes onto the scene and takes the number 10 role from Mancini. Mancini was a great player, but you can't NOT play Baggio when you have a player in that kind of form. So Mancini often found himself on the bench.

Eventually, Mancini announced his 'retirement' from international football, with the weak excuse that 'it's time to give the youngsters a chance'. Of course, everyone knew that he just didn't want to be Baggio's understudy. At that point, even the most passionate Sampdoria and Lazio fans completely turned on him. He became -- for a time -- one of the most hated Italian players. My friend compared it to Beckham immediately after the 1998 World Cup.

That is what it means in Italy to be selected for the national team. It's like being drafted into the army! You don't say no. You don't 'retire'.

Yet here, we don't bat an eye when players like Shearer, Scholes and now Terry declare themselves out of contention in order to prolong their club careers. It's shocking. Playing for the national team should be the pinnacle of player's career -- not just another paying gig.

I think this points to another big cultural difference that is holding back the English game and -- once again -- something that will only change with time and better coaching. And, as supporters, we shouldn't let them get away with that. Guys like Scholes and Terry would think twice if they weren't so unquestionably venerated -- irrespective of what they do at national level -- by their loyal army of, respectively, ManU and Chelsea supporters.

(20-06-2014 14:28 )dominar rygel xvi Wrote:  

(20-06-2014 00:25 )William H Bonney Wrote:  The answer is 12 from Dynamo Kiev followed by 11 from Torino.

What about just in the World Cup finals?

Probably Dynamo Kiev with 9. Because in 1986 the Soviet Union played Hungary with 8 players from Kiev starting the match and another coming on as substitute. Also, in the World Cup of 1970 Uruguay took on Italy with 8 players from Nacional - a match in which 20 of the 22 starting players came from just 4 clubs - Nacional, Peñarol, Cagliari, Internazionale.

Why is luis suarez celebration Causing a controversy I missed It What Happened and also Andy Townsend commentary I was listening on talkSQUAK.

(20-06-2014 15:37 )dazza101 Wrote:  Why is luis suarez celebration Causing a controversy I missed It What Happened

After scoring Suarez immediately ran to the Uruguay bench to celebrate, hugging the team's doctor who had worked overtime to get him ready for this match. I don't know why hugging a doctor would cause controversy?