Ronaldo

Then he says he'd play Lampard and Gerrard in the middle. I wouldn't do it, but there's a decent case for that provided there's young legs around them. Gerrard is the best passer in the squad and Lampard is arguably the most natural goalscorer in the squad. Personally I'd keep Frank on the bench till the last 20.

It's just such a totally different game against Italy. I think we should reserve our judgements.

He's an astute football man, Hoddle. Amazes me that some wouldn't have him as our manager.

That excuse might work for a team like Italy, who step it up when it matters. We don't step it up, and this is very likely how we'll play over the coming couple of weeks. Throughout the 3 friendlies it's been blatantly obvious that the players haven't been pushing themselves at all. I don't really blame them. The best 11 is a mix of players who either know they'll start or know this WC is their last real chance to shine as international players. Should be no reflection of how they'll play when it matters.

Given that City will most likely finish on something like 90 points or more, there's no way any other side will 'walk' the league.

Yep.

Like when we qualified for the WC because of him you mean?

0 If thats the case then i dont understand why Sterling is suspended tonight

He's likeable, English, well over 60 and a good manager. Is that what you mean? Aye - he just reminds me of Bobby in Mexico 86 so much. Fair one.

He's likeable, English, well over 60 and a good manager. Is that what you mean?

What's the matter with you?

Which ep is that from?

Brilliant.

I really do hate Mickey Mouse referees. A storm ffs.

Creating a good amount of chances.

Hard to when it's s*** tbf Jerusalem or Land of Hope and Glory would be better like, but I still like ours. It's just about the worst national athem I've ever heard. Singing about an irrelevant little old lady ffs. As if that's all we're about.

You'd think so. That's certainly the right midfield 3 imo.

Mata's not better than Fabregas in a million years.

If we want a player who'll run into blind alleys all day long and hit 4 decent crosses a season on the wing we might as well bring back Jonas.

I don't think I could hate Mourinho and Abramovich more if they stole my car and burnt my house down.

No he isn't.

God Almighty. Really don't see what's so ridiculous. His attacking is better than his defense, therefore play him in a more attacking position? At least give him a run out there on pre-season. Happens all the time in football! What happens all the time on here is people forget the philosophy that made us an established PL contender in the first place and allow themselves to be easily led by Alan Pardew. Defenders on the wing, shithouses like Alsoran on the wing, 2 CMs who're about as dangerous as bubble bath in the final third. Urgh. Get out. You people.

He was a decent athlete with very clean passing and striking of the ball who never really had the type of ability we're seeing from, say, Barkley now. That's someone who'll be in England's midfield for 10 years. Same as Gerrard, very different type, but he was dominating PL games in his late teens. In his first full season he was 19 and played 30+ games and scored 6 goals. That's pretty impressive. In Gerard's first full season at the same age he got 1 goal in 29 apps, then 7 the season after. Jenas could have been a top class England CM, but for whatever reason it didn't work out As I said, he never demonstrated the aptitude to control games like Gerrard did.