themanupstairs

I wish someone would tell him it's ok to not play Rooney. If the fat fucker throws a strop, send him home.

I'm fairly shocked he's done that. Or not. I thought maybe he would go for a functioning team that will set out to win the tournament. England certainly have the players, and are capable of winning it. Of course, they'll come nowhere near winning it because Hodgson is more interested in what the folks back home will say about him than how the team actually performs.

Why should England actually have real options to influence games, to try and win the tournament? Surely it's better to placate the pundits and media in order to avoid criticism for leaving out the household names. I honestly had hope for Hodgson. Hope he does well but with that selection he's looking at an early exit imo. Possibly even in the group stage. Which household names do you think he should've left out? Sturridge, Henderson and Wilshere IMO. Milner at a push, but I'd take him ahead of Drinkwater as I reckon the Leicester guys are absolutely shattered. I personally wouldn't rely too heavily on Rooney, but I would concede that Hodgson can't leave him out of the squad completely. I would probably start him alongside-ish Kane, and leave Vardy on the bench. Vardy playing on the left of 4231 is just moronic, and encapsulates everything that is wrong with Team England. Shoe-horning en vogue players for the fuck of it.

gets me every time :lol:

Why should England actually have real options to influence games, to try and win the tournament? Surely it's better to placate the pundits and media in order to avoid criticism for leaving out the household names. I honestly had hope for Hodgson. Hope he does well but with that selection he's looking at an early exit imo. Possibly even in the group stage.

He's definitely offski IMO. Haven't heard a peep out of him since Rafa joined. If he had any future at the club, he would have been forced or pushed by the manager to communicate with the fans somehow. As good as gone IMO.

Still can't figure out what Jordan Henderson does tbh. I've heard that he plays football for a living but I still haven't seen it. As a non-English person who usually likes to see England do well in international tournaments, I hope England crash and burn with this ridiculous squad that they've settled on. Cowardly decisions as usual.

Exactly this. Bye now.

Hull City win. PFM whoops fancy dan foreign.

GTFO that's a penalty

Hull City is a fucking shit club. Come on SW ffs

And rightly so IMO. People just want a club to support. If Rafa has been given the keys to the whole thing, then why not?

Yup. I know he's probably loaded with money and can afford it, but he's just made the move from London to the NE and I can't see him moving back down south so soon. His time with us has also been positive for him and the fans have reacted very well to his contribution. Plus Rafa's staying. If he's smart, he'll hang around, play an entire season and see if he can improve his game.

I don't think I've ever seen a Batistuta goal that wasn't either a completely unfair blastie or a class chip. His volley away at Camp Nou

A priest can't have a wife Yes he can if he's married her first, got fed up, and then subsequently turned to Jesus for salvation.

Always known me and mojo were two peas in a pod Forza Azzuri!!

IN IT TO WIN IT

In case someone didn't get the London bit. It's just rabble rousing sensationalist bollocks.

Offers more than the ponderous and ineffective Sterling IMO.

It was obvious Cisse would never play for us again when he misplaced two passes early second half away at Villa and was immediately hooked by Rafa 5 minutes in.

I like them tbh, wonga aside. More effort has gone into making them simpler kits and i like that. The stripes on the home shirt could be better but at least they haven't f***ed with them this time.

Not that I'm comparing 'Arry to Benitez, but I don't even think he's ever managed in the Championship?

Has there ever been a case of a huge name manager taking on a job in a lower league anywhere else? For the life of me I can't come up with a single "big name" who has done this. I'm sure there MUST have been one or two? Maybe with Juve and/or Fiorentina? Parma? Not got a fucking clue.