Neil

As if playing Barley is oats so simple. Oh come on, this is good.

Someone actually tried it. Had to be Dave too. What a guy.

Consider me well and truly in this. World Cup Predictor, I am in you.

Someone's been doing his research... For £122 I'll do all the research in the world Switzerland could have a very good tournament. I think between the forum we've established every team has the potential to do well/perform above expectations. Except Nigeria. They're fucking terrible.

If there's one thing I know about Ketsbaia, he takes his FF seriously. Don't mess with Temuri.

Someone officially wins the entire world wide web if they manage to recreate a Giggs face in the Amazon.

They clearly meant 2pm eastern. Morons.

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sarcasm_dr_horrible.gif Nah, cynicism mate. Get your unfunny comedic traits right.

Cutting.

It's almost, ALMOST, as though McDonalds knew that. I mean, I thought they were just that interested in fantasy football.

23 seconds late. I've already bought everyone on the game.

I assume me getting Messi at 2.01pm means no-one else can have him, right? Yeah? Guys?

Right, I'm back to defend my runner-up crown. Will pay you as soon as PP stops being a dick, James.

Sad to hear. I remember being blown by the Japanese women's team at the last women's WC. They played an incredibly technical style. Must have been a great night, wel jel. My mind went that way too.

Henry Winter does. Henry Winter ‏@henrywinter 37m Lallana/Barkley good but expecting #eng v Italy: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jags, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Sterling Rooney Welbeck; Sturridge Had a feeling Lallana would miss out. Hasn't been as impressive as I'd hoped these last 3 games Shown some neat touches but for large parts has looked a little overawed by everything, which is why I was particularly confused to see all of ITV's cronies having him starting. Barkley, it has to be said, has done more to start than Lallana, but really I didn't expect either to start next week. I can see Barkley in particular making a big impact if he comes on with 20-30 mins to go, so I guess there is sense in that. But honestly, I'm struggling currently to see how this is going to be much different to the quarter final 2 years ago. See no reason Pirlo won't dominate again, any injury aside. Our passing has been pretty terrible in large parts in these friendlies. I get that they won't have been going all-out in these games but the fact we struggle to string 3 passes together at times is frightening, and isn't going to suddenly change once the tournament begins. I just want us to give it a go.

Was keeping tabs on the game (mainly due to a bet on the US) and bar the odd attack Nigeria looked terrible. Will struggle to get a point let alone a win. Ameobi was inspirationally bad.

Against the well-known nation of Fluminense.

Yes.

Shock horror.

Had Commissioner at 40/1 (e/w) in the Belmont Stakes. Got pipped at the post by a head. Bastard.

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. Except this is generally how we've played for the past X years in friendlies, qualifiers and tournaments with the odd exception where we looked genuinely quality. No, they haven't been pushing themselves to 100% in these 3 games - of course they wouldn't - but to just write them off as though they're not any sort of indicator as to what will happen is downright foolish. Other countries may have had dodgy results but most if not all have shown they can step it up in tournaments. We have most certainly not. The only way I can see things perhaps being surprisingly better than expected is if Hodgson just fully puts his trust in youth - Lallana, Barkley, Sterling being the key three (assuming Ox is out). Just let them loose and see what happens, because the same-old doesn't work. But, since it's highly unlikely he'll do that, I think these friendlies are a worrying trend.

This is the thing. On paper their team isn't especially brilliant, think it's a similar standard to ours. Obviously the key difference being they have a genius in the middle who can control a game any way he fancies.

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.

Shite performance, shite result.

Really? Baines has been an option pretty much every time we go forward. The problem is the lack of movement centrally. There was a passage there where Sturridge was being chased by 2 or 3 Honduras players and not one England player thought it might be an idea to help him out. Absolutely turd performance against 10 man Honduras, but I look forward to the weather delay being used as an excuse. Neil luvs Leighton Justifiably so too.