Tiresias

England's only hope is Spain feel some pity and don't turn the screw after walking about 5 goals past us.

last season we would probably have conceeded an equalizer against everton in that second half, and probably Wigan, and maybe not come back against Totenham. It's our calm in final 10 minutes that's impressing me a lot, remember how many last minute goals we conceded last season? We don't panic and let pressure come on to us this year.

Like that combo but I would swap Ba for Best as I don't think Ba is fast enough for that role. Then put HBA and Jonas down the flanks. wouldn't mind seeing that at all, though i'd probably switch ba and best and stick HBA on flank. Doubt it'll happen though, Pardew seems to want to keep 2 up front.

he'll get dizzy and fall over, as will most the team. It will be terrible, Spain might feel sorry for us though and lay off a bit...I hope. Or we'll score a flukey goal and the media will go mad that this represents some kind of England renaissance

At least it's a reasonably young squad I guess. Yeah, think there are some decent options going forward, Walcott has to start considering on form, and oddly I'd go Zamora to hold up play and someone else up front, maybe bent or welbeck.

He does know, he just doesn't give a s*** Now just waiting for his paycheck and retirement

We need to build around Wilshere, we look a lot worse without him...and not that good with him. Also our defence is a total shambles, the very least we should be is hard to beat, but with a shifting lineup revolving with the incredibly overrated Terry and Gareth Barry meant to be doing the defensive midfielder role we part so easily. Credit where due though Mancini has got some decent stuff out of Barry (an achievement) and especially out of Milner who has looked rather good this season somehow... Still think though we just can't be as ruthless as we need to be. So many players never turn out, and yet because they're the press' golden boys are never going to be ditched out of the squad for players who don't play for the top 4 and yet may actually want to be there.

Don't think it's the worst england squad we've put out to be honest...defence is bad though.

doesn't stop for no traffic lights!

I wonder if he should be told to play as almost a striker while he gets his confidence / sharpness back, where he can hopefully poach a few goals, and as he gets back to pace he can drop back deeper into the role he wants, but probably is more demanding

Was I alone in thinking he was pretty good, though nothing great against everton? Mainly that he carried possession forwards and relieved pressure, we didn't have an especially pressured finish and I think partially him dragging their midfield back seemed to play a part. He played a series of short passes with Guthrie I think at one point, think he wants to do that more and the wingers need to come in tight with him and exchange quick balls past defence, if he's expected to hit long balls out to the wings, he probably won't and instead will run into people.

Wonder if it's been a while since first report contract was offered was if Colo played hardball to get the 5 years, and thankfully club relented

Lets just have a proper go at them, like QPR did. Very well might lose but s what really

Loan him to them, would do him good to get some play at a club down the table

Didn't look too bad an injury and have international break, see if he plays for france

I guess the idea is to defend against Baines but I think the best way of doing that is keeping attacking there rather than defending against him. Marveaux should be ok at that.

I know we're third but that's taking 'giving them a chance' a bit far. ;D face it though this is Krul's normal positioning goal Krul Simpson Saylor Colo Raylor Etc

To be honest it's silly, but I don't like how easily players are bought from smaller clubs these days, so I dunno if there's something a bit noble about it.

I agree with the Everton one that with more men in midfield they can get some joy against us, Wigan did a similar thing against us that nearly paid off, and they have worse players arguably. Need to be prepared for this and hope Pardew has learned from the Wigan game. We can play a good counter game but we can't afford to let them press too high and keep possession, Saha is a better finisher than anyone at Wigan.

It'd be worth it for their fans still claiming their squad's better on paper on last day of season

yeah I was quite irritated at that, not been tested is just 'not played manchester clubs yet' as if that's the test of a squad's character. Not even from their 2 sunderland fan regulars either, (though actually I find Glendenning pretty funny actually...and Jonathan Wilson is a massive tactics nerd that appeals to me...) Anyway it's pretty s*** podcast for Newcastle but I tend to enjoy their stuff on european footy and mocking John Terry.

Trouble with international defending is that defending is defendant on understanding between two CBs that develops over time, which is impossible basically at international level so could appreciate that Capello could stick with a partnership. The problem is that partnership is Terry + anyone else at random atm. Terry should be dropped from team on present form, and a dreadfull world cup etc etc. Steven Taylor for England? Maybe, but a lot is to do with how well synced him and Colo are at present, our lines have been great for catching people offside. He is also guilty of occaisional blunders, and the England team doesn't need any more blunders. Having said that I'd be all for giving him a go, just wouldn't be surprised if isn't given a run of games, and as such never looks solid and hits his confidence.

God I hope he keeps predicting we lose, it's like a good luck charm now

I dunno Obertan losing posession exposed Simpson, though do think he was much better at Stoke so still sad about his injury. No need to panic overly about Marveaux exposing Simpson any worse than before to be honest. I don't want Marveaux asked to hold up play like Jonas, he won't be as good as that (like Jonas not as good as going forward, I hope from Marveaux anyway).

If a really big club came in for him I think we'd struggle to keep him, but suspect we should be able to hold on to him against anything below that considering our positive league position etc, and he does have family settled here. Older players tend to be more realistic about moves etc and if they are going to move are more honest about it. At least that's what I keep telling myself.