Tiresias

I've gone for 9th, which I think would be a pretty solid result to build upon and a compromise between the great start and the optimism of that and the nagging worry it can't go on forever and we're going to have a slump.

As I said in the post, I think HBA is likely to run forward and attack and not contribute to keeping possession and defensively, with HBA then it's a like for like replacement of Cabaye with Abeid/Gosling who probably isn't quite ready. More people sitting in the midfield would help them with confidence, and HBA can play on wing and probably have a fairly free role anyway. With Cabaye and Tiote behind him HBA can attack and play in the hole with more confidence.

he's entitled to, he should just say so, not hide from a phone call doubt coach should have gone public with it though, now probably won't ever be able to convince him

To compensate lack of Cabaye (if he is out) I'd cram midfield, so go with Krul Raylor Saylor Colo Santon Abeid Tiote Gosling HBA/Guti Marveaux Ba Know HBA is sort of wanted in gosling position but my thinking is that HBA is likely to play further up pitch off striker and i'd want third man in midfield to do plenty of defensive work, Gosling and Abeid are inexperienced but both there with Tiote backing up should stop them being overwhelmed. Guti is switched to the right if he's playing to counteract Bale and marveaux getting in behind lennon or VdV could give us some love. Dunno if to prefer guthrie to either gosling or abeid really

Oh I agree that the main problem is that we just don't have the players trained and developed suited to the game internationally at the moment. Capello is only limited to blame, but he has to take some of the flack for how little our team seems to gel, and how pathetic our midfield seems frequently. TBH being able to tear into defences at all would be a bonus...

I actually think we have reasonable prospects in long term, some good players coming through, nowhere near enough really but with a little luck we'll be stronger in future. At the moment we're tactically naive, have little mental strength, and players who are decent enough in league can't keep the ball. Well done on successful qualifying campaign, but no where near close to exorcising the problems the world cup demonstrated.

Without Cabaye tough time, I'll downgrade my 3-1 loss prediction to a 3-0 loss.

bollocks

Pathetic from Rooney. Again has precisely the wrong attitude. Pathetic display to draw from 2-0 up, not even close to the level of any of the good teams in the competition. Pretty much everyone to blame as well.

damnit.

Spain game is making england look like a non league team, that pass for first goal from xavi was incredible. Still woo ahead.

Could have done with the game time and experience too.

I want him to score a hat trick and come back brimming with confidence (not that he doesn't seem to be anyway)

Parker is alright, Barry isn't. Without wilshere we can't keep the ball at all.

I think a loan move would surely be a good one, get him some game time and be back in time for ACN

yeah that's about what I expect, they're likely to defend in numbers and pack midfield to cut off supply. Not convinced we can really be relied upon to cut through a well organised defence, actually more than not convinced, we're nowhere near good enough at it with Lampard and Parker there relied upon to find the gaps through the centre. Not good enough.

Is Andrew Johnson in the Squad atm? Hart Jones Cahill Terry Baines Parker Lampard Downing Johnson Young Rooney Know it's too attacking really, and Lampard is basically standing in for Wilshere, who would strengthen the squad a lot there. Baines is there because Cole to me hasn't really looked too great recently, seems off the pace, someone whose seen him more could correct though. Parker not ideal to be honest either. Jones at CB and Walker at Right Back would be good too

I'd probably put Downing in for Zamora and stick Rooney out front...or is Downing injured? I dunno about playing him deeper to be honest. Zamora could be worth a shot though, i think though Rooney would either play too high up or drop deep and be ineffective where we need him.

Have to see how he'd react to a blunder or just plenty of goals going past him in one game as of yet this season, that's the one doubt I have so far, if he'd let it affect his confidence into the next games

If VdV is played on the right we could get a lot of joy attacking there as he's not going to track back enough, and would prefer Marveaux against him to Guti. If Lennon is there I'd use Guti.

This game could well be a reality check from our position in the league I agree, as long as we give a good showing a loss wouldn't be a disaster Contradictory? All I'm saying is that we have a chance, don't think they're amazing, but still have a bad feeling we'll lose

What's with the Spurs worship around here, they're a damn good team but they're not thaaat good. Van Der Vaart is a lovely player, Modric is great, Bale is intermitantly great, but they still went through about half of last season not doing much of anything in the league. Redknapp has great friends in the media of course so can count on a bajillion articles on him still sticking it to those crazy foreign managers who like 'tactics' with his pluck spirit and 4-4-2s (and plenty of money) yadder yadder yadder. It's just odd to me that we'd be awed by totenham as a supposedly vastly better team. They are a better team, with lots of better players, but still on our day we have a good shot at them especially at home. Still sinking feeling we'll lose 3-1 or something.

they've got too much depth because their clubs have obviously got something right developing young players 10 years ago. Our FA and clubs need to take note, they always seem to make a lot of noise about it then no players appear.

Oh btw Ian Holloway to manage england. pleeeeeeeease

I'm finding it hard to call this one, going to go with 2-2 draw with Krul having got us out of trouble a lot and us getting 2 good goals on the counter