ponsaelius Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I wonder if he's got a plan for Pirlo. They've got us outnumbered in midfield especially with Gerrard's indiscipline. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Yeah he did make the mistake against Croatia but that aside he was fantastic in both games before his injury.... easily thier best defender. Although Barzagli has had a fantastic season and him and Bonucci obviously know each other from club level and Abate and Balzaretti are good defensively but dont offer much going forward. Will be a tough game IMO and i still think this game is 50/50 it could easily go either way..... Italy will have the advantage in midfield so we should try and use the width of the pitch as much as possible as they will play very narrow. We could possibly gets some joy outwide. As for Welbeck or Carroll.... theres fair arguments for either one but i do think Roy will go with Welbeck keep the continuity going and all that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I wonder if he's got a plan for Pirlo. They've got us outnumbered in midfield especially with Gerrard's indiscipline. Harsh albeit historically correct, I'd say Gerrard has been spot on this tournament tactically. Abate and Balzaretti are good defensively but dont offer much going forward. Absolutely the opposite from what I've seen at club level, Abate in particular. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Look at Carrolls hair man Like a wrestler. just totally failed at shopping carrolls face on to triple h, but i'll tell you this...it would have been fucking hilarious Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Look at Carrolls hair man Like a wrestler. just totally failed at shopping carrolls face on to triple h, but i'll tell you this...it would have been fucking hilarious Try Edge. Easier fit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I wonder if he's got a plan for Pirlo. They've got us outnumbered in midfield especially with Gerrard's indiscipline. Harsh albeit historically correct, I'd say Gerrard has been spot on this tournament tactically. I agree and said as much, he's been far better in that sense than he usually is - but he's still had moments like against Sweden where he just went wandering as much as he liked. Italy are likely to play with essentially 4 CMs, all are good on the ball which could be a nightmare against our pairing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I wonder if he's got a plan for Pirlo. They've got us outnumbered in midfield especially with Gerrard's indiscipline. Harsh albeit historically correct, I'd say Gerrard has been spot on this tournament tactically. Abate and Balzaretti are good defensively but dont offer much going forward. Absolutely the opposite from what I've seen at club level, Abate in particular. Abate has done a complete switcharoo the last year or two. He has improved massively defensive to the point where he actually looks a Milan standard player, but his attacking qualities have deminished. Very bizarre. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Italy will go with a midfield narrow diamond 4 with Pirlo at top of the diamond and Motta at the tip of it and Marchisio and DDR in the middle they will definitely outnumber us in there no matter how much Rooney drops deep. The best thing for us to combat this is try to get wide as much as possible and bring our fullbacks forward and try and get in 2 v 1 situations outwide and bring the likes of Marchsio and De Rossi outwide.... then we will have a numbers advantage in the middle and Gerrard and Rooney can stamp thier authority in the middle. In any case the key for us will be to exploit the lack of width Italy have. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 The thing with Gerrrard so far is that his direct impact on matches has come from the wide areas. Makes you wonder if it wouldn't be worth moving Milner into a shuffling, central midfield water carrier (his best club form in his whole career for me was there) and play Gerrard as a narrow wide midfielder. The only problem with that is it could lead Johnson exposed, but personally I feel Milner's defensive impact has been massively overplayed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 The thing with Gerrrard so far is that his direct impact on matches has come from the wide areas. Makes you wonder if it wouldn't be worth moving Milner into a shuffling, central midfield water carrier (his best club form in his whole career for me was there) and play Gerrard as a narrow wide midfielder. The only problem with that is it could lead Johnson exposed, but personally I feel Milner's defensive impact has been massively overplayed. No chance for the reason you stated plus Gerrard would throw his toys doing the "graveyard shift" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpolic Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 It's going to be played on a small and tight pitch, so, considering the two teams, I expect a tense 0-0. Your mam's a tense 0-0. Brave boy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnypd Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 The thing with Gerrrard so far is that his direct impact on matches has come from the wide areas. Makes you wonder if it wouldn't be worth moving Milner into a shuffling, central midfield water carrier (his best club form in his whole career for me was there) and play Gerrard as a narrow wide midfielder. The only problem with that is it could lead Johnson exposed, but personally I feel Milner's defensive impact has been massively overplayed. good point but Milner is fucking rank on the ball imo. surely he'll keep his position for the reasons above but i wonder if Oxlade might feature instead of Young, particularly as Roy said he did so well against the imaginary Italians, which was ultimately correct albeit he got the details wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 The thing with Gerrrard so far is that his direct impact on matches has come from the wide areas. Makes you wonder if it wouldn't be worth moving Milner into a shuffling, central midfield water carrier (his best club form in his whole career for me was there) and play Gerrard as a narrow wide midfielder. The only problem with that is it could lead Johnson exposed, but personally I feel Milner's defensive impact has been massively overplayed. No chance for the reason you stated plus Gerrard would throw his toys. Aye but that's the thing, he can still influence and run the game from that position. His whole career Gerrard seems to have had this picture in his mind of him being a central midfield general, but his best form for Liverpool came off the striker and he aint ever done it in the centre for England. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 The thing with Gerrrard so far is that his direct impact on matches has come from the wide areas. Makes you wonder if it wouldn't be worth moving Milner into a shuffling, central midfield water carrier (his best club form in his whole career for me was there) and play Gerrard as a narrow wide midfielder. The only problem with that is it could lead Johnson exposed, but personally I feel Milner's defensive impact has been massively overplayed. good point but Milner is fucking rank on the ball imo. surely he'll keep his position for the reasons above but i wonder if Oxlade might feature instead of Young, particularly as Roy said he did so well against the imaginary Italians, which was ultimately correct albeit he got the details wrong. True, just think it makes sense to play him in his best position. It would make our CM look fooking horrendous on paper admittedly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnypd Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I wonder how much of gerrard's improved discipline in the middle is down to Hodgson and how much is down to the fact his legs have gone. can't run around like a mad man as much as he used to. probably a bit of both. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Was a good piece on Milner in the Guardian today - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jun/22/euro-2012-james-milner-england Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I would'nt worry about Johnson being exposed due to how narrow Italy are, they are playing like Milan in that aspect all the attacks tend to come through the middle. Although bringing Milner inside would make the system a bit lop-sided which i doubt Roy would do it would also mean Johnson would have to have the whole wing by himself which i dont see happening either. Sort of a catch-22 here.... either leave Milner out there and try and exploit the lack of width Italy have or bring Milner inside and try and combat what is Italy's strength. I know what Roy will do.... 4-4-f*ckin2 but i do understand arguments for both ways. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Are we even sure Italy will be playing 4 at the back btw? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Are we even sure Italy will be playing 4 at the back btw? Prandelli has said nowt, deliberately so. De Rossi said likewise - Spain caught them out and they want to do similar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Are we even sure Italy will be playing 4 at the back btw? Tbh i'm not even certain they will play 4-3-1-2 as theres been rumours going around they will play 4-3-3 with Giovinco and Cassano either side of Balotelli. There's quite a few different systems they could with, so all this talk from me about them lacking width could actually be null and void come kick off. Excited anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Can't remember the last time I was so geared up for an England game, probably '02 as someone posted early (apologies) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Haven't watched Italy all that close since the first game of the group stage, has De Rossi been moved back into midfield or is he still stuck at center back? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Was back in midfield last game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliMag Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Something for all you Sassonachs: http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/footy/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DubblyDubblyDubbly Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Was a good piece on Milner in the Guardian today - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jun/22/euro-2012-james-milner-england "This is a man who has played more than 500 professional matches at the age of 26 and claims to have never allowed a drop of alcohol to pass his lips. What imperious puritan resolve!" Smifffy was also tee-total.. and he was shi* too. Gazza/Best/Greaves/McGrath/Robson/Adams/Whiteside/Supermac/Bowles/Merson(oops) all drank like fish and look how good they were. So which came first, the chicken or the egg ? ( if you get my drift) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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