Segun Oluwaniyi Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Are England the only major nation taking 4 strikers? Everybody else seems to produce/understand the value of advanced midfielders to the point where they don't need to bring a long a load of centre forwards for the sake of it. Does England produce many "advanced midfielders", though? Outside of bringing Johnson or Cole into the squad, I don't know what other attacking options you are talking about. That's what I mean. I said we don't produce them. We play in straight lines and as such the players we produce fall into that. I still think England's personnel is most suited to a fairly defensive 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 like we played for large periods of last season. Another problem outside of the attacking players is that England don't produce true holding midfielders in the mold of the African destroyer or the southern European deep lying playmakers. Before his misfortune, I often suggested Muamba as a player for England. In this era, in which midfielders are separated into clearly attacking or defensive roles, you don't have many players. Cleverly and Wilshere may help fulfill the roles further forward, but it is worrying that both of them have been injured on such a consistent basis throughout their careers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Are England the only major nation taking 4 strikers? Everybody else seems to produce/understand the value of advanced midfielders to the point where they don't need to bring a long a load of centre forwards for the sake of it. Does England produce many "advanced midfielders", though? Outside of bringing Johnson or Cole into the squad, I don't know what other attacking options you are talking about. That's what I mean. I said we don't produce them. We play in straight lines and as such the players we produce fall into that. I still think England's personnel is most suited to a fairly defensive 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 like we played for large periods of last season. Another problem outside of the attacking players is that England don't produce true holding midfielders in the mold of the African destroyer or the southern European deep lying playmakers. Before his misfortune, I often suggested Muamba as a player for England. In this era, in which midfielders are separated into clearly attacking or defensive roles, you don't have many players. Cleverly and Wilshere may help fulfill the roles further forward, but it is worrying that both of them have been injured on such a consistent basis throughout their careers. I don't know if it's just part of his footballing education but Wenger seemed intent on Wilshere playing a deep role for Arsenal, and he was fantastic there last season. Truth is we could do with him becoming useful there but we could also do with him being the advanced midfielder it looked like he was going to be through youth ranks - and there's only one of him. I am gutted at his injury problems over the last year. One of my favourite players to watch in the league and was one of the few exciting players that you could throw into the national team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest frazernufc Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Benzema indicating that Ben Arfa will surely be selected with this quote. "At the Euros, I won't think about trying to be heroic or trying to do the whole job alone. I need all my team-mates to be good on the pitch," Benzema told L'Equipe. "We all have a big desire, we talked about it and we will talk again. We have a good generation, it is up to us to play." He added: "Jeremy Menez has had an amazing season, I had a lot of fun watching him playing at PSG. He will be the icing on the cake at the Euros. "Hatem Ben Arfa is one of the very best in his position. I hope he will keep the same form. I know with him we can play together on the pitch with our eyes closed." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisjraby Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 France seem to have a lot of talented wingers at the moment (even Malouda looked good when he came on the other night!), but the way Ben Arfa linked up with Debuchy and Benzema should almost guarantee him a place I would've thought. Can't wait to see how we try to defend against him and Ribery/Menez Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 England are going to get merked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexf Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 The Ben Arfa - Benzema combo in the first half and then the impact Ribery made when he came on 2nd half, you could see the players that were a level above the others. Menez and giroud notably mentions aswell. They do look dodgy at the back though. Haven't been convinced about evra for awhile now. Really proud that a player like Ben Arfa plays for us. Just hope he doesn't play too well and Mourinho thinks about linking him with benzema for Real Madrid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikon Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Ben Arfa vs Iceland {Nufc_Compilation}. Made by one of the posters here i guess? Cheers! Some nice stuff! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate End Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Ben Arfa vs Iceland {Nufc_Compilation}. Made by one of the posters here i guess? Cheers! Some nice stuff! Yeah just uploaded it they keep deleting my compilations of Ben Arfa for us they never stay up longer then a few weeks... hopefully I'll have a few more to put up over Euro 2012. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikon Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Much better than the other one i watched! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Ben Arfa vs Iceland {Nufc_Compilation}. Made by one of the posters here i guess? Cheers! Some nice stuff! Yeah just uploaded it they keep deleting my compilations of Ben Arfa for us they never stay up longer then a few weeks... hopefully I'll have a few more to put up over Euro 2012. Have you used that music you use everytime, that gangster music. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dell Boi Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Ben Arfa vs Iceland {Nufc_Compilation}. Made by one of the posters here i guess? Cheers! Some nice stuff! I still can't believe he plays for us, when you see the control in that video...ffs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikon Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 How did Nasri do last night? Any good? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 How did Nasri do last night? Any good? Not really. I saw the first 70 minutes and Hatem,Debuchy,Benzema and Menez were probably the best players. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Nasri got in the way a lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikon Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Ok, cheers! I've got a feeling that the front four against England will be: Benzema Ribery. Ben Arfa Menez Just a hunch... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Nasri did what Nasri always does.... links up play, keeps possession well and keeps the moves flowing and didnt take any real risks to effect the game in the attacking third. Although i think Ben Arfa could do a better job than Nasri can in the central role i have a feeling if France go with 4-2-3-1 then Ribery will play on the left, Nasri in the centre and Ben Arfa will battle with Menez for the spot on the right. Whether that's the right decision or not i think that's what Blanc will do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest je85 Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Nasri did what Nasri always does.... links up play, keeps possession well and keeps the moves flowing and didnt take any real risks to effect the game in the attacking third. Although i think Ben Arfa could do a better job than Nasri can in the central role i have a feeling if France go with 4-2-3-1 then Ribery will play on the left, Nasri in the centre and Ben Arfa will battle with Menez for the spot on the right. Whether that's the right decision or not i think that's what Blanc will do. Andy Brassell seems to think it'll be this also, however with Valbuena or HBA on the right hand side. He also mentions that he'd love to see a 4-4-1-1 with Nasri dropped and Benzema off Giroud but that it is highly unlikely to happen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Valbuena? wouldnt suprise me as Blanc loves him but he would be an extremely safe option as like Nasri he keeps position well but doesnt really try anything extraordinary to break down defences.... As for the 4-4-1-1 idea i do find it very doubtful but at the same time i wouldnt be suprised to see it used against teams that will play extremely defensively against them i.e group stages. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hatem garrincha Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 i have a feeling if France go with 4-2-3-1 then Ribery will play on the left, Nasri in the centre and Ben Arfa will battle with Menez for the spot on the right. Whether that's the right decision or not i think that's what Blanc will do. I think so. On the right, the battle will be between Valbuena, Ben Arfa and Menez, and Nasri in a 4-4-2, with Giroud. Hatem linked very well with Benzema yesterday, but I thought he tried to play with him too much. At times, he could have tried something else, pass the ball to a partner in a better position than Karim, he had also several occasions of shots or to go alone that he didn't take. Briefly, I found him too "shy". Certainly with the idea of breaking his reputation of "greedy" player (in France) Yesterday was a good opportunity for him to warrant his place definitely in the starting XI and I thought he missed it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Benarfaofficial @Benarfaofficial Bonne nuit / good night 9:48 PM - 28 May 12 http://i.imgur.com/SXxPm.png Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Ben Arfa vs Iceland {Nufc_Compilation}. Made by one of the posters here i guess? Cheers! Some nice stuff! How fucking good is he man? Totally comes into his own there when he's playing with better players if you like. Just his touch and movement is out of this world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Yoann Gourcuff and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa cut from France squad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 1 more cut to be made. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimburst Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 That mean the final squad is announced? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 1 more cut to be made. No that's it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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