Northern Ireland vs England

[tomamar04]

We're playing 4-5-1 again, but we should have too much for them.

I predict a 3-0 win, Rooney double, and Owen grabbing a goal too.

[silverpigeon97]

I predict 2-0 with either rooney getting both or rooney and owen bth getting one. I also predict that it goes to <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"> after erikson changes formation again.

[Heath]

Northern Ireland 1-0 England

Who'd've thought it, eh?

[Shoden]

*dies of shock*

Am I the only one thinking Erikson has mental problems here?

[Dr.K]

Was David James in goal? Is so, er, I'll just stop talking here.
If not, yeah, pretty shocking I guess.

[Shoden]

I'm surpised, my blame goes for the formation.

[Psychotic]

Eriksson out. 'nuff said.

[DK]

I find it highly amusing. Sven is a complete tit, though.

[Dr.K]

I know this is a tad off, but I was perusing the group stats, and aren't England through already? Even if they lose the next two matches, the team below them (Austria, is it?) will only have 18 points as opposed to England's 19, and that's if Austria WIN their next two as well.

Help, someone, please?

[Psychotic]

You don't automatically qualify if you come second. The ways in which you qualify if you come second are:
- The two best second placed teams (based on points, but some teams have more teams in their groups but this is evened out) qualify.
- The rest play each other in the playoffs, basically a two legged game. I think we qualified for Euro 2000 this way, beating Scotland.

[Dr.K]

Ah, it all comes together. Damn the person who explained the points system to me wrongly :cool:

Thanks.

[Jebus]

I know absolutely nothing about whatever sport you're talking about, and I care even less.

However the outcome should be obvious, as Ireland > *

Even if it is just Northern Ireland

[gokufusionss1]

What the fuck was that?!!?!?

I've never seen a more hapeless display.

[Heath]

You don't automatically qualify if you come second. The ways in which you qualify if you come second are:
- The two best second placed teams (based on points, but some teams have more teams in their groups but this is evened out) qualify.
- The rest play each other in the playoffs, basically a two legged game. I think we qualified for Euro 2000 this way, beating Scotland.

Wouldn't a win and a draw take us through as one of the best 2nd placed teams? I think we can manage that. This is certainly a situation I didn't see us having to be in yesterday afternoon.

[Cz]

We were so unapologetically awful. I fell asleep about ten minutes into the second half. I don't ask very much of the England team, but I do expect them to be able to keep me awake. :rolleyes2

[Old Manus]

I saw this after our defeat to Denmark on the back of the Daily Mail, and think it fits well here.

WORLD CUP WALLIES

[Cuchulainn]

Even though it was Northern Ireland at the Loyalist controlled Windsor Park, and ordinarily every good Catholic likes nothing more than seeing those biggoted twats called Northern Ireland Fans get silenced....I found the whole thing hilarious. England=Prima Donnas.

[Jack]

It was dismal wasn't it?
I don't think throwing Sven out immediatly wouldn't be the best of ideas, it would shake the side up too much and he wouldn't be in long enough to invoke a good display for the following games.
I think throwing Beckham out for ONE game saying "He's not playing good" will shock people. No one believes him when he says no one is safe, so kicking him off the starting XI may scare some players into fighting for their place. Sven has made them feel confident and comfortable in their position by not making them fight for their place.All those changes and none of the newer players are given a chance. No wonder we lost againist to Denmark.

Shake up the players I say.

[tomamar04]

Good formation:

England strongest players are defenders (Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher etc), so play all 3 of them, and have Gary Neville and Ashley Cole as wing backs, they both get forward well. Then have Beckham on the right of centre(where he's supposed to be) and Gerrard left of centre, but neither on the wings (that's designated for the wing backs), then play Rooney just off Owen and either Defoe, or possibly Heskey should we need to pump in long balls.

How about that?

[tomamar04]

It could be interpreted as a 5-2-3, or a 3-4-3.

[silverpigeon97]

What about a 4-3-3 with carragher, campbell, ferdinand and terry in defence, beckham, lampard and gerrard in mid with gerrard in centre, and with owen, rooney and heskey.

[gokufusionss1]

on the plus side i did like the NI chant for every goal kick of



OOOOooOOOOOOoooOOOOh..you fat bastard.

[tomamar04]

What about a 4-3-3 with carragher, campbell, ferdinand and terry in defence, beckham, lampard and gerrard in mid with gerrard in centre, and with owen, rooney and heskey.

You'd have now width to the team. Beckham and Lampard would drift into the centre, and their are no wing backs, so they can't get forward from defence.

[Psychotic]

My formation would be a 3-5-2, with Robinson in goal, Terry, Campbell and Ferdinand at the back, Ashley Cole on the left and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right, then either Michael Carrick or Scott Parker in a holding position in midfield, and then two of Beckham, Gerrard and Lampard in the middle, Defoe or Owen up front and Rooney being given a free role in between.

We'd also have some nice subs to call on (NOT OWEN GODAMNED HARGREAVES!), with one of Lampard/Beckham/Gerrard, plus Joe Cole, and either Heskey or Peter Crouch if we want to try a different approach coming off the bench, we'd be all set.

[tomamar04]

My formation would be a 3-5-2, with Robinson in goal, Terry, Campbell and Ferdinand at the back, Ashley Cole on the left and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right, then either Michael Carrick or Scott Parker in a holding position in midfield, and then two of Beckham, Gerrard and Lampard in the middle, Defoe or Owen up front and Rooney being given a free role in between.

We'd also have some nice subs to call on (NOT OWEN GODAMNED HARGREAVES!), with one of Lampard/Beckham/Gerrard, plus Joe Cole, and either Heskey or Peter Crouch if we want to try a different approach coming off the bench, we'd be all set.

Not bad, but why Wright-Phillips? He was terrible on Wednesday. He may be quick, but he's first touch was abysmal. Gary Neville is just as good getting forward.


A combination of our two formations could work, how about:

GK - Robinson
CB - Terry
CB - Ferdinand
CB - Campbell
RWB - G.Neville
LWB - A.Cole
CM - Carrick
RCM - Beckham
LCM - Gerrard
CF - Rooney
ST - Owen

[Psychotic]

Yeah, that works too. I was wondering how Gary Neville could be included in it all. I don't think it's any coincidence that ever since he was substituted against Denmark and then subsequently got injured, we've played terribly. Still, I think W-P could be very fit at the time of the WC so that's why I put him in.

[tomamar04]

Neville provides attacking quality down the right, linking well with Beckham, and is a strong tackler and passer of the ball. He's important to the England team.

[Doc Sark]

Yeah I'd agree with that. My only issue with the right back position is the lack of options we have when Neville is injured.

Glen Johnson is awful, and Luke Young, while being a solid player, I don't think is of an International calibre.

I think we should go back to a 4-4-2. Forget everything else, England need to go back to basics and get it right. The obvious all being selected, but get rid of Lampard or Gerrard, doesn#t matter which, my vote would be Lampard but I'm biased. Replace him with Michael Carrick. That way Gerrard/Lampard, can go off and do as they please in midfield as Carrick will anchor the midfield. He also knows how to pass the ball and I'm astonished he keeps being overlooked given the standard of his performances during the USA tour.

Hell, what do I know? Sven is obviously doing enough to keep the F.A. happy. It's amazing how far getting your girlfriend to perform sexual favours on the board members can keep you in a job.