England v Honduras

[supercity88]

I wouldn't look too much into the tactics and lineups Hodgson used in the friendlies. He threw Oxlade in at the Euro's and no one saw that coming. Sterling will start - I think the fact Welbeck played is more of a case of getting him used to that role. Sterling was one of the best players in the league last season - why wouldn't you play him? I think Oxlade gives Roy a headache but his injury may mean he is a sub and Sterling starts. England showed glimpses of good play but we lacked that finish or final pass at times.

We have nothing to lose in the tournament and I think when you look at the bench and have Barkley, Oxlade, Lambert sat there, we have a lot of different options depending on the opposition. I do feel we lack the defensive midfielder we could do with - maybe Phil Jones or Milner are used there late on... but we have the ability to cause problems. Most of the team are new to this experience, only 6 have been to a world cup before and so most are without penalty scars and the sort. At the end of the day the first task is to make it out of a tight group so we just need to come out of the first game with a point or more and build from there. Our preparation has been good and I think Italy will struggle with our pace as long as we contain Pirlo.

 

[without a dream]

I wouldn't look too much into the tactics and lineups Hodgson used in the friendlies. He threw Oxlade in at the Euro's and no one saw that coming. Sterling will start - I think the fact Welbeck played is more of a case of getting him used to that role. Sterling was one of the best players in the league last season - why wouldn't you play him? I think Oxlade gives Roy a headache but his injury may mean he is a sub and Sterling starts. England showed glimpses of good play but we lacked that finish or final pass at times.

We have nothing to lose in the tournament and I think when you look at the bench and have Barkley, Oxlade, Lambert sat there, we have a lot of different options depending on the opposition. I do feel we lack the defensive midfielder we could do with - maybe Phil Jones or Milner are used there late on... but we have the ability to cause problems. Most of the team are new to this experience, only 6 have been to a world cup before and so most are without penalty scars and the sort. At the end of the day the first task is to make it out of a tight group so we just need to come out of the first game with a point or more and build from there. Our preparation has been good and I think Italy will struggle with our pace as long as we contain Pirlo.

It's not, he loves Welbeck. The single most depressing comment on English football in recent history was that Roy was trying out Jay Rodriguez 'in that Welbeck role'.