England v Uruguay tonight

[Nick]

We have decent youngters on that showing but if were all being honest do any of them really look like there going to turn us from what we have been into the likes of Germany or Holland. I think we will see more of the same for the next 15 20 years from these youngsters

Possibly Sterling and Barclay outside of that no chance

The one good thing to come out of this world cup so far for England is Sterling. I think he's been good more so in the Italy game. I don't think Barclay has done much, but it would be stupid to judge him on this tournament. The best England team I've seen (team spirit and ability) is the 96 team. And unfortunately I just can't see that happening again any time soon.

IMO not having an English manager for years has contributed to that. As soon as Hodgson came in there was a togetherness amongst the squad that hasn't been there before.

[Robsondinho]

Next weeks lottery numbers please rob

Don't know about that mate, but a few tips im on for tonight after yesterdays 40/1 win.

France 2-1 Benzema 1st goal 22/1

Italy Costa Rica draw BTTS/France BTTS/Ecuador 40/1 treble.

[QPReuge]

40/1, fair play. Cheers for the steer mate, tempting

[Robsondinho]

Going back to the England discussion it is surprising how many people are shocked or angry that we have played 2 lost 2, and IMO next week it will be played 3 lost 3. As a nation we have never been good enough to compete at the top level. OK we won the world cup in 1966, but before then and since then have we ever got further than a SF in any competition? Apart from Italia 90 we haven't even got to a semi-final in a world cup.

In my life time we have never really had a truly world class player. People mention Scholes, but he never really done it for England, although he is probably the greatest midfielder we have produced. Before him I can only think of Gazza, maybe Hoddle. So what gives us the right to expect to be up there with the Germans, Brazilians, Italians, etc?

Our football mentality and talent is a million miles away from the world elite. People bang on about Barkley, Sterling, Shaw, etc, but let’s not forget the world elite countries are producing better players then the names mentioned also. Our style of play, the never die attitude will get us nowhere. Football has changed, you need talent, confidence, be built like an athlete, the mentality, to do well. English players look good for their clubs as they have very good foreign players around them to make them look good.

IMO and it may upset a few people, but for me England are on par with the likes of Ukraine, USA, and such like. Just not good enough to compete at the top level.

There is a picture going around on twitter which sums it up for me of Ronaldo flexing his muscles and Rooney looking like a beer belly brit in Benidorm.

[SammyKojoe]

Suarez is world class and England have nobody near world class level. Two chances two goals. Rooney had 2 great chances bar his goal and missed. Says it all.

[Bluehoop]

Agreed, we do not have any World class individual players. There are other teams in this competition in the same position but they play a decent brand of football and look likely to complete. You don't World class players to win football matches as long as they are very good players and have the right approach. Last night we were so one dimensional and just played in straight lines. Where were the triangles and off the ball options? There were none, leaving the only outlets as a square ball or a knock up the line for someone to chase. No matter how hard an opposing team works, if you set up properly and work the space on the pitch, you can always play forward and attacking football. England were too easy to "squeeze" and with Uruguay playing a narrow midfield we just never seemed to have any shape or plan to get round/through them.
That isn't down to not having World class players and it's also not down to a lack of ability. Arguably, it isn't down to the manager either because the tactics in the Italy game were right and he said we were going to do the same again - so what happened? I don't believe the plan was to go out and play at walking pace in straight lines, if it was, the blame the manager but I think the players just let themselves down............again.

[hal9thou]

You can go a long way without being world class if you are organised: look at Greece when they won the Euros, Germany have won competitions through organisation more than individual brilliance.

It is worth remembering that all goals vs England came from defensive errors rather than world class attacking football.

You have to play units and systems, however attack minded your strategy. Taking the Chelsea back line (3/4) was a complete no brainer because they communicate and are good at keeping the door shut at the highest level. We could still have had Liverpool plus Ross Barclay going forwards, great young player. Rooney looked decent enough to me, unfortunately it wasn't Sturridge's night. It wouldn't have mattered if the door had been shut.

It's a simple game.

[WeAreQPR12]

You can go a long way without being world class if you are organised: look at Greece when they won the Euros, Germany have won competitions through organisation more than individual brilliance.

It is worth remembering that all goals vs England came from defensive errors rather than world class attacking football.

You have to play units and systems, however attack minded your strategy. Taking the Chelsea back line (3/4) was a complete no brainer because they communicate and are good at keeping the door shut at the highest level. We could still have had Liverpool plus Ross Barclay going forwards, great young player. Rooney looked decent enough to me, unfortunately it wasn't Sturridge's night. It wouldn't have mattered if the door had been shut.

It's a simple game.

really? I don't get the obsession with him, nothing like gazza and yet the media all get carried away as per usual.

[Stanley]

I agree with Ginger and Robbo's posts.

For me, Stuart Pearce gets to the heart of the problem here: http://talksport.com/football/other-...-after-uruguay

[brightonr]

I agree with Ginger and Robbo's posts.

For me, Stuart Pearce gets to the heart of the problem here: http://talksport.com/football/other-...-after-uruguay

Listened to that last night. The really annoying thing is that it is just basic common sense.

[Robsondinho]

There are so many problems with football in this country and the UK as a whole. Starts with the kids U9s U10s etc not able to enjoy their football if they play for clubs. Taught to hit the channels or the big man up front. At that age they should be told to enjoy their football, have fun, and try tricks. I remember when I was a 10 year old and when not at school I was out on the street from 9am till 9pm just playing street football without a care in the world. These days all you see is no ball games signs, or kids just sitting on their backsides playing fifa on the playstation instead. This St Georges park thing is a load of rubbish as well! what’s the point when the coaches are still dreadful? Just because they are put in a posh new complex don't mean all of a sudden their methods change. It is just the way us English are, we rather triers and people who work their b0ll0x of instead of the flair and creativity. I mean look at us at QPR, Adel gets slaughtered yet basic bang average footballers like Derry & Hill are adored. I have also seen it with my own eyes at non league level. I have played with players who have the ability to play at the top level but because they don’t work hard or fly into tackles no pro club will touch them! I posted after the Italy game when the commentator had the cheek to say "that was a risky pass" when Pirlo fizzed in a ball to his CM partner. Risky? He just trusts his mates ability to control a ball in a tight space. We can't look at the premiership clubs to help either as it is all about money and winning these days. Do you think the Arabs at Man City give a F**K about English youngsters at the academy? Hell no they will just buy kids from Italy, France, or wherever to make their academy teams the best.

The whole system in this country is f**ked and it will take years and years to sort out.

[lymehoop]

There are so many problems with football in this country and the UK as a whole. Starts with the kids U9s U10s etc not able to enjoy their football if they play for clubs. Taught to hit the channels or the big man up front. At that age they should be told to enjoy their football, have fun, and try tricks. I remember when I was a 10 year old and when not at school I was out on the street from 9am till 9pm just playing street football without a care in the world. These days all you see is no ball games signs, or kids just sitting on their backsides playing fifa on the playstation instead. This St Georges park thing is a load of rubbish as well! what’s the point when the coaches are still dreadful? Just because they are put in a posh new complex don't mean all of a sudden their methods change. It is just the way us English are, we rather triers and people who work their b0ll0x of instead of the flair and creativity. I mean look at us at QPR, Adel gets slaughtered yet basic bang average footballers like Derry & Hill are adored. I have also seen it with my own eyes at non league level. I have played with players who have the ability to play at the top level but because they don’t work hard or fly into tackles no pro club will touch them! I posted after the Italy game when the commentator had the cheek to say "that was a risky pass" when Pirlo fizzed in a ball to his CM partner. Risky? He just trusts his mates ability to control a ball in a tight space. We can't look at the premiership clubs to help either as it is all about money and winning these days. Do you think the Arabs at Man City give a F**K about English youngsters at the academy? Hell no they will just buy kids from Italy, France, or wherever to make their academy teams the best.

The whole system in this country is f**ked and it will take years and years to sort out.

100% agree with this, apart from the fact I can't see a way out of buying foreign players rather than get home grown players through the system. Not until the money disappears from the game and sanity returns

[Factamondo]

i blame the french/african influx to our league!

[Stanley]

Redknapp argues that an influx of foreign players at youth level is damaging the progress of homegrown talent:

"It's a problem at youth level. I'm sure the best youth teams in the country have plenty of foreign lads in them. At one time, the youth team was probably more about local kids. Not just English kids, but local kids. I grew up at West Ham, and all the kids came from that area. We didn't even have kids from the north of England.

Now when you look at Chelsea and Manchester City, certainly in the last few years, they've got an awful lot of foreign lads in their teams. That is a problem as well."

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p021fhn7

[stationcafe]

Arry has a point but it's an a bit of a cop out excuse tbh.

Young English players shouldn't be scared to play in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy etc., for most it will benefit them more than the lower leagues. The coaching style here needs to change but it's too much of an old boys' club. How is someone like Stuart Pearce in charge of the u21s?