Pureblood

Great to see him having a fine tournament.

I don't see why it's not realistic? Spain mirrored Barca's team, so in theory England should be able to do the same thing? In any event it's not so much the formation, choice of players or tactics but the unaccetable lowering of expectations and uninspiring leadership. The whole package with the Hodge is a shitfest.

Not giving you shit at all. If you don't think the players can cut it I respect that, but I think they're better than what we've seen and for me the cause is the manager.

Well Roy left Terry (who is obviously better than Cahill) and Ashley Cole at home so there's two more who could have helped him. Michael Carrick should also be in the squad. Roy chose youth because he likes to shift the blame away from himself. He bottled out of the Terry situation. John Terry is a twat but for me he should be England captain, as he leads brilliantly from the back and is used to playing in big pressure games.

It was shithouse timing and sums up the whole sorry affair perfectly. The FA - where failure is instantly rewarded.

It doesn't really matter who I'd pick, does it? I'm some bloke on a forum. But look at what those players have won between them - nearly everything going. It's a great set of players, so they should do better. A nice mix of youth (Sterling), experience (Gerrard. Rooney), a goalkeeper who has rediscovered his best club form etc. There is plenty to work with there so I think a different manager would do better. The lowering of expectations by Hodgson is unforgivable but that's his MO.

Instantly rewarded with two more years. It's bizarre, like self harm or something. It's just astonishing. He's clearly out of his depth.

He's a clueless cunt and it's entirely his fault.

Alexi seems to be an an ever present and Martinez (who is superb) is also on a lot.

Bored of the banal BBC? Irritated with the irrational ITV? This is the thread for you. I can heartily recommend ESPN's coverage. Alexi Lalas, Michael Ballack, Roberto Martinez, Santiago Solari and Gilberto Silva make up an excellent pundits panel. The commentry is a bit USA at times, but there are familiar co-commentators such as Steve McManaman providing a refreshing alternative to terrestrial coverage. Ian Darke is a bit of a let down with some of his mindless commentary, but I don't mind his voice so much compared to the usual suspects we have to endure and he doesn't over egg the pudding too much, not one of those who constantly talks just for the sake of it (I'm looking at you, Martin Tyler). Otherwise I'm enjoying the almost constant radio 5 Live coverage. Any other recommendations?

He's upset the press gang with his little after speech last night. Complaining on Talk Sport that his words were a slap in the face to the writers who had given him the player of the year award. It's as if the whole racism storm they lapped up and perpetuated in the worst possible manner never happened. Short memories.

Can we not knock it? Fuckin' hells bells.

I agree with what you say about the aimless substitutions, Jose. Talk about reacting after the event. Rickie Lambert should have come on earlier, 5 minutes was pointless and even a draw would have placed England in jeopardy. Three points were required.

You know I think Roy surpassed my expectations by even qualifying, his football methods are obsolete. You say England were good going forward, but I ask how come only 2 goals have been scored. Rooney missed two sitters, I ask why hasn't he missed twenty sitters? It proves my point a little, does it not? Two clear cut chances for one of your best forwards is not enough. Suarez missed a chance, but he had 3 and made 2 of them count because he knew he would get one more. With Roy's team you don't have that extra chance, you have to make the one you get count.

I think Rooney has done okay. He delivered the goal tonight, but Roy's team is always vulnerable to one defence splitting pass from virtually anywhere on the field. In this case from the goalkeeper. His supposed ability to steady the ship and make teams solid is a myth.

The problem with Roy's unimaginative approach to football is that his teams don't create many clear cut chances, so when the big moment arrives for whoever is on the end of it the pressure in considerable. In a more fluidly attacking team it doesn't matter if one chance is fluffed because another one will come along soon. Roy's teams don't have this luxury. Combined with a vulnerable defensive set up, where one accurate long ball or cross can split the backline, you have a recipe for disaster when you come up against any decent opposition. That's my take on it.

Think Lawro's predicted table deserves a repost:-

If I felt passionately about England I wouldn't blame any of the players, in particular the Liverpool players who acquitted themselves very well. Good to see "lazy" Glen Johnson getting forward in the humidity in the 77th minute or whatever it was to set up the equalizer superbly. The players did all they could but are severely hamstrung by unimaginative management and leadership. In my humble opinion England had the players to finish comfortably as winners of the group if they had the right management, approach and leadership.

Complete bollocks, he was the catalyst for our best title challenge in many moons. Roy Hodgson is to blame. You need to have a look at yourself, xerxes.

Man, fuck England and the hype ridden shitty cuntfest they rode in on. Roy Hodgson is an utter disgrace of a man. He's no leader. If you dance with the devil and he bites your arse it's your own fucking fault (Perry Farrell, Reading '93. Or was it '94? Ah whatever. It was his Porno for Pyros days. Great show from Perry and the lads).

A Liverpool player won the game for the other team if that's what floats your farts.

Ah, come on man. How can you not want him to win the whole thing on his home continent? Tonight was the ultimate revenge story. Kinda destiny, dentistry in the den of Dirty Harry's... sorry just went all Dennis Tooth for a second.

I thought the whole second half was captivating.

I called him all the cunts under the sun when he wanted to got to Arsenal and found it hard to love him because of Torres etc. But bugger me, what a game tonight. Has to go down as a World Cup classic and had some of the iconic goals/moments of the tournament. I know who I'm supporting for the rest of the World Cup. In Cavani they have a great striker and Suarez a world class one so they have a chance. Still a bit of football to be played in the group, mind. Costa Rica are no mugs! I think it's the best group out of them all in terms of dramatic tension, very well balanced.

Haha, inspired. .