What is it with Hodgson? Rooney was done for on the hour mark it was clear to see - did he think he'd get a second wind??? Should've had Rooney and Sterling off, Wilshire and Vardy on and gone 4-4-2 to stretch the tired aging Russians. He should also have taken Townsend because Sterling is just not up to it, the ability to run fast with your head down shouldn't get you in the England team. Kane & Alli amazing for Spurs but not used right by England. What's the point in the England manager going to watch prem games if he's no intention of playing the formation and style they play in every week. I'm worried about Bale.

Do you have to troll every thread?

It was frustrating to see so much potential with very little reward. That said the potential bit excites me, makes me happy that we can play. On another day we'd have been 3-0 by half time. 

 

What really threw us after half time was the dramatic change in playing surface after it got watered. The ball was skidding everywhere, we lost our fluidity and allowed Russia to slow things down. We got nervy and took a bit too long to regain control. 

 

We're vulnerable in the air and from set pieces. Their free header in the 1st half from the free kick and subsequent goal has taught us that

 

I'm not too worried yet. But Wales will be very uncomfortable viewing. They have bucket loads of pride and no fear. I'll be happy with a draw. We'll beat Slovakia.

 

Sterling is an impact sub at best. Bad move bringing on Wiltshire he's not match fit. Rooney had a great game. Llana needs to learn how to finish. Impressed with Rose and Walker. Stones for Cahill please. Dier was ok.. Alli will feel the expectation and pressure and Kane will be fine once he finds the onion bag. Possibly their equaliser was Hart's fault?? He watched it when he could have reached it and tipped it over for another corner...

 

Swap Sterling with Milner. Statistically the 4th best performing player in Europe last season. I'd go with the "Moneyball" mathematics any day. he's not fashionable but he wouldn't have run out of steam after 60 mins.

 

Midfield.. hmmm. Diamond? Sit Alli as CDM with Rooney CAM and have Kane/Sturridge upfront? Or do as they did with 4-2-3-1 but swap Kane for Vardy/Sturridge? And possibly even put Milner and Dier as holding with Llana, Rooney and Alli in the 3??? Arrrgh

 

Meat pie.. sausage roll.. common England give us more than 1 goal!

I think for a first game it wasn't too bad. The immediate issue is if we want to win a game of football we have to score 2 or more goals, I can see Wales AND Slovakia both scoring against us. However, why are we playing the way we do? - we get nothing out of Kane who all season long has scored for fun by getting the ball in and around 20 yards and cutting inside, also don't get me started on Vardy another who has scored for fun and he can't even get a sub appearance. I suggest Woy, reviews the Germany DVD as that is the England we all want to see, fearless, not constrained by over complicated management tactics and pressing the opposition with scant respect. This is the only way we can be successful with the players at our disposal. Time to drop Sterling, he has pace but zero end product, I lost count how many times he lost the ball versus he did something useful with the ball - and James Milner is NOT the answer to ANYTHING!