Delph for England

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

What annoyed me about Wilshere was him not wanting to take the ball off the two central defenders. Time after time they had the ball and were looking for someone to give it to and Jack was stood 15yards away holding hands with an opponent. That meant they had to generally send it long instead of him taking it off them and spraying it about.

that was exactly what I thought. I was by no means a fan of Gerrards but at least he did make himself available to receive the ball off the central defenders, it was only from that point on that things tended to go wrong

[rob_bridge]

I thought Phil Jones did ok considering Fergie did everything he could to turn a promising central defender into a utility player, made a couple of poor passes but generally defended well and could easily have scored with the header in the first half, not brilliant but more than decent for me.

I agree he did ok. A McGrath incarnate he was not

[MoetVillan]

Wilshere reminded me of Bannan, never available when players needed help, tried to hard to make a fancy pass instead of simple stuff, awful defensive positioning and terrible tracking back.  Cant tackle.  Thinks he is brilliant.  Awful player.

My take on this role is that had Milner stayed on at Villa or gone to another team that developed him, he would be England captain today.

Was really impressed with Wellbeck, who showed lots of desire like Delph to win balls he had no right to.  Sterling and Henderson played well, as did Hart and Cahill

Jones, pretty average, and im concerned about that position, Phil Jagielka is no better.  I thought Baines lacked pace and kept getting caught forward leaving us looking very short at the back

Another average apperance by Rooney

[exigo]

Rooney can trap a ball further than I can kick it. Scandalous for a £300k a week footballer.

[MoetVillan]

Rooney can trap a ball further than I can kick it. Scandalous for a £300k a week footballer.

One touch wonder, touch it once, wonder where it went

[aev]

What annoyed me about Wilshere was him not wanting to take the ball off the two central defenders. Time after time they had the ball and were looking for someone to give it to and Jack was stood 15yards away holding hands with an opponent. That meant they had to generally send it long instead of him taking it off them and spraying it about.

that was exactly what I thought. I was by no means a fan of Gerrards but at least he did make himself available to receive the ball off the central defenders, it was only from that point on that things tended to go wrong

When our centre backs had it Wilshere was hopeless....he hid behind their centre forward!

[Hookeysmith]

Praise for wiltshire is due tohim being a media luvvie just lke any united player that plays.
I know its naive to expect player loyalty but come on delphie  remember how this club has supported you through year after year of shit form and major injury

sign the deal

[Dante Lavelli]

I think Wilshire can become a good defensive midfielder, given time.  The following quote suggests that he is mindful that it is the position at both club and country when he can prosper most.  I just wish one of Lampard or Gerrard had a small enough ego to sacrifice their own glory for the good of the team.

From the evening standard:

The 22-year-old’s best position for club and country has frequently been debated but after a promising outing against Switzerland, he says he will take time out at Arsenal to watch some of defensive midfield specialists in a bid to improve in time for next month’s double header against San Marino and Estonia

“I spoke with the manager and Gary Neville in the week and they told me they wanted me to play that role and I quite enjoyed it,” Wilshere said.

“It was my first time ever playing there so over the next month or so I am going to look at a few videos of this game and of players who play in that position regularly — [Andrea] Pirlo, [Javier] Mascherano and players like that — and I’ll get better.

“I felt it went well last night but next time we meet up I feel it can only go better.”

[OCD]

If ever there was a time that we needed a defensive midfielder it would be San Marino and Estonia.

[tomd2103]

I think Wilshire can become a good defensive midfielder, given time.  The following quote suggests that he is mindful that it is the position at both club and country when he can prosper most.  I just wish one of Lampard or Gerrard had a small enough ego to sacrifice their own glory for the good of the team.

From the evening standard:

The 22-year-old’s best position for club and country has frequently been debated but after a promising outing against Switzerland, he says he will take time out at Arsenal to watch some of defensive midfield specialists in a bid to improve in time for next month’s double header against San Marino and Estonia

“I spoke with the manager and Gary Neville in the week and they told me they wanted me to play that role and I quite enjoyed it,” Wilshere said.

“It was my first time ever playing there so over the next month or so I am going to look at a few videos of this game and of players who play in that position regularly — [Andrea] Pirlo, [Javier] Mascherano and players like that — and I’ll get better.

“I felt it went well last night but next time we meet up I feel it can only go better.”

Is it me, or have the London media gone into overdrive in trying to promote Wilshere after last night?  I accept he's probably never played in that position before (which begs the question why he wasn't played there against Norway if the coaching staff were considering it), but I just can't see how he is suited to it at all. 

[eamonn]

What does recherchez mean again?

[tomd2103]

I thought Phil Jones did ok considering Fergie did everything he could to turn a promising central defender into a utility player, made a couple of poor passes but generally defended well and could easily have scored with the header in the first half, not brilliant but more than decent for me.

I agree he did ok. A McGrath incarnate he was not

The jury is still out on Jones and he needs to be playing CB week in week out at club level if he's going to improve.  I thought Gary Cahill was very good though and really should be captaining the side.     

[brian green]

Eamonn, recherchez means despite both your own and her advancing decrepitude you could still give Cher one.

[Matt Collins]

I think Wilshire can become a good defensive midfielder, given time.  The following quote suggests that he is mindful that it is the position at both club and country when he can prosper most.  I just wish one of Lampard or Gerrard had a small enough ego to sacrifice their own glory for the good of the team.

From the evening standard:

The 22-year-old’s best position for club and country has frequently been debated but after a promising outing against Switzerland, he says he will take time out at Arsenal to watch some of defensive midfield specialists in a bid to improve in time for next month’s double header against San Marino and Estonia

“I spoke with the manager and Gary Neville in the week and they told me they wanted me to play that role and I quite enjoyed it,” Wilshere said.

“It was my first time ever playing there so over the next month or so I am going to look at a few videos of this game and of players who play in that position regularly — [Andrea] Pirlo, [Javier] Mascherano and players like that — and I’ll get better.

“I felt it went well last night but next time we meet up I feel it can only go better.”

If I was asked to play DM for England I'd watch tons of pirlo, mascherano and makelele videos

It doesn't mean I'd be any good. I just don't see wilshere there. His instincts are to drive forward, drift with the ball, play a one two, etc. Carrick is the obvious choice once fit. Not sure who is up and coming in that position though.

[rob_bridge]

I thought Phil Jones did ok considering Fergie did everything he could to turn a promising central defender into a utility player, made a couple of poor passes but generally defended well and could easily have scored with the header in the first half, not brilliant but more than decent for me.

I agree he did ok. A McGrath incarnate he was not

The jury is still out on Jones and he needs to be playing CB week in week out at club level if he's going to improve.  I thought Gary Cahill was very good though and really should be captaining the side.   

Cahill had a very good game.