Other Games 2014-15

[john e]

Ozil out for 10-12 weeks.

Proper result for Arsenal then

[Legion]

Kidderminster are 1-0 up against Welling.

[Toronto Villa]

Ozil out for 10-12 weeks.

A couple of weeks too late unfortunately

[Dave]

England XI: Hart; Chambers, Cahill, Jagielka, Gibbs; Henderson, Milner, Wilshere; Welbeck, Rooney, Sterling

No Delph.

[cdbearsfan]

Is he injured? I can't see how he could be dropped.

[PeterWithesShin]

As tonight is all about how many we can score, he's probably seen as less attack minded. I wouldn't be surprised to see him start Sunday.

[dave.woodhall]

England XI: Hart; Chambers, Cahill, Jagielka, Gibbs; Henderson, Milner, Wilshere; Welbeck, Rooney, Sterling

No Delph.

Good.

[Dave]

Is he injured? I can't see how he could be dropped.

He's playing an extra forward over last time due to the opposition. It was four central midfielders against Switzerland.

Plus he was injured, so I'd charitably say that he's not being risked for a game when it doesn't really matter who plays.

[PeterWithesShin]

I often wonder why we bother with 4 defenders for games like this.

[Dave]

I guess that as they only get to play a certain amount of games together, there's little point messing around with the system that he wants to play.

It doesn't really matter if England score five, six, seven or twelve so replacing Jagielka with say, Delph or Lambert isn't really going to achieve much.

[PeterWithesShin]

It could come down to GD I suppose. And in theory it would give them a chance to use a different formation for if they ever needed to go hell for leather and score a bunch to qualify or proceed in a tournament.

[cdbearsfan]

I think they use head-to-head rather than goal difference, so GD is only likely to come into it for the purposes of comparing England's record to other third place finishers if they finish third in the group. Only the best third place finisher qualifies automatically while the others have to play-off. That said, if it does come down to a comparison with other groups, results against the bottom-placed team are discounted so the San Marino scores probably won't count anyway!

If it was me, I'd have picked Baines. San Marino are bound to concede loads of free-kicks and corners and maybe the odd penalty. May as well have a dead ball specialist in the team.

[Dave]

If it was me, I'd have picked Baines. San Marino are bound to concede loads of free-kicks and corners and maybe the odd penalty. May as well have a dead ball specialist in the team.

Doesn't Rooney take all of those anyway, right down to goal kicks and throw-ins?

[ciggiesnbeer]

I often wonder why we bother with 4 defenders for games like this.

It is pretty pointless. I mean England could play the Euro 2004 squad and still win this game.

[cdbearsfan]

If it was me, I'd have picked Baines. San Marino are bound to concede loads of free-kicks and corners and maybe the odd penalty. May as well have a dead ball specialist in the team.

Doesn't Rooney take all of those anyway, right down to goal kicks and throw-ins?

You may be right.