Steve Mclaren gets the LSOE seal of approval!

[Lennon Saviour of E]

Few people seem to have mentioned it but at last England seem to be adopting a more "sophisticated" approach. Instead of the earlier obsession with getting the ball forward as quickly as possible and trying to hit an immediate killer ball down the middle which inevitable gets cut out, there's now a more patient strategy. Moving the ball quickly with inter-passing, plenty of movement and a switching of the play to the wings, looking to work an opening for a cross.

This is the way to control a game and vitally keep possession.

It's early days yet of course but this is the pattern of play we must persever with and indeed adopt with all the England youth teams as well.

[Werdna]

simmer down now...England has had two games against very poor opposition and I would be very surprised if Andorra don't concede more than 5 in a game or two.

Let's see what happens tonight against much sterner opposition away from home. Sure keeping possesion and playing patiently is very good but let's see if they can do that when the other team actually wants the ball...

[Lennon Saviour of E]

Originally Posted by Werdna

simmer down now...England has had two games against very poor opposition and I would be very surprised if Andorra don't concede more than 5 in a game or two.

Let's see what happens tonight against much sterner opposition away from home. Sure keeping possesion and playing patiently is very good but let's see if they can do that when the other team actually wants the ball...

It's more than just patience and keeping possession, it's about being sharp and bright, players moving off theball, working at creating openings, and spreading the play.

He's got Robbo rolling the ball out now instead of just lumping it in the old fashioned way.

[CantonaStillGod]

a la seaman.

[andy villa]

the only thing he proved last night was that he is inept....

[Werdna]

Originally Posted by andy villa

the only thing he proved last night was that he is inept....

How can he prove on one bad night that he is inept? Does that make him world class when he has a good game and always gets round a man?

Lennons young and a very good asset especially for coming on in the second half when the opposition is tiring. With age will come experience and the knowledge of when to keep running at a defender and when to lay the ball off.

What we mustn't do is let anyone train the fearlessness out of him! players who keep running and dribbling past defenders are very rare and even if he doesn't get past the defenders all the time is still very important type of player to have.

[andy villa]

im talking about mcclaren...

[CantonaStillGod]

Originally Posted by andy villa

the only thing he proved last night was that he is inept....

oh shut up. You're being one of the "no-men" of British footballing culture

[andy villa]

or not....