I don't post often but ....
Hart had little to do. Bit lucky in the first minute - especially away from home.
Walker was found out - not the fact that he was often beaten by a better player but that his positional play was dreadful.
Cole was adequate but posed no attacking threat
The central defenders did well - or at least all that was asked from them by a quite ordinary team.
Gerrard was excellent defensively, had a decent shot and a few Hail Mary's. Didn't get forward enough.
Lampard was solid but posed no threat until the final minute.
Wilshire provided more possession for Ukraine than their own players did. Despite all his alleged quality his decision making and inability to pass to an England player was a problem on the night.
Theo played like many Saints fan's know he is capable of. No idea unless he can run free. Passing dreadful. Decision making worse.
Milner gave his all as he always does but lacks quality going forward - or at all (?)
Rickie had a good first half but tired terribly in the second. No service. I was surprised the number of times the television showed him to be the only England player in their half. When defending he was trying to close down 3 defenders. When "attacking" (for a better word) he was expected to deal with balls aimed at his throat with no other England player within yards.
When all is said and done, with players who are unable to find a colleague with a simple 5 yard pass, a lone striker is not going to shine. You could leave Pele or Messi up front on their own but with no support or service even they would struggle. Pele had a galaxy of stars around him, Messi has Xavi and Iniesta. Lambert had .......????
Has he done enough to earn another cap? Who knows? But on that team performance I would challenge any player in the world to shine in the situation he found himself. When you have midfielders and supporting forwards unable to hit the proverbial barn door with a musical instrument let alone pass the ball to a colleague, he could have done little more.
And please can someone explain how a Man U reserve gets a game for his country when he cannot control, pass or cross a ball? I thought Theo was poor before they brought on Young.
If that is the end of Rickie's England career, at least he can claim 3 games unbeaten and he has united so many football fans from many clubs (even some of the top 4) who have enjoyed his story, his commitment, his joy of representing US and his wholehearted commitment to a dream that all us failed footy stars have had.
I have enjoyed watching the last 3 England games more than any other since - probably - 1966.
