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English58

Listed below are comments made by English58 between Thursday, 4th September 2008 and Monday, 26th January 2009.

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China's moment 12:06pm on 26 Jan 2009 With China surely its who blinks first-Obama or the Chinese leaders?
Sensible Strauss just the tonic 10:45pm on 08 Jan 2009 Strauss as captain is ok,the chap is middle ground,a sound stable bloke,but it wont be good enough anymore in a world of cricket teams who have moved on and in some cases light years ahead of the broken down england set up.In the last few years the england selectors and ECB have learnt nothing.They still bathed in the 2005 win against the Aussies as if it was the be all and end all.The england team didnt move on and the new coach was out of his depth.KP was never the best choice as captain this early in his career but he is right about the english team and management.If you cannot compete at the new levels set by India,South Africa and Sri Lanka then dont bother.KP just wanted 11 dedicated fearless players who wanted to win at any price and a coach who understood this passion.He got neither and now he has gone.Quite frankly the england set up do not deserve KP.Im sure Strauss will be courteous in defeat and smile when the Aussies walk off yet again with the ashes.
As for english cricket in general,its making sure it confines itself to third rate status within the next few years.
Pietersen's gamble too far 8:55pm on 07 Jan 2009 You can see by some of the replies that KP isnt the favourite in our typically english tradition.If he is a bit over the top drag him down a peg or two.Its the english way-bad show and all that,cant have an ego yer know.
KP is a player who in the words of president elect Obama says "yes we can"-he believes in himself and all he wanted was a coach and players who also felt that way not a bunch of journeymen who play for a bit of dosh and an easy life in the counties.It doesnt matter who the hell is captain,thats just a side issue.If you had 11 players with the same attitude as KP then you would always be in the frame to compete.You may not win everything but you will make it hard for opposition.Apart from one or two in the current side who could claim to be in the same class as KP?The answer speaks for itself in the teams results. Give me 11 KP's anyday or who would die to win for England. Will Strauss do that or just shrug his shoulders when we lose the Ashes?
Pietersen's gamble too far 8:31pm on 07 Jan 2009 So now we find out that the ECB were aware of the press statements coming out about the fall out between KP and Moores.So the blame lies fairly and squarely on the doorstep of the ECB.Sack the lot of them.
What a bunch of cowards the ECB are-but I guess they are happy now they have the public school boy they always wanted before he lost form.Good old Strauss.He is a likeable chap-dont yer know- but he needs to step up a gear to beat tough opposition-he made one or two very good scores recently but needs to be consistant.How long will he last as captain if the next clown of a coach appointed by the ECB turns out to be another numbskull?
If I were KP it would have to be-go for the dosh on offer with IPL and sod the ECB,but unlike me he is a noble chap and obviously has principals whereas the ECB have none-but they like a drink or two I hear.
As for Moores-who will miss him?Thats right no-one!Im sure he has the Lancashire job sown up as I write.poor old Lancashire-they wont be winning anything this year then.
Pietersen's gamble too far 4:01pm on 07 Jan 2009 KP is a dynamic cricketer.He wants to win and like his counterparts in the cricket world they all have tremendous egos-its why they are so good.Its therefore not unreasonable to expect a person with such passion for the game to want the very best for the team he captains.He wanted the best players and best coaching staff.Whilst he was captain he got neither,hence why he wanted to make a point and sacrificed himself. Hugh Morris and his cronies are all failed test cricketers,nobodies in their own lifetime and have no idea what makes the great player,how could they?.Its just not good enough to elect a coach from the county circuit who knows nothing about test cricket,the gulf between the two games is vast-its the difference between pie throwing and fast bowling as has been harped on about for years.Only the very best coaches will do at this level and the same goes for the players.Regretfully,English cricket still lives in the past,the same past which Austrailian cricket dragged itself away from 15 years ago.The result was world class players and a world class coach.Even now as the South Africans are on a high after beating Austrailia the truth is even with KP in the England team we couldnt have competed with either side and won.Why?because establisment English cricket doesnt want the "its my turn to be top dog in the ECB"to be challenged. Its a power struggle at board level and nothing to do with cricket and what drives passionate players or gets them into the England team.For that you need passionate coaches and passionate selectors who want to win at any cost-after all who remembers losers?
I fear that KP will now leave English shores and go where he is appreciated for what he does best.He should have never been made captain because the selectors should have sat back and thought "what if"knowing full well what consequences would have been.Instead their weakness shone through after Vaughan decided enough was enough.I believe Vaughan was also put in an impossible position over a pretty poor coach but even then these selectors couldnt see it.If cricket wants to survive in this country and compete with far superior teams then it has to go through the Austrialian experience or perish. English cricket? R.I.P!
Bill on fire 11:32am on 02 Oct 2008 Bill Clinton is a very good speaker even better than Obama really.Thats the rub...the democrats and many americans would prefer Bill Clinton to be standing for President but of course he cant under the rules.Obama is a nice enough chap but he will get chewed up and spat out if ever elected.He always reminds me of a boxer waiting to fight the world champion and only being a light heavyweight he doesnt understand he is trying to punch above his weight,he thinks he can win but the odds are against him.If McCain wins then the likes of Sarah Palin will give politics a new goal for all who follow on from her.She is not just some nutcase mom from Alaska talking about local issues, I think in time she could be a great President regardless of how the vote goes this time around.She is for the ordinary Joe Soap in the USA,the sort of people whose opinion is never asked and she doesnt care who she upsets to support those people.If McCain loses its not the end of the world but in four years Palin will be the candidate and she will win and become President.
Bank spanked - who weeps? 11:33am on 16 Sep 2008 The whole world suffers because of the greed of some and the incompetence of others.If there is a valuable lesson to be learn't its that even in a capitalist world(bar a few)we cannot allow banks to have free reign.There has to be common sense. It cannot be right for a handful of mavericks to be allowed to drive every economy into the dark ages.The quality of the people chosen to protect the interests of countries,companies and peoples investments falls well short of what is acceptable in the 21st century.In a global economy the world is a very small place.Its time to change the rules or the consequences will be more than just financial and then the world will become a much more dangerous place.
The most divisive and tasteless selection in cricket history 6:23pm on 09 Sep 2008 I think both Strauss and Vaughan are a waste of valuable places for players who "really" want to win. How can the selectors be so crass?Strauss has been worked out by the worlds best bowlers but Strauss hasnt changed his game enough to get over his poor run.Vaughan is not even good enough to play at county level anymore just look at his scores.Its a backwards step when we need a secure and committed winning team.It also sends out a pretty demoralising message to players who have done everything right this year only to be brushed aside.Those two places should go to those in form and who can gel with the current team not has beens.
England must raise game in Zagreb 2:46pm on 07 Sep 2008 What a feeble display.If thats the best an English team can offer then the sooner we have a GB team the better. When will these clubs realise that they cannot keep on employing foreign players and edging out English players.With all the money sloshing around in the major clubs its really about time the FA looked at a different way to get a sound England team together who put country first and not the whims of the clubs.Until that happens the England shambles will go on and on.
Palin's punches 11:58am on 04 Sep 2008 dceilar

Well if she is nuts then it makes me feel better for the future and security of the USA.She may not say the politically correct words you want to hear but she connects with the voting public and thats been long overdue in America,her private beliefs and affairs are her own business as yours are I would hope..If Obama can get support by making frilly speeches and promises he knows he cannot fulfil then surely thats nuts?How could anyone be such a fraud?

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