Robbo's England picks
I've become indifferent to friendly internationals. The only one I can remember enjoying recently was that 3-2 v Argentina when Michael Owen (remember him? Forward, one-paced, goal-shy, Newcastle used him as a couch-warmer in the physio's room?) scored late-on to nick the win.
Still, at least England's win over Slovenia was a bit of prep for the Croatia game - but I'm not sure I'd be entirely happy with the first 11 players Capello put out.
Rob Green doesn't inspire confidence. He's not actually a country bumpkin (born in Surrey) but every so often he has a dopey moment (aka a 'Rio') that makes him look for all the world like he should be wearing a floppy straw hat and a peasant's smock. "Arrrr... did I dawdle out o' my box there, boy? Oopsy."
Course David James's career's had more clangers than Salisbury Cathedral, but I'd still trust him as top dog. He's 39 but then I saw a programme on Pat Jennings the other day and he was still going strong at that age, leaping imperiously to take a dangerous cross one-handed like a nonchalant apple-picker.
A rare sight as Jennings lets one in
The only difficulty with the prog was Jennings's voice; not his Ulster accent but its depth. I swear the man's delivery comes out of some subterranean echo chamber. It was almost outside the range of my hearing, although I reckon your average blue whale should be able to pick him up comfortably.
Glen Johnson is a big worry. Defensively he's as easy to step around as a lamp-post. It looks like teams will have him fried like morning bacon before a game's halfway through. Wes Brown looks a safer bet, though Johnson is good going forward - and when I say 'going forward' I don't mean in the current parlance, as in 'surely this bronze medal will stand you in good stead going forward'. Or 'in the future' as we used to say.
I've even heard the phrase used to or by Liam Tancock - 'this can only help me going forward'. You're a backstroker, son! You go forward off them blocks and you'll be headbutting your Speedo sports bag!
Apart from keeper and right-back all seems well. The left-side of midfield still lacks a left-footer, but Gerrard hasn't been bleating about a central role for England since... ooh, since Steve 'can I have your autographs before you take to the field for your national team' McClaren departed.
Right side looks like a toss-up between Lennon and SWP and I reckon Aaron's the lad at the mo. He fascinates me, Lennon, cos I swear his legs move three times as fast as everyone else on the pitch. Run him up against Usain Bolt and I reckon he'd do 23 paces for every one of the Lightning's.
When he really gets a lick on, the legs turn into a blur and it looks for all the world like Sonic the Hedgehog is patrolling our right flank.
Centre-forward still looks a difficult one to pick and the regulars were having a right old slanging-match. Heskey's won me over since his return, but in a reliable old seven-seater MPV sort of a way. Carlton Cole is your classic big No 9 - to borrow from the London Almanac Of Footie Cliches as delivered by ITV's cockney pundits. Carlton's a 'big lad' who's 'a handful' and can 'really put himself about'.
Me, I think he's a Volvo estate to Heskey's MPV - does the same job, is a bit livelier but can't carry quite so many passengers.
Jermain Defoe is the form horse. It's good to see. I've always thought the lad's name was appropriate given that a bloke called Defoe wrote Robinson Crusoe. Jermain often seems a lonely, self-interested survivor cast adrift from the rest of his team-mates by his single-minded focus on the old onion bag. Of course when Defoe's good, he's a match-winner and when he's bad he just looks like a brainless and selfish little terrier. A goalscorer, in short (in very short, really).
Me, I'd keep him on the leash as much as poss. If he comes on and scores every time then why spoil it by starting with him? With Crouchy towering threateningly on the touchline too there's a nice set of options for Il Maestro should the Heskey/Rooney thing not come off.
Are we up there with the best at the moment? Peter Drury seemed to think so. After Slovenia scored we had the usual rank bit of patronising flannel: 'Slovenia have their moment' and apparently Ljubijankic will spend the rest of his life telling the world about 'the day [he] scored at Wembley'.
Rooney makes some new friends at Wembley
Presumably there'll be a Ljubijankic Museum of Football in Ljubliana within a month and all Slovenes will be queuing up patiently to kiss the lad's fabled forehead for the rest of eternity.
Of course, the big question has been avoided so far. No, not 'why has John Terry got the turning circle of a Queen Anne wardrobe?' - but did 'Wazza take a tumble to win that penalty?' Well, there's a bloke in our boozer who's just come back from a holiday in the Red Sea and he only just pips me as the Blue Bell's resident Diving Bore.
Rooney didn't take a dive on Saturday. He had a lash out at the defender, fell on his backside and should've been booked. I dunno why the ref gave a pen. Maybe he fell for Honest John's pre-match blather.
But just to put the subject to bed, with a cookie, a nice cup of hot cocoa, and a cotton blanky, Rooney has dived. Gerrard has dived. Drogba has dived. Eduardo dived and got it in the neck. The world has changed. From here on in, domestically or internationally, a proven dive gets you the week off and a tiny dent in your bank balance. Fair enough.
I'm Derek Robson. People call me Robbo. Legend has it I was raised in the furnace and smog of Teesside. Some might say I took the hard road. I like to tell folk I had trials for Middlesbrough, for Hartlepool and for burglary (not guilty). I've always loved sport. My job is to say it as I see it - whether it's in the bar of the Blue Bell or on this blog. You won't find me calling a spade a soil-redistribution implement.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~14~RS~)
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Crikey - no one dissed you yet Robbo? I'll be back....
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Good blog Robbo. Personally, I still think James Milner had something to offer, but Lennon was the brightest player in the second half. Didn't even realise SWP was on the pitch until subbed at halftime.
Surprised no comments yet by people who don't like reading your blogs, but feel that everyone else needs to know this and they, therefore, type their inane drivel here. Still, at least we have freedom of speech and this should be respected for all people, regardless of whether I agree with their opinions or not.
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"Rooney didn't take a dive on Saturday."
The footage, and EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD's opinion (apart from the usual Wayne Brigade on here) says otherwise.
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More a bit of observational prose than you usual (appreciated in these quarters) fare today Robbo - but I'm going to pick up on your ITV Cockney pundits bit....
For a couple of years now I've been convinced that Andy Townsend's sole aspiration is to convince everyone that he is Terry Venables after an overdose of senatogen. Same "cauliflowers as big as yer 'ead" style, same mannerisms, same "Just been Tangoed", the lot. Now we have the saintly Teddy in there who, let's face it, can also drop in a few Gor Blimey Guvnor's but always retains his cheeky little smile for the camera, just in case there's any page 3 birds watching who may have a spare Saturday night. I'm not advocating for more Geordies (or Makems, or Smoggies.....spot the opening though Robbo) but are there no ex footballers from north of Hackney that could shove a CV under the ITV controller's nose?
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Sorry, Robbo, about your post, it was too honest to be funny!!! :)
Can't understand why people who don't like these blogs carry on reading them though, does having a "sense of humour by-pass" affect common sense too?
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Left wing... Joe Cole and Downing still not back, emergence of Milner as a senior international (has been more impressive than Young so far) and Walcott still coming back. We have plenty of wide options (both sides) heading into the WC. I struggle to see Becks getting into the squad if he doesn't have a successful loan spell later in the year.
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On the subject of Joe Cole, does anyone know when he is due back?? He seems to have gone for ages and he did look like England's answer to left midfield at the time. Will also mean that Capello will have to look more closely at the Gerrard v Lampard debate.
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Radio commentary might be confusing if we have A Cole, C cole and J Cole all on the pitch at the same time. Has there ever been an occasion when 3 players with the same surname been in the same England side?
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We still have Joey Cole too come back and occupy that left sided midfield spot, which will then lead to the great Lampard and Gerrard debate! Just drop Frank please!
Defoe has to start on Wednesday, if he don't I reckon we might see another 'Carra retirement announcement'.
http://sportales.com/soccer/in-fabio-we-trust/
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Good call on the Rooney penalty. Anyone who watches him much will know that when he banged his hands on the floor, he thought the ref had blown up at him for lashing out. He was too busy frustratedly lashing out to be thinking about diving.
Does make me laugh though that, after his "mr honest" comments, there were probably quite a few people sat studying his every move waiting for the 1st sniff of a dive.... they got what they wanted and flooded the internet with calls for a ban. Some people, hey.
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I think the "why spoil it by starting defoe" which is a bit naive can be reprised with this equally simplistic statement "if he scores once when he comes on as a sub, couldnt he like...score MORE if he had a full 90 mins to do it in..."
He is arguably the best finisher England have. I think he is more of a natural finisher than Rooney and he is quick. Im an Arsenal fan and even i can see that the Spurs man should start. Heskey, if in fact he did ever star for England, i think is past it tbh.
England should do what the dutch did 4 years ago, drop all the old folks who are not doing it and blood the youngsters, Holland said that they wouldnt win 2006 but would be ready for 2010 and with the looks of them in 2008 they might not be far off it.
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Another great one, Robbo, thankyou.
There's a saying: if it aint broke, don't fix it....
I agree that DeFoe should keep on keeping on....but then by starting him he could score each half, not just the second!
As for diving..it's only when it is done badly that it causes a commotion....
Capello is smart, he has England playing football again and with the desire to win....long time comin' - as the Sixties' song went...
but oh so very welcome.
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Robbo,
I disagree with every word you've written and I agree with every word you've written. I realise this makes me the most confused person on here, but only marginally.
And did you know the Queen is a West Ham supporter, God save 'Er. The Mirra says so.
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And the Rooney defenders are ludicrous...
Rooney dived, turned and put his hands up suggesting "What could i do".
He dived against the gunners also. Kicked the ball ALL OF THE WAY OUT and went over Almunia's arms which struck the ground.
Rooney is just a much more accomplished diver than Eduardo. But then arent all England players whiter than white??
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I'm sick of hearing about diving... happens everywhere and Wenger is right. Uefa will need to ban about 40-50 players a week in Europe if they are to be consistent..
How can Capello say about Owen and Beckham with 1st team football then keep playing the big jessie that is Heskey.. he is quite often on the bench for Villa and is prob 3rd choice behind Agbonlahor and Carew... Double standards a bit.. especially seeing as he is the only striker in the game who gets applauded for having a guff goal record.
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Funny how different people see the same incident in different ways.
To my mind the Slovenly defender had a big chunk of the back of Rooney's shirt, and thats what the ref saw
Rooney will always prefer to score whenever possible, unless he is unfairly prevented from doing so
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James Milner attacking on left wing = four strides with ball at feet. Left back within two yards. Milner stops and plays it back.
He is both Neither Joe Cole or Stuart Downing and would prefer him as someone to be cover at right Back and Right midfield, where it would suit his abilities much much better.
SWP for me provides more guile and a right footed player on the left if Gerrard is not playing there at the moment.
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I also agree with the previous posters about Joe Cole. He's a great player and possibly england's most skilful (not easy for me to say as a liverpool fan). He should start on the left with Barry and Gerarrd (obviously) in the middle and probably Lennon on the right. Frank 'shoots 10000 times, scores once' Lampard can stay on the bench.
Wish everyone would lay off Johnson- Terry and Lescott were more at fault for the goal than him. It's him or Wes Brown, I know who Id want in my team
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class blog as usual.
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It's as clear as day that Rooney fouled the centre half at the weekend and then turned round to abuse the ref because he thought he was penalised. That in itself doesn't make him a saint but he certainly didn't take a dive at the weekend.
The Arsenal one is a simple pen. Rooney has no duty to get out of the way of Almunia who would have taken his arms out of the way if he was anything resembling a top keeper. Rooney again didnt dive but he made sure he caught Almunia's stupidly extended arms.
Good blog by Robbo.
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bigroy00 please watch the footage again, Rooney is the one with a hold of a shirt and its not his own.
Rooney is one of the biggest divers in the game, he ended Arsenal's 49 unbeaten run with a masterpiece against Sol Campbell, who was thoroughly dissapointed with his England teammate.
I noticed a comment earlier which echoes some i made surrounding Fletchers simultaneous foul and handball inside the box against Arsenal which went unpunished - if we are asking our players to be honest, doesnt that include owning up to things and letting the referree know what has happened. For me Fletchers reaction allows the ref to make an incorrect decision. In my opinion this is deceit. Allowing someone else to take the rap for something is deceitful and this is the same thing.
When we establish proper rules rather than specific cases of them maybe we will see a change in football. I remember Robbie Fowler being awarded a pen against Arsenal and he told the ref it was wrong, if memory serves me well he missed it :) Arshavin did the same thing last season.
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If you are saying ROONEY COULD HAVE STAYED ON HIS FEET BUT DIDNT SIMPLY TO WIN A PEN, then....
THIS IS DECEIT.
You cannot afford to demand honesty and integrity and then allow this cheating behaviour and more important MENTALITY, because one instance is not a crisis, by using this TECHNICALITY.
This is worrying.
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pilch666
Joe Cole's back very soon. He's in training for Chelsea so should be playing in less than a month (hopefully).
suavejohn
I'd rather have Lampard than Steven 'Plays 1000 England games, plays well in 10' Gerrard.
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You say that "I've become indifferent to friendly internationals. The only one I can remember enjoying recently was that 3-2 v Argentina when Michael Owen ... scored late-on to nick the win." If you do really remember this match, then I'm surprised you didn't also comment that the match was won by England because Joe Cole came on and made two goals, including Owen's winner. There seem to be short memories abound; Joe Cole seems to have become the forgotten man since his injury in January. Yet his skills and guile are so badly missed by England and that is blindingly obvious. Doing well in our qualifying group at the moment doesn't say much, indeed says far less than so-called 'meaningless' friendlies, given the lack of quality in most teams in that group. The friendlies against Spain and Holland were meaningful; they showed we need the creativity and invention of Joe Cole, so often England's best player yet too easily overlooked.
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As a City fan I don't want to turn this into an anti SWeeP reply but... i don't from what i've seen this season think that he is at his best.If you think that Lennon is short what does that make SWeeP then ?Though *cough* SWP doesn't dive , he does (as I heard the commentator on the England semi on sunday) invite a foul... and in fact is the best in the City side at doing it.Still saying all that while i think at the moment Lennon should play on the right ,SWP can play on the left and when he does get his form back is the better player.
Also can't believe you haven't mentioned our Women's football team where they will probably face Germany in the Euro Final on thursday.Apparently the England ladies U19's won it too earlier in the year didn't hear any media attention about that either , so any comments in your excellent blog Robbo?
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Joe Cole is a class player, the most skillfull England has. Im sure he will walk back into the England side.
Gerrard is the most over-estimated player today. Has never really done it for the national team. Seems to ignore the fact that England have pacey wingers.
Strange no...
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These football lads need to play rugby, itd straighten em out and actually find out what really is being knocked over. Bunch of Jessies. Theyre grown men for crying out loud. No wonder fans are converting to rugby :)
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In reply to sugardunkerton (post 16), I can understand he is sick of hearing about diving, but not as sick as many fans are of seeing cheating every week. Wenger & Ferguson are great coaches but not worth listening to when defending their own players ill discipline. If it takes banning 50 players for diving in one week to sort it out so be it, it will not be 50 the following week will it?
As for England`s match, we did a decent job in a meaningless match, it will be different on Wednesday when the players will rise to the occassion and gain qualification for South Africa. Rooney certainly didn`t dive on Saturday, but he did lash out at the defender (as in his sending off against Portugal in the World Cup). His lack of discipline when things don`t go his way is still a worry, particularly in the pressure cooker of a World Cup.
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19. a wee bit biased im thinking
"Wish everyone would lay off Johnson- Terry and Lescott were more at fault for the goal than him. It's him or Wes Brown, I know who Id want in my team"
tell us again who you support...
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Rooney didn't dive against arsenal and it is just gunners fans getting annoyed that their perfect start to the season is not so perfect anymore. Rooney also didn't dive on Saturday, but should have been booked. The defender may have had a hold of his shirt, but if you give a penalty for every time that happens in the box then penalties would be given at every corner.
Great blog Robbo, but even though I am a spurs fan, I would have to agree with you about Defoe. Would love to see him start, but as soon as he does, I don't think he will score.
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Watching it again i cannot believe how ANYBODY can say he didnt dive!
Deluded.
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For a team that has so much individual talent, England have not been the team they should be for years, hopefully Capello can really get them playing together and we can finally see some success in South Africa. Big game on Wednesday, I can see Rooney scoring a few. And Robbo's right about Defoe, but if scoring goals when you come on doesn't give you a deserved starting place then what does? I think Cole has more to offer than Heskey.
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Jappyforspurs
lol yeah it defies LOGIC what you are saying.
You should never start your best players, just bring them on 60mins in.
dearie me
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I see the blog contains many bitter gooners, still incensed with Rooney for winning a penalty that ended to the gooners unbeaten run. You should really get over that by now. Onwards and upwards eh?
I mean, if gooners want to look at who is responsible for diving in the game, then it was their club that brought diving as a skill to the modern english game. Robert Pires anyone? I rest my case!! Ok there was a few before him, but none so promient as him, and the diving scence really took off with the foreign imports after that.
Anyway, i feel I have to chip into the Rooney debate!! I have to say this in caps too, HOW CAN ANYONE SAY ROONEY DIVED AGAINST SLOVENIA? I mean seriously, what the fudge were you watching to see a dive there? Im not saying it was a penalty, I think England, and Rooney were just as bemused as Slovenia, and only the ref knows why a penalty was given. But Rooney DID NOT dive. Where is the dive? The defender and rooney are BOTH pulling at each other, if anything rooney made a tackling lunge which actually fouled the player and then the whistle went. Rooney punched the floor as if to say "i didnt touch him" then looked a little "oh, ok, we have a pen, erm...., if u insist".
Now yes, in an ideal world, everyone would be honest and say no ref, it wasnt a penalty, change your decision, but would the Slovenians do that? NO! Would any club or player? maybe one or two on rare occasions. Would you want Rooney to turn around and say no pen, or sky the pen on purpose in the semi's against the Germans for example? Of course not!!
Now Maradonna punched a ball into the back of a net and knocked us out the world cup. Do you think he cared? no! They won! Winning matters at this level.
We dont want to promote cheating in the game, and I honestly believe that the english mentality is not to cheat. Not to dive. To go to ground easy is being seen as soft. Lightweight!! That is not our mentality, and out of all the players, it certainly not Rooney's mentality.
But unless you play the game, there will be moments where a slight touch might not mean you go down, but is enough to put you off the shot and miss the chance. By rights, it should be a foul, and a free kick/penalty would be more advantageous. This is why diving is creeping into football, as the slight foul is not enough to send you sprawling, but is enough to ruin the "attack" for want of a better word. Sometimes the ref will give the advantage, but you want the free kick as the chance has gone!
Comprende?!
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No 22. Get over your beloved Arsenal losing. Quite how any Arsenal fan can make a case for other players diving is beyond me when Pires was a constrant threat to the turf, Viera did it to try and get players yellow carded and Eboue has more than a little history, including the Champs League final. I dont suppose you wanted him to tell the ref there was no contact when he won the free kick you scored from eh?
On Rooney. If that was a dive its the first time Ive seen a player try to kick out at a defender whilst trying to win a penalty. That is more stupid than diving when there is nobody near you ( Eboue ). The ref got the decision wrong, but some of you feel that means Rooney dived, when he clearly did not. It just means the ref got it wrong.
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WeeksyOnFootball....
While there is no doubt that the penalty should not have been given, what Rooney did was not a "dive" in the Eduardo sense of that word. He lunged at the defender in a bid to take him out. The defender was too far in front of him for him to pull his shirt and make him go feet first into a fall. There was an initial tug, Rooney took exception, tried to take the defender out. The ref was conned by the pull then Rooney hitting the deck. From that perspective, yes it's a dive, but looking at it closely, he clearly tries to take the defender out. Doesn't really matter what you call it, it was cheating and should never have been a penalty.
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I think you've misqouted Drury there. Wasn't the patronising flannel 'Slovenia have their moment. Slovenia HAVE their moment.'
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U6744856
I think you will find that Ronaldo is to blame for the upturn in dives over the last few years. My god he did it half a dozen times per game.
I only bring up the past because its clear Rooney is a seasoned diver.
I think you need to take the England flag from in front of your eyes and watch the game. Rooney has no reason to go to ground.
I have played the game at school level and now socially and know of what you speak, any tap on the ankles while sprinting can cause you to go down, BUT NEVER IN THE SHAPE THAT ROONEY DOES, its theatrical, its for the cameras and its deceit.
What you are talking about when you say "no one would do it " is a SELF FULLFILLING PROPHECY, its seen in Economics when people horde their money when they fear a downturn and actually cause the downturn to accelerate.
If everyone thought like you there would never be any reform. If everyone thought with the alternative view no-one would dive or it would be easy to spot and punish the offenders.
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"Englands left sided problem" Its like a national obsession because of Beckham
Whats wrong with Ashley Young? Great player. Or Milner "take 4 steps and pass to left back" might work out if the left back is Ashley Cole.
Your left I would say is as strong as the right, Young being better that Lennon IMO, and about the same as Walcott when the latter actually turns up.
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James Milner attacking on left wing = four strides with ball at feet. Left back within two yards. Milner stops and plays it back.
He is both Neither Joe Cole or Stuart Downing and would prefer him as someone to be cover at right Back and Right midfield, where it would suit his abilities much much better.
SWP for me provides more guile and a right footed player on the left if Gerrard is not playing there at the moment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree, I consider Milner to be a great right mid, but my point was that he has shown himself to be more effective than Young and has a great delivery (better than SWP and Lennon)
for me, by the WC I'd like to see;
James
Johnson Terry Rio Cole
Barry
Gerrard Lamps Cole
Rooney Heskey/Defoe (dependant on who we are playing)
Barry is the key man has he needs to provide cover, Gerrard can also actually tackle back so is ahead of all other comers on the right, Cole and Johnson used to add width to the side. The discipline of Johnson is also vital, after a season at the top level and with Liverpool and Capello teaching him he will be a better player again by next summer.
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Nice article Robbo.
Great picture of Pat, however given the length of those sideburns he was probably closer to 29 rather than 39 when the Pic was taken!
England do have a lot of pace on the wings and even with a fully-fit Walcott in the fray and provided we get through qualifying, England are still 1 top striker short of having a team capable of pushing the best hard in 2010.
Oh and if Rooney dived on Sat, I'm married to the milkman's daughter. He clearly had too many Mars bars pre-game and fell over after his hissy-fit.
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WeeksyOnFootball....
Clearly a WUM with no actual knowledge of football. I would go as far to say as you have never played the game, if u do, it is a extremely poor level pub football.
How you could not see the point Jappyforspurs was making re: Defoe is just ignorant and stupid.
If i was Defoe I wouldnt want to start either. He is on a roll as a supersub. It makes perfect sense to start with holding player to support Rooney, even if goals dont come from the holding players, its the balance of team. Clearly something you think is a made up cliche in football, but actually does mean something. (maybe not at pub level)
FlyingFinn1982
I like your post up to the last line. To foul someone is not cheating in my opinion. Fouls can be mistakes, poor timing, or simply the opposing player is so skillful they force you to make a foul (tho elements of timing come into that of course)
Rooney did not cheat, he did not dive, he was committed to the attack. I do not for one moment believe he dived, he deliberately fouled, or looked for penalty. In the moment, he was trying to win the ball and thats all. Whether it was pace, movement, good defending or simply going for a ball he couldnt ever possibly get, he tried, didnt, and the ref gave a penalty. That is all! The ref fudged it up!
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that was meant as a 4-4-2 with Barry holding not 4-1-3-2 as it looks
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Weekseyonfootball
Are you mental?
Rooney does not go to ground in order to win a penalty. He goes to ground to foul the defender and then believing he is about to get a yellow card starts complaining. If you think he was trying to win a penalty you should have gone to specsavers.
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You are a joke. Pulling a Rio? Are you Welsh?
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U6744856
Thank you for insulting me, very mature. I dont think you understand the game at all, i think you are biased and have no capacity for rationale or logic.
If we are going to get personal.
Why shouldnt Defoe start instead of Rooney, i put it to you that if Robbo here or any of the pundits said Defoe over Rooney you would just nod your head and agree, how bout thinking about the issue for yourself and give us an insight.
Troll.
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U6744856
Fully agree with analysis, Rooney fouls the Slovenian centre-half - sees the ref coming thinks he's getting a card and starts with he "I never touched him ref" and then realises he is getting a penalty and thinks "is it my birthday" and then scores and as for Weeksy..
WE WON 2-0 SO YOU WOULD HAVE LOST ANYWAY SO DEAL WITH IT
5 years on and you are still harping on about how you never got to 50 games well tough luck as Pires dived against Portsmouth to get you past 5 games. You had enough divers in the Arsenal sqad to form a Special Boat Service regiment (maybe you should have changed your nickname from Gunners to Frogmen (as in divers not people from across the channel - although strangely enough)
But yes Defoe may be better as a sub in the same way Solksjaer of Steve Heighway were as they could see the way the game was in terms of pace and tactical weaknesses and take advantage of it.
As for Blue Whales picking up Jennings given his fondness for pies they may have a problem
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That's the best article I've read in such a long time.
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adampsb
time for your lesson in football.
Do you think you get the 2nd goal, just like you get it if you dont score the first.
Ever heard of consequence. Cause and effect.
It bewilders me just how many 14 year olds write on these things.
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Its just amazing, Eduardo goes over ONCE, its soft but he is vilified.
Rooney in the space of a week, dives, simulates, call it what you like, twice and he is innocent on both counts.
Patriotism is strong.
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WeekseyonFootball
thank you for clarifying in your first line you a complete WUM and imbecile. Ronaldo was in the english game a matter of years? And a matter of years after Pires first stepped his twinkle toes on the pitches of the premier league. So you have shown yourself up to be a right old plonker there havent you!
Im a united fan, and will happily say Ronaldo was terrible for diving, especially for someone as talented as he! But start it? no way!
Realistically, your right, Rooney has no reason to go to ground. But it wasnt a dive.
Then you try to detract from the subject by going on about economics. In some sort of self back up contingency to justify the fact that you must know about football cause you know about economics. You talk out your starfish pal!
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Let's see if the Judge De Robbo (JDR) concurs.
Question when Owen Hargreaves is fit will he be a better option than Barry in midfield?
Also what is the point of having 3 big target men who hardly ever score (Cole, Heskey, Crouch) surely 2 is enough which could make room for Owen or is Capeelo's ide of 2 mins to go need a goal send the other 2 on and get Beck's to cross the ball a couple of times a'la Barcelona and hey presto we've won?
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Weeksy,
I have wanted Defoe in the England starting line up for a while. But currently he is a brilliant sub and proves that he plays a brilliant Solksjaer role. Playing in the second half is also very different from the first half and might not suit him at international level. I'd love to be proven wrong though.
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Do you think you get the 2nd goal, just like you get it if you dont score the first.
Yes I do as we we're exerting a lot of pressure and it was only a matter of time before we scored anyway
Ever heard of consequence. Cause and effect.
Ye it is an easy concept ivolved in History and Physics)
It bewilders me just how many 14 year olds write on these things
There's you and (probably just you actually but there you go. Take a pat on teh head and back to school and your GCSE's in Media Studies and Cake Icing
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Except Rooney's not being punished for diving, because unlike Eduardo he's an Englishman.
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U6744856
Dont insult people please. Its childish. And you are the only one showing yourself up with this behaviour.
You have missed the point, i used the example from Economics to explain.
I will try again.
If everything thinks "im not gonna be honest coz im afraid ill be the only one" then no-one will be honest. Do you understand? You need to be brave and start the trend.
I dont understand the first statement, the english is bad! Im saying players dived BEFORE Ronaldo, but there has been a DRAMATIC increase since his days in the prem. Its a fact. Last few years has been awful.
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Weeksy
Please give it up!! There was no dive against Almunia. He made contact with Rooney in the box and didn't win the ball. Rooney is under no obligation to the opposing team to try and get out of the tackle. This is called being a professional. Its what he gets paid for, to win.
There was no dive against Slovenia. He tried to tackle the defender and fouled him. He should have been given a yellow card in my opinion as he had no chance of winning the ball. The fact the Ref gets the decision totally wrong is nothing to do with Rooney.
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Except Rooney's not being punished for diving,
Because he was committing a fould and the ref got the decision wrong that's why.
Eduardo is being punished because he cheated in an obvious and blatant manner and has previous form for obvious dives
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adampsb
you dont understand cause and effect at all, i can tell from your statements, it is "involved" lol in every act, the very nature of time surrounds cause and effect so to pin it to "history and physics" is superfluous.
who is to say at 0-0 Arsenal couldnt have went and scored 3 in the last 10 mins, do you have a crystal ball??? That is why these decisions are so important, coz its not just one goal, its the ebb and flow of a match.
How many times has a team rode out 20 mins of pressure and went up the other end to score against the run of play. A bad pen decision can kill this potential. Do you not see this.
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Weak blog as usual.
Theres something nonsensical about a self confessed no-nothing about football fictional character offering some kind of analysis on a football team. Other than the blogs overall poor standard, the only real consistency in it is the resounding evidence that you (ok "Robbo") knows very little about the sport and instead approaches this from the angle "well its a fictional stereotyped character so what I say doesnt really matter". Well might you argue that its just as an opinion (I dont think anyone takes you seriously as a full time journalist as opposed to a makeshift comedian). But what is the opinion of a made-up character anyway? "Robbo" is just a overused stereotype on this blog so his opinion is both predictable, but more importantly - not even real.
I am aware you use this "opinion" to try and provide a platform for the "comedy" element of the blog (which is non existant). Thus we have a peice of writing that utterly fails to provide humour, insight or relevance.
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Have I insulted you now? haha, ok, delicate soul you aren't you!
If I am the one with limited knowledge, why is it, you are one of the few who see a dive? Lets also clarify, I am not saying it was a penalty, but Rooney did not try to get a penalty, nor deceive the referee, nor dive. Like when you may have played, you find yourslef almost throwing your body in some way to the direction of the ball to get something on it. If you could have an out of body experience, and see what your attempting before you do it, you might even say what the hell was i trying there, was never going to get it, but in the heat of the moment and in being combative and committed you go for it.
That is what happened!
Defoe over Rooney, are you mental? Why would i ever agree to that. Like when Ronadlo was at United, he got all the plaudits, but any United fan will tell you Rooney is top dog. Everything flows through him. Why ruin a good thing? If Defoe is scoring for fun off the bench, why start him? What if he doesnt score, his confidence shoots down, and he loses that streak of form! All for starting him? Dont start, he is under no additional pressure, and can continue to score from the bench.
Sir Alex Ferguson managed Ole in very much the same way. Ole read the game so well, that he used him primarily as a "super sub" as he so often came on and score. But strangely never had the fortune to do so well when he started a game (with a few exceptions of course).
I put it to you, that if the subject of "diving" wasnt being plastered all over the press, and if the medai (after Eduardo incident) were not trying to find an English scapegoat to focus on, then you would not be saying he dived either, as all the newspapers were trying to suggest in order to conjur up a frenzy for the ill-educated (i.e. you) to attach themselves too!
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U6744856...
It's just my opinion, but I can't see that Rooney was going for the ball... he couldn't have! The ball was about 10 feet in the air while he had his left foot wrapped around the ankle of the defender. While I agree that a foul made through an honest mistake isn't cheating, Rooney was. He appeared to be deliberatly attempting to bring the defender down. A deliberate foul is cheating as you are looking to affect the game outside of the rules of the game. The key word there is 'looking', as opposed to mis-timing a challenge and fouling a player in an honest attempt to get the ball.
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CantTackleWontTackle
You are picking and choosing instances when a player should be honest and when he shouldnt.
My definition of "honesty" must be more stringent than yours. If Rooney is honest he goes by the keeper tries to stay on his feet and score, the fact that he BOOTS THE BALL OUT OF PLAY shows he has no intention of trying to score.
Im sorry if you dont like it but im not the only one who thinks this, read some non bbc blogs and you will see.
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Re the Milner debate, he's done well in the past couple of games, but it's clear he has no left foot, and always cuts onto his right foot to cross (which are normally good to be fair). However, I think he'll be found out as soon as he comes up against a decent full back who'll just show him the outside all game, safe in the knowledge that as long as he isn't allowed to shape onto his right foot he's about as threatening as a blunt spoon.
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U6744856
If I am the one with limited knowledge, why is it, you are one of the few who see a dive?
Because you dont want to see it, its not a dive in the traditional sense but he throws himself to ground in the hope of a pen, and because there has been some 50/50 type tussling he knows the ref is unlikely to point at him with a yellow for simulation. Its cheating none the less.
Look at the size of the lad, i played for my uni team and i dislocated my collar bone during a game, because of all the swelling i didnt realise, it was sore but i played on! I went to hospital the next day after pints that night. So why does Rooney throw himself down like a sniper has got him at the slightest touch???
Ludicrous.
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Woohoo! JDR has finally made a comment! Is this a new post though? Looks like someone has been learning to use copy and paste! Clever lad! You talk about Robbo being un-original in his postings, yet you deliver the same tripe in every comment, on every blog that he writes!
Here's a thought.. why don't you write a blog about football? You could post it in the comments section, and then we'll see what people think of your insights. If you're going to be so over-critical then you have to be prepared to put yourself forward and provide us with an alternative - show us how it should be done!
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jimbob.
which is where ashley cole comes into the equation...
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Rooney had 3 shots on goal, Defoe had 2. Defoe scored and Rooney did not. Heskey had 1 shot vaguely in the direction of goal.
Why are we not discussing replacing Heskey with Carlton Cole in time for the world cup? There's goals in Coles - more than with Heskey.
I mean, I love Emile too, but why have an MPV number 9 who can't score goals ... when you can have the Volvo number 9 who can?
And why carry on with Rooney when he's having an off-day? Rooney's great when he's on a roll, but when a player isn't doing it, why continue with him when you don't have to? Who says he has to stay on the pitch?
Why not use the friendly to at least TRY Carlton Cole and Jermaine Defoe together? Hell man, it worked for Spurs at West Ham didn't it?
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Weeksy
Don't get so easily offended please. I assume you are an adult, and you will have to accept that people, other grown adults, in this life will challenge your views, especially when they are as ridiuclous and ill-sighted as yours suggest, and may find that either due to their upbringing that, whilst they may not necessarily be stupid, their immediate choice of language and expression may not be as close to the perfect queens as English as one's self.
I have not missed the point at all. You feel, that due to your elegant writing skills and knowledge of economics, that you can patronise people into submission.
If you want to talk my subject, US tax, we can talk all day and I will make you look stupid, unless you have a finger in that pie too!
I think it is very short sighted on your behalf to believe Ronaldo is to blame for the upturn in diving in the last few years. It is the fact that the media focus on the best players in the world that this was highlighted so much. There are far more guilty players, yet their quality does not seem them under such scrutiny.
Seriously, for an educated guy as it appears you are, you show some serious flaws in your judgement.
Which support my original statement, you are a WUM or an imbecile when it comes to football.
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weeksy, i think i can speak for us all when i say youre starting to get on everyones nerves now. jog on son.
U6744856, you arent much better.
why dont you two go fight it out in the playground and save us having to read your petty bickering.
cheers.
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oh, also weeksy:
"Look at the size of the lad, i played for my uni team and i dislocated my collar bone during a game, because of all the swelling i didnt realise, it was sore but i played on! I went to hospital the next day after pints that night."
i do apologise, im fresh out of medals. ill be sure to recommend you for a knighthood though.
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One more thing. Sorry for banging on. But if this match was a preparation for Croatia ...
Why were we playing our second XI?
Who exactly got prepared?
Maybe Johnson.
Did I just answer my own question? Did we actually play 90-plus minutes of football just so that Glen Johnson could learn what he should treat as a very very valuable lesson?
If he does learn it, we've solved the "What to do with our right-back position post-Neville" question ...
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In response to no. 28 regarding converting to Rugby, instead of cutting out diving will players be trained to cheat in different ways ie, blood capsules. Surely that is just as bad as diving?
Perhaps Rugby should clean its own house first before teaching other sports..............
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$28 With the recent fake-blood-on-the-mush fiasco, I don't think I'd want to convert to that 'orrible game thankyou very much.
For those interested in continuing the dive/no dive banter, please re-read the end of the article and forever hold your peace - the fate of players who dive now rests in the hands of football's bureaucrats...not a fun place to be, especially if you become an habitual offender - 3 strikes and yer out son!
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Where the hell do you see rooney throwing himself down?
If a player goes to ground to make a challenge to win the ball, even if from our point of view, he has no possible chance of winning the ball, but in that moment, in the players mind, he thinks he does, do you call that throwing himself to the ground to win a pen or free kick?
Rooney merely made a very poor timed lunge/slide tackle to win the ball. In hindsight, he looked a bit aggresive like he wanted to just take him out. I dont believe he did, but you can see how that would be perceived. Im looking at the video over and over again, trying to be as unbiased as possible, hell i've even got the Solvenia national anthem playing and tucking into some Slovenian Gibanica to see the simulation, but I just do not see how anyone could say he is either a) diving b) trying to win a pen c) cheating.
I cant see it at all.
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sm2009
usually you have to express a viewpoint on these things rather than just come on and tell people off. Jogg on grandpa. Footy was prob better back before the war in black and white.
Oh and i got a blue Peter badge for my collar bone.
omg MY POINT IS there is no need for these PROFESSIONALS to throw themselves to the ground.
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I'm with what Jappyforspurs said earlier (#54)
However Capello obviously feels Defoe's better suited as an impact sub and given his recent impact in that role, it's hard to argue with him.
Defoe himself has said he's happy in that role if Capello thinks that's best. So long as he's wearing an England shirt, is scoring goals and helping his team win he's fine.
Aw hell, who had to go mention JDR?
No sooner they did he rocks up with his usual glib trash about how he hates this blog etc. that is so boring I can't be bothered to remember what he said now.
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now now sm2009,
I took exception to trying to explain this point to our fellow blogger, and whilst I can understand you not wanting to read the ongoing "battle", i am persistent, and feel I need to educate the guy!
He may be chuckling away feeling I am getting incensed with his WUM'ing, but I enjoy a debate.
If you are going to moan then question why you are here. Isn't this what blogging is about?
Peace out
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Its strange how a player like Gerrard takes so much stick from England fans, yet I am willing to bet that all but the most blinkered would have him in the starting line-up of their club team every week.
I dont disagree that his contribution to England is not as clearly outstanding as it is for Liverpool, however it needs to be recognised that he never gets to play in his preferred role. He has spent far to much time patrolling the right, and now left flank or desperately trying to make an impossible partnership with Frank Lampard work. Does anyone think that Frank Lampard could have played left midfield and right midfield? For that matter does anyone think that David Beckhams occasional spells as a central midfielder have been covered in glory?
Is their a single England player who has been asked to be as flexible as Steven Gerrard? No, and for being so flexible and not demanding that he be played in an attacking central midfield role, he gets slated by 50% of England "fans". Shame on you.
Nice blog Robbo...nonchalant apple-picker (I spent a few moments trying figure out if that was cockney rhyming slang), head butting his own speedo bag, all good stuff. And your point about Defoe sticking to what he is outstanding at? Bang on. Lean over your desk and point this out to McNulty will you.
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Educate me, i have given you several lessons, you dont seem to grasp logic and simple concepts. lol
sm2009 sounds like a troll, go away troll.
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ok weeksy, here's my opinion:
on saturday, rooney didnt dive. he fouled the defender, and went to ground committing that foul. he didnt appeal for a pen, he complained beacuse he thought he'd been penalised. anyone could see that.
against arsenal: could he have avoided alumnia if he really wanted? probably, yes. would that have been smart? of course not. it doesnt matter that he looked for contact - point was that there was contact. it was almunias fault for making the challenge, and rooneys intelligence for taking the bait.
U6744856 i take back my comment about you being annoying. weeksy just brings it out in people i think...due to his sheer arrogance and well, blindness it would seem.
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#60 weeksy
I didn't pin cause and effect down to history and phsyics I just used them as obvious examples (you don't get examples though do you as the Economics one confused you)
Yes I do have a crystal ball (it is ornamental and doesn't see the future but you did ask).
How many times has a team rode out 20 mins of pressure and went up the other end to score against the run of play.
And how many times has overwhelming pressure led to a goal and then another and then another. Just get over the fact that you lost. You don't hear me bleating on about when Mourinho's Portugal knocked us out when Scholes was wrongly adjudged offside do you.
Get a life, get your 11-plus passed and stop crying over a decision that was made 5 years ago.
I suppose it was the ref's fault when Bergkamp bottled that penalty in the 99 FA Cup Semi if that was ever a case of overwhelming pressure gettinga result then that should have been it but he missed and Giggs skinned half your team to score the winner.
Saturday was the result of a referee givinga foul against Rooney when Rooney was committing the foul because he didn't see the incident properly. It wasn't a dive, Almunia fouled Rooney (therefore not a dive) and yes 5 years ago Campbell's leg is out and makes contact with Rooney and he get's a penalty.
3 incidents - none of them dives and only Saturday's shouldn't have been given.
I notice you are being awfully quiet on teh subject of Pires' dive against Portsmouth that season though
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sm2009
way to repeat the sentiments of the pack. baaaaa baaaa
I already said it was a traditional dive, but he did throw himself to the ground and won a pen. If it was a one-off then i might be softer in my judgement.
You are a troll, go away sm2009.
Go back to your bridge.
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You have given me several lessons?
1. Computer Science geeks have no place in supporting football, as they have a real issue understadning it.
2. You have strained your eyes so much in understanding the science of computers that you have damaged your vision so severely that you see things no one else does.
3. You feel that if you write elegantly enough and an intelligent way it may come across as factual and true, when it is really complete waffle.
4. You don't seem to have grasped basic football principles and biology and physics of the human body.
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$53 - Funny.
JDR, Robbo will be chuffed you've reverted to type, others may not be.
Your posts are marginally more interesting than waiting for ice to melt in the arctic.
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I agree with what torontored has said about Gerrard playing out of position, but if you want to be one of the best players in the World, shouldn't you be able to evolve to a new position. He has been playing there for a while now and is still below par. At the moment I would rather have A Cole playing there.
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adampsb
yawn. I was the one who GAVE the economics example. Do try to keep up sunshine. :) lol
i didnt read the rest of your post, quite frankly i dont think you have a point.
:)
I see i am outnumbered here and traditional logic cannot prevail.
So ill bow out.
Take care peeps.
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weeksy
the reason why it is the sentiments of the pack is beacuse thats what actually happened.
oh how i wish i was like you, not conforming to anyone elses opinion but instead coming out with a load of rubbish that makes us all wonder whether we were all actually watching the same match on saturday.
ps none of us need to know your life story. you have a computer science business...wow...guess what, no one cares.
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For me, Defoe has go to start. He's too good and is playing to well for club and country to sit on the bench.
Rooney and Defoe could create a fantastic partnership.
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At the risk of starting an argument with #81, Torontored, and of accusations of bias, maybe Gerrard is asked to play in different positions, largely because he has never really made one position his own?
I still think it is possible to try Gerrard on the right although that area has plenty of competition as it is. And no, SWP should not be playing there when Lennon, Walcott and yes, Beckham are fit.
Barry and Lampard have been working just fine in midfield. Gerrard has a tendency to wander and to try to get too far forward. Lampard sitting around the half way line is just perfect. It has been noted that at Chelsea he gets on the ball more when he is not positioned to far forward.
Also, and I know this isn't an exact science, but this table suggests that Lampard is doing just fine. Gerrard may have more talent than Lampard but he doesn't do the basics as well, often trying to do too much.
http://www.castrolfootball.com/worldcup/analysis/castrolindex/?team=15&position=&ranking=cpi&search=
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Weeksy, sorry fella you sound like a troll as well. Completely blinkered in your own team despite them having more than their fair share of divers.
I don't agree with diving either and feel Eduardo has been so far unfairly singled out. To punish one means you should punish them all and until that happens, I do feel harsh on Eduardo.
As for Rooney, I can argue both for and against a dive against Arsenal. However, for England he somehow won a penalty for attempting to kick the centre back because he didn't get his own way. Not a dive, but just as bad to be fair and certainly worthy of a booking. The referee however should be banned for his rather odd decision.
Still, going back to an original comment, we do have free speech and everyone can, therefore, express their opinions. You don't have to like them of course, but if you don't think they should express them, perhaps somewhere like China would be more to your liking.
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#61 – perhaps you mean “know-nothing”?
“no” – a negative used to express dissent, denial or refusal.
“know” – to perceive or understand as fact or truth.
“irony” – incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.
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U6744856
your last post was funny, i would say id run you into the ground on the footy pitch. But keep putting people down and slagging people off, it will make you feel good and make detract from the fact you have nothing of value to say.
Laters.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Agree with most of the comments as per usual but I would just like to say 2 words to Fabio Capello PASS and MOVE! Fairly simple but they both seem to go out the window as soon as the England players find out they are playing a friendly. I don't think that the centre of the pitch is right and if only Stephen Ireland was English having him and Barry in the centre rather than Barry and Lampard would make us purr. We have to have Barry partnered with a go forward energetic player and unfortunately this isn't Lampard (plays the ball sideways all the time). With the current formation we aren't going to win any tournaments so I would like to see England play in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Rooney playing on the left, Gerrard in the middle and then anyone of the others on the right...probably Beckham as the other right sided players just CANNOT CROSS THE BALL! With Carlton Cole fit he would probably be the 1 although there is no reason that Defoe couldn't do it as he has the pace.
I think from the look on Capello's face he will be off as soon as we get knocked out by Brazil, Spain or Germany in South Africa. We have to get someone with really innovative ideas to be the next England coach as win ugly is not what I want. One of the best games I have seen in recent years was France 98 when Scotland came out in 4-3-3 formation against Brazil and took the game to them! I can't imagine us ever having a coach that is this brave and the last time we got close was El Tel but we had better players (imo) then.
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weeksy i thought you said you were leaving? we all got our hopes up, then you came out with the classic "id run you down on the football pitch" line.
tell you what, im pretty impressed that youve got a computer science business when clearly youre 9 yrs old.
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WeeksyOnFootball wrote:
So ill bow out.
______________________________________
Best thing I've heard you say from the million or so comments you've left already.
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Weeksy
the likelihood of you not noticing a dislocated collarbone is ridiculous as you woul;dn't have bene able to jum, move your head or most of your upper body.
A clavicular fracturee I would believe but dislocation - see the attached link
http://www.eorthopod.com/public/patient_education/6070/rare_but_dangerous_collar_bone_dislocation.html
http://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/article.asp?article=60
It is far more serious that a dislocated shoulder and you wouldn't be able to continue a match if that happened.
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weeksy, DO ONE.
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Since im popular
ill leave another one.
Such a hostile crowd.
lol again try to READ...
i said " my business is computer science" not that i had my own business.
UK schools are doing a great job these days!
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weeksy - I think Capello would argue that Heskey provides a better focal point up front for the 'better' players than Defoe would. He brings others into the game more. I've long since stopped worrying about Heskey's goal per game ratio as it's tinier than a shrew's whatnot. He's there for other reasons. If you need a greedy little goal-hanger (and I mean that in a positive way) then bring Defoe on.
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Am I the only one thinking Steve Harper of Newcastle should be given a chance at goal. The only reason he hasn't been in the English squad is because he was at the same club as Shay Given. But now Given isn't at Newcastle anymore and Harper has been brilliant between the posts. So come on Capello give Harper his chance.
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i didnt read the rest of your post, quite frankly i dont think you have a point.
Is that because I used too many long words for you in the first sentence
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Hahaha, i totally overlooked that line "run you into the ground" but now it has been highlighted it is actually rather funny!
I really do hope he is a WUM.
I mean, if what he was expressing were his actual views, and he whole heatedly believed them, and apparently we are the mental ones, then god help the guy! Someone is going to plant one on him soon!
Ahhh, that be why he is into Computer Science, forever behind the screen!
Bless!
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i playted the last 20 mins of a match with it. Swelling and such meant that it wasnt obvious.
But you can choose not to believe and accuse me of being a liar.
If the mood takes ya.
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Am I the only one thinking Steve Harper of Newcastle should be given a chance at goal.
YES YOU ARE
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Rafael4Brazil
dont worry man adamsp is not gonna agree with anything anyone says.
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Weeksy, would the reason to the broken collarbone/dislocated shoulder whatever it were, be becasue you keep running into the ground?
Hahaha, sorry couldnt resist
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...and weeksy's useless post tally rises to the 1million mark.
im tempted to believe that like robbo, weeksy is actually fictional. except that while robbo is brilliantly funny and makes some valid points, weeksy is around to make pathetic threats and show off about being a big man playing football with a broken collar bone....
thoughts?
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110. At 2:56pm on 07 Sep 2009, WeeksyOnFootball wrote:
Rafael4Brazil
dont worry man adamsp is not gonna agree with anything anyone says.
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HAHAHAHAHA from the man/boy/trans/thing that has a different view to the rest of the sane society?
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Well, I was having an appaulingly bad day until I came on here! This nice litte exchange has certainly brightened up my day! Thanks, guys! :-)
Just to stray back on-topic, if I may?... What about giving Kieran Richardson another crack at the left wing position, at least until Joe Cole is fit? I'm not championing Richardson as such, just wondered what you all thought. Just he seems to be the most eligable English left winger available at the moment (although, I've probably overlooked someone glaringly obvious who isn't injured, suspended or dead!). When we go to South Africa next year, Gerrard isn't going to be stuck out on the wing. So, get the rest of the team in order and use the other players you have available to fill-in for the players who would normally be first choice. I don't like preparing for things with players playing in a position that is different to the one that they'll most likely occupy come the finals next summer.
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Weeksy
I believe the mood takes me to assume you misheard your diagnosis. A small-medium radial or distal fracture would produce the level of swelling + adrenalin that would allow you to keep playing a dislocation would practically cripple you straight away - may be a good idea to actually click the links I sent you
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lol i would love to joke around with you but you are such a nasty little thing it just wouldnt be real.
these are my beliefs, i reckon players are all too quick to fling themselves and it cheapens the seats you buy to a game. I dont like theatre.
Such slagging of computer science geeks, i wonder who has made this type of easy to-and-fro communication possible???
weird
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Such slagging of computer science geeks, i wonder who has made this type of easy to-and-fro communication possible???
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Well it wasnt you was it you wonder to the world you!!
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well i kept the x-ray and my collar bone on one side was sticking up at a 45 degree angle.
Im not a doctor but i was on the drink that night and i tried to push myself out of bed the next day and was in agony.
go figure,i guessed the chemicals released killed the pain.
i did get a few rounds of beers bought at the next football circle, with my sling. :)
PS: I dont care if sm2009 doesnt believe me. He is a troll.
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Oh and Weeksy... you slate people for resorting to insults and yet you have called several posters a 'troll'. If 'troll' is a compliment where you come from I'm assuming your writing in from somehwere in Middle Earth.
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adampsb, stop raining on weeksy's parade. if he says he played with a broken/dislocated collar bone then he did. and didnt he do well! theres a good boy weeksy. coochy coochy coo. you want a treat?
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"if the medai (after Eduardo incident) were not trying to find an English scapegoat to focus on, then you would not be saying he dived either"
right... because the British media is renown for attempting to besmudge English football and English footballers, particularly when a World Cup bid is in the balance.
excellent insight, Uwhatever.
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"It wasn't a dive, Almunia fouled Rooney (therefore not a dive) and yes 5 years ago Campbell's leg is out and makes contact with Rooney and he get's a penalty."
a weak attempt at absurdist humour?
or yet another case of a ManU/England supporter trying to tell us the world is rectangular with a dragon at each end, who just hapens looks a lot like the red devil on the badge?
since you're so late to the diving party, i feel compelled to tell you that it's been raging for some time now. many cases of Rooney's cheating and diving have been unearthed, so even if he didn't Saturday, he has many times in the past. you're just humiliating yourself.
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yerooo i got a rise out of Robbo.
Nice one.
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I agree with 112, 99 & 97
Just not with Weeksy (or Steve Harper being England's no.1) If he wasn't good enough to displace Given do we really want Newcastle's 2nd best keeper (at that time) When Rob Green and David James are proving able enough - Ben Foster needs more games at Utd or he will fall behind.
As for right back - we may need 1 last Hurrah from Gary Neville if he gets fit and unless everyone else learns to cross then we need to play Beckham on the right especially if using a target man like Cole or Heskey
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#119
Well said Robbo ;)
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66. WeeksyOnFootball wrote:
Because you dont want to see it, its not a dive in the traditional sense but he throws himself to ground in the hope of a pen,......
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You obviously can't grasp the fact that Rooney was lashing out at the player, he was not trying to get a pen.
The fact that you can't see this is your bias, pure and simple. Don't be embarrassed, you'll find as you get older you'll see things in a more mature way and the bias will reduce.
ANd to everyon else, leave him alone, he's only a kid and you have to make allowances for that.
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dont worry about me, the outspoken are always attacked.
:)
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118. At 3:01pm on 07 Sep 2009, WeeksyOnFootball wrote:
well i kept the x-ray and my collar bone on one side was sticking up at a 45 degree angle.
That is because it was FRACTURED. a dislocation would raise collarbone but a 45 degree angle is achievable only when it breaks.
Also I have never seen a radiographer let the patient keep their X-rays and I've broken a fair amount of bones in my time
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#92
BlueBurns - you wise old soul. Gerrard really has to nail down some role or other. Il Cap isn't going to indulge him, that's clear. And you're right - his biggest failing is trying to do too much with the ball sometimes. Lampard's playing a bit deeper to accommodate the front three and G's just going to have to fit in. Saw some broadsheet numpty suggesting Gerrard for right-back, mind, which is more than a tad wasteful of the boy's undoubted talent. There's only one place available after that - keeper.
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I thought he was going some while ago.
Talk about a glutton for punishment.
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since you're so late to the diving party, i feel compelled to tell you that it's been raging for some time now. many cases of Rooney's cheating and diving have been unearthed, so even if he didn't Saturday, he has many times in the past. you're just humiliating yourself.
I've been here the last 2 diving blogs silly boy which if you paid attention you would know. I'm not saying Rooney hasn't dived just not on those 3 occasions
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Weeksy: Im not a doctor but i was on the drink that night and i tried to push myself out of bed the next day and was in agony.
I did the same when I BROKE my collarbone. Dislocation would render you useless. Although that seems appropriate.
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126. At 3:05pm on 07 Sep 2009, WeeksyOnFootball wrote:
dont worry about me, the outspoken are always attacked.
:)
i think by "outspoken" you actually mean "idiots"
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I asked only coz it looked cool, it was a few years ago but im pretty sure he said dislocated. There was no break, it just seemed like it had popped out.
Dont you want to slag me off adampsb???
you havent said anything insulting in a while.
Also "troll" isnt insulting. Its merely an attempt to identify people who are just here to wind people up.
Im sorry if my "non loving rooney opinion" winds people up. couldnt help it.
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weeks why do you insist on telling us the details of your collarbone?!? i cant think of anything we care less about. except maybe macedonian tax law. oh no wait, i care about taht more than i care about your collar bone.
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I wish this was still a football blog............
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I care more about balance sheets, and profit and loss accounts than weeksy's collarbone.
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well i was replying to another persons post.
see you are a troll.
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Pilch, I tried to start a discussion about Kieran Richardson and a possible role in the England team, but sadly it got gobbled up amongst broken/dislocated bones and general slagging off of people who can't agree on this board.
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I don't think anyone is blinded by love when they look at Wazza. I just happen to think that the last two occasions when Rooney fell to earth were not dives - especially not the one against the Slovenes. It was a foul, mind. By Rooney. One of his petulant kick-outs that may yet cost us in a big tournament. And the ref gave a shocking decision that makes me wonder if he's seen any football ever before... unlike Weeksy, who clearly has seen an enormous amount of the beautiful game in his short time on this planet and whose views should therefore be accorded the sort of respect only previously reserved for the likes of... ooh, I dunno... Gandhi.
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I think some people need to learn the difference between a dive, falling over, and jumping in to a tackle.
A dive is what Eduardo did against Celtic and what Rooney did against Arsenal. A dive is when a player goes down of their own accord to try and win a penalty/free kick.
Rooney clearly jumps to, somewhat bizzarely, tackle the Slovenian defender. This, AFTER, the Slovenian defender pulled Rooney's shirt. Whether this caused him to lose balance and jump, I don't know. But a dive, it was not. It looked more to me like he threw his arms up and complained, seemingly expecting a free kick to be given against himself!
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Weeksy - you said that "troll" isnt insulting. Its merely an attempt to identify people who are just here to wind people up.
Presume you cannot see the irony in this as the significant majority of your posts seem to have this objective.
Damn, now I am being a hypocrite by not discussing football.
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quite right Robbo.
If you ever need a hand writing an article gimmie a shout. :)
Im sorry i started out making some valid points. But i have been sucked in to the slanging match. I guess i am child.
There you happy guys.!!!
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i was sucked into the slagging match
i feel so low now...
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No. 139. FlyingFinn1982 - not seen much of Richardson myself, but he is the sort of player who you should try in friendlies.
Personally, I was reassured by an earlier comment that Joe Cole is returning to training as I felt he grew into the left-sided role and did provide some much needed craft and imagination. He also liked the occasional dive, so that should please everyone.
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Going back to Steve Harper ... Bets on how long he'll stay at Newcastle if he was given and England call up?
With James in the twilight of his years, Green looking suspect and Robinson not being the same force he was after that bobbling ball I'd like to see Ben Foster given a nod.
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Joe Cole just adds more pace and creativity than any other player on the left and last night just proved how much we missed him. As for Downing, I have never been a fan, but give him a go in a friendly when he's fit and lets see what happens. I just think we need to stop putting people in the team because of their name. Needs to start being done more on merit.
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Weeksy & Others.
I think everybody wholeheartedly agrees that diving is inherently bad for the game and it would be a blessing if we could stamp it out of the game.
I am a United fan and agree with a few of the points you have made. What bemuses me however, is your tunnel-visioned prosecution of any player that doesn't wear the Gunners shirt.
At OT, Rooney went to ground easily. He knew the contact was coming and made the most of it.
This is an acceptable part of the game nowadays, being a professional and tricking the opposition into conceding the foul. A truly honest player would perhaps have done things differently but Wazza is a professional and that is how he plays the game.
Eduardo and Eboue were completely different cases, literally no contact was made. Eduardo was expecting contact which never came and instead of deceiving his opponent he deceived the referee.
I appreciate you points regarding divers but I find that you completely contradict your own argument with your Wayne Rooney witch hunt.
The main problem is fans like yourself who are infuriated when decisions go against you but do backflips round the living room when it is the other way around.
And when you rant on about cause & effect and economics you literally make me laugh.
At you, not with you.
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61. At 2:11pm on 07 Sep 2009, JoeDavisRoach wrote:
Weak blog as usual.
Theres something nonsensical about a self confessed no-nothing about football fictional character offering some kind of analysis on a football team. Other than the blogs overall poor standard, the only real consistency in it is the resounding evidence that you (ok "Robbo") knows very little about the sport and instead approaches this from the angle "well its a fictional stereotyped character so what I say doesnt really matter". Well might you argue that its just as an opinion (I dont think anyone takes you seriously as a full time journalist as opposed to a makeshift comedian). But what is the opinion of a made-up character anyway? "Robbo" is just a overused stereotype on this blog so his opinion is both predictable, but more importantly - not even real.
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JDR: You win again. Just enough WUM to get me teeth on edge, son.
It is hard to take your flak seriously when you call me a 'no-nothing' though. No-nothing is what you say when a penniless person asks if you've got any spare change. 'Know-nothing' is someone who 'knows nothing'. The clues are in there if you think it through.
And the apostrophe police would have you for breakfast, mate. Now we all make typos in our feverish urge to get a good kicking down on screen but given you are so high and mighty about it, you'd think a comedy professor of your standing would take more care over such things. Petty, I know but then we all are sometimes, aren't we, Joe, me old chum.
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And Foster just needs more games before being put in an England shirt. He still looks very shaky and needs to find the same form he showed for Watford to be able to have the England Jersey. Might be better for him to go to a team where he is having to make 10 saves every match instead of the 2 or 3 he makes for United each week.
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121. At 3:02pm on 07 Sep 2009, DenistheGenius wrote:
"if the medai (after Eduardo incident) were not trying to find an English scapegoat to focus on, then you would not be saying he dived either"
right... because the British media is renown for attempting to besmudge English football and English footballers, particularly when a World Cup bid is in the balance.
excellent insight, Uwhatever.
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Is this a sarcastic reply to my post or am i missing something, or more importantly, you missing something?
The english media do, do such things. They over-hype and over-kill every aspect of the English football team. Any bit of glory is over-hyped to we're are world beaters and our names on the cup. Any incident under scrutiny becomes a national disgrace? Beckham anyone?
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Weeksy. Apology (of sorts) accepted. I feel a little soiled having resorteed to replying to JDR too.
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#128 Robbo Robson wrote:
'#92 BlueBurns - you wise old soul.'
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Modesty prevents me from admitting my guilt to that particular charge. :-)
Anyway Robbo, what about sorting out the kids who seems to have spent your blog squabbling about a dislocated shoulder, from what I can gather. Lines? Detention? You decide.
Anyway, carry on the good work Fabio. As far as the media goes, don't let the b*stards drag you down. I've said it before and I'll say it again, most of them really do fit perfectly that Nirvana line 'self appointed judges judge, more than they have sold'.
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#150
Agreed, but he does have the potential to get there though. He's demonstrated he can keep his composure in high pressure games. He had a cool head upon him (much to Spurs's cost) in the Carling Cup final earlier in the year.
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GloryHunterlaar
thanks for acknowledging my valid points. However im not hunting Rooney merely pointing out how biased it is when an english player is let off so consistently.
I do not agree however that Rooneys actions are right and Eduardos actions are wrong because of a differing amount of contact. The INTENT is still there to deceive. Which is the important factor.
I am ashamed however at Eboue. For such a good player he makes a numpty out of himself so often.
I personally feel Rooney went down looking for a pen, otherwise its the weirdest attempt to foul a player ever.!
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Weeksy
I never said he should try and be honest. I said Almunia made contact and Rooney shouldn't have to hurdle a tackle to try and score. He is under no obligation to move at all, the onus is on the defender/keeper to win the ball first. Clearly Almunia didn't do that.
Eduardo is being vilified because the SFA kicked up a stink about this (they also have previous for similar complaints to UEFA/FIFA). This is also because he went to ground without any contact whatsoever from Boruc. There was also no intent to tackle Eduardo as he pulls back his hands.
Whilst I accept that Rooney could clearly have avoided the incident, why should he? Surely this is a mistake by your goalkeeper and Rooney has taken advantage of that mistake. Comparable examples would be in games like snooker where an opponent mishits a shot and leaves an easy pot??
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Can't understand all the angst about the left side of midfiled; There must be plenty of catholics out there.
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Pilch, I tried to start a discussion about Kieran Richardson and a possible role in the England team
I missed that bit - Good question as Kieron is left-footed and has scored for England when he played against the USA. Does he play regularly for Sunderland as I alsways thought he was too inconsistent blowing hot and cold.
But to answer your question yes I do think that Richardson could hav ea role to play especially as it will keep Downing out of the squad and could stop loads of right footed playes filling in on the left and give us more balance than we have
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Aaron Lennon does indeed look like he's snorted something before coming onto the pitch - how does he get his legs to move so fast? Pity the lad has never learnt to cross the ball; if he ever does, he'll be the finished article. Becks should hold a few masterclasses. Really though, you don't need to have a Ph.D in Physics to see how it's done - just surprises me how other football players haven't copied his technique....ah, those were the key words; "football players". That explains it.
Did Rooney dive...zzzzz...I've lost interest already.
Gerrard/Lampard...not that old chestnut...double zzzzzzzzzzz
A new debate - should Slaven Bilic take over from Capello when he replaces Sven Gordon Bennett at Notts County?
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I think this blog should have been titled as Double Standards?
When a striker doesnt score for a long time, suggestions are to drop him.
When a striker is scoring consistently in EPL and Int'l games, suggestions are to play him as a sub.
When a non-English player dives, the entire British media accuses the player of foul play.
When an English player dives, the entire British media deviates from the topic by blaming defenders for letting a goal and raising trivial issues like who should play starting 11 along with "Diver"
Funny enough!
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Robbo can you now reply to my initial point.
That the danger we face is not the actions but these very smudged lines were are drawing in the sand about whats acceptable and whats not.
Shouldnt we punish anyone for simulation every when there is contact. Its the mentality i dont like.
If we want players to be honest it should be all the way and not just in one or 2 situations.
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have to agree with robbo about the right side of the midfield, aaron lennon over SWP at the moment. SWP had a great performance in the first game of the season, but havent seen him repeat that first day form yet.
it always amazed me how england doesnt pick the obvious choice in the striker department. jermaine defoe is the man on form, and so is wayne roney - its obvious to put both players together in the starting line up. it was like when kevin davies was the leading english goalscorer in the premier league some time last season, he didnt get anything from fabio capello.
merit over reputation, i say.
http://wdkf.co.uk/
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I was impressed with the way that James Milner and Carlton Cole seemed to join up. We were quite turgid at the front in the first half of the game against Slovenia. We relied too much on Rooney and Heskey didn't really trouble them enough. Our attack really livened up after DeFoe and Cole came on. I would play Cole up front, Rooney behind. I would bring Defoe and Milner on in the 2nd half.
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#154
I completely agree and that's why I want him to go to a team where he is the number 1 and playing not because someone else is injured. He just needs to make more saves and get more practice in. Although I do remember him making a hash of things for Watford at the Lane when Robinson scored from his own half. Greatest match I have ever been to see.
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Post no. 158 adampsb. I agree with your sentiment towards Downing as he has only really been poor for England. However, I do wonder what a new club, new manager and better players around him will do and if we will see a welcome improvement.
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152. At 3:26pm on 07 Sep 2009, Robbo Robson wrote:
Weeksy. Apology (of sorts) accepted. I feel a little soiled having resorteed to replying to JDR too.
Oops. A couple of posts after remarking on another poster's grammar Robbo goes and creates a new word, 'resorteed' I suppose this could be the new word to describe what Dalglish and Hansen do on holiday in La Manga when they go to all in one resorts with golf courses!!!
I think Owen Hargreaves could be resorteed for the rest of the season and after his announcement this morning sounds like Terry Wogan will be joining him!
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Adampsb... yes, Richardson plays regularly for Sunderland. He's had a couple of injuries since arriving which kept him out, especially in his first season. It's true to say that he has blown hot and cold, but consistancy is something which he is beginning to build. He's definately got the raw ability, it just needs to be honed and he's desperate to play in the World Cup so I would expect a much improved Richardson this season.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Anyways keeping the blog into consideration - the England XI for Wed should be 4-2-3-1
Ben Foster
Glen Johnson
John Terry
Joleon Lescott
Ashley Cole
Steven Gerrard
Gareth Barry
Aaron Lennon (subbed by SWP 60 min)
Frank Lampard (subbed by Crouch 75 min) (4-4-2 after 75 min)
Ashley Young
Wayne Rooney (subbed by Defoe 60 min)
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149. At 3:24pm on 07 Sep 2009, Robbo Robson wrote:
Niall/"Robbo"
You seem to be resorting to pointing out spelling mistakes rather than actually trying to answer my posts with anything substantial. If we can leave the fantasy world of the "Blue Bell" for just a moment Niall - you are writing this article for the BBC and have access, I would imagine to all sorts of spell check and journalistic gadgets. On top of that you are presumably getting paid for this. I on the other hand am not and in fairness Niall/Robbo have never taken any issues with poor spelling on your blogs in the instances they do occur. That isnt what concerns me.
What concerns me is the substance of the blog and indeed the real point of it. As you use football and occaisionally other sports as a means to provide a comic stereotyped outlook, I would classify the point of this blog as to entertain and to provide humour far more than to actually provide any real valuable insight or opinion on football. Therefore what we have is a rather repetitive scenario of you using football to try and essentially hold together a series of one liners from a stereotypical viewpoint on a weekly basis. I have yet to recieve a a real answer from you as to why you cant try writing something a bit more variable and not have to resort to Robbo ad nauseum. I am more than willing to give you a chance Niall but if you keep churning out this rubbish so consistently can you really blame me for crtiticising?
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I think people will find that, if they watch Rooney's run when Gerrard crosses the ball, the defender actually pulls him back to get in front of him.
Pretty sure that is a foul, good spot ref!
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Robbo... mate love your work as ever fella...
JesusFChrist i have a week off work to bury me grandfather and get married (not on the same day, wasn't a 2 for one at the church or anything, just been a busy week) and all hell has broken loose on your blogs!
To be honest, i aint even had a chance to get through half the comments yet, but its diffiult to tell if you or Gaz is getting more flak... JDR (Zootmac on a windup me thinks) is still up to his old tricks and he plays them well... (Your my favorite poster! keep it up) And today we have some brand new posters giving thier opinions, Mr Weeksy... Trotter is it you on wind up, i think think you Dr Zoots, Gaz and Robbo have constructed all these crazy posters in order to keep Robbos posts high and thus save the youth centre from Phil McNulty's construction company, (and its the last weekend in the goon docks!)
Thats or a therapist is encouraging patients with anger issues to vent thier troubles at poor Robbo...???
Anyway, good to be back...
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I see JDR didn't read my earlier post! The copy and paste function coming in handy yet again there as you post the same old critique of Robbo's blog that you've posted a million times in every other blog!! And you call Robbo repetitive and pointless!!
So, had any thoughts on my suggestion that you write a football blog here and have us provide feedback on it? Thought you'd like the chance to show how it should be done!?
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Rooney didn't dive against Slovenia and it was not a penalty - he anticipated the contact against Almunia (and started falling before touching the keeper's arms, but the ref had no choice but to give it)...just as Eboue did later against Evra, who unusually for him stood back with an After you Maud... just as Eduardo had done against Boruc. The difference was that there was no, or at best a negligible amount of contact visible only to the Arsenal frame-by-frame video analysis team including AW. I don't think Rooney is a diver by nature (if you can be born one?!) but it's not the first time he has 'won' a penalty - or no doubt was that the last one he wins against Arsenal at Old Trafford. Surely the point here is that players running at speed anticipate contact and react but if they go too early for whatever reason they will be punished. The dives by Eduardo and Eboue were both against side-on challenges where the player pulled out at the last minute. Rooney's penalty against Arsenal was nailed-on as the challenge was rash and could not help but upend him - a bit like Fletcher on Arshavin in the same game!
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#172 -never thought of this as therapy although I have been in a better mood recently
England team (assuming everyone is fit)
1. Robert Greem
2. Gary Neville (can defend and attack)
3. Ashley Cole
4. Rio Ferdinand
5. John Terry
6. Owen Hargreaves (handy for penalty shpoot outs as well as being better than Barry & Carrick
7. David Beckham (subbed for Lennon when the full back is tired)
8. Frank Lampard (bring on Gerrard as late sub)
9. Wayne Rooney
10. Jermaine Defoe (subbed for Michael Owen or Carlton Cole late on depending on circumstances)
11. Ashley Young
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I hope Croatia can do their trick this time again.
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Robbo... mate love your work as ever fella...
JesusFChrist i have a week off work to bury me grandfather and get married (not on the same day, wasn't a 2 for one at the church or anything, just been a busy week) and all hell has broken loose on your blogs!
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What the hell is this? No one cares
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No 170 JDR - As you seem to read Robbo's blogs with keen interest each time, I presume you notice that the significant majority actually find them entertaining and enjoy them. You are, therefore, in the minority.
You are welcome to your opinion and please feel free to continue posting it, despite the fact that you are tedious and very unfunny, unlike Robbo (fictional character or not).
Alternatively, read something you do enjoy, whatever that may be.
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# 33
well, England is a good team. Pace and power are England's biggest strengths.
If there's something that can ruin England' WC ambition, it is the lack of discipline and creativity.
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#179 If there's something that can ruin England' WC ambition, it is the lack of discipline and creativity
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And other teams. Don't forget them
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Maybe we should support England Ladies they are in the European Championship final and are better looking as well
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178. At 3:58pm on 07 Sep 2009, pilch666 wrote:
I believe you are wrong here - Naturally the majority of people who reply to Niall/"Robbos" blog will be fans of the blog although lately even this seems to be more 50/50ish. Obviously the majority of the people who dont like will either not contribute or contribute minimally. This leads to an unbalanced reflection of opinion.
Another point worth making is that a large number of people that post here seem to do so more as a socialising activity rather than anything really to do with the blog. Indeed it seems increasingly that many here use this as a forum to display their own "comedic talents" (or lack thereof).
I understand that I am an exception in that I find the blog completely devoid of humour and essentially repeitive nonsense but I use it as an opportunity to express my opinion, challenge Niall to produce something with a little more variety (i.e a non "Robbo" blog) and to lobby for improvements and upping of standards.
As usual there is the same old criticisms thrown at may essentially amounting to "go away" but I find it amazing that no one can really argue with the truth behind my statements regarding the "Robbo" blog - not least Niall/"Robbo" himself who seems more concerned with trying to draw me into some kind of personal trading of insults or peevish highlighting of spelling errors rather than defend his position or answer my questions.
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GK - Stick with Green for the moment. James would have been my choice normally but frankly his petulent outbursts at not getting his move this summer have shown that clearly he is not mentally right about now. Why he even went that way I don't know because playing for a struggling side has never hurt a keeper before, the only reason it will hurt him is if he lets conceding goals get to him and starts making errors, oh wait a minute, yes that's what will happen, DOH! Foster is the man for the future but until he is a regular #1 at once club or another he will never be ready to step up.
RB - What's wrong with Johnson? He had a poor game in both halves but is good enough. Wes Brown is a better defender? 95% of the time probably but the 5% of the time he gives the ball away to a striker in a goalscoring oppertunity, just not reliable. The better option would be Micah Richards but he needs to prove his club form first.
LB - Cole, Bridge if injured
CB - Terry is good, Upson is OK, together they are a disaster. When Ferdinand plays with either it works because he has the mobility and pace to cover, so does Lescott who is a much better partner for Terry in my opinion.
DM - Barry
AM - Lampard and Gerrard - Play both primarily in the middle but with licence to roam out on the open flank.
R/LW - Lennon - Give the lad license to go left or right as suits best to create space and frighten full backs, allow the team to be fluid for a change.
ST - Rooney and Defoe. Give Rooney the licence to roam, come deep, make runs down the channels, whatever he wants and keep Defoe up front as a focal point, they proved tehy can work together so let it happen. If you need more muscle later on then bring on Heskey.
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Ok JDR, I will be drawn in. I find Robbo's blog amusing, thereby meeting one of your arguements.
I also found this blog relatively insightful, though admittedly not ground-breakingly new. However, most journalism is not new and is just the same story re-hashed in a different way/order etc. At least Robbo tries something different by injecting humour. Just because it is not your humour (and of course not everyone else's either as we are all different), I and many others still find it funny.
Also, somewhere in the comments there are a few debates, particularly the latter ones regarding left midfield and Richardson/Cole. Also maybe Downing if the new club has the necessary positive impact.
Perhaps, just for a change, you could add to one of those discussions instead of just writing your usual criticisms. Be nice to hear whether you actually know anything about football (or subject in question) instead about your dislike for Robbo (or Niall for whatever reason).
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What is a catamite?
I would assume, from the context, that it is some sort of bestial parasite.
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No actually a JoeDavisRoach is a bestial parasite
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Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but I saw a post regarding Rooney's penalty at Arsenal with a point I've seen before from people that seem to have forgotten the rules of football. Namely that since the ball was going out of play it shouldn't have been a penalty.
"14. At 1:02pm on 07 Sep 2009, WeeksyOnFootball wrote:...He dived against the gunners also. Kicked the ball ALL OF THE WAY OUT and went over Almunia's arms which struck the ground."
If someone clatters into your legs without touching the ball, it's a foul. Free kick outside the box, penalty inside it. If the ball is going out of play, then there is no GOAL SCORING OPPOTUNITY so the keeper does not get a red card.
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Post 183 hackerjack - interesting and different view of an England team with only one winger and freedom to roam. Wonder what it would be like in a friendly.
Think I would like to see Joe Cole instead of Lampard or Gerrard though just to give the team some more imagination.
Also, anyone ever considered Scott Parker for the holding role. Barry has not been overly impressive in recent games and I do think Parker has done a good job at whatever club he has played for, but has never been given a real chance by England. Admittedly, injuries have probably hampered him somewhat.
Would like to see Hargreaves as well, but not even sure he will play at Premier League level again, let alone internationally.
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could I just point out to Joe Davis, that most of us on here use pseudonyms; not our actual name, and a discription of how we are perceived by everyone else...
Thank you :)
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Rooney is a diver.
Let's just hope he can get one in SA when it really matters.
I doubt he can, we're not going to be playing at Old Trafford with a homer ref that tournament... and Taggart isn't going to be intimidating the ref into it either.
Anyone who can't see that Rooney dives an awful lot (and this only came in once he moved to United, at Everton he was renowned for staying on his feet and also getting plenty of bookings cos of it) is a bit blinkered.
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One day a BBC journo or blogger will come up with an informed original opinion; one that isn't a regurgitation of a consensus, usually formed from tabloid claptrap.
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No it is a spread made from yeast and CATS (like Vegemite, Marmite etc)
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as i see it, the difference between the eduardo incident and rooneys "foul/fall/penalty" whatever, is that the referee missed the dive from edualdo, and gave the penalty.
with rooney, the ref saw the whole incident and judged it to have been a penalty based on the fact that there WAS contact and rooney went down... he was 100% wrong, and has probably been told such by his peers, but it was his mistake, and not an attempt to cheat by rooney (who looked as though he thought he was about to get sent off!)
Eduardo deserves the ban, rooney needs to be taught how to stay on his feet in the box.
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word on the street is that JDR is a spread made from yeast and cats.
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You raise a legitimate point about Defoe - why start him when he does such a good job as a sub? Some players are simply better used as a shock tactic off the bench - Solskjaer anyone? IMO we have to build our attack around Rooney and Gerrard, our two truly 'world-class' attacking players. I like the pseudo 4-2-4 we play (or 4-2-3-1 if you're being picky), gives us a lot of attacking options without leaving us short-handed at the back. I think our first team lineup suits it nicely:
James
Johnson Ferdinand Terry Cole
Barry Lampard
Walcott Rooney Gerrard
Heskey
If we need a goal, then the obvious subs for me are Defoe, C. Cole and Lennon, at this moment in time. On the defensive side those argy-bargying for a place are more scant. Johnson is a worry. Think the move to Liverpool might have gone to his head and he seems to be neglecting his responsibilities even more than usual. Still, he's head and shoulders above his main rivals in most respects, and he provides much more attacking threat than the much-lauded but totally-ineffectual Ashley Cole. Seriously, Cole these days is Johnson in reverse, rock solid at the back but can't find a way into the opposing box for love or stupid amounts of money. Upson is a solid 2nd choice, as is Lescott, but there's a reason the big clubs have avoided the two for so long.
Goalkeeper? Honestly, a pretty poor crop in general. None of them has the consistency that is required from a top-notch keeper, and they've all crumbled under the pressure once too often or once too spectacularly. Say what you like about Dave Seaman in his later years, we still haven't replaced the confidence he brought to our defence, let alone someone to carry on the legacy of a Banks or Shilton.
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What about the Neville & Beckham rightside axis - worked perfectly at Utd and may be a better option than Johnson - Lennon/SWP/Milner (plus Becks can actually cross the ball)
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English players do not dive in international matches. They are so poor at penalties that there is an innate programming into their phyche to make them stay on their feet and take their chances of scoring. This is most unlike their German, Italian, and most other international counterparts. These opponents are certain to score from penalty kicks, unlike our boys. After all, we exit most tournaments by losing on penalties. Of course we dive in the Prem as we have an overseas player for the conversion at most clubs.
PS I would luv to see the eruption from SAF IF any of his boys get a 'Eduardo' suspension.
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PS I would luv to see the eruption from SAF IF any of his boys get a 'Eduardo' suspension.
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I think Platini would go into hiding before Fergie could get his hands on him if that happens.
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JoeDavisRoach, you have also drawn me in. I don't post very often at all, but will no doubt be instantly compartmentalised by you as part of your so-called "loser brigade" that you accuse of desperately defending Robbo and his blog. Thing is, I do read this blog whenever I see it appear on the BBC's football page, I enjoy it and find it funny, in the main. If that makes me an eedjit in your eyes, so be it. I take it for what it is - an amusing look back at what's gone on that week in the world of football. You say that you find it amazing that "no one can really argue with the truth behind my statements regarding the 'Robbo' blog", but I would in fact turn it around and suggest that a lot of people on here find it amazing that you cannot accept that this is just a bit of fun. I'm reminded of a comment someone made to you about turning on CBeebies and expecting an analysis of the recent financial crisis (which, if I remember rightly, left you floundering just a tad).
Please read post #188. It's the most sensible retort I've seen aimed in your direction since you started posting your exceedingly repetitive comments. And please, please, please stop peppering your posts with "Niall", as if you're the first person to discover Robbo isn't real. It makes you sound just a wee bit immature, mate. Sorry, but it does.
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SWP for me provides more guile
SWP is the fastest dwarf in captivity, but guile, he's got none. he's had a guile bypass.
Rooney certainly didn`t dive on Saturday, but he did lash out at the defender (as in his sending off against Portugal in the World Cup)
He didn't lash out in the world cup, he gave Carvalho "crushed nuts".
If it takes banning 50 players for diving in one week to sort it out so be it, it will not be 50 the following week will it?
That'll sort it.
I think Platini would go into hiding before Fergie could get his hands on him if that happens.
I don't think Platini is part of the diciplinary procedure
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a comment someone made to you about turning on CBeebies and expecting an analysis of the recent financial crisis
Easily confused with BBC News24 - similar level of journalism
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Sorry, #188, not #184
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To JDR:
In the description of this blog it says "My job is to say it as I see it - whether it's in the bar of the Blue Bell or on this blog". Nowhere does it mention that Robbo's job is to be poet laureate.
I wonder how much of a stalker you must be to have gone out of your way to find out that "Robbo" isn't a real person. I wonder what you think of the rest of us to feel the need to tell us every week that this blog is not, in fact, written by "Robbo" but by someone called Niall.
Einstein stated "The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"
Why do you keep coming back? Please, if you don't like this blog, write to the BBC and complain. They DO pay attention - I have done so myself before now.
I notice that there are many people here who like the blog, myself included. I don't like "Lawro's Predictions" and so I no longer look at them. Please, stop torturing yourself - stop clicking on "Robbo Robson".
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One more time, then I'm going for my tea. #184, not #188. That'd be why I don't post very often....
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"Lawro's Predictions"
Liverpool to win
Is anyone ever surprised by this.
I think there should be a bit where we submit the predictions and see what comes up - much more fun
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"Lawro's Predictions" = truly awful, agreed
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No 205 adampsb - from memory there used to be a league predictor game where you went against not only Lawro, but other BBC journos too. Used to be quite good and was always nice to beat the supposed experts, but then most people will always have a blinkered, bias view of their own team (and that is why I never, ever gamble on my team). No idea what happened to this game though, guess the BBC took the view it was not popular enough.
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Either that or the experts kept losing and they scrapped it cos they looked daft
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A fair point and probably not far from the truth.
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adampsb and pilch - i am impressed by your commitment to this blog
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Would of normally have given up ages ago, but last few comments have been mainly football related and I guess I am in shock.
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Ah, Pat Jennings - footballers were men in those days, not overpaid prima donnas.
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i feel the need to stick up for Wayne here
Rooney has most certainly dived in the past - v Arsenal x2, v Villareal, v Blackburn & v Tottenham (they're all up on youtube if you want to see them). As such his claims to be an 'honest' player are laughable
BUT
on Saturday he was acting like a violent, petulant thug - not diving.
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Re expecting Gerrard to replicate his club form from left midfield. In actual fact he is doing that - he was always pretty rubbish when played wide left for Liverpool. FWIW I imagine Lampard would be even worse if made play out there.
Perhaps Fabio should give him and Lampard 45 mins each in the middle in the friendlies and say 'whichever one of you performs the best gets the starting position for the qualify match' ?
Oh and Keiran Richardson is an appalling excuse for a footballer and should be nowhere near any England squad.
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I can't believe that people are advocating dropping Lampard and moving Gerrard back inside. On Saturday Gerrards ball retention was shocking, he gave the ball away so many times. Lampard keeps posession far better than Gerrard who time after time fails to put in any sort of performance for England. People need to put their club allegiances to one side and think about team Enland first and foremost.
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188. At 4:26pm on 07 Sep 2009, pilch666 wrote
Think I would like to see Joe Cole instead of Lampard or Gerrard though just to give the team some more imagination.
Also, anyone ever considered Scott Parker for the holding role. Barry has not been overly impressive in recent games and I do think Parker has done a good job at whatever club he has played for, but has never been given a real chance by England. Admittedly, injuries have probably hampered him somewhat.
I would have Joe Cole roaming instead of Lennon. I can't see Lennon moving across the pitch because he is a typical wide player.
As for Scott Parker...I agree he hasn't really been given a chance but I personally wouldn't feel confident with him playing instead Barry or Carrick simply because of his lack of international experience.
Glen Johnson doesn't deserve to be battered either. Ashley Cole was exactly like it a few years ago. The defensive side will come with experience and Johnson is still new to the international stage he has to be given a chance.
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JDR - made up character that had an opinion that provoked debate; Alf Garnett. If you had interrupted him half way through his set with an "excuse me Warren / "Alf", I have ot take issue with you on that last paragraph", he'd have given you a rapid burst of "**** off and shut up". I'm not say Robbo's up there in that class, but get a grasp of the concept man.
Richardson for England; it won't happen for a while. I know he scores some crackers for Sunderland but I saw him play for the U21's in the first game at Wembley (don't know how he has fared since). Stuart Pearce did him a huge favour when he took him off as he had an absolute mare - honestly, you felt embarrassed watching it as he couldn't have trapped a bag of cement that day.
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I'm gonna put my neck out aswell
Johnson + A.Cole = Cafu + Roberto Carlos
Maybe not quite as good but similar in the way they bomb forward
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216 - that's a good point about Cole's defending of a while back and where Johnson is now. He also needs some support from the right midfielder in front of him (like Beckham used to do so often for Neville) and got precious little of it from SWP on Saturday
217 - made me laugh - i was at the game too and had that performance in mind. Seen him a few other times too. He's not half the player he thinks he is.
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Ok, I am completely impartial to this blog, I am neither for or against it. I understand the context in which it is written, and that it appeals to a number of people who read it.
I also normally enjoy reading the comments, however the last few weeks have become a bit of a joke. Basically a slanging match with little room for constructive debate.
I would like to hear your feedback regarding positive criticism JDR. For sure, your weekly slating of the blog is now as commonplace as said blog. You don't like it...I think the majority of us have worked that one out now, there are only so many times you can say the same thing. Why not expand on this? Lets see a bit of imagination from yourself as well in developing your argument.
I would welcome this discussion.
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No doubt Joe Cole would be an asset for England in South Africa he was one of our best players in 2006. He needs to get back playing regularly for Chelsea soon though, Capello will need to be convinced he is back to top form.
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our strengths are centre midfielders and centre halfs so why dont we play to our strengths??
i would play 5-3-2
foster
ferdinand terry upson/king
swp/lennon ashley cole
barry
lampard gerrard
defoe rooney
I would play this formation at the world cup next year, with joe cole rotating with lamps and gerrard when needed. Defoe has got to start and get his chance in my eyes as he is on fire and if he keeps it up, it would be crazy not to play the lad.
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Interesting viewpoints regarding players performances. My view is that Gerrard when played centre midfield is far better than Lampard who gets caught in posession or misplaces passes far too often for a player who is deemed 'god-like' in some circles,(and I'm an Evertonian)
Saturday's defensive debacle was Johnson being well beaten, and Lescott not watching the near post run.
Mention of Joe Cole. Agree that he is possibly one of the most skillful, but unless that skill results in something then would not be a benefit. Something he should work on - I remember Ronaldo be criticised similarly in his early days at Man U.
Defoe and Carlton Cole should be tried out more, the latter as a direct replacement for Heskey and to see how a partnership with both Rooney or Defoe could develop.
Richardson, no way an England Player.
I fear for Rio's future in the England set-up. He seems a bit vulnerable at times while Upson is improving.
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I personally can't believe that anyone could think that Lampard is a better player than Gerrard.
I'd drop him in a second to put our best player back into the central midfield role. Lampard is so one dimensional it hurts!
The dream would be Hargreaves and Gerrard for ne, but it appears that Hargreaves is broken!!!
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lampard is consistently the best midfielder in the premier league, most goals/assists etc. How anyone can say they would drop lampard is crazy, he produces goals in big games (fa cup final for example) and imo is a brilliant all rounder, he has to play!!!!
merseysidefox...... hargreaves instead of barry!! You must be mad fella, barry has never let england down and gives a quality performance every time, lampard and barry for me every time.
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#61 JoeDavisRoach - If you look one the right-hand side of Robbo's blog you will see a list of other football blogs, do us all a favour and start directing your comments on one of these pages as you're starting to bore us. You arn't the only one who pays your tv licence fee.
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Speaking as an Arsenal fan even i can see Defoe should start.... being a Liverpool fan it isn't easy to say this... blah blah. YOU are football fans first and foremost - don't forget this. The easist thing in the world is to criticise others. Have you noticed how many football fans are big fat slobs, and always the ones shouting abuse at matches, they smell of alcohol and BO. These opinionated idiots ruin the game for me, whether it is a live game or in the pub. i now only watch football at home or listen to radio 5. I find it more objective, cheaper (even with a bet - try live betting on line) and keeps my passion alive!!
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Just looking at a few points on here. Gerrard - never gets to play in his favourite role. Thats right, because he isnt good enough to shift Rooney out of the team. His best role is just behind Torres where he can afford to play his Hollywood passes and if they dont come off he was just trying to be creative in the final third. Rooney is better there. He brings other players into the game more, he does unselfish and unexpected things and he works back. I am afraid that, whilst Gerrard is very talented, he is like the midfield version of Defoe...just out for his own glory.
That also explains why Lampard gets the central midfield birth ahead of him. Not a huge admirer of Frank in the past, but he has sacrificed his own style of play for the good of the team, and that puts him ahead of Gerrard in my opinion. With Gerrard in central midfield we would never retain possession. He cant resist a glory ball and his success rate at those is not on the Beckham scale!
Joe Cole. He played very well for England and is a very good player. But Im not sure I would pick him there ahead of Gerrard ( I know Ive criticised Stevie, but I accept he can, at times, be unplayable - just never for England ).
SWP is just not good enough I fear. Lennon is not clever enough but will beat a man through sheer pace and get round the back more often than SWP. Keep Becks for when we are a goal up and looking to keep possession.
As for Defoe. He is on fire at the moment, but if he does not score he contributes nothing at all. Its like being a man down. Fabio has to look at every game with a view to not losing, and starting with Defoe is a risk as he can offer you goals or be like playing with 10 men.
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Post #187
"Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but I saw a post regarding Rooney's penalty at Arsenal with a point I've seen before from people that seem to have forgotten the rules of football. Namely that since the ball was going out of play it shouldn't have been a penalty.
If someone clatters into your legs without touching the ball, it's a foul. Free kick outside the box, penalty inside it. If the ball is going out of play, then there is no GOAL SCORING OPPOTUNITY so the keeper does not get a red card."
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You've totally contradicted yourself here. To the colour of the card, yes, but I think you'll find the position of the ball is actually irrelevant as to whether it's a foul or not. There is no rule saying that whatsoever!
Hypothetically, if Eduardo had actually been fouled by Boruc, would you say that wasn't a penalty either? Seeing as he was two yards away from the touchline and kicked it straight out.
Actually, back when I was younger, I remember that penalties weren't actually given when the ball was kicked out of play, even when the player was completely taken out. Not sure when it started changing, probably with the Premier League, but personally I think a foul is a foul and should be given regardless.
Falling on top of the keeper's arms isn't a foul though!
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#224 er how is Lampard one dimensional when he's playing a different role for England than he does at Chelsea?
Where as Gerrard comes into the England team and plays EXACTLY like he does for Liverpool.
Him being in the team totally ruins the shape, where as Lampard is far more discipline.
Not to mention Gerrard's continuous attempts to play long passes through a bunch of opposing players, the majority of which just give possession away.
Lampard and Barry (though I think he's poor and doesn't tackle well) play short, simple passes where possible and keep possession better.
The proof is in the pudding, and England have played FAR better without Gerrard in the team, and with wide players who actually stay out wide and keep the shape.
Personally, my team would be:
Green
Johnson Upson Terry Cole
Lennon Barry Lampard Milner
Defoe Rooney
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TomOnion - good to see my long lost twin back to talk more sense to these homers.
Maradona wrote:
Rooney is a diver.
Let's just hope he can get one in SA when it really matters.
I doubt he can, we're not going to be playing at Old Trafford with a homer ref that tournament... and Taggart isn't going to be intimidating the ref into it either.
Anyone who can't see that Rooney dives an awful lot (and this only came in once he moved to United, at Everton he was renowned for staying on his feet and also getting plenty of bookings cos of it) is a bit blinkered.
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Maradona is right.
anyone who argues with Maradona about football should be sent, by themselves, without weaponry, to South Africa... wearing a fanny pack, zinc oxide sunblock, and a camera.
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I'm amused that the average age of Robbo's readership is apparently around 9 years old.
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Best England XI
------Green-------
Johnson,Terry,Rio,Cole
Carrick,Lampard,Barry
Gerrard,Rooney,Write-Phillips
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220. At 6:10pm on 07 Sep 2009, danprevett wrote:
In response, certain people here seem to think I am demanding some kind comedic genius or top of the range literature. Far from it. Whatever the failings of this blog, and there are many, I will outline some issues that I think are not unreasonable.
1. The blog is repetitive. Fine you might say so is my criticism but that doesnt change the fact that "Robbos" blog is also more or less written the same way with the same viewpoint ad nauseum. "Robbos" musings two or three times a week is overkill and as such the blog writer Niall I suspect is forced to sacrifice quality in the name of quantity. Same tired outlook, same writing style etc
2. Quality. Links partly with point one - the quality of the blog is fairly poor. There may be a number of reasons for this - maybe time constraints are too pressing, Maybe "Robbo"/Niall just isnt very good at his job. Who knows. What is known is the end product suffers. Like a cheap tabloid, "Robbo" tends to latch on to the main peice of footballing news and then add in lots of waffle and stereotyped opinios in order to hold together a series of pretty poor jokes. No real balance in the article, often no real point and very little humour.
3. Variety. The BBC has seen fit to produce a "lighthearted comedy blog" and have employed Niall to create this fictional "Robbo" character in order to present a lighthearted approach. Now Im not so naive to assume there arent people out there that enjoy his blog but why cant we have a bit of variety? Would it be so hard to appeal to a wider audience and have a few non Robbo blogs? Im assuming Niall is some kind of comedian for this and has writing talents beyond "Robbo" so why not put it to use? Rather than give an answer to this he instead opts to either assume something derogatory about me or latch onto a spelling mistake - oblivious to the fact his own material isnt always foolproof. I get the impression writing "Robbo" on such a repetitive basis must be annoying even for Niall at this point. There must be well over 100 "Robbo" blogs written at this point. Surely if the BBC wanted some kind of broad appeal they could vary this so called comedy blog to embrace many people rather than just those who somehow find "Robbo" entertaining.
As you can see - Im hardly asking for a miracle here. The BBC is publicly funded yet the only choice of lighthearted "humour" is this one dimensional shopworn blog. Having "Robbo" less often would improve its curent low level of quality while giving Niall the opportunity to write some alternative material and display his writing/comedy skills - which in my view have yet to appear.
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Aw hell ... another boring repetitive nausea inducing snorefest by JDR.
Ought to keep my insonia in check tonight.
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#148 - Professional - pertaining to the profession: competing for money, prizes as apposed to amateur. showing the skill, artistry demeanor, or standard of CONDUCT appropriate in a member of a profession.
Lets not kid ourselves that because Rooney is paid to do this job he has the right to go down as soon as anybody looks at him sideways. I have highlighted the word CONDUCT as this is probably the most important word in this discripion of professional.
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Is this your way of trying to make the public dislike ITV by slagging off their pundits and commentators? Taking the mick out of Andy Townsend and Peter Drury is pathetic and you should concentrate on writing your own opinions rather than criticising other people in the media.
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Even though Defoe is scoring for fun at the moment, still reckon Heskey should start with Rooney, then bring on Defoe if it isn't going well. Lennon should start though, Wright-Phillips is never gonna do anything at international level, he's had his chance.
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#216: I feel I have to point out that, if you don't select a player based on lack of international experience, then no player would ever get picked (bit Catch-22 there). Also, you then go and contradict yourself by saying that, although Johnson is not the finished article, he should still be picked to play so he can improve by getting international experience. To be honest, if a defender can't defend well, then he shouldn't be playing for Trinidad and Tobago, never mind England.
The 'Is Robbo/Niall any good?' Debate? Well, this is post 235, so whatever he's writing, it's provoking us into contributing.
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Surprised at the amount of slack johnson is getting to be honest robbo you always seem to jump on the popular media bandwagon and write your articles around what sounds funny as compared to what is. We are talking about friendlies for god's sake!! You watch glen on wednesday and judge him then if you must. Where were the comments over rio and barry handing holland a two goal hamper with a little bow on top for good measure.
Still you wont be the championship forever...............
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There is no Gerrard Vs Lampard debate. Gerrard is easily the better player and does a decent job whenever he plays DESPITE being played out of position time and time again. Lampard unlike Gerrard relies on having decent players around him to do the "Donkey work". You need an attacking CM and a defensive one. If that attacking one is Lampard all you will get is what happened with him the last world cup, a million shots and not one goal. He is not a defensive midfielder either and thus should not be deployed as one, esepecially when there are other players around that are much better/more suited to the task.
Play Gerrard in CM with a holding player alongside him or behind a front man and you will get the best out of Gerrard. However knowing Capello he will continue to play Gerrard out of position and we will have to keep listening to these numpties that say he can't perform for England because he does not beat five men and score a wonder goal every game. Gerrard is a victim of his own versatility. Try playing Rooney at CB or James as a striker and see how well they do in comparision to Gerrard and his multiple role/positions.
Also people are getting on Glen Johnson's back despite the fact he has only played a few games. The other defenders were just as (if not more) guilty on Saturday yet he seems to be the scapegoat. Terry makes quite a few mistakes as does Ferdinand yet they seem to be above criticism. Give the lad a chance and he will show you what he can do both going forward and in defence.
Rooney did not dive and if anything the defender should have got a free kick. Trying to compare that incident is laughable and anyone that thinks they are on the same level needs to get themselves off to specsavers.
England team for me:-
Green
Johnson
Terry
Ferdinand
A.Cole
Walcott
Hargreaves
Gerrard
J.Cole
Defoe
Rooney
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Why all this Gerrard love? I have never understood the talk of him being world-class, I'd have Lampard in my team over Gerrard any day of the week. Also, Capello is annoying me a bit. Why say that only players in form will start if you won't back it up? WHY did Heskey, Gerrard and SWP start when they've had very average starts to the season?
My team:
James
Johnson Rio Terry Cole
Lennon Hargreaves Lampard Cole
Rooney
Defoe
SUBS:
Green
Brown
Upson
Bridge
Barry
Gerrard
Beckham
Walcott
Heskey/Carlton Cole
Crouch
One more thing. Gareth Barry is not a holding midfield player. If he plays, he should play in the same role as Gerrard or Lampard. Citeh are playing him out of position too. For Villa he constantly got forward, roamed the attacking third and got in the box with Petrov playing the holding role.
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The BBC, believe it or not is the most respected media provider in the world. FACT
Which begs the question.. How can this level of embarrassing journalism be allowed?
I live abroad, and the BBC is my main window to the world of news and sport. When you don't have sky/BBC TV, you spend more time reading blogs etc. Robbo Robsons' blogs are simply a waste of time and resources that could be allocated to more talented journalists.
I wouldn't normally bother writing, but the tone of some of the posters on this blog is unbelievable!
Many of you sound like outraged Daily Mail reading housewives.
Everyone should be allowed to give his/her opinion on the quality of the piece.
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@futureheadben: Agree wholeheartedly on Gerrard. 75 caps, he's got. I don't use the phrase "earned". If he plays left wing, he leaves the position vacant far too often and that will leave Ashley Cole dangerously exposed against a good side. On club form he's England's 3rd best #10!
I'd not, however, start Rooney and Defoe together because that's going to make Defoe a punchbag for the Croatian defenders. I feel we'll need a big man to mix it with the centre-halves they've got for at least the first half.
I feel we sometimes need to play horses for courses and the Heskey-Rooney axis destroyed Croatia in Zagreb. If the opponents were less vicious, I feel Rooney-Defoe is worth a go. Go for the tried-and-tested against Croatia and maybe experiment against Ukraine/Belarus!
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Meanwhile...
Whitley Bay FC won 2-3 away from home at Ryton and maintained our 100% winning run from 5 games this season. Second in the league with 15 points from 15 and 2 games in hand over the leaders (who are 3 points ahead).
I tell ya, forget England. The Seahorses are gonna do a league and cup double this year. Home to West Auckland Town tomorrow night and thats a banker 3 points.
So, was the England game any good?
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@241 - "Gerrard is easily the better player and does a decent job whenever he plays"
Ya know, I think that is a very interesting comment.
I agree with you, but I can't help think back to 1966 when a player called Jimmy Greaves was easily the best striker but a bloke calls Geoff Hurst got a run out...
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wayne 'honest' rooney, what a laugh. the ball is 20 feet in the air but he still manages to kick the defender on the ankle whilst trying to 'win' the ball.
he seemed to be claiming a penalty too. thats honesty for you.
not that much different from the eduardo incident in that they both conned the ref.
at least drogba admits to pure gamesmanship. respect to you drogy.
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JDR
Get a life you boring get!
www.loserscomesecond.com
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172
RBA Welcome back, condolences and congratulations!
There's only one of me mate, been golfing all day and well there's too much to catch up on. Everybody must be back at work over there. Although, if I skip over JDR's rants it'll go a lot faster. No way is he Zoot in disguise. Zoot couldn't lower himself enough to abolish all apostrophes.
Somebody up there mentioned that Kevin Davies was premiership leading goal scorer at some stage last season...I only wish....but it's not true son. There was a threat that he might get called up when all the leading contenders were dropping like flies but it never happened. Matty Taylor was looking close to a call up as well but he's gone off the boil. He's still a better option than Richardson but there must be others! Cahill on the bench is the best Bolton can hope for unless Nat Lofthouse can make a come back.
Great Blog Robbo, keep up the good work. What's the going rate now? A fiver per line and a fiver per post? It's the best possible use of the licence fee cash. Keep banging 'em out and you'll be able to buy Newcastle soon. Perhaps you'll be able to fit three in this week. Let's hope for a bit of drama against the Croats eh!
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Hi Robbo. I was there (Geneva) for England's 3-2 win over Argentina. This is how it happened: Argies were winning 2-1 with a few minutes left. The England supporters started chanting, "But you'll never have the Falklands, you'll never have the Falklands". Argie players got disoriented and England scored 2 late goals. Never laughed so much while celebrating a goal.
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But actaually JDR thanks for letting us all know that Robbo is really Niall Quinn. Truly a man of many talents.
http://www.loserscomesecond.com/
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243. At 9:22pm on 07 Sep 2009, RedAstaire² wrote:
I agree 100%. I find it especially hypocritical that the same people who tell you to "go away" or "ignore" the "Robbo" blog cant follow their own advice in relation to the comments of others.
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England look pretty good, when you look at some of the other top sides, most are struggling. Brazil and Sain obviously look good, but both are beatable, the Netherlands are another threatining side at the momment, but they have there off days as well.
Englands problems are at GK and RB. There is no world class GK, we have problems. I hope Foster can really shine this season, otherwise James should take it. At RB, Johnson is good going forward, poor defending. He is not a top class international RB but id much rather have him over Brown. MF is a congested position, what ever Lampard does he can't satisfy people. He has had to play deeper than usual so Gerrard can push forward but he hasn't done anything. Gerrard is an excellent MFer..for Liverpool, he still hasn't shone internationally. Lampard has played brilliantly recently for Chelsea and England. In the 4-1 win ove Crotia he was one of the best players and Gerrard has yet to produce that kind of performance. Id still have both of them in the side, Barry is not good enough. Looking at Man city, he seems to be ruining the attacking threat of Ireland, he isn't good enough. Carrick isn't good enough either, Hargreaves is a good option but he is always injured.
Id have Lennon on one wing and probably J Cole on the other. A Young needs to up his game, SWP isn't good enough, Downing isn't good enough, Milner is good, not great and Becks needs to play well in a top league.
As for the strikers, id have Rooney and Defoe, Cole and Crouch as back up.
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@ JDR
In fairness, you say "Robbo" fails to defend his position, r.e, your opinions about his blog.
What's to defend? Robbo's blog is what it is. It's a light hearted look at things. It may not be to your taste, but look how many other people disagree. That in itself is justification for writing the blog. PEOPLE LIKE IT! So what's to defend? Just because you (i.e, one person) will not let it go, why should Robbo have to justify or defend himself to every single person who dislikes him or his work? Do you believe you are special or something?
Let me ask YOU some questions. Why NOT have a blog like Robbo's? What would you replace it with and by whom? Who is he really hurting? It's one page, one article, out of thousands per week.
WHATS THE BIG F^^^NG DEAL?
You clearly have personal issue's with Robbo. Only a person with personal issue's would bang on that long about, basically nothing about something that has very little importance (i.e, a light hearted blog.)
You seem to think its the end of the world as we know it just because the BBC allows itself to have a light hearted moment and not take itself TOO seriously all the time. Poor form, sir.
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"Why all this Gerrard love? I have never understood the talk of him being world-class, I'd have Lampard in my team over Gerrard any day of the week. Also, Capello is annoying me a bit. Why say that only players in form will start if you won't back it up? WHY did Heskey, Gerrard and SWP start when they've had very average starts to the season?"
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Q: Who had the most shots in the last World Cup?
A: Lampard
Q: Who out of Gerrard and Lampard failed to score in the last world cup?
A: Lampard
Q: Who has scored the most goals this season out of Gerrard and Lampard?
A: Gerrard
Q: Which player is the only player to have scored goals in the FINAL of every major compeition he has participated in?
Gerrard
So that is why Gerrard is vastly superior to Lampard and also contrary to what you said is the form player out of the two again DESPITE him not playing at 100%.
Lampard is good at taking lots of shots (hence why he scores lots of goals and looks good when played alongside good players who can mask his failings but unlike Gerrard he cant pass as well,can't tackle as well, can't cross or take set pieces as well and can't take a game by the scruff of the neck like Gerrard can.
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"@241 - "Gerrard is easily the better player and does a decent job whenever he plays"
Ya know, I think that is a very interesting comment.
I agree with you, but I can't help think back to 1966 when a player called Jimmy Greaves was easily the best striker but a bloke calls Geoff Hurst got a run out..."
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Yes but this is NOT 1966 and we are not talking about 2 strikers both of whom were very good players. Both Lampard and Gerrard and getting played, its not as if Gerrard is playing in his prefered role and Lampard is not getting his chance, its the other way round. Lampard has played nearly every game in his prefered position at the expense of Gerrard. In terms of the example you used maybe Lampard should be shifted/dropped and Gerrard given a "Run out" as you put it, in the position which he is most suited to.
When will people (including a succession of England managers) realise that when you have outstanding players you play them in position, you don't try and put square pegs in round holes.
Would the managers of Argentina,Spain, Brazil or Portugal play the likes of Messi,Torres,Kaka or Ronaldo out of position? No they would not! They know that those type of players need to be played where they can be at their most effective and you would be a fool to play them somewhere where they are not suited.
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@254
The blog isn't hurting anyone specifically, but, can we not expect more from the BBC?
Light hearted fun is all well and good, but this simply isn't very funny. It's a waste of time and money.
It is possible to have a light hearted blog which is both intelligent and witty. If I want to hear pub style banter I'll go to a pub. And please god, don't tell people not to read it if they don't like it, that is the weakest argument possible.
Just because some people like this blog, that doesn't justify its existence, many people like Big Brother but that doesn't make it worthwhile.
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There is no problem with this England team. It was a friendly, some of the England players probably only have gave a toss, which they would have learnt from and now will be ready for the next game.
Heskey or Defoe? no debate. Like the first sentence of this comment implies the strikers have been brilliant.Heskey and Rooney, 501 minutes, 18 goals for England, one every 28 minutes, Rooney's got 5 goals and 3 assists. Rooney and Defoe, 205 minutes, England have scored 5 goals, 0 goals/assists for Rooney. This is in the competitive fixtures, also Defoe has started 5 times under Capello scoring against Trinidad and Tobago. As good as a player he is, he's even more effective off the bench and that has been proven, him starting has not.
Rio and Terry need to play, Upson is good enough against some teams, Torres and Villa gave him and Terry a schooling last time round against Spain. There is no worries really over Ashley Cole. Glen Johnson does need help but so will Cole against the top teams, it works both ways in some games Johnson might be so effective attacking that the opposing winger/full back wont risk going forward.
On another note, England have scored 26 goals. That is unbelievably impressive, wait for it.. currently Germany have 20, Spain 18, and holders Italy with 11 goals. Though the South American teams are probably more difficult to beat then some of the European teams, Brazil have 26 goals too albeit in twice as many games.
Fabio is doing his job well, a defeat to Croatia is not really a problem, making sure we qualify and then taking attentions to the small details and they should be real contenders in SA. This regime is something that the players have never even seen at National Level and it's preparing them much better we can say.
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#243 & JDR
The point is that despite your repeated and perfectly valid opinion this is a blog. That is, a point of view. It's unlikely that I'm going to suddenly spout a bunch of opinions that would make me bosom buddies with Michel Platini or Lawro or your good selves. It's not journalism. If you don't like my mindset, you're going to get continually hacked off with reading it. It's inevitable, mate. It really is unthinkable that any man would carrying on inflicting pain on himself like you do (that is meant to be sympathetic). If you read an author you don't like, do you carrying on reading his entire canon and drive yourself to a frothing gibbering idiot or do you read something by someone else? I hate My Family. I stopped watching. Olives taste like salty spit. I don't eat them. Coldplay's whiny and repetitive - your cup of tea, maybe, JDR, but not mine. I don't ask you to stop reading this blog as you're entitled to do what you please, mate. I don't even ask you to stop adding your crafted critiques, misspelt or not. I'll leave that to others.
Just answer this question: why do you keep coming back to read it if you constantly find it unreadable? (I'm assuming it's not attention-seeking cos for all we don't agree, mate, I hope that's no motivation for anyone using this messageboard)
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to whoever said pens shouldn't be given for shirtpulling
yes they should
its a foul
it does my head in
its hard to differentiate between diving and inviting fouls. the rooney pen v arsenal, he was already going down but made sure he touched almunia. good trick if you can pull it.
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258. At 10:44pm on 07 Sep 2009, Robbo Robson wrote:
A counter point if I may Robbo:
Would you not agree that a blog of this nature 2/3 times a week lends itself to undue repitition not to mention quality concerns given the relatively narrow time constraints?
Lets say you were to limit the "Robbo" blog to maybe once week or once every ten days and in the meantime try your hand and some other style of lighthearted column - surely that would allow Robbo some much needed recuperation time and prevent inneviteable staleness and poor quality taking over whilst allowing you to showcase a different approach or writing style in between. I can only see variety and quality being improved while repetition is reduced. Il admit Im not a big a fan of the "Robbo" approach and would hazard a guess Im not alone here so some variety would be welcome. Even you as "Robbo" must admit its difficult to produce 2/3 blogs a week in between all that time spent in the Blue Bell.....
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also, does anyone else think its hilarious that messi AND ronaldo might not make it to SA?
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It had also occurred to me that the BBC's definition of a "good blog" is one that gets a lot of people, however inane, to log on to their website and venture an opinion. Thus they'll be rubbing their hands in glee when they look at the number of contributions and won't give a monkey's that at least half of them have little or nothing to do with the original posting.
I have to say I enjoy Robbo's offerings in general, though some are definitely better than others. He's smart enough to understand what he has to do to get a response, just like the writers of dodgy comedies did in the old days. If you analyse Hi-de-hi it's ludicrous that it was ever cult viewing, but I for one used to tune in every week just to hear Mr Partridge, the Punch & Judy man, say "S*dding kids!".
And the responders play their own part too, ceremonially rising to the bait and then slagging each other off.
So JDR is right, it IS repetitive - but that's a key aspect of humour.
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Great blog Robbo. About Lennon... as you may well know, Spurs are investing in a new stadium, and they have found some ways to cut the cost a bit. The club have been in contact with the company that provides the technology for the KERS system in Formula 1, and have designed an energy converter to fit in behind Aaron's shinpads. Every superSonic stride he makes helps to save on the bills for the undersoil heating and scoreboard. Coupled with solar panels on Crouchy's head, I think we could be the most energy efficient club in world football. Plus, E.ON have agreed a sponsorship deal to replace their expiring FA Cup endorsement, by offering 1 KiloWatt of floodlight power for every time Jermain Defoe says "y'know" in a post-match interview.
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rooney dived when arsenal's 49 match unbeaten run came to an end at Old Trafford. Clueless Mike Riley gave it, and we haven't recovered since.
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I just wanted to say that I always enjoy reading your blogs. As for the folks who decide that personally they don't find you funny, and therefore you cannot possibly be funny at all full stop, I wouldn't worry about them. I mean, thousands and thousands of people look at this blog, if not many more, and enjoy it - they just don't leave their positive feedback often, whereas if a human has a complaint to make, they will very quickly make it known. There is a lot of unsaid praise that should be heading your way for this blog.
To the critics - please stop attacking Robbo all the time just because you can, and find a more interesting hobby, such as writing a negative letter to teletext about something in the world that really matters, such as how the world will almost certainly implode because of Terry Wogan's retirement from radio.
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JDR..
you continually state this blog is of a poor standard. Well that's your opinion, it's not a fact. The world does not revolve around you, the bbc is not honour bound to set itself up according to your individual taste. It has to try to offer something for everyone, that won't mean it will please everyone all the time.
Someone else mentioned big brother being not 'worthwhile', this is a ridiculous thing to say, it's worthwhile to those that enjoy it. I don't enjoy it, guess what- i don't watch it, i realise this is a principle you can't comprehend.
This blog tries to provide a forum for as many people as possible, it does that very well (in my opinion, thats why i read it), it gives people the chance to discuss the main sporting issue of the day (whilst having a bit of a laugh).
Reading the banter and discussions is interesting, reading your self-centred, personal attacks on the author is just unpleasant.
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I do wish some of these players would just shut up and do what they're supposed to do. Play football. John Terry's statement that English players don't dive is bordering on racist. And from Saturday's game, simply untrue.
Idiotic thing to say.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Robbo/Niall, I have a theory that this JDR chappie is none other than...YOU! Yes, you invented him to criticise your own blogs and stir up more debate amongst us poor, innocent saps.
Come on, come clean.
So, how does one change one's writing style? Surely that would mean changing one's personality. Can that be done? Could the Bard write like Philip Marlowe? Could William Burroughs write like Fanny Craddock? Can Steven Gerrard play like Frank Lampard? Can anyone run like Aaron Lennon? Maybe that kid out of the Incredibles...
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And predictably "Robbo Robson" jumps on the "slag off Glen Johnson" bandwagon.
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@mightywarrywarry
The use of rugby as the comparison to manliness and honesty is now permanently shattered. Footballers might dive for a free kick but I think a) rarely is it used as a tactical move by managers, b) they tend to stay on the pitch afterwards, c) they don't need a special effects or props department and d) well, men wrestling each other in the mud in short, tight shorts...It is physical, but is it really that manly?
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WhitleyBay.
Brilliant, and all for 8 quid, can't beat that. Good luck tomorrow.
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#243
Red, I'm overseas as well and have been for 20 years. One of the things I miss about Blighty is the sense of humour and I find soil distribution implements full of it here. Please don't be under the impression that your comments represent all us Brits that have passed beyond the white cliffs!
Best to Ginger.
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There are a few fools who have commented on this blog
They include U----, adam--- and weeksy---
The blog is primarily about the English team. And a good blog too.
The aside about Rooney (dive or no dive) caught these 3 individuals and they went on and on.
I have to single out U-----,
You sound to me like a bully as you were quite abusive to weeksy-----, who should have bowed out earlier than he did.
Anyway there have been divers for as long as the game has been, and they are in every team.
Its unfortunate that Eduardo got punished for his dive nd we can debate why he dive.Is he at fault for diving or was the keeper to blame for coming out? Of course he is responsible for his actions.
Just like Rooney is responsible for his actions and Almunia for his too. Rooney played smart and got his penalty. Eduardo though got his penalty but also got a ban for not diving smartly.
Diving can't be kicked out of football. It may be minimized but there will always be smart divers and non-smart ones.
Maybe the smart ones get good coaching on diving and the non-smart ones don't.
Arguing who dived or didn't won't get us anywhere.
We just see stuff differently.
My advise to players is to dive smartly and get better coaching at it.
And oh, they should also be ready to face the consequences if they don't get away with it.
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"the roach" is missing the point of this blog entirely...
"robbo" is trying to envoke the spirit of the "man-in-the-street" or "bloke-in-the-pub", not a discussion on BBC parliament;
this it actually does very well; we ALL know of people in our local who have blinkered repetitive views, but would we really turn round to a six foot builder and say "stop churning out the same old drivel every time you come in here"?
perhaps when he's old enough to go to pubs, he may understand...
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WOW so no one else remembers Rooneys dive in the box against Arsenal?
No I'm not talking about the current "incident" but the one on Sol Campbell which won them yet another penalty.
Yes his honesty goes waaayyy back.So far back i think he's lost sight of it.
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WeeksyonFootball, what are you on, mate? Ronaldo invented diving? You are a joke ! I don't know who 'invented' diving but Henry and Bergkamp made a fine art of it before Ronald (or Rooney) were playing EPL. It's pretty clear to most (apart from the anti United/Rooney clowns)that Rooney didn't dive last weekend or agaainst the Arsenal
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...apart from the fact, proven with video evidence, that Rooney was already on his way to ground before Almunia touched him? Its the defence of English players that is so wrong. Rooney has now dived 3 times in as many weeks, the most laughable was at the weekend. There is nothing wrong with "gamesmanship" but if one is punished retrospectively, they all should.
What I found particularly interesting was the look of Jamie Redknapps face when he was aksed live on Sky Sports after the game if Rooney had dived, his expression and flustered speech was evidence enough....all friends together eh?
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"Presumably there'll be a Ljubijankic Museum of Football in Ljubliana within a month and all Slovenes will be queuing up patiently to kiss the lad's fabled forehead for the rest of eternity."
Pathetic.
Clearly considering Slovenia as a small team. And that's right, Slovenian national team is on the lowest level in the last 10 years. Still, able to put a decent performance and result. I mean, let's face it, the penalty was a gift by the referee, and without things like not seeing Green's trip into the wilderness, the result could have easily been different. Nevertheless, with a poor 2-1 win against a third-world side, as some of you view it, caused by a donated goal and the other one from a lucky deflection, is not quite the reason for smiling.
Sorry to say this, but after the performance on Wembley, Croatia is a clear favourite, IMHO.
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JDR
Admittedly, there are some weeks when it's difficult to lift me head up from the door and cross the lounge bar and into the snug where I can tap out the best I can manage on the wife's 'borrowed' laptop from work. Plus the subject matter can get a bit tedious - frankly the diving issue could do with being submerged for a while but at least there'sa line in the sand following Eduardo's ban.
But if you can, for a mo, in your mind, picture a hulking Teessider hunched over said computer getting more and more hacked off with the inanities and idiocies of sport and sports punditry then you'll know where I'm coming from. Which is not to say, mate, that I'm immune from talking firkin borelox - I just think me F B is more worth listening to.
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279
You miss the point. You quote summat that was intended to be pure irony. That the irony escaped you is ermmm, ironic...
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JDR - shocker, yet more standard, very similar and may I say now also very repetitive and boring comments about why you don't like this blog.
I guess my suggestion of actually commenting on the subject, ie football and in this case England, was too much for you.
You either don't know anything about the sport and just have a personal vendetta against this blog (or secretly jealous) or there are some deep personal issues.
As pointed out by many readers and Robbo himself, there are plenty of blogs and programmes produced by the BBC that I do not like and find boring/repetitive etc etc, but I strangely just don't watch or read them. Silly of me I know.
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I haven't commented on this blog for a long time, though I always read it and usually enjoy it. I'm probably a bit late, but I just wanted to join the club - JoeDavisRoach needs to get a job, get some sex and stop drinking, in no particular order.
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It's a shame Green Doesn't do a bit more diving and while we're on goalies Ben Foster is not the one. I'd go with your Jennings comment and say while James can still do it, let him. Incidentally Robbo I met Pat Jennings a couple of times at Pro-Ams and the like and remember him as not being the tallest guy in the world. Maybe like good old Uncle Alex (Stepney), that Pat scored against from the other end, he's shrunk a little as the years have advanced. Jennings was shy, retiring but a bloody good guy between the sticks and I wish England had a few like him.
Now about Rooney diving. I don't think so and if I'm honest I don't want him or anyone else to refute that. Because, if I'm still being honest, I really want a team and characters in that team, that me and Pat Jennings could look up to - for a change.
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Hey Robbo! I sense that JDR is getting to you a bit. Stop worrying about him. People like him probably aren't satisfied by anything. You could offer him a hot, lingerie filled six way with Girls Aloud and he'd be all " Nadine and Kimberley, that lesbianism is repetitive and laboured and Cheryl, those boobs aren't up to the standard that I like."
Rather than enjoy it, he'd find something to complain about
From here on in I shall try to ignore him, as should you and everyone else. Hopefully he'll get bored and go away.
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284: JDR was poised at his keyboard, ready to out you as Harpo Marx...
285: ... and then the moment was gone.
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So they read a blog, that is not to their liking and out of all the stuff BBC has to offer, want only this blog and its writer to change so they can enjoy it. Mott being, they wish all were so miserable as them selves.
Now where do we see this attitude?
Communists. Fundamentalists. Vegetarians.
One last thing, when the moderators do remove my posting, could they please care to elaborate how it breaks the house rules ?
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.. what about Crouch? I think he should be up front with Rooney or Defoe. And we could do with some robotic dances when he scores!
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Now, now Spitfire, this Vegitarian thoroughly enjoys reading Robbo's ramblings as and when they appear ;)
As for moderating your posts, my theory is they roll a die. If it comes up as six, you're outta here.
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I think alot of people on here are missing JDR's point. He is not asking Niall to get rid of this 'Robbo' character for good, but rather use his comedic talents to provide for a more varied blog.
Personally I agree with this approach. Niall, how about 'Robbo' every 1.5 weeks and in between that, a different posting where you excerise something other than the tired Northerner?
Let me be clear, no one is asking for 'Robbo' to be axed, so when people retort, "go away...you don't have to read it", YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT. Niall's blogs can be good, and thats why I click in to them. Unfortunately, due to the tri-weekly postings they can get a bit stale. The diving fiasco is case and point.
All I am asking for is a more varied approach. Niall posts at least twice, usually three times a week. Does every single one of these have to be in the persona of 'Robbo'?
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Starfire_995: My bad. When I say Vegetarians, I mean militant vegetarians.
Ones who would not let other people the pleasure of flesh.
@291:
How about you click on 'Robbo Robson' every 1.5 weeks and let the rest of live with this indignation that we force upon us 2/3 times a week?
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That misses the point.
Due to the repetitive nature of the blogs, I do not know which shall be new and which shall not. I was not to know that this posting, as an example, would end up featuring a topic repeated heavily in the previous two posts.
Again, I am not calling for the blog to be axed. But rather a compromise. Robbo still goes out to his adoring fans, just less often. And we also get another side of Niall's wit to entertain us.
Surely this is not asking too much?
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What about Robbie de Toqueville, expressing his thoughts on gymkhana, polo and lacrosse from a Kensington wine bar, discussing topics such as whether or not Pippa Farrington-Phipps deliberately took a tumble at the water jump to win the sympathy vote and encourage the judges to award penalty points against Polly Montesque-Forbes?
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What about Jimmy "Robya" Robson, you could cover Dog fighting, Cock Fighting and Barefist fighting... oh and a summer special on badger bating. I think alot of people where i am from would appreciate it. You could write from a caravan site or something?
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JDR
Is your ire against Robbo because you went to the same job interview at the Beeb for the creation of a fictional bloke-down-the-pub blogger, and because "Niall" got it and you didn't?
It's a blog, an opinion of a person (real or fictional). A blog is their own personality and thoughts. If Robbo's opinion altered wildly from one week to the next, I think this blog would be poorer for it.
I, for one, like reading it as it does make me chuckle sometimes. Keep it up Robbo!
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Apart from Maicon and Alves, who else is currently better than Johnson at right back worldwide?
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I truly believe that JDR should change his name to DeJa Vous. What the hell else is Robbo, I will call him that as that is the title of the blog, supposed to write about. The main talking point of the last couple of weeks has been the topics Robbo has covered. Is he supposed to delve back into cricket and get shouted down by the white coat brigade. This blog will never win an award and I am sure robbo knows that, but it is a light hearted approach to the main talking points about sport at the moment.Robbo has to appeal to the masses, I expect the only mass you are concerned about is to 'Massdebate' on this blog Stop going on and making suggestions as we have all offered you plenty and you don't listen.
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andreisgiant: are you actually joe davis (roach) aka JDR?
your postings seems very similar, you're the only one who sticks up for him or has a clue what he's on about, and no-one's ever seen the two of you in the same room at the same time
how about a "robbo holiday special" from cleethorpes or blackpool?
or somewhere exotic like tossa de mar?
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How about Joey "Roacho" Roachson??? You could berate any particular sports person for being unoriginal and not keeping it fresh enough...
"Oh another win for Federer, how predictable, every tournament win win win! I'm not saying he should stop playing, but change it up a bit, go out in the last 16 or summat? Me and the lads down the White Swallow think hes taking all the spice out the game... Oh and dont get me started on that Bolt fella, why would you want to contnually break your own record!?!?"
I think we could have a hit!
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IN REPLY TO 274
While the blog is about the England team the comments area is for waht we wish to talk about, socialise, call each other names etc
Weeksy and U (lots of numbers) argue because they wish to. Weeksy has been wearing Wengres glasses for too long and is unable to see a fault with Arsenal.
We can talk about what we want and what I want to say to you (to quote the great B.A. Baracus) is
SHUT UP FOOL - QUIT YO JIBBER JABBER
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297. At 11:53am on 08 Sep 2009, DazzlinDapsy wrote:
Apart from Maicon and Alves, who else is currently better than Johnson at right back worldwide?
I still reckon Gary Neville is better than Johnson, that Assou-Ekotto at Spurs, Boswinga at Chelsea (quite a few actually)
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Great idea 300:
( comment not the film)
I think Joey "Roacho" Roachson should definitely have a blog of his own.
I'll take one for the humanity and set it up for him, without it costing him a naught.
I and some others also solemnly pledge to read (and berate, mostly berate) his every single blog. Who is with me?
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Communists. Fundamentalists. Vegetarians.
Nutcases one and all
One wants no money
One wants to life
One wants no bacon sandwiches (quite similar to number 2 actually in that case)
Off to the funny farm (i.e the big field next to the Blue Bell)
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I am not JDR and do not have a second account.
Just merely want a change from the tired, worn out 'Robbo'. Do you realise we could still maintain the same content, so the replies from users on here would be similar. It too could be funny, as Niall would still be the author. All that would change is that the same old cliches of the stereotypical Northerner would be not appear on each of Niall Ashdown's blogs
Come on Niall, meet us halfway. Even try it and see how you get on.
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305, he already does... or did you really think Mihir Bose was a real person!? (i heard a rumour he's Chick Young as well!)
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302. adam
Gary Neville is finished at top flight football.
Good servant to club and country.
Busy little idiot with a face you'd never tire of punching.
Fine career. Well done but he can't get a game for his club let alone his country.
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JDR has made me get become a member as I am fed up with him referring to the Blue Bell as a fantasy land.
I remember when we used to go there to fanatsise......
but anyway here is a little link for him.
http://www.thebluebelllodge.co.uk/
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to adamspsb .....
You are not supposed to talk about "anything we like" as the house rules clearly state ....
"And do try to keep your comments relevant and below 200 words. We may fail posts that are too long and also reject off-topic comments because we want to keep this blog focused. Readers looking for broader discussions on sport should visit our 606 pages."
So by that definition if you want to talk complete twaddle about "anything we like" then please toddle off to 606.
This is a FOOTBALL blog, come back and actually comment on the topic brought forward.
As an aside .... not sure why the moderators aren't following their own rules!!!!!
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Fine career. Well done but he can't get a game for his club let alone his country.
Only because he's injured. Wes Brown is a centre-back and Johnson is too dodgy defensively. The only other option is Phil Neville who is now more of a midfielder. If he could get injury free I think you'll find he has something to offer. After all how many times have people said that Giggs, Scholes and Becks are finished at the top-level yet they continue to perform well
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Robbo, if you're concerned about Green in goal and Johnson at right back... why not put Johnson in goal! He's a proven keeper - 5 mins for Chelsea v Newcastle (one flying save and no goals conceded) - and may have plenty of opportunity to observe what it is like for a keeper when there is a huge hole where the RB should be, thus giving him a valuable lesson.
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Getting back to the diving thread - there are some pearlers on here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1211229/Diving-A-selection-Sportsmails-time-shameful-dives-football.html
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This is a FOOTBALL blog, come back and actually comment on the topic brought forward.
All our comments relate to football it's just we digress into wider areas of football not just one topic and we discuss each other's knowledge and enthusiasm for football, this blog etc.
If you want focussed discussion then jog on to McNulty's blog where the moderators work overtime to prevent freedom of expression.
As to why they don't strictly follow the House Rules on this one is because it is a comedy blog and therefore gets a lot of latitude in terms of what you can talk about, hence our discussion on Weeksy's broken collarbone (which was sustained playing football therefore football related).
And doesn't your post on the House Rules break the House Rules as it isn't about football but admin procedures
As an aside .... not sure why the moderators aren't following their own rules!!!!!
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310. At 1:11pm on 08 Sep 2009, adampsb wrote:
Only because he's injured. Wes Brown is a centre-back and Johnson is too dodgy defensively. The only other option is Phil Neville who is now more of a midfielder. If he could get injury free I think you'll find he has something to offer. After all how many times have people said that Giggs, Scholes and Becks are finished at the top-level yet they continue to perform well
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yes, he is injured and has been for ages which is why suggestions that he's better than Johnson are plainly wide of the mark. His most recent comebacks have seen him struggle hugely.
Phil Neville was always rubbish. Giggs & Scholes have long since retired from International football and Beckham can't hack 90 minutes of top class action these days either.
Take off the Man U specs.
btw - i thought Assou-Ekotto was a left back?
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also, does anyone else think its hilarious that messi AND ronaldo might not make it to SA?
I don't find it the least bit hilarious. It's a reflection of their team mates and coaches as much of them personally. I think Maradona and Quieros are out of their depth.
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Robbo
A good blog spoilt by a couple of hangbag's at dawn respondee's. (Weeksy JDR U7... If the content of these respondees is just blocking up what is normally a good read can they be blocked to only 4-5 responses. That should allow most eejits time to say what they want and walk away.
Also any response over a page long doesn't get read as it gets boring and high and mighty (usually)so keep it brief eh?
Oh and most footballers are theives so will obviously cheat given half a chance. Its all down to society and the government of the day who ever that might be!
Robbo just be Robbo
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#316
Ah, censorship you mean?
Yes, I'm sure the BBC would go for that.
Good point.
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314 - Tommyonion
You may be right about Assou-Ekotto but I think you'll find that you are wrong about Beckham (Just ask Ancelotti and Milan), Scholes only retired because Sven kept trying to turn him into a left-sided midfielder. If he came back he could easily do well and Giggs retired for fitmess not skill reasons.
This isn't a case of ManU specs it's just that I genuinely do not rate Johnson. I think Liverpool paid well over the odds for him as he neglects the defensive side of his game which will cost us in the long run.
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#316
Are you in George Orwell's thouyght police? or the book police in Farenheit 451
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Sorry to say this, but after the performance on Wembley, Croatia is a clear favourite, IMHO
There is no comparison between and experimental team for a friendly and a world cup qualifier. England will win, they beat them away and will beat them at home. 100% record will remain intact.
Now if you want to talk about 3rd world results, how about Brazil 0-0 Bolivia
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maybe you should ask Capello about Beckham?
How many times has he managed 90 minutes for England in the last 2 years? His set-peices are still as good as anyone in the game but there's no way he has anything like the mobility of a 4-5+ years ago.
Scholes legs have gone, he's a pale shadow of the player he once was for United (hence Ferguson phasing out his appearances) and Giggs isn't far behind him.
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Shame Bolivia didn't win - would be class if Ecuador, Columbia, Chile & Paraguay keep Argentina out as Tevez and Messi would have to watch it on the telly along with CR7
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I'm not disputing the pace issue. Beckham is alternated with Lennon/SWP on the pitch to take advantage of tactical situations and as he has never relied on pace it doesn't matter if he's a bit slower than he was. His crossing & passing ability coupled with better vision than the other right midfielders means he is a long way short of being passed it.
Yes Scholes is slower but again he has never relied on pace more superior vision and passing ability and Giggs can still run faster than a lot of other players.
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No, Beckham is not alternated - he's now a substitute so he can come on for the 10-20mins of the game where his lack of mobility wont be such an issue.
Scholes is on his way out of the game - plain as day.
and as for footage of this footrace of Giggs v a lot of other players, i'd love to see it.
What i see from watching him play is that the pace he once had has gone, hence they've moved him in field.
None of which alters the fact that Johnson is clearly England's best right back at this moment in time - that's not to say he's the finished article, because he clearly isn't.
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Is there anyone other than Beckham in woirld football who can make a decent cross? Most can't even take a decent corner.
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#319
Nope just readin this on works time
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326 Mrs Doyle
Is Ted saying mass?
325 Cactus
I agree. I played on the wing at the crap level of football, dropping to full back at sub-crap level when mega-age crept in, and I can't BELIEVE some of the corner kick taking I'm seeing from many highly paid professional players. The number of times the ball doesn't even LOOK like getting past the first man...
Truly awful.
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SWP is a constanst enigma to me, he can beat players but seems to get felled every time without achieving anything, yes he gets a freekick but by his position on the pitch it means Beckham is not and usually the freekick is a waste.
Id start Lennon and in words of one syllable make it clear to him that he has to run at defenses and not do step overs and then pass the ball, he did an amazing run on Saturday and he dazzled, more of the same.
If Milner has a good season I can see him taking over the left flank duties, hes not the best player but he seems to have stepped up to international level very easily, a big bonus for Fabio.
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Not a great blog really - bit boring so wont be reading it again
Rooney not that good - Crouch should play he always scores
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329 - Crouch always scores against rubbish teams and we need strikers who can score against teams in the top 10 FIFA rankings.
Give Crouch and his robot dance the heave-ho and bring back Michael Owen who (at international level at least) knows where the back of the net is
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330
Adam, your enthusiasm for all things UTD is commendable but let's take a step back and rethink the Owen situation. If he can't be a regular for United and if he can't bang in a few when he gets his chance, there is zero chance of him being in the England set up. That's the way it is and the way it should be!
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I think the ref got it wrong when he gave the penalty against Slovenia. I don't know if Rooneys intention was to go down for a pen or hack the legs out from under the defender, either way it wasn't a pen.
Of course, Rooney never dives, he said so. I stood outside the ground all teary-eyed "Say it ain't so Wayne!"
England will make it to South Africa but they won't be staying to enjoy the after party. Making the quarter finals will be a good result I reckon. Course, always happy to be proved totally wrong, be nice to see a home nations team win a major trophy.
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Trotter you could be correct but I think by the time South Africa comes around he will have established himself at Utd and hopefully for England at least in the squad.
However neither Heskey or Crouch are regulars for their clubs - in fact they are very much like Owen in terms of mainly being on the bench. I don't think it will be long before Michael starts scoring loads though
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the England team according to Adam
Foster
Neville G
Ferdinand
Brown
Neville P
Beckham
Scholes
Carrick
Hargreaves
Owen
Rooney
;o)
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OK, Anyone who scores a hat-trick against the Krauts is alright in my book but I reckon he's completely lost his pace and with it a lot of confidence, still, we can live in hope!
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that was 8 years ago, Trotter !!!
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Not Carrick doe we not have an English Winger like Michael Barnes or someone in the youth set up instead.
More like
Alex Stepney
G Neville
Pallister
Ferdinand
Paul Parker
David Beckham
Bryan Robson
Paul Scholes
Steve Coppell
Wayne Rooney
Bobby Charlton
Now that's a smooth team - stick Owen, Andy Cole and Nobby on the bench with Bill Foulkes and Neil Webb and we're cool
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To Be fair Tommy that team you posted at 334 wouldn't be too bad actually (especially if each player was in their prime)
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#338 - Agree, if all those players were in their prime that would actually be a great side.
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but they're not, are they?
it'd be like a team of statues
i'd even give the Scots a chance against them
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Can yo imagine the team at 337 in its prime now that would be something - not sure where Duncan Edwards would fit in though
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i'd even give the Scots a chance against them
Don't be daft. If Scholes was good enough to help turn Arsenal over he'd make short work of the tartan skirt wearers
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Tommy
334
Chuckle chuckle chuckle.
336
Was it really 8 years, it seems like yesterday!
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By the way, if Nobby was on the bench he'd kick enough of his own team to make sure he started the next match.
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337
I'd have Pearce there somewhere, if you're going back I mean.
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Pearce?
did you mean Stuart Pearson?
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Gawd 'elp us. JDR will shortly be posting, pining for Arthur Askey.
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I'll get me coat then...
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I'd have Pearce there somewhere, if you're going back I mean.
Only Utd players allowed in that team I'm afraid
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Zoot...as what, a holding mid-fielder?
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Trotter...as a replacement for Robbo no doubt
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str etc.
Nahhh, Robbo's irreplacable, in his heart I suspect JDR knows it too.
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Trotter
I'd certainly find these days drag without a little chuckle at these blogs. I think JDR does too, just wont admit it.
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yep, he may well have a Robbo poster above his bed and the newly launched Robbo Bobble Head figurine on his drawers.
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surely he'll have 2 ?
one Robbo one, one Niall one
otherwise he'd get bored with the format
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Trotter and that Polish bloke on 351:
I suspect that JDR probably would prefer to use Arthur Askey as a replacement for Robbo. I don't know that Joe would possess the technical acumen to redesign the England midfield.
If he was used in the England midfield, I'd see Arthur as a busy bee, a busy, busy bee, rather than occupying a holding role.
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Zoot, it's Czech but pretty close.
I think Joe could draw up plans for a midfield. It would be crowded and attempt to put down any attempt at oppositions creativity but ultimately be unsuccessful.
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Zoot, you mean like an annoying, niggling, ankle-nibbling irritant in the same kit that Celtic wore when that lad Eduardo maybe took a dive?
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adamspb - is your last name Glazer, or do you just work for them Yanks?
every comment you make is either blatant propaganda (like denying some of Rooney's famous, indefensible dives, for instance) or subliminally pro-United.
it's tiresome... isn't your team popular enough throughout the globe already? haven't you sold enough jerseys and herded enough bandwagoners?
try going one entire blog without mentioning a ManU player - surely you deserve a week off!
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#337
Only 1 definate world class player in that line up (Sir bob) but 2 maybe world class on their day but not consistant enough over a period of time and thats Beckham and Robson.
Thing is even if you expanded away from just MUFC to all teams after the 1966 team how many world class players would you have in the team!!!!!
Moore, Charlton, Banks, Francis, Waddle (whoopps sorry Wednesdayite bias coming out). Not easy to get a true world class team me thinks? Bet there are only 3 countries who could easily pull together their own true world class teams.
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Back to the diving debate.... for all the comments regarding 'Johnny Foreigner' ruining our game by introducing diving. I've only one name to add ..... Francis Lee.
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355
You've done it now, Tommy.
Cue Joe: "Actually, I won't need two, because "Robbo"/Niall is only one person. And I AM bored with the format. If it WERE two persons, we might get greater variety, and some real comedic writing, instead of the usual Northern stereotype... "
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Franny Lee a diver? What happened? Did he trip over a toilet roll? Used to love watching him at Bolton. He was past his best but still great to watch. Perhaps he just never dove at Burnden Park. By that stage of his career it would have taken him too long to get up.
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That Czech bloke
Sorry. I'll have to polish up on my cyrillic.
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Zoot, not sure if the polish pun was intended but it made me laugh anyway.
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357
strcp etc.
Is that another sterotypical Czech post, is that what this has been reduced to, same old endless drivel but now with a Czech twist? Good lad, keep it up!
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Then it achieved its purpose, czech mate.
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Almost 370 posts so far. Blimey - you five or six Robbo fans have been busy.
Dinner time. I'm out of here before I'm accused of apexing a triumverate of onanistic catamites.
Carry on.
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"256. At 10:36pm on 07 Sep 2009, RedAstaire² wrote:
@254
The blog isn't hurting anyone specifically, but, can we not expect more from the BBC?
Light hearted fun is all well and good, but this simply isn't very funny. It's a waste of time and money.
It is possible to have a light hearted blog which is both intelligent and witty. If I want to hear pub style banter I'll go to a pub. And please god, don't tell people not to read it if they don't like it, that is the weakest argument possible.
Just because some people like this blog, that doesn't justify its existence, many people like Big Brother but that doesn't make it worthwhile."
Um...wrong. That is precisely what makes something worthwhile. Thats why BB somehow managed to keep going for 10 years.
I don't like soap operas, R&B or ballet, but you won't catch me saying they should be done away with. Why? Because lots of other people DO like them.
So...the Anti Robbo League is growing, now boasting an impressive 3 members (JDR, Red and Andre). Wonder if they can get into double figures by the end of the year?
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well said dyrewolfe.
top blog.
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Dyrewolfe,
There's more than three. There's also JesusFChrist, Chuckle Brother and U058649 (or something like that), but those three are all the same bloke so there's at least 4. We'll have to wait for the census.
In other news it has been uncovered that Andre is really JDR's pet gerbil so one of them could actually be speaking through the others' rear orifice.
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# 367
Zoot, that was terrible lol.
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@368 - Are you Stephen Fry in disguise?
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#360 - It only has Utd players in it because Tommyonions posted a Utd only England team from current England players and I thought it would be nice to see how one from a few decades would look if only UTD players picked.
#359 - propaganda, need any shirts, I'm Malcolm Glazer in disguise (not really) _ ut forever, cliche, cliche, gme of 2 halves, sick as a parrot (polly want a cracker)
Happy?
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So, as the ball's being crossed, Rooney goes into the box, slyly (he thinks) holding into the bottom of the Slovenian defender's jersey, and proceeds to slowly slide down underneath the defender until he's completely on the ground. How is that a penalty? If nothing else, Rooney could have/should have been warned for holding onto the Slovenian's jersey. The Slovenian player was watching the lofted ball the entire time and did well to maintain his positioning on Rooney.
I'm a fan of the English national team, as well as of Wayne Rooney. But this was ridiculous. Rooney's much too strong of an athlete to just slide down 'and go boom'. He should have been jumping up to meet the ball in mid-air for a powerful header rather than conceding the better positioning to the Slovenian defender whilst holding onto the defender's jersey. He knew he was in the lesser position and immediately, on the fly, begged for the sympathy of the ref.
Bad call by the ref & a bad dive (or slow slide underneath, more like) by Rooney. Please, players, can't you just stay on your feet, a la George Best? Don't go for the play-acting. Act like you're playing!
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I need everyones help!
Can anyone tell me who the hell Andrew Weightman is?
Because, according to Wikipedia and their page on Newcastle United FC - he is now the Manager! See the club profile section on the right!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_United_F.C.
A mackem editor?
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FMA, crikey, do we have to go through all this again? See Robbo's previous blog! Besides that and rather more important, let's not start calling a shirt a jersey!
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Trotter, my apologies for bringing diving up again, but I can't post at work, merely observe, and wanted to aid the masses in their quest for closure. I hope I've stirred up a hornet's nest. Little blighters look like two wasps fornicating. Hmmmm...
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Tommy, don't say that, I thought you'd put the lid on it with 378. Was just about to offer you an "Amen" and suggest that your tuppance halfpenny was worth at least three and six! Anyway, the issue will live on long after all of us.
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hmmmm, Tommy, it must have been the 'T' word in your poetic reference to clarity that did it!
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Moving on from diving, how about what's going on Re poaching kids from clubs?
We've all seen Chelsea clobbered already, but today we've had cases being made against Man City and Liverpool while Le Harve are mulling over taking on Man U.
Should be interesting come January the only top 4 club able to do transfers is Arsenal.
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Starfire, didn't Arsenal get Walcott when he was still in his pram!
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TrotterUSA wrote:
Starfire, didn't Arsenal get Walcott when he was still in his pram!
--------------------------
lol, Probably, I forget now. We'll soon find out if and when Southampton start crying foul.
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Trotter, I'm pretty sure Walcott had numerous earlier opportunities to go to a big club when he was at Southampton, but had his Dad offering advice, so it was a little different. Unsure of how Southampton did out of the deal, but things don't seem to be top notch for them right now.
I love the all-star Premier League to a certain extent, but feel a little nostalgic for those old-style football autobiographies, of where kids played for their hometown team until at least 23, some of them for their whole careers. They were paid a quid fifty and an ounce of tobacco per week, and made to polish the old pros' boots. They will be few and far between nowadays with the super-scouting of the leviathans of the game. I'm not questioning the legality of it, because it seems in business almost anything goes if the correct poles (or cheques) are greased. It's more the whole destructive morality that pervades modern football, of which the poaching of schoolchildren is merely a symptom, and why the English national game - more so than most, it seems - lacks depth, and which cannot be good for the development of youth and in turn the national team.
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That's about it Tommy. Sport in general is a Global Entertainment Business now. From Backwood to Hollywood. Anyway, all in the name of progress eh!
However, if you read Whitley Bay's posts over the last couple of blogs you'll see that there's still fun to be had in the lower echelons.
By the way, when you say "a quid fifty", you really mean thirty bob, right?
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I love Whitley Bay's posts. I see they beat West Auckland tonight, 3-1. He'll be on gloating tomorrow. Top of the Northern League!
I did indeed mean 30 bob. Modern Prem players would be paid in guineas.
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They won? Great stuff, he guaranteed a win!
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Wonder what Robbo's going to be writing about tomorrow.
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Wonder what Joe's going to be writing about tomorrow.
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Only joking.
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Zoot,
Two of the following statements are true...
A. Robbo will be able to tell us how everything he said was proved accurate.
B. JDR will agree with everything Robbo writes.
C. In honour of 'Beatles Day' Kevin Davies will be singing: "It's looking better all the time."
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Woohooo!
We won again last night, 3-1, making it 6 wins from 6 and the only team in Northern League 1 to have 100% record. Three points behind Spennymoor at the top and with 2 games in hand.
Sorry, had to shout about it.
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Tommy, just seen your post!
Yup, but gloating in the lower leagues tends to be short lived and we'll probably slump to defeat at Guisely in the FA Cup next.
Two away games in a row to come in the league, both of which we should win but our away form was an achilles heel last year - so fingers crossed.
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Trotter:
I can accept the possibility that Kev's a closet Whitley fan, but A and B are absolutely out of the question.
My prediction is that Robbo will be Boering, whilst Joe will be boring. I feel that I'm on safe ground.
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Speaking of the FA Vase, Teddy Sheringham's coming out of retirement to play for Beckenham town in the competition.
Good for him :)
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whats wrong with trolls?
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They ask complicated riddles and then try and eat Dora and Boots if they get them wrong
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Great BLog !! Where's Beckham though ?
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Holy smog, a quadruple century for Robbo!
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Thank heavens for Joe. If it hadn't been for his contribution, we'd never have reached the magic 400.
Mind you, it's as well that Gaz isn't around. Had he been posting, Robbo's blog would have crashed the world-wide web.
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TrotterUSA wrote:
Holy smog, a quadruple century for Robbo!
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Just a shame the England Cricket Team wouldn't know how to mount such a number if it came up and bit them in the @ss
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JDR and co remind me of those people that used to write in to Points of View complaining about some period drama at the weekend saying.. "I was shocked by the nudity shown. There were 5 images of breasts, 3 of full frontal and 2 of actual fornication!"
and you're left thinking "Hang on. If it offended you that much, why didn't you turn it off? and how do you know that in so much detail anyway? Did you record it and watch it again??" We all know your game!
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Zoot,
Gaz'll be back soon and no doubt refreshed and ready to renew the crusade. If he'd been here and chipping in with singles and the odd one over the boundary, Robbo would have declared at 450 by tea time yesterday!
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Adam @ 308... Maybe just coz i have a three year old daughter, but that is brilliant mate!
Looking forward to a new blog today, and for some refreshing comments from our good freind Roachy Joe... I wonder if this time out he would have noticed how Robbo often comes across as a working class northener who is somewhat of a cliche? If he does i hope i am around to witness the egg firmly placed in alignment with Robbos face...
JoeDavisRoach... "the deuchebag anarchist".
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TrotterUSA wrote:
Holy smog, a quadruple century for Robbo!
---------------------------------------------
Just a shame the England Cricket Team wouldn't know how to mount such a number if it came up and bit them in the @ss
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the Way england team(cricket) are playing, they need least 3 innings to reach that score, unless Bopara and Shah,with there mystique running between the wickets gets whole team run out ;D
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