Shaun of the Dread
Poor wee Georgie Burley. He never really convinced, and there was always summat a bit whining about his pre and post-match conferences that suggested being a member of his squad might mean you ended the week chewing legs of tables as Burley whirred on at you.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that even with Derren Brown and David Blaine up front, this Scotland team couldn't conjure a win from anywhere right now. And the reason is simple. They're more than a bit hopeless.
If James McFadden is your major creative force then you're in deep doo-dah. Johnstone, Dalglish, Souness, Gemmill - they all seem a lifetime ago. If you're Scottish, thank the Lord the Home Internationals aren't still on.
Not that they couldn't have given a decent game to the England XI Capello put out on Saturday in Qatar. It was billed as a chance for someone to push their way into contention for South Africa but it came across at times as an almighty rush to the white leather sofas by the men in white.
Foster did OK - which is to say that he did nowt stupid - but at third choice in the pecking order of apparently squabbling United keepers, he's always going to be a worry.
Shaun Wright-Phillips tangles with Fernandes Michel Bastos
In the absence of Luke Young there were no recognisable right-backs in the squad and Wes Brown did his best to confirm that impression. I mean if we're going to have a right-back who can't defend then at least let's have one who's good going forward.
Brown was so easily bypassed by the speedy Nilmar that you wondered if Wes had something on his mind. Had he left the gas on? Did he bring a bag? And why's that bloke running around like he's just scored from an utterly free position inside our box?
Upson and Lescott made solid (ish) dependable Terry clones of themselves, and Bridge was reliable enough too. We weren't much good in the middle of the park but we really came unstuck whenever the ball arrived at young Wright-Phillips.
His first touch is as deft as a spotty schoolboy on his first date. I want to like the lad 'cos he's always committed. My mate Tony Thompson talks about players who are 'in the zone' and reckons SWP is one of them. He's just not sure it's the right zone. Every time he plays, Lennon and Walcott get better.
Jenas is another frustration. He seems equipped with all the skills - good passer, can burst past defenders, decent shot on him - and yet everything he does betrays a lack of conviction. At one point I thought I was watching the only central midfielder I've ever seen that was playing with his back to goal.
There was one bloomin' awful free-kick he tonked from a central position 35 yards out towards the corner flag and the poor pasty Milner, visibly wilting in the heat, chugged off to try and spare the Spurs man's blushes. Capello was furious.
In fact Capello and Dunga were both pretty irate. It was hard to look at them and not think that they were both auditioning for a part in Tony Soprano's backroom staff. I've never seen two such obvious wise-guys.
Gareth Barry was average (is it me or does he move at half the speed of everyone else?) - and skipper for the night Rooney had one of them evenings where he spent most of his time gesturing hopelessly as another punt sailed over his head.
Darren Bent, on the other hand, hardly gestured at all. In fact he was all for that 'nice idea' thumbs-up strikers give to a midfielder who's just sent a ball hurtling into the stands. I mean what's the point of a having a nice idea if you can't deliver it? I'd love world peace but I don't get out much. Never mind Robbo, thumbs up any road!
It would be easy to say that's Bent's last hurrah for 2010, but frankly, the bloke never got a sniff of anything. I've read pundits saying the service to him could've been better. What service? If he'd have been in a restaurant he'd have starved to death. When he plonked himself on the bench he had the air of a labrador who'd gone out for a long walkies but never found a stick.
Darren Bent was a spectator for much of the game
Milner will make it to South Africa. He looks the part. He works his backside off. And he doesn't panic when he gets a bit of space, whereas SWP is positively agoraphobic.
Capello's Plan A is looking good though: James/Green; Johnson, Terry, Rio, A. Cole; Lennon, Lampard, Barry, Gerrard; Heskey, Rooney. That's pretty much it. You'll have Joe Cole, Beckham, Milner, Defoe, Crouch, Walcott, Bridge, and hopefully Hargreaves and Jagielka to return... it's still not looking too bad.
Plus Brazil were very good. A bit too good. And meaner than padlocks on your pockets. Maicon, who sounds like someone Flash Gordon might take on, was quick to clog Milner when necessary. And Rooney was taken out with merciless efficiency by one of the big hulking centre-backs as he burst through on goal.
I mean, come on, where was the full-back's barefoot keepy-uppies? Where was the hip-swinging sashays by the centre-half? Lucio comes out from the back looking like the Governor of California.
That's not Brazil. I tell you, the rest of the qualifiers for 2010 are in trouble.
In the meantime there was one aspect of the match I didn't enjoy. A couple of numpties in our boozer spent the whole game squawking at every player on the pitch - and suggesting that Capello hasn't got a clue.
Them pillocks we could do without. I mean if Fabio hasn't got a clue just exactly what does George Burley not have?
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~05~RS~)
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It was just a pile of nothing that England match. I saw Dunga play at Goodison once. His team plays just like him but without the jazz. Lucio was quality, I thought. NZ for the WC!
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Robbo, no laugh out loud moments this week, but a pretty good sumary of the weekends evnets.
and if some numpty hasnt got there as i type this, then i would like to say to all the fools out there that i ahve the first comment, but i dont care, and writing ''FIRST'' doesnt make me cool......
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*That's World Cup, not toilet by the way
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England were poor but Darren Bent was the worst player on that pitch by a mile - he was way out of his depth!! The lad is quick and he can score but he is extremely predictable!
As the saying goes 'if you keep doing what you have always done, you'll keep getting what you always got'.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8361673.stm
Gneville - Dennis the Menace's pet tosspot.
DING DING!
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Good old Gary !
Man Utd's answer to the question no-one asked.
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Cant be sense of humour coz why else would you become 'the Manager for Scotland's National Football Team'
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What I dont udnerstand is why Capello didnt call up Micah Richards. The lad isnt the worse right back and his pace always seems to get him out of trouble. He would have been better than Brown!
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His first touch is as deft as a spotty schoolboy on his first date
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Hopefully that will be the last time we see SWP in an England shirt and Milner looked unfit and poor by comparison to the usual players.
What service? If he'd have been in a restaurant he'd have starved to death
True enough - he must watch Man Utd on MOTD and wish he even got half the chances that Berbatov seems to waste. Still not sure about Crouch as no matter how many goals he scores against weak teams he just never convinces me that he is an international class player.
Need to settle for Heskey, Cole, Rooney, Defoe, Owen (if fit & scoring - if not then Bent) as strikers and take Lennon, Beckham, Walcott & Joe Cole as the wingers and then we should be ok.
At least the FA have more cash from the arabs in their wallet and that game may be worth a few votes coming our way when they choose where the 2018 World Cup will be played.
One wonders if Ribena will get flattened if Dunga playes him against Oman
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Re 5: In other news, President Ahmadinijad has urged the world to do more for democracy, justice and freedeom of expression.
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No mention of Ireland by the way? Seeing as they were actually playing for something? Liam Lawrence looking furious, bemused and lamentable all at the same time? Got to save something for Thursday, I suppose.
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Spitfire - well, he'll lose his job at Ipswich soon enough, so best he starts touting for new positions. Ban-ki Moon's to be precise.
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16. At 1:23pm on 16 Nov 2009, tommyb1982 wrote:
Spitfire - well, he'll lose his job at Ipswich soon enough, so best he starts touting for new positions. Ban-ki Moon's to be precise.
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What Arsenal?
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The most amazing thing for me was how much Alves has changed since he left the Boro ... looked quite good too i a much deeper role .... didn't recognise him!!!
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"third choice in the pecking order of apparently squabbling United keepers"
Sometimes you talk absolute cobblers, you know that Robbo?
Other than that, i guess it's hard to rake something good from that game worth talking about. You're right to defend Bent but if he will play that role on teh shoulder of defenders, he can expect hopeless balls like that. He should have played the hold up role, and he might have seen the ball.
Brown is much better than he showed, but then Nilmar is on fire at the moment and is lightening. I'd still see Brown in the squad over Upson.
Oh well, at least its proven a few points about the squad players. Owen must be pleased too.
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and if some numpty hasnt got there as i type this, then i would like to say to all the fools out there that i ahve the first comment, but i dont care, and writing ''FIRST'' doesnt make me cool......
oh dear,
as for England, they played like they were an average side playing potential world cup winners...........................OH!
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I feel sorry for Steve Ryder. On saturday he had to watch that dross that SWP served up and couldnt say anything bad as he was stood next to his dad.
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#22 - it's got to be hard work commentating on SWP with Ian Wright sat there. You never know if you say something bad whether he will just argue or tell you he'll see you afterwards in a quiet corner
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22 Topbanana - mind you I was intrigued by his dads comment that the wingers had done nowt - didnt name the boy but as good as - and I have no time for wrighty and his inane (or is it assine) comments
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robbo mate, you said that heskey and rooney were probably going to start up front in South Africa.....why is Heskey even in the team? The guy can't shoot, he's so poor that he couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat!!
Going on Goals per Start, surely you would have to pick Crouch to start with Rooney? Crouch's goalscoring record for England is very, very good........heskeys is very, very poor! And people say, "yea but heskey tries his hardest"....trying hard does NOT win games, GOALS WINS GAMES!!
So get Heskey out, put Crouch in! The 4 Strikers that should go is:
Rooney (Of Course)
Crouch (Good Goal Scoring Record)
Defoe ( Again Good Goal Scoring record)
C. Cola (Because he's very good for West Ham and plays week in week out, except due to injury)
As much as I would love to see Micheal Owen in the team, its not going to happen! Although replacing SWP with Milner is a brilliant shout!
O......and Robbo.....I hope you put those 'Pillocks' in their places.....because Fabio Capello has done a Fantastic Job!!
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Although replacing SWP with Milner is a brilliant shout
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No it' not as neither of them are good enough - might as well pick Ashley Young or Stuart Downing who at least can use their left foot if you aree going to consider those 2
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20. At 1:25pm on 16 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
"third choice in the pecking order of apparently squabbling United keepers"
Sometimes you talk absolute cobblers, you know that Robbo?
he's spot on in that quote though.
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stuart downing is over-rated, Milner works hard and oftne comes up with an end product.
i'm a great fan of Ashley Young and i believe he will be in the England squad in the future......but not yet
SWP cannot cut it at International level, and if you are going to compare SWP, Downing, Young and Milner.......I would take Milner any day of the week
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What lovely vivid imagery from some of the regulars here today.
I'm glad I'm not sitting down to dinner any time soon.
lol@ the pillocks. If Capello doesn't have a clue then what does that make Maclaren?
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nonsense about crouchy having a good goals record. He only scores against bad sides - and always looks shockingly average against good players.
He may go, but only for the freak value.
Rooney to play up by himself with Gerrard as our first choice front two.
btw, has no one made a point of Lampard pulling out because he had to sit in an Economy seat? How is it that no one else strains their thighs when we go on holiday on easyjet? Lazy fat chancer. Is he the least down to earth player ever? Has any football ever had a more sheltered upbringing?
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27. At 1:42pm on 16 Nov 2009, TommyOnion wrote:
20. At 1:25pm on 16 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
"third choice in the pecking order of apparently squabbling United keepers"
Sometimes you talk absolute cobblers, you know that Robbo?
he's spot on in that quote though.
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"I must say this and Edwin doesn't like this too much for sure, but he doesn't help me too much. I have told him a few times already to give me some more advice because he's got more experience and got many more games under his belt. But I don't know, maybe Edwin doesn't like me. You'll have to ask him."
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"nonsense about crouchy having a good goals record. He only scores against bad sides - and always looks shockingly average against good players."
Rather like Rooney.
That's if you can get him away from the LB position.
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Having watched the game and not been too disappointed with our 2nd team only losing 1-0 to a full strength Brazil (minus Robinho) i would like to see what you guys think to what England's squad should for the world cup. Mine is as follows...
James, Green, Hart
Johnson, Terry, Rio, Ash Cole, Lescott, Bridge, Upson
Joe Cole, Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Hargreaves, Milner, Walcott, Beckham
Rooney, Heskey, Defoe, Carlton Cole, Owen
I think this squad would give us lots of variation and versatility for example Hargreaves and Milner could both fill in at either full back, Joe Cole and Walcott could both do a job up front. And best of all, no Ben Foster (who should've said that header!)
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BTP, you rate Crouch then? You'd put him as first choice for England? Or are you just WUMming? (silly question)
and quoting our real third choice keeper's issues with our first doesn't really include Foster in that. Never mind. Sir Alex may have told Foster to buck up his ideas, but if he was really third choice, he wouldn't have been in the England squad let alone start the game.
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The match was no big deal... the Brown/Foster/penalty-fluff will be forgotten by everyone (bar Capello), and when Bridge sits down today and looks at his stats, he'll spot that the unused subs ran more on the touchline, than he did on the pitch... apart from that, we looked OK bearing in mind our team was without so many regulars: it would be interesting to know how many "first choice" Brazilians weren't playing though...
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Hamliton I agree with your 25 (except C Cole) Crouch is under-rated - he has a deft touch and can cause the bother heaskey can and just adds more to the team - and scores goals
But dont agree with your 28 - Downing is also under-rated but.... needs his confidence button tickled - cant see the England crowd doing it so could be a sad loss to Enlgand. Mid you with Joe Cole and Ashley Young there are several decent players ...
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instead of helping France and Portugal clean up the mess they've made of qualifying, how about FiFa doing something about Scottish Football?!
it's very sad to see how Scotland has been left in the dust in the modern game... we need them and their fans back on the global radar - they're practically San Marino at this point.
pump some mob $$ their way, Seppo!
can't really comment on an England friendly, but i will say that adamp has somehow contrived to become more obnoxious than ever... it's as if he absorbed Gaz' odiousness last time they were Man-united ;o
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#22-24
I didnt actually watch the game, but I did see Ian Wrights post match comments which were pretty much along the lines of "They didnt pass it to SWP enough, I'm not just saying it because he's my boy but I think he could have won the game for us".
I think inane and asinane both apply to that sort of expert summary.
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Crouch doesn't run at people teh way Heskey does but rather moves around in little pockets waiting for teh ball rather than making oit happen a lot of the time. Bot he and Heskey would make sure Becks had someone to aim at when needed though
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they're practically San Marino at this point.
Don't insult San Marino.
And if you'd bother reading it you will find BTP was teh first to be obnoxious I just responded in kind to him.
Which I suspect is what Gaz does when you start insulting him every week for no reason
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robbo sucks
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34. At 1:56pm on 16 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
and quoting our real third choice keeper's issues with our first doesn't really include Foster in that. Never mind. Sir Alex may have told Foster to buck up his ideas, but if he was really third choice, he wouldn't have been in the England squad let alone start the game.
someone should tell Foster
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8361597.stm
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Crouch is under-rated and mocked because he's a giant. I would have him back at Anfield any day.
Genesis - "He only scores against bad sides". Come on, mate! You can do better than that. To quote JDR, that's a "tired old cliché".
hackerjack - I think he was joking, fella!
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29. At 1:48pm on 16 Nov 2009, Starfire_995 wrote:
lol@ the pillocks. If Capello doesn't have a clue then what does that make Maclaren?
Erm - out of his depth for England ... but not a rubbish manager in Holland at Twente ... but nowhere near Caps league (literally)
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables?league=NED.1&cc=5739
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"we need them and their fans back on the global radar"
why? I don't think the world is in mourning
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James Ingham - no Lennon? His bursts are pretty useful and with Johnson could cause serious concerns for any side in the world down our right if they play together.
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HamiltonOverButton
I'm not a big Heskey fan at all but from watching England over the last few years, it's clear to me that England play significantly better when Heskey's playing. When he's in the team, it brings the best out of the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and going back a couple of years, Owen.
It would be nice to have a player with Heskey's physical attributes who isn't so poor in front of goal but we haven't produced anyone like that for some time - maybe Carlton Cole is the answer.
Lokacious
"As the saying goes 'if you keep doing what you have always done, you'll keep getting what you always got'"
Bent's always got goals so why wouldn't he want to continue 'getting what he's always got'.
Surely it's too soon to write him off as an international after so few chances.
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Just a thought but how about a change in formation when Joe Cole is fit?
Especially against the "better teams"!
Possible suggestion could be:
James
Johnson Ferdinand Terry Cole
Hargreaves Lampard Barry
Gerrard J.Cole
Rooney
Any thoughts?
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The only thing we can take from Saturday is,as always,we have a reasonable first choice team and no back up.So,in summary if Joe Cole is fit,Walcott comes back ......
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Actually Jack I think we have a good squad, but if injuries cause us to dig much deeper then we are in trouble.
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United-Red - isn't that the dreaded "Christmas Tree" formation? Oh the good old days! Having Cole and Johnson would certainly make up for lack of width in midfield, but the current set-up seems to work, Heskey being an integral part of it, bizarre as it may sound.
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#50 - it's waht Utd do but the problem is that Rooney sometimes gets isolated up on his own as was the case at Chelsea last week. I would keep that back 4 but play with a midfield 3 of Gerrard (left) Hargreaves (centre) and Beckham (right) with Joe Cole and Lennnon.
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Good afternoon to you Gentlemen, and wazzup to the rest of the rabble.
23. At 1:29pm on 16 Nov 2009, adampsb wrote:
#22 - it's got to be hard work commentating on SWP with Ian Wright sat there. You never know if you say something bad whether he will just argue or tell you he'll see you afterwards in a quiet corner
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I know what your getting at Adam, just can't imagine there being anywhere quiet wnen Wrighty is in the vicinity.
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"He only scores against bad sides"... but, he DOES only score against 20 seconds. It may be a cliche of sorts, but truths often become cliche when they're used a lot.
He scored all his goals against weak opposition. The idea of him being good in the air is the only fallacy about him, because obviously he's pants. He just sticks up above everyone else but can't seemingly control where the ball goes after it hits him.
And i'd love to see him back at Anfield too.
Though you'd be far better off with Cole...
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#47 Dont rate Lennon, one trick wonder, drop of the shoulder and crap chipped ball to the back post (if he's lucky, usually goes over the bar and into the crowd). Really dont think we need another wright winger, Walcott, Joe Cole, Milner and Beckham is more than enough and are better players than Lennon (and SWP, and I'm a blue)
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United Red, I think tommyb is right - looks good on paper but isn't this the one that had Lamps and Gerrard keep standing on each other's feet?!
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#58 - no that was when they played centre-mid together in a 4-4-2 nd kept making the same runs. I don't really like the Christmas Tree though and would stick with teh squad that got us there - Lennon's form is dipping though and if Becks plays well for Milan he could end up with teh starting berth on the right when we get to SA
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Brazil still looked good. Mind you the conditions suited them, it was hotter in Doha than it will be in SA next year. But i dont see how people are leveling criticism at Bent - he had NO service. This was basically due to the fact that Brazil were too good defensively and played a lot of keep ball. They taught England a lesson and not for the first time. When Defoe came on he was EQUALLY as ineffective as Bent, so i really dont see why the critisism of Bent. Brazil were just so good Fabiano probably thought he could afford to miss a penalty by trying God knows what to convert it.
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I'd still see Brown in the squad over Upson.
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I'd see the tea lady in the squad before Brown
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Gareth Barry was average (is it me or does he move at half the speed of everyone else?)
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Barry was arguably one of our better players on Saturday, along with Milner, very rarely gives the ball away and shows a bit of composure on the ball. Unfortunately, the same can't be said of SWP.
Lennon, Walcott, Beckham and Milner are all in front of the little man and I think playing him on Saturday was Capello's way of saying "last chance saloon". Same for Darren Bent. I'd be looking at Crouch, Heskey, Carlton Cole, Defoe and maybe even Agbonlahor or Michael Owen ahead of him.
Capello wants a support man up there with Rooney with the likes of Gerrard and maybe Joe Cole pushing on as well, therefore there's no place for someone as "goal hungry" as the Sunderland man, who is always playing on the shoulder and heading for goal. It will get you 15-20 goals a season in the Premier League but it won't help Wazza & co. flourish in the England team.
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Crouch may only score against poor opposition, but he also scores against good opposition.....i agree that Heskey is a big bulky forward, but so is Rooney.....so surely you could play crouch who can score (or knock the ball down to rooney), and also play rooney who can score, but again hold the ball up bcos of his size??
although i'd love for rooney to stop coming back and defending, i know he's good at it but he's a striker and as such should general not drop as deep as he has been??
any1 agree?
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Re Heskey
Gotta say I agree with el_nino_81 (48) on that one.
He's definetly not my favourite player although he does "work" in FC's teams.
Not that much of a Crouch fan either but he does get goals, don't know enough about Bent or Cole, only what I've seen on MOTD, to give a reasonable opinion on their worth.(But that doesn't seems to have stopped other posters;p)
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I'm with you H2H. I'd pick Crouch before Heskey anytime. He is good with the ball at his feet, in the air and as you say, he scores goals.
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Guys remember it was a friendly, and we played with just one of the most likley Team A members (Rooney) so it was all about experiments. We seemed poor as were playing against a near full strength Brazil team, did anyone expect a win honestly?
Nobody can put any doubts over Capello, he gets results when we need them, friendlies he uses to experiment so the game was irrelevant as was the result.
Makes me laugh how people are worrying about our World Cup chances, I dont think we're strongest but I do think this is one of strongest teams I've seen. And before anyone pipes up with it been a similar 1st team to Mclarens, its getting the most out of your players, Capello can do that, Mclaren was just a gimp with an umbrella.
The game was there for one reason, to test the fringe players out and we've all got ideas of who made the cut and who didn't. I agree with a couple of earlier posts about Milner, played well.
And Bent was unlucky, needs a bit of service, I'm a fan of Becks still and sure Bent would have had a few efforts had Beckham been available for selection, cant judge him on that.
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A sensible looking offering this week Robbo.
Gotta agree about SWP - tries hard, but just not technically good enough.
Surprised myself by thinking Lescott actually had a good game for once (even Bridge wasn't as bad as usual)
Rooney's output is awesome - making up for the deficiencies of those around him, but he needs to be up at the sharp end making things happen that nobody else can - obviously wasn't getting any service Saturday.
Bent needs to get a chance with the first team - he was bound to look cr&p playing with the reserves. Much as I think Owen should get a game, he wouldn't have done any more than Bent on Saturday with no service.
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I'll have you know Scotland are easily the 4th best team in the UK (if you accept the Isle of Man is not a part of the UK) and Burley has a proven track record of losing. The good news is that England can look forward to another quarter final exit. Bosnia have more technical ability, never mind Brazil. I suspect Robbo, McNulty et al are just waiting for the return of Premier League footie.
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Is that including St Helena and the Falkland Islands as I reckon the Penguins of Madagascar could give Scotland a run for their money at the moment
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The Madagascar Penguins? Don't G&H own them?
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70. At 2:57pm on 16 Nov 2009, tommyb1982 wrote:
The Madagascar Penguins? Don't G&H own them?
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I think so although I heard that their assets had been frozen.
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H2H - genius!
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just smile and wave boys.. smile and wave
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Are you talking to the penguins? I do hope so. God, we've started early this time. Where's JDR's review?
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I think Brown is a fine back up for the right back position, but he needs to dislodge that lumpen clown O'Shea at Utd first, shouldn't be too hard because Brown isn't a utility, he's actually a good player. He didn't look sharp at all though, but when fully fit and well practised he's probably the best defensive right back we have (OH aside) and would be a good addition to our squad, certainly a better bet than Richards at the moment.
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#76 - only problem with that is Wes Brown is a centre-back by trade and Hargreaves is a central midfielder.
Right-back at OT if you drop O'Shea is either Gary Neville or Rafael
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I've seen a few posts defending Bent. Stop it right this minute. You cannot absolve him because he didn't get the service. A half-decent striker will create situations where the midfield will see it as a good idea to pass him the ball. If he doesn't do this, he won't get passed the ball. The fact that the Brazilian defence was able to marshall him with ease says more about Bent's lack of imagination than Brazil's defensive nous.
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Not for the most successful season in recent memory it wasn't. Who set up your goal in the ECL final? The right back who'd played there for most of the season (if memory serves, I'm no Utd fan).
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My point is not to have a go at Utd's other right backs but to show that he is ideal for the right back position for England, but he needs to push for that spot at Utd to stay sharp.
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Hargreaves was actually playing on the right-wing in that game as John O'Shea was playing at right-back with Rooney on the left and ronaldo up front
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#79 - but he isn't going to be playing at right back for Utd - Hargreavs woill be straight in at Centre-mid alongside Anderson, Fletcher or Carrick.
Wes Brown will be rotated at CB with Rio or Jonny Evans
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ah well **** it then, let's take Martin Kelly.
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I can't understand all the comments saying you've got to pick Heskey because Crouch only scores against poor sides. At least he scores. Heskey doesn't bloody score against anyone, good or bad!
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You're far better having Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard play well, than have them three struggling and Crouch scoring.
Heskey brings others into the game. But to my mind Cole would do the same but offer some finishing threat too.
My preferred formation for England would be a choice between:
Rooney
Gerrard
Cole, Lampard, Lennon
Beckham / Hargreaves
Cole, Terry, Rio, Johnson
Foster
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Cole
Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard
Beckham
Hargreaves / Barry
Cole, Terry, Rio, Johnson
Foster
We have three of the best players at playing just behind the front man. Rooney can play that role, and has been better at it this season, just as long as some plays close to him. He may get isolated doing it sometimes at United, but that's because no one plays up with him. An offensive minded christmas tree formation would work wonders - problem is that some of the players are too thick to grasp a different formation.
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ian wright was great on the pitch but as a pundit he has to be the worst ever chats complete rubbish most of the time and i see itv had him outside so he wouldn't jump around the studio if england scored
was a pretty meaningless game but milner did show some quality and he's got a good shout to go to the WC. As for brown,jenas,bent & definitely crouch they are just simply not good enough at international level....A lot has been said about heskey can't score...but his ability to hold the ball and cause problems for defenders is the best we got and wit him playing you can see rooney benefits from him with stevie g and walcott you have a pretty good attack
i think now that gibbs will get a good run in the arsenal team he's not a bad shout as cover for cashley...brigde will prob be the choice with his experience but doesn't really fill u with much confidence. Mr wenger should go for micah richards in jan get him bk to what he was like couple yrs ago he was awesome at right back when he played
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Phuk, does this work? Robbo never listens WAHHH!
Yeah, Brown is rubbish, and rarely fit. He won't get in as CB is a position of depth.
Will Hargreaves be fit, and if so, is he an automatic choice over Barry? And can you play Walcott if we accept that Johnson is 1st choice, or do you need a more defensive player?
Colchester et al. Crouch only scores, he doesn't create space for the best players. The reason the others are saying that he only does it against the small teams is that in the World Cup those opportunities won't be there, so we need a player who helps to get the best out of Rooney and Gerrand, the two capable of winning games.
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How anyopne can expect an England team to do well with 4 Spu*s players in it I have no idea.
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Players such as Glen Johnson, Bridge, Lescott, Bent, SWP, Wes Brown, Jenas, Heskey and Foster are clearly players coming into the catgory as never 'going to the races' when it comes to securing positions in the World Cup squad. Consequently, I cannot see how Capello could have learned anything from the game against Brazil, knowing that these players (OK, Jonhson wasn't there!) were never going to feature in his World Cup squad. I think the whole point of the exercise was simply an excuse for the FA to pick up around £400,000 appearance money.
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Will Hargreaves be fit, nd if so, is he an automatic choice over Barry?
Fergie seems to think so and if he is he should play ahead of Barry as he is a better player
And can you play Walcott if we accept that Johnson is 1st choice, or do you need a more defensive player?
Difficult choice - you either make Johnson defend better or use Beckham on the right
Colchester et al. Crouch only scores, he doesn't create space for the best players.
True enough which is why I would drop him and take Heskey, C.Cole, Defoe, Rooney & Owen
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Robbo
No real problem of the style this week which has been improving but the subject matter is a little tired. The World Cup is still ages away in football terms yet we seem to be getting a blog at least once a month on the team and who should/shouldnt be selected. Its a bit academic at this stage with over half a season left and only a handful of places are up for grabs anyway.At full strength England look fine and I think Capello knows what he is doing so its hard to really find a great deal to discuss in a semi meaningless friendly. I know options are limited without Premiership action but a different slant would have been welcome rather than yet another debate on the predictable. This is just slighly reworked Robbos England Picks from not long ago and in all honesty not a great deal has changed. What little has will undoubtadly change again so going back to the old England squad selection is a tad weary.
You touched a bit on the FIFA seeding system for the play offs which I think would have been a more interesting topic and you could even go one further and question whether the play offs should necessarily be done according to Confederation/Continent. On a personal level I would like to see a bit more restructuring done to the qualifying system. Its questionable if teams like New Zealand really deserve a spot in the world cup ahead of teams like Rep of Ireland, Slovenia, Bosnia etc and in terms of European qualify - if they are going to introduce seeding tot he play offs then I think the qualifying should be tiered. Nations which have no hope of qualifying should be in a seperate group as I think the foregone conclusion element of games like Spain/England/Germany etc vs San Marino/Faroe Islands/Andorra are pretty pointless. I can understands FIFAs desire to keep a World Cup global but when you see Bahrain, Trinidad and Tobaga, New Zealand etc all usually in with a decent shout then you have wonder is the system fair? Id prefer to see the best teams in the World Cup.
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Bridge should never have been handed the three lions after his performance against Croatia. Gibbs or Warnock will provide plenty of back-up.
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I see GenesisRed is following Adam's lead in pretending to seriously champion a player for a starting role when it couldn't be more obvious that it isn't a sensible idea.
Two, in fact. Foster is a joke, did Kirkland run over Fab's dog or something?
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jdr - qualifying is already seeded which is why the lower ranked nations never have a chance. I personally favour abolishing seeding in all competitions as in the FA cup and see how it goes. I though seeding teh play-offs was a disgrace and just designed to fix it so Russia, France and Portugal would qualify
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el_nino_81
Bent is just another one track bully. Give him a poor team and he will score plenty, for instance check who he has scored against in the Premier League. As soon as he comes up against a quality defender he lacks any ideas and once the defender knows what you are about to do he just has to make sure he is in the right position to cut out tht through ball.
In my opinion Owen has been dropped because of exactly the same lack of imagination.
England will be better off sticking with Heskey, Rooney and Defoe. As an outsider Carlton Cole would give you more options than both Bent and Owen - but you have to hope he remains injury free!
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#76 - only problem with that is Wes Brown is a centre-back by trade and Hargreaves is a central midfielder.
Right-back at OT if you drop O'Shea is either Gary Neville or Rafael
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Not for the most successful season in recent memory it wasn't. Who set up your goal in the ECL final? The right back who'd played there for most of the season (if memory serves, I'm no Utd fan).
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Hargreaves was actually playing on the right-wing in that game as John O'Shea was playing at right-back with Rooney on the left and ronaldo up front
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Adampsb you are wrong big time!! Wes Brown did play right back in Russia and set up Ronaldo for our opening goal - O'Shea played right back in Rome last season but of course Hargreaves was hardly playing!
Some fan you are!!
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93. At 4:00pm on 16 Nov 2009, adampsb wrote:
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Yes I know the initial groups are seeded but I think that should be restructured. Too many pointless games.
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Wow, Joe is starting to get really boring.
Joe, try the Telegraph's letters page, would seem to be your destiny to contribute there (Dear Sir, although you are a professional with much experience i know more than you...)
Plus, you seem to be contradicting yourself Joe. Unseeding the playoffs and then saying that Europe deserves more places is clearly rubbish of the lowest order. Of course NZ deserve their place. Why should France be thrown a bone when they've got the some of the world's best players and they can't make it through, not to mention massive resources compared to the likes of Bahamas, or NZ?
It's a WORLD CUP. Only moronic moneygrabber like Platini and Port Platter would want EVEN MORE european bias.
All in all, maybe the worst post ever to bear the JDR faint taint pomposity.
Blup. Phuk works, how about hwanker, dropping my aithes, see?
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88. At 3:55pm on 16 Nov 2009, groovyGoalmachine wrote:
Players such as Glen Johnson, Bridge, Lescott, Bent, SWP, Wes Brown, Jenas, Heskey and Foster are clearly players coming into the catgory as never 'going to the races' when it comes to securing positions in the World Cup squad. Consequently, I cannot see how Capello could have learned anything from the game against Brazil, knowing that these players (OK, Jonhson wasn't there!) were never going to feature in his World Cup squad. I think the whole point of the exercise was simply an excuse for the FA to pick up around £400,000 appearance money.
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1) How is Johnson "never 'going to the races' when it comes to securing positions in the World Cup squad"?
2) Capello has had a first-hand look at how Dunga manages his side. useful no?
3) The match was our obligation, a return favour for Brazil being the first international team to play in the new Wembley.
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I'm surprised this match has got you so het up that you can't see the wood for the trees. Those guys in the pub seem to have got under your skin a tad.
First Brazil struggled to break down our second/third string England team, second it was a friendly so what quality did you really expect, third the pitch looked like a recently plughed fairway bunker and fourth flying from an English Winter immediately into a baking hot Qatar is not good. I bet the brit media got a sweat on just tapping up match reports on their lap tops.
Brazil were not good and were less entertaining than Jedward. England were also as entertaining as listening to a party political broadcast but did what they could with the tools at their disposal.
As for SWP he looked more dangerous than anyone else in the team and to suggest that he works less hard and was less effective than Milner leads me to believe you'd had one over the eight before the match started.
One final point oh! hacked off hacker..George Burley can't paint a Mona Lisa with a Creosote brush. Wales actually have some half decent players at the moment certainly when compared to Scotland. The result was entirely predictable to everyone except the Scottish....
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95. At 4:03pm on 16 Nov 2009, superNightshift82 wrote:
#76 - only problem with that is Wes Brown is a centre-back by trade and Hargreaves is a central midfielder.
Right-back at OT if you drop O'Shea is either Gary Neville or Rafael
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Not for the most successful season in recent memory it wasn't. Who set up your goal in the ECL final? The right back who'd played there for most of the season (if memory serves, I'm no Utd fan).
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Hargreaves was actually playing on the right-wing in that game as John O'Shea was playing at right-back with Rooney on the left and ronaldo up front
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Adampsb you are wrong big time!! Wes Brown did play right back in Russia and set up Ronaldo for our opening goal - O'Shea played right back in Rome last season but of course Hargreaves was hardly playing!
Some fan you are!!
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Which is why I gave up that on that one.
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It was like a night at the Coliseum with the english as pasty faced christians thrown to the lions. The lions werent very hungry tho. The brazilian bench smirked throughout at some in-joke. "Let us let them theenk they hav a charnce".
Brown carried the same smug air of superiority. If he was half as good as he thinks he is, hed be twice as good as he actually is.
I thought someone had carved a statue of Bent and left it at the edge of the area.
As for SWP - well dont you want to take him home with you, give him a square meal and then LOCK HIM IN A CUPBOARD AND THROW THE CHUFFING KEY AWAY.
Milner played out of his pie crust but he still looks like he's just eaten the pie, somehow.
My XI for SA:
Goal : Sooty/Harry H Corbet
Back 4 : ALi Bongo; derren Brown,jonathon creek; Merlin (welsh but english through his mother)
Middle : David Nixon; Chris Cox (mindreader, FBU rep for N Essex); Dr Dee's reanimated corpse; paul McKenna
Attack : er...gandalf....er...er....sabrina the teenage witch
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At 3:56pm on 16 Nov 2009, JoeDavisRoach wrote:
I can understands FIFAs desire to keep a World Cup global but when you see Bahrain, Trinidad and Tobaga, New Zealand etc all usually in with a decent shout then you have wonder is the system fair?
I resent that statement because at the end of the day, teams still have to qualify from certain groups to advance to the World Cup. Which is why they give Europe the largest amount of spots and then the smaller regions 2 or 3 spots which I would think be reasonably fair. There are a lot of teams with big players that wont be at the World Cup due to their inability to qualify and perform in big matches. If smaller teams like Trinidad and Tobago and New Zealand can stick it out, why not give them their props??
Robbo,
Spot on blog except the part with the United keepers. Not sure why you persist on bashing my team but I would like to know whats the problem with VDS? He is old but age is just a number and his performance level hasnt dropped. Tomas is pretty decent and hasnt done any high profile blunders that I can remember. Foster needs more games for his confidence and the Brazil game was a pretty decent one
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Joe,I understand your desire to see the best teams play in the finals,but the game is global.If we only took the top 32 fifa ranked sides to the world cup then other areas will not develop.Pre 1986 no African tean did anything of note then Morocco got out of the group stage in 86,Cameroon in 90,South Korea under Guus in 2002 etc.The tournament is open to all to qualify.I know the minor nations get hammered in qualifying but they shouldn't be denied the chance to play Spain,Germany,Brazil etc.
As for Heskey,he has to play because of the freedom this gives to our one match winner,Rooney.Peter Beardsley didn't score many for England but he set up jug ears regularly enough.
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pidge - his use of "never 'going to the races'" should tell you that gGm thinks at a pre-school level, but he has a really tenous connection to AF, so we should all bask in his reflected glory.
adam, too true. the only way i dee Beckham at the WC is if Fab needs some brains (ironicly) and a bit of cover for Johnson. Given that it'll be Cash and GJ, and Gerrard technically on the left providing no width, Beckham has a good shout at that position if Milan works out.
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95. At 4:03pm on 16 Nov 2009, superNightshift82 wrote:
Adampsb you are wrong big time!! Wes Brown did play right back in Russia and set up Ronaldo for our opening goal - O'Shea played right back in Rome last season but of course Hargreaves was hardly playing!
Some fan you are!!
LOL! Poor adam, even taking a kicking on Man Utd, now ! Is there any subject this eejit has a clue about?
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At 4:04pm on 16 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
Spot on mate!!
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I think Salem the cat may be a better pick in goal
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blog, who would you have on the bench? and place for that talking cat, Salem?
sabrina provides the cutting teenage wit, but i'd prefer derek acorah as he might A)channel the spirit of the 66 team, or B)Phuk off and die when hit by a flare (my personal preference)
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I unfortunatly/luckily didn't see the England game over the weekend so won't comment on that. But I would like to offer an opinion on their chances in the WC, taken from the perspective of an England fan from the outside looking in without the benefit/distraction of the TV and red top media constant slagging or overhyping of the team.
I believe that over here (and probably worldwide) England are considered one of the tournaments favourites and many would be shocked if they didn't make it to the last 8 and the semi-final stages should also be a realistic goal.
Over the Squad- The England first XI are highly rated, (the GK position seen as the biggest weakness), although the strength in depth is questionable. The British media are quick to throw around the label "world class" but although England do possess a few of these stars, not everyone would share their opinion on who these players are. Beckham & Gerard definetly are, many include Lampard & Terry. Owen is considered a spent force, where as Rooney divides opinion. After his first appearances in major tournaments , the whole world raved about him, although many now believe that the potential he promisd in his early years hasn't been reached, some even say he was better back then, others say he "suffered" in the shadow of Ronaldo and this stifled his progress.So to say he is "world class" maybe an over statement, although all see that he still has world class potential.
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adam beat me to it, but i can throw in Tom Bombadil to make fun of the other team with gay poetry, and maybe we could hire The Hurricanes. They never seemed to lose. Failing that, i'm hanging my hat on the lethal goalscoring abilities of Mystic Meg, who should have fantastic anticipation (what do you mean you're psychic, but got caught up in the tsunami? how big does something have to be before you can predict it?)
tommy, i bet he knows more about adam than us.
MUFCTrini - that had been brewing for a while, but nice to know i'm not alone in thinking that.
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Blogaladyte, surely Frank Bruno would make the plane? In goal. Big hands.
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H2H, really Beckham, still? The power of Adidas
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Re 19: I do hope that was a joke...either that or you need glasses!
There are players in the Prem League who are raking in insane amounts of money per week for being vaguely talented (SWP, Bent, Barry for instance) whereas some of those Brazilian footballers are on probably 1/4 of the wages and they played their socks off - maybe our players need to be more hungry, which could be helped by a salary cap perhaps?
Everyone's probably stopped reading by now, but anyway...
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103. At 4:11pm on 16 Nov 2009, jacksofbuxton wrote
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Yes but its not the development of other countries Im against. Its the second/third tier teams in Europe that are consistently up against it due to what is an unfair group system.
Its not about throwing a bone to the likes of France when they slip up (although FIFA seem prepared to) its the Scotlands, Rer of Irelands, Wales, Ukraines, Bosnia et etc that are expected to win a group in order to qualify and as a result seldom do when they are clearly worth a spot at times.
If you put New Zealand or Trinidad in Tobago into the equivalent Ero groups they just wont qualify so it is actually fair to say they arent deserving of a spot on merit in that regard. Ive no problem with teams like France or even England not getting in when they dont warrant it but there are other sides in Europe that are consistently up against it. I can see why FIFA want the game developed globaly but in general its the same group of sides that are paying the price.
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where would it end if you started to go down the road of talking fictional animals in the squad? we'd end up with Pokemons in the team. Pokemons! the people are calling for the cat but i think it would be a wrong move.
i do like the "i cant believe they're falling for this" look in derek acorah's eyes, by the way. was it plutarch who said that sicilian soothsayers couldnt pass each other in the street without laughing?
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92. At 3:57pm on 16 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
"I see GenesisRed is following Adam's lead in pretending to seriously champion a player for a starting role when it couldn't be more obvious that it isn't a sensible idea.
Two, in fact. Foster is a joke, did Kirkland run over Fab's dog or something?"
remind me which two? Foster had a virtually impeccable performance, pulling off some nice saves and very strong positioning. That he had to do nothing special is down to how good he was, considering that we were playing Brazil with a shoddy back four and midfield ahead of him!
You must be referring to hargreaves or Cole, both of whom should be on the plain
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LOL! Poor adam, even taking a kicking on Man Utd, now ! Is there any subject this eejit has a clue about?
Yes why scousers called onion are dimwitted as*sses and why Liverpool will never win the league under Rafa and fade into mid-table obscurity. The principle of teh answer was the same as he inferred Hargreaves was right-back not Wes Brown.
It's not like you know much about anything apart from how to fill in a UB-40 anyway
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116. At 4:26pm on 16 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
Foster had a virtually impeccable performance, pulling off some nice saves and very strong positioning.
he also really should have been sent off
Hargreaves needs to actually get fit enough to play and then prove his worth before he becomes a shoo-in for the squad
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you get battered every blog, adam
it's hilarious !
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and Joe, what is wrong with the system? you say you understand that FIFA wants to expand the WC, but make no connection between the rise in standards of the US, Japan and Australia due to regular appearances at the top level.
if you put the teams you've mentioned into a group then yes, they would struggle, which would be massively unsurprising, given the relative status of the sport in the two areas and the money available.
i've never been so polarised, you are saying everything that i disagree with. the beauty of football is the global appeal, and you'd cut that down for the sake of SCOTLAND? if the teams aren't going to be there at the end of the tournament (although here again Korea and Japan prove my point for me) why have the rubbish Europeans? would you rather the champions league only took teams from england, spain, italy and germany?
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tommy - or we could just feed milner more pies and wedge him between the goal posts
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but there are other sides in Europe that are consistently up against it. I can see why FIFA want the game developed globaly but in general its the same group of sides that are paying the price.
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Surely Joe that problem can be solved by aboloshing teh seeding in European qualifiers then everyone is in the same boat and some of tehose mid-tier sides would actually have a chance as would some of teh smallest - heck even Scotland & Wales could be able to qualify
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does this blog put anyone else in mind of itchy and scratchy?
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and yet Tommy it' salways me that wins in the end because cream rises to the top and like you poo sinks to the bottom
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LOL!!!
you've never won a thing
you've consistently had your thick backside kicked from pillar to post on every subject, blog after blog.
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Genesis, Beckham as well (although i undermined that by saying there could be a place on the PLANE (not plain, unless he is grazing) for him ahead of SWP and that numpty Lennon (head down, muck up)
UB40, adam? showing your age. although Tommy does seem to come on here with the sole purpose of making you look stupid sometimes, which i don't really see the point of, and you always rise to it.
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114 JDR, I suppose that's why there's a FIFA World cup and an UEFA European cup.
Tim, yeah mate, may seem wierd to some, but DB is definetly still up there.
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The principle of teh answer was the same as he inferred Hargreaves was right-back not Wes Brown.
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I assume I'm the "he".
I don't know how my single reference to OH (in parenthesis) in a discussion about Wes Brown, inferred that. Especially when WB was the blatant provider of the cross.
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it's not my sole purpose, Tim
but it is irresistible
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113, illparrot, we're just getting started mate.
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clearly, Tomm, and i do it myself, but i prefer the likes of GroovyGimpmachine, or Joe if i'm feeling highbrow.
anyone know why there are suddenly stories about Liverpool buying in Jan when we haven't got two to rub?
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H2H - that's interesting to read about the Dutch view. Often better to get an outside view. Never thought I'd hear that about Rooney though, even if the thought has definitely occurred that he doesn't score enough goals. Don't bash the Rooster (so to speak) on here though as you'd get a more proportionate response if you told jokes about Simon Weston.
Blog - Milner look like someone compressed then tidied up Jamie Carragher
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113. At 4:22pm on 16 Nov 2009, Illparrot wrote:
Excellent point, but there is nothing you can do about it. A lot of the South American players are extremely talented but only a rare few manage to get paid what they are worth because they are lucky to be spotted by someone. Thats the unequality there is still in the world today.
117. At 4:27pm on 16 Nov 2009, adampsb wrote:
Easy on the scousers mate. At the end of the day and all their ramblings, they still have nothing to show for it so we may as well let them be
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128. At 4:36pm on 16 Nov 2009, pidgeGULL wrote:
I don't know how my single reference to OH (in parenthesis) in a discussion about Wes Brown, inferred that. Especially when WB was the blatant provider of the cross.
It didn't. He's wrong again and now will talk all manner of rubbish, refuse to admit he was wrong and then claim he was only winding you up ! He's a tit.
131. At 4:38pm on 16 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
anyone know why there are suddenly stories about Liverpool buying in Jan when we haven't got two to rub
we must be selling someone - Dossena & Babel maybe
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BTW is Gaz on vacation today?? Normally that bloke is in the thick of things....
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MUFCTrini - apart from your wallet, sunshine.
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Milner is very physically dense, yes. Odd really.
H2H - not surprised by the Rooney view, it is depressing that if he were a foreign player he'd be labelled inconsistent, but this is ignored as he is English. I'm sure AF (or more likely Rene) is working hard to get more, but at the moment he doesn't have that magic moment as regularly as the likes of Gerrand or the Anchovy.
Beckham does, but like i say, adidas are a big company, and italy a big league.
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Christ what we in Scotland would give for a Darren Bent. Or even a defence that can defend. You're right about the home internationals, a couple of years ago when we narrowly lost to Italy I would've been more than happy for the Home Internationals to come back but now....
England have depth,and if Shaun Wright-Phillips is your 3rd or 4th choice right midfield option then you've got plenty to be choosing from. I envy the depth England have at their disposal, the Under 21's are more or less the best in the World and there is a wealth of decent defenders to choose from. Aside from Terry and Ferdinand, King, Jagialka, Cahill, Lescott, Upson, Woodgate, Curtis Davis, Richards, Steven Taylor, hell even Sol Campbell can all cut it at International level. That Gary Caldwell is our best centre back just shows you the enormous gulf in quality.
I have read lots of negativity regarding the England Brazil game. I don't think you can be overly critical of losing 1-0 to Brazil in a random, high temperature stadium in the far east. If Barry, SWP, Jenas or anyone else aren't up to it, you are guarenteed Capello won't be using them come the World Cup. The guy knows his stuff...
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tommy, see what you've done? adam has regressed to primary school level insults. just leave it now, it's bullying if you go further.
Ill - which Brazilians were you referring to as underpaid?
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131 Tim, it's just the manitees picking balls out of the pool again.
132 tommyb, not personally having a go at Roo', (as you probably see) just saying it how I see it from over here. I personally hope he does the biz' in SA.
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Onion, I think most people would agree that Hargreaves previously proved his worth. Maybe not to you, but then that's not going to be high on his list of priorities.
The only thing he has to prove is his fitness, and he'll be on the plane.
As far as Brown, no doubt you'd rather have Carragher.
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if that is how you feel about him adam, you should cherish the differences of opinion, as they will affirm you more positively. i don't think he wants to be like you, but CBBC's chat is a tough place to throw mud.
liverpool fans have to be pedants, because we're only technically still the greatest at anything, actually is difficult.
scotland fans, maybe start watching a different sport. or take up spped-eating, as a nation. seems to be asking for disappointment to keep on with the football.
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Onion - Instead of selling Dossena couldn't we put him in the Tate Modern (with Philippe Albert of course) for lobbing a Man Utd keeper to round off a rout?
Adam, calm down calm down.
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although phuk, hwanker and $hit work
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#146 - The Souness haircut, tracksuit and exaggerated accent just spring to mind - remember the alphabet sketch when they tried to work Ferry cross the mersey into every 3rd letter or so and sang it out of tune and overdone - classic humour that was
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tommyb, if we didn't have that evidence i'd suggest Madame Tussards, for being totally motionless and strangely waxy
and about as useful as a playing field in scotland
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143. At 4:46pm on 16 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:,
The only thing he has to prove is his fitness, and he'll be on the plane.
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Not sure if I agree with that, surely he'd have to have played a good number of games too?
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At 4:45pm on 16 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
Ill - which Brazilians were you referring to as underpaid?
I think he is probably referring to those guys that play in the South American leagues. There is a bunch of them I guaranteed that are better than a lot of the English guys playing in the EPL but since they are not exposed and only play locally and pledge allegiance to their home town teams, they will remain as underpaid, unrecognized players.
137. At 4:41pm on 16 Nov 2009, tommyb1982 wrote:
I will let that go for now but dont let me turn adampsb on you
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113. At 4:22pm on 16 Nov 2009, Illparrot wrote:
There are players in the Prem League who are raking in insane amounts of money per week for being vaguely talented (SWP, Bent, Barry for instance) whereas some of those Brazilian footballers are on probably 1/4 of the wages and they played their socks off - maybe our players need to be more hungry, which could be helped by a salary cap perhaps?
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Even a 1/4 of their wages is a stupid amount of cash for what they actually do, play a hobby we all would love to do.
But regardless, these Brazilians who played their socks off aren't in Sao Paolo slums, Maicon & Lucio at Inter, Kaka at Real, Cesar @ Roma, Silva @ AC..... etc. Now these clubs pay stupid money too so this 1/4 wage theory doesn't add up.
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right, well i was just thinking of Robinho, Kaka, Lucio, Julio Cesar, Bastos, Maicon, Thiago Silva, Gilberto (highest paid in Greece) Melo, Alves, Fabiano and Nilmar, who all earn top european wages at top clubs.
and Pato, Ronaldinho, Marcelo, other Alves, Cicinho, Aurelio, Juan, Lucas, Baptista and Elano, to name a couple more.
atupid comment
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"Not sure if I agree with that, surely he'd have to have played a good number of games too?"
Would Rooney, Gerrard or Lampard?
He has to show he's still the player he was, but he's so versatile and capable it would be madness to not take a fit Hargreaves. He offers everything Barry does, but more. If we need a strong midfield to give our attacking threat freedom, those two combined would match anything any other national midfield can muster. If you think you can see a stronger pair, who are both able to pass as well as win the ball and protect the back four, i'd be interested to know who they are.
[insert striker]
Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard
Barry, Hargreaves
would make a world class team that would be incredibly hard to break down.
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If fit, Hargreaves should definitely be in the side ahead of Barry. Just a bit of a concern how many semi-fit or injury-prone players there are who we're relying on to keep those metatarsals wrapped in cotton wool... Joe Cole, Gerrard, Hargreaves, all pretty handy, wouldn't you say? And I thought SWP was quite good the other day. He gave it a good old go in 400 degrees and didn't have Johnson bombing on to help him out.
Trini - I'm not scared. I prefer both UB40's to the Pet Shop Boys anyway. When the PSB's start handing out other people's hard-earned money or making chirpy Brummie reggae I'll reconsider my position.
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152. At 4:57pm on 16 Nov 2009, Owls_Geezer wrote:
153. At 4:58pm on 16 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
All those Brazilians named are being paid huge amounts but are these all the top players that come out of Brazil?? With the exception of Kaka, Maicon and Ronaldinho, I think there are Brazilians that are head to head with the rest of the others mentioned in terms of skill and talent. However since they have not been discovered, they usually stay hidden and unknown. I think that is the point he tried to make
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What has Burley got to do with this article?? We know Scptland are a poor side. Why compare him to Capello when the article is about England? Why not talk about the manager of Outer Mongolia or Barbados?
It's no wonder everyone in Scotland wants England to lose with the media in this country constantly trying to rub it in.
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Should the SFA consider suspending itself for 10 years to all all Scottish pro-football be played under the english FA?
The clubs and players may start at the base of the pyramid and work their way up. After 10 that, they can re-evaluate the national squad and see if they are able to survive on their own.
You are as good as your competition. Give or take.
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Would Rooney, Gerrard or Lampard?
If they had been out as long as OH has, then yes.
"He has to show he's still the player he was......."
Surely the only way to do that is by playing enough games?
Don't get me wrong, I really rate OH, it's just that I don't think England can afford to bring players who are not 100% ready to fight for the cause
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Thats fair enough then, but when he said they played their socks off against us I assumed he meant the one who played?
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"As far as Brown, no doubt you'd rather have Carragher."
I'd guess most people would, on account of him not being ginger and shite.
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Kevin - I reckon several other factors might be involved as well. Such as the relative lack of success of Irn Bru south of the border. The advent of the steam-cooker. The decline of skirt-wearing amongst heterosexual males. Culloden, perhaps? Stop shouting at the English because your team's poor. There are, as illustrated, much better reasons to shout at us. But please, whatever you do, don't blame us for our media!
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Bent is just another one track bully. Give him a poor team and he will score plenty, for instance check who he has scored against in the Premier League. As soon as he comes up against a quality defender he lacks any ideas and once the defender knows what you are about to do he just has to make sure he is in the right position to cut out tht through ball.
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Bent has scored against Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool this season. Nearly half of his entire goals tally. Are Vidic, Evra, Skrtel, Terry, Ashley Cole and Carvallho not quality defenders?
So before you next make a post, try to make sure the words aren't coming out your arse, as you clearly know very little about what you are talking about.
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Kevin - there's another reason @ 161. The proposed introduction of gulags for gingers. You'd be knackered then, eh?
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161. At 5:12pm on 16 Nov 2009, BeyondThePale wrote:
"As far as Brown, no doubt you'd rather have Carragher."
I'd guess most people would, on account of him not being ginger and shite.
Ha Ha, does have a point!
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Rooney 4 or 5 years ago was playing for fun, scoring fantasy goals and was arguably the best under 21 year old player in the world (at that time).
Since that time, he has been playing out of position for both his club team and country and still manages to be, again arguably, the best defensive midfielder!!!
He had, hopefully still has, a spark of genius, devilment and let's have a bash attitude, remember the smart kid in the playground, all the tricks and spectaculars??
Well, if you didn't, you should, because that WAS Wayne Rooney - an absolute show stopper.
Just REMEMBER before ye text (playing to orders methinks!!)
Bye Bye
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161. At 5:12pm on 16 Nov 2009, BeyondThePale wrote:
"As far as Brown, no doubt you'd rather have Carragher."
I'd guess most people would, on account of him not being ginger and shite.
instead he's whiny and scouse? Oh yeah, far better. Thankfully, Capello doesn't have to worry about having to make that choice.
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no it isn't fair enough, Owlsy
the players (nameless) referred to are not good enough. in england we bleat about technique, but if you actually watch the braziliam leagues you'll see several stepovers followed by hours of boring rubbish, and very little effort.
it is a myth that there are loads of good, undiscovered players in SA that would put the english to shame, as scouting is too good for that to be true
in fact, the two brazilians who play in brazil and fancy the world cup are adriano, who had a drinking problem which forced him to turn his back on the wages, and ronaldo, who can't even be bothered to get fit for a world cup. not an attitude you'd find amongst the england players
there wasn't one player in the Brazil squad who doesn't play in europe. kleber and miranda have been in the squad this year, but the overwhelming majority are european based, and payed more than gary cahill, or emile heskey, for example.
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gen - football blog. carra is still better than wes, even in the slow motion he's been employing this year
lack of quality rightbacks, tho. v empty behind GJ
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I suppose I should clarify my comments about the Brazilian players. I never said they were underpaid, just probably - apart from a few individuals like Ronaldinho (why someone mentioned him goodness knows, he wasn't on the pitch), Pato, J. Cesar etc. - on a lot less than some of the England players, most of whom are a bit overrated (Jenas anyone?)
Nilmar is a good example, yes he plays for Villarreal but they probably don't pay anything like a EPL team, and younger players such as Bastos, Sandro and Diego Tardelli who have to prove themselves first in their league and with lesser teams in the European leagues before they get a big pay cheque.
My point also was that this doesn't seem to happen enough in the EPL - a young player with talent will come along (like SWP, say), will have a ridiculous amount of cash thrown at him early on, and then fail to live up to his these prospects...ok, maybe this is because he never had THAT much talent in the first place (although I though he was one of England's better players on Sat) or perhaps it's because he has it all at the age of 21/22/23 - whenever - and loses his hunger. It's possible.
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You forget Neville of course
I really don't think Carragher is better than Brown. Sure there isn't much between them, and maybe it's just going to be down to Liverpool vs United, but i'd have Brown in my team ahead of Carragher every day of the year.
I can't stand slow defenders, because when they're caught out of position (like Terry was so much this qualifying) they can't get back to cover. That's why Rio has been so good - he makes mistakes but (in days of old) would make it back to make the tackle or block.
Brown was slow against a lightening player, but he's not up to fitness yet. He may have been holding the Liverpool backline together, but i've never rated him, and that isn't just anti-scouse sentiment. I appreciate that its hard to believe that though...
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...Actually maybe Ronaldinho is a good example, as are Adriano and Ronaldo, of what happens to most players when they have too much, too young.
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Captain, I'm not a fan of Brazilian league games, to be fair I dont watch it as dont know when they show it here other than about 3am on the world footy programme. So granted if you watch the games you will know more about their style, But in the UK I just find too many overpaid players who are happy to sitback and take the cash, if they dont earn it out there then they simply must play because they want to.
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Bent has scored against Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool this season. Nearly half of his entire goals tally. Are Vidic, Evra, Skrtel, Terry, Ashley Cole and Carvallho not quality defenders?
So before you next make a post, try to make sure the words aren't coming out your arse, as you clearly know very little about what you are talking about.
You beat me to it! Some people are too keen to knock without first checking the facts.
Bent was up against it from the start on Saturday, England's build up was laboured throughout. Bent's game is all about pace and movement, England's hapless midfield did not exploit this. England's best chance was created by a Bent flick for Rooney, who was then fouled and denied what was a clear chance, Bent almost got onto the loose ball.
Hopefully the goals will keep flowing where it really matters and he'll get a further chance.
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So why do Scotland (and Wales and Northern Ireland) have different teams anyway? FIFA should really put an end to this nonsense and force the UK (or GB - whatever you want to call it) to field one team, as it is one country. Wales beat Scotland, did they? Should be about as significant as a charity match between, say, North Italy and North-West Italy.
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Illparrot - you don't seem to be reading what you write.
Bastos is at Lyon, paid quite well (25,000pw), Sandro isn't in the squad and neither was Tardelli. Gary Cahill isn't on big bucks, and to use SWP (who plays for a club in a different stratosphere to most) as an example doesn't prove anything.
also, the players in spain pay half the tax, so actually take home a lot more than their English counterparts.
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Scotland being currently ranked by FIFA at number 46 are struggling as they have for a while and seem to have driven away more managers than most. Who will now pick up the baton and run with the Scots? A brave man perhaps? Like Republic of Ireland (34) and Northern Ireland (30) are ranked slightly above Scotland as it stands with England topping the pack at Number 7 in the quartet!
Where do these sides aspire to reach? Maybe they are there now or could even go lower, be realistic! The problem being that these smaller nations only have a limited number of players to choose from. This seems an obvious statement but if you do not have the quality then no team will do well.
The England "second string" team that played, with the exception of two players, did OK against Brazil but showed the lack of real quality of the squad beyond the first team. There are some of those players that can fill in but that's about it, they are not going to set the world on fire, I'm afraid.
Let's hope that the first team leading stars stay fit. No need to worry as this also applies to many other international teams so we are not alone.
http://jonnyontheball.blogspot.com/
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Owlsy, not a dig at you, sorry. I agree, but they aren't all English (in fact the worst is Bogarde, formerly of Chelsea). I agree the SWP lacks something, but he works hard, and will never go down the Ronaldo/Adriano/Ronaldinho route
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171 GenesisRed - It's commendable that you love your club so much, but that was a comedy post, surely? (Dangles rod......)
UnwedUnfed - Great Britain is the island containing England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland and various other islands like the Isle of Man, and is a sovereign state. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are countries. And trying to get us to play together is a bit of a stretch!
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My comment to hackerjack got modded - first time - suppose its a milestone!!!!!!! :-)
Just for clarity I was being sarcy re alves - the reference to him playing a deeper role shold have given it away - bet hackerjack you got no sense of h???? Anyway what kind of tit am I - blue red white??? seeing as that seeems to be acceptable comapred to my retort to you as a doorknob, or at least 4 of the letters contained therin>???? nuf said
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Captain, you don't seem to read what you write either...and every other comment is yours so maybe you need a 10 minute break for the sake of your eyes.
Ok, Bastos - good example - he played for a while at Feyenoord, was loaned to a smaller Dutch club, and went back to Brazil, then moved to Lille (are you sure these teams could match EPL wages? Really?). He finally moved to Lyon this season.
Ok, Sandro and Tardelli weren't on the pitch but neither were a whole list of players you listed above as being paid well (Ronaldinho, Robinho, Cicinho, Baptista...). Even the players that were on the pitch, Elano, Fabiano, Nilmar, etc don't get paid anywhere near what players like Lampard and Terry are on, or for that matter what Jenas is on probably!!
The fact is we have a great U-21 team, and a good U-19 team but most of those players will be bought by big EPL clubs, paid shed loads and left on the bench to rot (SWP is the perfect example) or just get lazy (sorry to harp on about him but look at Jenas for God's sake!) and lose their bite.
We could extend this to Argentine players too (Aimar, D'Alessandro lost it after having too much at a young age, but players like Milito haven't) or German players...or Italian players - all of which seem to take longer to progress to the big clubs, and the national teams, and also seem to perform better because of it.
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(First time blog replier, long time reader) (Also, up the Boro!)
I personally thought it was somewhat odd that SWP's rather mediocre peformance (he was in a competition with Jenas for worst player on the pitch, it seemed) was followed by Ian Wright praising him as the only player of worth in the game.
I know a man has a certain familial bias, but there is a line. The quiet awkwardness as he did so only added to the humour of it all.
Anyway, losing 1-0 to a full strength Brazil when we fielded the third string isnt so terrible. We even had the most terrible attempt at a penalty to give us heart, in case we ever get in a PK shootout with them, we may have met our match for spannering them up.
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no comedy whatsoever. Brown is a far better player than Carragher, in my view anyway. Neither of them are ideal options for right back, except where we just want someone to hold back.
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Anyway, i'm off home...toodle-oo people - I, for one, can't wait for the EPL to resume!!
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175. At 5:30pm on 16 Nov 2009, UnwedUnfed wrote:
So why do Scotland (and Wales and Northern Ireland) have different teams anyway? FIFA should really put an end to this nonsense and force the UK (or GB - whatever you want to call it) to field one team, as it is one country.
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Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland one country?
Please tell me you're joking.
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179 Wales is only a principality and we should never let them forget it.
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Why can't fabio give ashley young an actual run in the team. when joe cole is fit he should be on the left but ashley young is fast, both footed, can run at defenders and unlike lennon and walcott can actually cross a ball. Like a winger is ment to do.
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Hargreaves is a shoo-in if he gets fit; I'm just not sure how fit he can get in the time available. There's a difference between being fit and being match fit and being match fit and on top of your game. There may just be enough time if he doesn't suffer a relapse but it doesn't look good to me. Such a shame because - as he showed in 2006 - he's our best player at this level; better than Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry and Ferdinand because he's been schooled at Bayern, away from the mindlessness of the English game. We need his energy, his intelligence, his competitive spirit and his mental toughness. Carrick and Barry don't even come close. He should have been England captain after Beckham.
And don't write off Downing. Again, time may be against him but he has more genuine quality than Lennon, SWP and Ashley Young put together. Milner will probably beat him to the plane because he's bright and useful but, as the Brazil game showed, not quite quick enough.
Forget Michael Owen. Our poacher is Defoe. Carlton Cole might be a better bet than Heskey but needs to maintain progress. Darren Bent just isn't clever enough to outfox international defenders, nor ruthless enough in front of goal.
And Joe Cole is NOT A WINGER! For Christ's sake, IF he gets a regular place in the Chelsea team, and it's still an if, it'll be in the hole behind a front two. Whether Capello will trust him there is another matter.
Our best team (assuming fitness, form and mental focus) is James, Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Gerrard, Hargreaves, Lampard, Downing, Rooney, Heskey (with C Cole coming up fast). Subs: Green, Jagielka, Barry, Walcott, J Cole, Defoe. Squad members: Foster, Brown, Bridge, Carrick, Lennon, Crouch
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113. At 4:22pm on 16 Nov 2009, Illparrot wrote:
Re 19: I do hope that was a joke...either that or you need glasses!
yEAH It was ... p.s. I do wear specs as it happens ... couldnt get used to contacts!?!?!?
And Alves is class ... the good one not the one who now plays in the middle east.
TO get on point ... has the Gerrard/Lampard playing together questione been resolved - if so Ive missed it - otherwise cant see Lampard getting a start before Gerrard
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177 jonnyontheball,
How big do you think the NL is? They're not do to bad. China has loads of people to choose from. Why aren't they number 1?
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182. At 5:44pm on 16 Nov 2009, MrGale wrote:
(First time blog replier, long time reader) (Also, up the Boro!)
Another one ... there is more of us on here than go the Riverside (get the digs in early before they get them in)... there will be a PL backlash soon if our numbers grow further :-)
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FBH, beat me to it mate, ha ha.
You guys do seem to be coming out of the woodwork though,but its good to have opinion outside of the so called "top 4" views
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190. Holloway2Holland.
OK.
A team only needs to find around 20 players ... you would think that's simple, obviously not!
Northern Ireland have a population around 1.75 million and have kicked above their weight for many years. Football is high on the agenda in sporting terms.
China are FIFA ranked at 102. Perhaps there are not enough people that play football at the moment. They have around 1.3 billion to choose from!
On your comments China should be top, but as my little cousin says.
"That no workey that way!"
http://jonnyontheball.blogspot.com/
p.s. How many table tennis players in Ireland? Ha ha!
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Why is it that Ashley Young seems to be over looked by everyone?! I'm no Villa fan, but I reckon Young is one of the most consistent wingers to possess English citizenship! So why, o why does Capello overlook him every time. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big Capello fan, I think he can do wonders at the England helm, but I do question his selection policy from time to time. I completely agree with critics who say that SWP is an under-perfromer who has never lived-up to his tag. Young, on the other hand, puts in match winning performances every week as a key, key cogg in a side who continue to impress. People talk about a 'the finished procduct' which quick English wingers seem to lack. Look no further than Young!! He has an abuncance of pace - but in addition, two good feet, a great cross, a great pass, good intelligence and link-up play, and he's a good set-piece player. Of this list, SWP possess one... pace. I just can't understand why Capello keeps selecting SWP over Young, especially when Young hasn't been given a fair chance, whereas SWP has been given many chances and hasn't been effective in any of them! It drives me crazy.
Another selection issue, one already of heated debated, is Owen. I get that Bent's form this season has been good, but Capello is writing off undoubtedlty England's best finisher. I know he doesn't pick players based on reputation, but its not like Owen has been playing poorly. Surely Owen deserved his chance, its not like he doesn't put in the effort. We aren't talking about some unproven international striker who can find the net for Sunderland on the club scene. I don't wanna take anything away from Bent, but scoring goals in the premiership for Sunderland is hardly the same as scoring goals for England against BRAZIL!! Owen has scored agaisnt Brazil before, he has also played for some of the most illustrious teams in Europe, and Played in World Cups, and he has shown this season that he still has the innate eye for goal and still has the sharpness which has won him 89... yes, 89... caps. And he's 29! Not withering with old age. I'm certain that that Owen is still a class act, but Capello just wont give him the chance. And if you argue that Capello is picking based on form, then why would Foster make the side? He hasn't even made then bench for United recently.
These are the two things that I just can't come to terms with: the discount of Young and Owen.
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H2H - I was going to wind the spurs fans up earlier - I praised Crouch (sincerely - I remember a game when he played for soton and he had Southgate in his back pocket all game and scored a classy goal or two) - but I noticed the gentle backlash against him - well thats the last time I vouch for a player who doesnt play for a big club !!??
p.s. a good mate of mine is a spurs fan - all sadi in fun!!??
P.S dopnt overlook downing - can see it now - last minute of the world cupo final - downing comes on crosses the ball and scores with a header from his own cross!!! Just me then .....
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I imagine I will get a lot of stick for saying this but... I thought our team would have put in a much better performance with Heskey on the pitch. With Heskey offering an outlet to hold the ball up it would have let Rooney play off the front man and spread the play, it would have given Milner someone to pass to, it would have allowed England to hold on to possession instead of aimlessly punting the ball over the top, and it would have let England play for territory.
Without Heskey our play had no front man to work off, Rooney dropped to receive the ball and Bent went long to look for the ball over the top. It is exactly at this lesser England level that I expect we would have seen Heskey's true value - he provides a fixed supporting striker role allowing wingers and forwards to make runs off and midfielders to be brought into play from. Brazil would have struggled with Heskey's presence imo, even if he would have provided his usual level of goal threat = zero.
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193 jonny,
Some fair points, although I think it all boils down to the grass roots and how young people are trained in the ways of football, and some just do it better than others.
194 chicheh,
Agree Owen was a top England striker, the key word being WAS. I'm not sure if he can still cut it at the top, and I haven't seen the "sharpness" you mentioned yet. But I do hope he comes good good.
195 FBH,
Nothing wrong with winding up a spud now and again.
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194. chicheh
I like Michael Owen. He is a top top player and scores goals. Just what a centre forward does well!! 88 England Caps and 44 Goals... Very good goal to match ratio.
Have a look at these goals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIqfqNw1fKo
http://jonnyontheball.blogspot.com/
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There is only one man who will decide whether Owen will go (actually 2 if you count Capello) - SAF - if he picks him he will go - a bit like built it and they will come/??? AQnd I hope he does go.
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Blimey Robbo, it's been stirred up today, the posts virtually leapt to the usual theme with even less than a sprinkling of relevance, must be due to lack of action (I mean in the Prem over the weekend). Far be it from me to be relevant.
Last week, the lass told me she'd got tickets for a Robbo night at a Theater in NY on Saturday. After being turned away from 5 jam packed parking garages, we finally squeezed the gas guzzler into one, shoveled down some grub and entered the theatre. Lo and behold, it was Rob(bo) Thomas (matchbox 20, or something). After my initial disappointment it became apparent that all was not lost, it seemed as if his rock-ballad-love song-style might help prime the pumps for a bit of action but alas, no. Two hours in bloody traffic and she wasn't the only one who couldn't be ar$ed. A weekend of zero success on and off the pitch.
Which brings us to Satin Dolls, the actual name of the BadaBing strip club where they filmed the Sopranos. You should pop over sometime, perhaps after the Whitley Bay game during the next International break?
As far as footy is concerned, SWP shouldn't be anywhere near the England set up. The only way he should be on the plane is if he has a pilot's licence. However, for some very odd reason, he keeps getting invited.
We have some solid lads but the difference makers are what we need at least a sprinkling of. We can't go with a team full of "solid, reliable, dependable, no risk, predictable types" we need the oddd touch of magic to win through the knock-out stage and that's why Beckham will be there all wrapped in cotton wool until his country needs him, Joe Cole and Theo too and beyond that we're struggling to find 'difference makers'. Crouch before Heskey for me, any day!
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Think you're being a little bit harsh on Lescott and Upson. As you say, they looked dependable - the most important quality in a centre-half.
The real non-performers were Brown, SWP and Bent. I'm willing to let Bent off because he never got a sniff of the ball, let alone a chance to get a shot off. If it's between him and Defoe to partner Rooney, we had best go with Bent, though I'm still in favour of playing Heskey against most sides. Without a big lump at the point of our ideal 4-2-3-1 formation, we look distinctly one dimensional. Kind of like Arsenal if they were forced to play without Fabregas and Arshavin - knock it about sideways a lot but nobody has the quality to find a killer ball.
Quite why SWP keeps finding himself in an England shirt is beyond me. He's rubbish and always has been. I'd have much rather seen Young given the nod, as he hasn't used up his chances to the extent old Wright-Phillips has.
Milner is also getting too much credit for my liking. He works hard, which is terrific and I admire that, but international class he is not. He won't beat the top defenders through pace or trickery and though his delivery is (usually) reliable, it doesn't have that veneer of Beckham class. Not that I advocate Becks as a starter. Walcott or Lennon have to be our first choice on the right.
It seems to me the media are set on bigging up the individuals rather than picking a functioning eleven. Yes, we all know Defoe is a natural goalscorer, but we are AWFUL, and I mean AWFUL when we play anyone without physical presence up alongside Rooney.
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FBH,
Here's one for your Spurs mates.
http://gunnerblog.com/images/NLD-arse.jpg
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And he's outta here!
Yup today's worst kept secret is out in the open. Burley's gone.
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This should not be Bents last chance in an England shirt...his goal scoring rate is second to none...and it was perhaps just unlucky he got his chance agaisnt the best team in the world and had no service to atleast pose any kind of threat.....Here hoping Bent gets another chance
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203 Star, gotta feel a little sorry for the guy, it's not like he had much to work with, and that ridiculous episode Hotel-gate, or whatever it was called, and the hoopla over the banned players couldn't have helped much. I think the SFA need to take a good look at themselves too, surely they must share the blame for the downfall of scottish football too.
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SWP once again didn't fail to disappoint in his utter uselessness. The touch of an ox and the footballing brain of a headless chicken. For a player who is now supposedly reaching his peak, I find it embarrassing at how often he makes the wrong decision. Every run he makes always ends with him being outmuscled and every pass ends up perfectly at the feet of an opposing defender. Even when he does (rarely) make the right decision his passes are woefully executed. His performance on Saturday summed up everything that is bad about his play. How anyone with such a lack of intelligence and awareness on the pitch can be considered for the national team is a travesty. I feel sorry for Darren Bent, who had to try and make an impression when SWP did not play one decent ball to him all night (admittedly, neither did anyone else!). As Robbo said, I want to like the guy, but he is no international footballer.
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Not Flash Gordon, Dan Dare. Did you never read the Eagle?
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and yet Tommy it' salways me that wins in the end because cream rises to the top and like you poo sinks to the bottom
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thank goodness adamp disappeared after this howler!
i was starting to feel really bad for the lad. surely he'll change his name, if he can even bear to show his cyber-face around here again.
question: if Fergie is such a brilliant coach, why has he stayed in his comfy ManU post for so long, rather than take on a real challenge as manager of Scotland? is it because he's a gutless w*nker, or is there another reason? :)
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good blog, nice to see you have beckham in your definite squad (if his waasn't becham but was playing like he is currently no one would question his place).
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There is only one man who will decide whether Owen will go (actually 2 if you count Capello) - SAF - if he picks him he will go - a bit like built it and they will come/??? AQnd I hope he does go
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FBH, surely Owen could not be considered for a squad place. He has done nothing for years. The only thing that set him apart from other strikers was his speed and he has lost much of that nowadays. I think, like Wes Brown, the only reason anyone is considering him is because he plays for a top four club. If either he or Brown played for Wigan, for example, they would not be considered for the 'D' team. That's my opinion anyway.
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As a Scot, i feel i have been forced to dive south for my World Cup kick. Just a few points about potential squad selection. England currently have a problem at right back. Yes Glen Johnson is an excitng talent, but for a world cup, you really have to take a back up. Heres the difficulty, who? Brown just didnt look up for it, Capello has shown that hes not too keen on shoving milner there, what about beckham? At the last world cup he looked like the ideal candidate, with lennon in front, beckham could provide a solid job, gives the option of a winger if glen johnson is fit, and of course you've got your set pieces.
Secondly, Left wing, always a problem. MY preferred choice would be Joe Cole, although hes not a left winger. Milner, SWP and Lennon have all looked ineffective out there, so i would love to see Downing come onto a game before June, or Ashley Young get another shot. But, last World Cup, Theo Walcott was a surprise, so can anyone see adam johnston making the squad to give a left wing option? Just a thought.
Finally, Crouch over Heskey anyday. Owen doesnt have a chance, hes just not good enough, no matter how much everyone wiches he could be. Its a got be Rooney, Crouch, Defoe and Carlton Cole, with Theo Walcott in the squad as a winger.
Thoughts?
Up front, i really cant see heskey doin much at the world cup. Given the choice, its Crouch over Heskey everytime, and Crouch would be my fourth striker.
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Proper Bo - thats sort of the point Im making mate - if SAF can get him back to form he will go - to do that he has to pick him - he cant be as bad as he looked up the road (St Jokers Park) but if he can do it for Man You then maybe he can go ... if not then stay
Skotty - No one is stadning out on the left but agree that Stewie D (see he is nearly in Stevie G mode) has got to be a choice
Mind you, one thing for certain, no Boro players will be going ... :-(
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And Becks does still seem to have that touch of beauty that makes selection an interesting issue ...
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Evening all. I seem to remember that Capello once played Beckham at RB for Real Madrid. Capello was also quoted I think in the Spanish Press as saying that Owen didn't do enough outside the box to justify being a first choice. If accurate I wonder if he still feels the same way.
I like Millner, he shows real promise but I feel his year will be 2014 and I understand Capello has identified him as one for the future.
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Gibbs for left wing?
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83. At 3:33pm on 16 Nov 2009, ColchesterFC wrote:
I can't understand all the comments saying you've got to pick Heskey because Crouch only scores against poor sides. At least he scores. Heskey doesn't bloody score against anyone, good or bad!
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Listen I'm not Heskey's biggest fan either, but it seems the other players like working with him and that's not such a bad thing - and Capello seems to like what he offers too. My team selection in the blog was pretty much what I imagine Capello has in his mind.
Crouch and Defoe offer different options n all, so them three plus Rooney is as good as we'll get, and I'd throw in C. Cole too. Walcott, Lennon, Joe Cole add other bits n bobs. I still think we've got a shout for the World Cup... well, maybe not a shout but at the very least a raised voice.
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#201 - harsh on Lescott and Upson by saying they're dependable? Crikey if you think that's harsh you should hear my opinion of Titus Bramble.
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Robbo said "Crikey" ... he can't be a boro fan ... Gosh he is too middle class!!!!
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I suppose if it weren't for two left feet and cataracts Bramble would be the finest CH in the country
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how about "we're in with a a muted croak"?
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213 fbh- re: beckham's "touch of beauty" - he's not A-donis he's THE-donis
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Blog mate - just didnt want to call it a touch of genius - thats too far as in "the word genius is overused but he really is a genius" that arty types say.
I'm from "up north" ... we don't give compliments that lightly!!! :-)
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222. At 11:41pm on 16 Nov 2009, followingborohurts wrote:
I'm from "up north" ... we don't give compliments that lightly!!! :-)
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Sure you dont. You lot only have like two dozens Massiahs and a couple hundred saints and saviours.
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Aye but without YHWH for a full house they still stand no chance
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224. At 00:09am on 17 Nov 2009, redpreacherman wrote:
Aye but without YHWH for a full house they still stand no chance
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The wrath of Yahweh does explain their current predicament.
"I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, or my praise to idols."
Especially when one of the idols is allegedly an Al-Qaeda operative.
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A name first first given to Moses but I doubt if Moses and Isaiah combined will be of any help. Possibly the four horsemen of the Acopalypse?
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I think milner is a certain for the world cup, based only upon his desire and passion. I think given a real chance with a proper England team around him he will show what he is good at. Against Holland he turned the game for us. Its unfortunate that at the weekend he was playing with has beens and nearly theres.
Gareth Barry for all the stick he does get from the villa fans, we can happily sit there and watch what we have created, he may have left the club but i like to think he would be welcomed back. We have created the missing link in the England side. Carrick? Jenas? for me just dont cut it. Robbo said he thought he moved at half the pace of everyone else, he doesnt need to move at 100mph, he has the eye for a pass. Every villa fan will know he has never been the quickest of players but what makes hime good is his vision.
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208* Denis, more interesting to note that tommyonion vanished when a few people spotted he wasn't adding to the debate, just bullying adamsp
anyway what's wrong with the "charmed" girls up front? "the power of three" always wins!
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I always thought football was a team game and whether Heskey fluffs one in off his knee or not doesn't really matter. The bloke works his @rse for every team he plays in. The managers who pick him and the players who play with him seem to appreciate his contribution to the TEAM. He's not being picked to score otherwise he'd never be picked in the first place. He's being picked to allow those around him play their games better and the sooner people realise that the sooner everyone will get off his back. He'll be on the plane because I think Capello (and previous England managers) know a bit more about football than the average Robbo blogger.
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212.. Owen is just not up to it. My point earlier was the ONLY reason anyone is looking to him is because he is part of a top four club. Playing for united does not make him an international player. He was in the past but he has lost much of what got him noticed back then.
It's the same with Brown; he is not nor will he ever be an international defender. He showed a bit of promise earlier in his career but his potential has been realised and he is lacking in quality. It would not surprise me if Ferguson gets rid of him in the next year or two. For me, Micah Richards should be considered. I am surprised Capello has never considered him at right back. He has speed, is strong and is a good solid defender.
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205. At 7:56pm on 16 Nov 2009, Holloway2Holland wrote:
203 Star, gotta feel a little sorry for the guy, it's not like he had much to work with, and that ridiculous episode Hotel-gate, or whatever it was called, and the hoopla over the banned players couldn't have helped much. I think the SFA need to take a good look at themselves too, surely they must share the blame for the downfall of scottish football too.
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I agree whole heartedly there H2H.
It says it all for the state of the Scottish game when a Wales side that can no longer call upon the likes of Giggs and Bellamy can tear them apart now.
Greame Souness summed things up well when he said he doubted that the likes of SAF or Wenger could have done much better with what Burley had to play with.
The SFA need to tear things apart and rebuild everything from the grass roots up if they ever want a competitive national side again.
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I have a feeling that we consider Rooney as something of a sacred cow. No one even dare to mention if he had a poor game and instead try to put blame on others with excuses such as 'he didnt get much service.' Most of the time I see Rooney arguing with refrees, although I give him some benefit of doubt for that as this is how he is brought up by his club. Mind you, I am not trying to imply that Rooney is not a good player, but to treat him as we usually do just irritates me.
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Robbo,
I disagree very much with your assessment (and of some others') of Barry who was one of England's only reliable players on Saturday. And I am not a Man City fan. He controlled the ball well and passed successfully. Most importantly he broke up Brazil's play whenever he was involved. In my opinion, Barry is the crucial missing link in the midfield partnership of Gerrard and Lampard, regardless whether Heargraves is in or out.
As for the attack, Rooney is indispensable (and I am not a Man U fan either). He works as hard as Drogba, although not as good looking, and scores as many as Torres, although not as cool!
The issue of Heskey has been commented many times. It is very simple, Heskey is in the team because he is a selfless player who makes everyone else look good. Games are won by goals but those goals dont come about from one or two players only, it is a collective effort. If there were statistics about how good the England team is with and without Heskey (in the same way they do for American basketball) i am convinced they would show the team performs better with heskey. He pulls defenders out of position and allows Rooney to do more than when Crouch is around. Capello obviously knows this. you robbo dont seem to.
Crouch is limited as a player to the availability of crosses from the wings. If those are not forthcoming, as in the case of Brazil, Crouch is neutralized. Also against strong defenders, regardless of height, Crouch always suffers because he gets outmuscled or penalized as referees regard him as having the advantage due to his height. Finally, Crouch has been unable to create a productive partnership with Rooney which is crucial for Capello.
While as someone said Crouch might be brought on for his freak value, i think that Defoe and Carlton Cole will be the obvious other attackers to the WC. Owen, on the other hand, has no chance. Sorry Robbo but you seriously need to stop talking about Owen as a possibility.
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227. At 01:29am on 17 Nov 2009, Tom wrote:
I think milner is a certain for the world cup, based only upon his desire and passion. I think given a real chance with a proper England team around him he will show what he is good at. Against Holland he turned the game for us. Its unfortunate that at the weekend he was playing with has beens and nearly theres.
Gareth Barry for all the stick he does get from the villa fans, we can happily sit there and watch what we have created, he may have left the club but i like to think he would be welcomed back. We have created the missing link in the England side. Carrick? Jenas? for me just dont cut it. Robbo said he thought he moved at half the pace of everyone else, he doesnt need to move at 100mph, he has the eye for a pass. Every villa fan will know he has never been the quickest of players but what makes hime good is his vision.
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Agreed about Barry. I think his apparent slowness gives me a few kittens and it's not quite a 'somehow has more time on the ball' slowness that Zidane had. Nevertheless he keeps it simple, does what he does well and should be on Capello's first team sheet every time.
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#233
Did I mention Owen? No. When I mention Owen, is it to praise him to the hilt and pray for the return of bygone days or to write him off as a bit of a liability? The latter. There are a lot of posters on here who have mentioned him, but usually just to exclude him from the 23. The press still long for the days when his hamstrings could stretch twice around the world and still ping back into a recognisable shape. But not me. He's a busted flush, which is a shame cos at 29 he should be at his peak. But you're right. He shouldn't get a mention anymore.
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Ay up Robbo... Yeah not a bad one mate, in fact given the tripe you had to write about you did amazing... These sort of freindlies ought to be banned by the Prime minister (i'm writing a letter as soon as this is typed), England games are sacred, and this was not... England vs Brazil ought to be one of the big ones, a sort of match you get in a lather about... but seeing a bunch of second string England players take on a Brazil team who look like they have been coached by Ray "the crab" Wilkins was just depressing... And why was it flipping Doha?
Roll on the weekend, at least when the prem play Adam and Onions can have a proper argument...
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Trini - I'm not scared. I prefer both UB40's to the Pet Shop Boys anyway. When the PSB's start handing out other people's hard-earned money or making chirpy Brummie reggae I'll reconsider my position.
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Tommyb - you are out of luck with chirpy brummie reggae as they thankfully will never record such a monstrosity but they do a lot of charity work so maybe if you listen to I'm Not Scared (on Introspective) you may actually like it (it's better than the version they recorded for Patsy Kensit).
#211 - as for right back - GARY NEVILLE FOR ENGLAND
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#85 - "ian wright was great on the pitch but as a pundit he has to be the worst ever chats complete rubbish most of the time and i see itv had him outside so he wouldn't jump around the studio if england scored"
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But... but don't you see? That's precisely WHY Ian Wright is the greatest pundit of all time. Any old fool can analyse the game and point out examples of so-and-so picking out good passes or whatshisface being caught out of position and leaving gaps at the back. That's child's play. On the other hand, it takes a special kind of pundit to focus analysis exclusively on his own son and to celebrate goals as if he'd scored them himself. That's what Ian Wright brings to the table, and it is legendary. It's only a matter of time until the other's jump on the bandwagon, and I for one cannot wait to see it Lawro bouncing around the MOTD studio whenever he gets a prediction right.
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Topic at hand - We should play Walcott and Defoe up front. Rooney can go out on the left and beat up the opponents' full backs. Gerrard to slot in behind the strikers and Joe Cole on the right. Hargreaves and Barry both at CM for defensive cover to let Ashley Cole and Micah Richards/Glen Johnson make runs. Terry and Upson at CB and in goal...
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Well, I wanted to say Almunis because I think it's funny, but even I can't defend that with the way he's been playin recently. Probably James or Robinson, I guess.
Incidentally, whatever happened to Richard Wright? I remmeber him being Mr. Future England No. 1 and signing for Arsenal, but then suddenly being rubbish and vanishing. Anyone fill me in? Does he play for your team? Does he work in your local supermarket? Where is he these days?
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Ipswich
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Richard Wright is currently back at his home,and original team,the mighty Ipswich.He's rubbish,but then so is the rest of my rabble!
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Just realsied that I typoed Almunia and set up a 12-man team.
Damn, I really need to lay off the *insert illegal subastance here*.
Drop Barry from the XII
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131. At 4:38pm on 16 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
anyone know why there are suddenly stories about Liverpool buying in Jan when we haven't got two to rub?
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There was aeven a national tabloid link with the bin dippers interested in Eduardo of Arsenal....apparently. I wouldn't mind but he can barely string together 3 games for us at the minute although his rehabilitation is almost fully complete he should be a regular starter soon even taking into account RVP's poor luck.
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I agree with H2H about SWP on MOTD and as for the SFA - SAF's fault. But RPM would blame YWHA, last seen at my local YMCA, just end it, YWHA, get it over with ASAP.
WYSIWYG.
LOL.
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Blog... You down with OPP?
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175. At 5:30pm on 16 Nov 2009, UnwedUnfed wrote:
FIFA should really put an end to this nonsense and force the UK (or GB - whatever you want to call it) to field one team, as it is one country.
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Do you try hard to come across as an idiot or is it really just ignorance that make syou think the UK is one country?? England is a country, Scotland is a country, Northern Ireland is a country and Wales is a country all each countries in their own right, check out a map/atlas just try and do your home work son.
The day when an England team has to rely on the likes of Darren Bent, Wes Brown, carrick et al is the day we hitch our collective national skirt and grab our ankles. Have things got this bad that we need James, Green and Foster in goal? God help us.
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241. At 09:34am on 17 Nov 2009, Inspired by TA6 wrote:
Just realsied that I typoed Almunia and set up a 12-man team.
Damn, I really need to lay off the *insert illegal subastance here*.
Drop Barry from the XII
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Decent 1st 12, but agree with the keeper option, who do you take, so i'd keep barry in the outfield 11 and play goalie wag.
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RBA, everybody is down with the OPP yo.
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#245 - I think Unwedunfed reckons it is the only way any Scottish players are going to get near a World Cup Finals. He's wrong though - the pundits box is the nearest they will ever get even if it was a UK team
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Whats this nonsense about Milner being more likely to go to the world cup than SWP?! Biggest loads of baloney i've heard IN MY LIFE!
Sure, I may be biased as a Man City fan, but I watch SWP week in week out and he is in my opinion one of the most intimidating players in the league when he's running at defenses!
Don't give the guy a hard time because he has one underpar performance. Plus Milner wasnt anything special.
Another comment like that Robson and I'd recommend getting your head checked.
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clampfish - he has had several underpar performances for England and has done nothing to really suggest that he is a long-term successor on teh right. I wouldn't take Milner either as I would favour pushing Ashley Cole onto teh left wing and have bridge behind him if something happened to Gerrard & Joe Cole
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A GB team would be a disaster, it means we would all be sat together, Scots Irish and English, cheering the same team? And all we'd hear about is how the English players dominate the selection too much. It would mean the World Cup/European Cup places would be shared out around a few more countries at least, but personally, as an England fan, i'd rather watch Ireland/Scotland/Wales play than Albania, Luxemberg and Malta.
Would you merge Man City and Man Utd? No, Celtic and Rangers? a big NO! Sheff Weds and Sheff Utd? An even bigger No, in fact this one deserves a Phuk off!
There's your answer #175
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IllParrot - i still don't entirely agree, and especially with the depth you mentioned in Brazilian football.
Jenas has failed over and over to live up to his potential, but i was trying to point out that people like Bastos are only in the squad because Aurelio is injured, and the majority of the Brazil team is very well paid and playing for top teams (Villareal have been in the CL recently, for example).
It is true that Dunga has decided not to use all of his marquee names, but the wage/hunger argument doesn't work at that level, and especially in that setting.
Bin-dippers, Eggsy? And where do you think Arsene picked up Pascal Cygan?
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RBA - OPP? HGAFC.
other peoples property? I aint no anarchist.
(Q why do anarchists only drink green tea? because proper tea is theft)
ontario provincial police? i aint no gay lumberjack
IMO acronyms should be banned except in james bond movies - SPECTRE, SMERSH (sounds like a steve mcclaren quote) etc
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228. At 05:07am on 17 Nov 2009, ZEUSFC wrote:
208* Denis, more interesting to note that tommyonion vanished when a few people spotted he wasn't adding to the debate, just bullying adamsp
yes, either that or i just had better things to do ? it's a tricky one to work out, isn't it?
shame though, looks like i've missed all the abuse that got modded.
As for the 'debate' - i think JDR has a point for once - the World Cup is months away, this friendly hasn't taught us much and we did the World Cup squad thing a few blogs back.
Re Scotland, i'm surprised George Graham's name hasn't been mentioned. I appreciate he's been out of the game for a good while BUT International footy management is an older man's game, he's experienced, successful, respected and he knows how to organise a defence and when you've not got much by way of attacking flair those skills are invaluable. I think he'd do as good a job as anyone out there with the players they have available.
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A GB team would be a disaster, it means we would all be sat together, Scots Irish and English....
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Isn't Wales part of Britain now?
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the other thing about a GB team is that there might not be any non-english players in the team (Craig Gordon?) for a while, and then the SPL would become a regional division, which in the long term might help the Scanimals getting into the developed world (PL)
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adampsb... SWP thrives on the confidence that comes from playing regularly in a settled team. His time at chelsea proved this.
I put my mortgage on SWP having a storming world cup if he gets some pitch time with Johnson (who will obv be playing right back) and the other mainstays (Gerrard, Lampard, Roo-fus). Fact.
You're not going to get the best out of SWP by yo-yoing him in and out of the team.
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Yes Bo, if you read further down I mentioned "i'd rather watch Ireland/Scotland/Wales" Everyone mis types or misses a word off now and again on these blogs, easily done.
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253... i take it you are not down with OPP then?
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SWP's problem is he's competing for a place with Walcott, Lennon & Beckham all of whom are ahead of him in the pecking order. Saturday was a an opportunity for him and he didn't take it.
Unless there are injuries i can't see him making the final squad.
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Tommy, I think the friendly taught us quite a bit. We cant rely on the second stringers.
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blog - surely you mean Marxists?
Tomm, he is on the list, as is the ginger usurper from Middlesborough, and Levine. Souness ruled himself out, although you'd think even the SFA would have realised by now that he couldn't manage to clean up after his own bowel movements, let alone after Burley.
And he is 100% hwanker.
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SWP might be a better option that Lennon or Walcott as GJ is an attacking fullback, and SWP is the best at tracking back out of those three. But if that is a factor then it has to be Beckham, surely.
Any outsiders? Ashley Young?
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252. At 10:03am on 17 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
Bin-dippers, Eggsy? And where do you think Arsene picked up Pascal Cygan?
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It was all meant in the best possible taste and you had to go and bring up Cygan eh? That there them words is fighting talk!
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261. At 10:15am on 17 Nov 2009, BojanglesOfOz wrote:
Tommy, I think the friendly taught us quite a bit. We cant rely on the second stringers.
we didn't already know that?
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Its a shame Micah Richards aint staking his claim for RB, he was outstanding when he came onto the scene, what happened? Did he catch Richard Wright disease?
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Sorry Owl, my mistake I didn't read your next post
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Don't make me talk Stepanovs, Eggs.
Boj - i can't think if any team (other than the Spanish midfield) that can field 2 world class sides
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267. At 10:22am on 17 Nov 2009, BojanglesOfOz wrote:
Sorry Owl, my mistake I didn't read your next post
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it was all on same post but no probs
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"It was all meant in the best possible taste and you had to go and bring up Cygan eh?"
What? Cygan was a legend. You don't get furniture-based nicknames unless you're doing something right.
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Owls, he's a centre back, and never had the training or gametime to make the switch across. I think he's a natural CB, and the RB position is weak in terms of naturals. Maybe Tyrone Mears should get his passport ready just in case.
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Captain, I'm happy with them fielding one world class side, when are we gonna field one? :)
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Interesting Q, Bo
I feel it's really hard for those who watch the PL every week, especially without Sky to view Spain, to judge where England's best players rank in world terms. There can be no criticism leveled at the Cap, so it comes down to whether Gerrard, Rooney and Terry are world class. Is Cashley the World's best leftback? Is there a better RB than Johnson?
In some positions (GK) we are clearly offal, but i'd hope that Steve and John can do something. It'll probably be their last chance at a World Cup (or it should be)
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I still feel Capello hasn't given Micah Richards an opportunity to prove himself at right back. I don't see anyone in goals worth a mention.. It's too late to get Schwartzer to change allegiances. Gerrard to me is quality and so is Lampard (I think this may be his last opportunity). Rooney is good but I don't agree with most on here who think he is great. I don't think he is up to Shearer's class even.
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We get Spanish and Italian football live here as well as the PL. I only watch the PL though. Although the quality of football is brilliant in Spain and Italy, i generally find it too slow.
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Bo - agree on Rooney, yet to really find his niche.
Cap can't play Micah at RB for England until he's playing there for Man City, as no international manager would choose to play someone out of position
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Re Richard Wright... he's at Ipswich but meets every Thursday for a coffee morning with a lot of other future England No.1s - Chris Kirkland, Scott Carson, Chris Woods, Mervyn Day, Peter Bonetti, etc... and cripes the amount of biscuits that just get dropped on the floor, you wouldn't believe...
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He played Brown at right back and as I said in an earlier post and he certainly isn't one, not even sure if he is a permanent fixture in that position at united.
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#274
Micah Richards would be fine if he can get his act together. But his ability seems to be in inverse proportion to the amount of bling he loads on to his ears, neck and fingers. If he could just get rid of all that clutter he might remember what a cracking player he was.
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Richards played for England under Ericson.
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Yeah bling has a tendency to slow you down a bit.
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didn't Richards play at RB in the Manc derby - and was atrocious ?
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#274 - Rooney is a different type of player to Shearer so you can't really compare the 2 as Shearer always led the line. Rooney is more like a Sheringham or Sutton but with more pace & strength which is why Defoe or Owen rather than Heskey would get more out fo him
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I missed that game Tommy.
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I wasn't really comparing them adam, I just said I didn't think he was in Shearer's class.
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Rooney is overrated... their i said it! He is... its true! Remember phil mcnulty done a blog on Rooner Torres and Drogba... Well Rooney is not as good and never will be as good as those 2... I'm sorry i wish it wasn't true, but it is... That said he is good, just not that good... And you know he would probably find a yard or two more if he didn't have the weight of a nations expectation on his shoulders... We do not have any world class strikers... Except of course for Marvin Morgan, how he gets over looked by Cappelo still bewilders me...
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268. At 10:23am on 17 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
Don't make me talk Stepanovs, Eggs.
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Oh it's on, it's on, it's a walk off!
Degen and Lucas?
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278. At 10:56am on 17 Nov 2009, BojanglesOfOz wrote:
He played Brown at right back and as I said in an earlier post and he certainly isn't one, not even sure if he is a permanent fixture in that position at united.
true Bo, but he called all the other RB's first (hence Luke Young, who had played one game in 9 months) which shows Cap wouldn't choose to do this either.
Micah has never been a rightback, regsrdless of his bling, Robboldman, and never will be, sadly. Maybe Martin Kelly is the future competition. Can't think of any other regular English RBs
adam, will rooney never produce for england without a 'shearer-type' to play off, then?
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"Except of course for Marvin Morgan, how he gets over looked by Cappelo still bewilders me... "
Absolutely. And a damn shame that Louie Soares has already been capped by Barbados. Who needs Walcott or Lennon when you've got raw talent like that on the wing.
Agree that Rooney is overrated. I'm still not convinced that effectively building the team around him is the best idea.
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Agree with you obbo on Gareth Barry - any time we play better opposition he just doesnt cut it, although he had very little hope alongside Jenas. SWP showed he is an ineffective headless chicken. At least Lennon beats the full back regularly - just got to hope he does it enough times to get one cross past the first man!
Foster did ok - one dodgy kick off his weaker foot from a poor backpass, but apart from that couldnt do anything about the goal or the penalty - if he hadnt come out, he would have been criticised for not trying.
Brown had a bad game, but he has been superb in Uniteds last couple of games.
I feel sorry for bent - the service was atrocious - why does Lescott consider himself a ball playing CB! smacking pointless 60 yard passes all over the shop.
My squad if all fit and on form would be:
Foster
Brown
Terry
Rio
Cole
Lennon
Hargreaves
Lampard
Gerrard
Rooney
Cole
subs: Robinson, James, Johnson, Upson, Richards, Bridge, Beckham, Walcott, Cole, Carrick, Owen, Heskey.
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We do seem to have a lack of options at right back.Glen Johnson is the best available,and should improve defensively through the season because of regular first team action.But who else is there?All the players mentioned above are either utility players,players playing out of position,or in Gary Neville's case spawn of the devil.Much as I hate to offer a Mark Lawrenson idea as a suggestion,how about playing Gerrrard there?
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289... Exactly. Cappo needs to be looking at the real leagues and at the real talent...
And yeah, i think Gareth Barry is also humugously over rated... Rafa was seriously interested in him... Doesn't that tell you everything you need to know!!!?
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If you're going to have Lucas i'm going to have to take the Eboue route. And Jeffers (fox in the box? Fox in the bins).
i love that film (i used to be bulimic...you can read people's minds?)
And you know he would probably find a yard or two more if he didn't have the weight of a nations expectation on his shoulders (and round his middle, weight of a nation's pies)
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I never really understand why players carry on pumping pointless balls over everyone's heads after they can see its not working. Does every country do this? Sure as sugar Brazil didn't. Spain don't. They play the ball to the midfielder who receives, turns and passes. Only in England does the midfielder run back calling for the ball and then pass it straight back to the defender who lumps it upfield and gives possession away.
Really winds me up actually. That's why Beckham is so good for England - he always receives the ball from the defenders, full backs or wingers and looks forwards. I guess it comes from playing abroad.
He is vital for England's success. Jenas was just a Lampard clone but worse, both liking to bust forwards onto balls played around their player. They're not ball players themselves.
Who else does England have for that - Hargreaves if he's fit is the only one I can think of. Carrick maybe, but his turning circle makes Lampard look dynamic.
Either way, the centre backs should be banned from long passes. Lucio-like runs forwards from Rio are ok, but mostly they should just pass to the midfield playmaker, who retains possession until space opens up for a pass.
It's what all the best successful sides do.
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are either of the Kyles that Spurs signed English?
Gerrard? not serious? ironic, not there are good options at LB, but RB is poor. Recall for Phil (rick flair) Neville?
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I think I know the answer but why dont English players play in foreign leagues?
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293. At 11:24am on 17 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
If you're going to have Lucas i'm going to have to take the Eboue route. And Jeffers (fox in the box? Fox in the bins).
i love that film (i used to be bulimic...you can read people's minds?)
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Look, say what you like about Jeffers, but don't knock the one and only Eboue otherwise I'd have to bring up Leto and Gonzalez *chortle*
Looking back both managers have signed some real stinkers, with imho benitez just edging the "crap signings" total in cash and quantity. Although Wenger has had his fair share, Thomas Danilvicius anyone? Eerrk!
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because they like most English can't bear to learn a foreign language and get out of their comfort zone. The idea that we don't have the technical ability is a load of rubbish.
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294. At 11:28am on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
i agree, but the players like Xavi, Xabi Alonso, and Pirlo who can do that job and contribute defensively as well are rare and wonderful. From a distribution POV i think Jenas was a poor choice, i would have had the Hudd, Titanic-turing circle and all.
But if Hargreaves is fit then it is problem solved.
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"Recall for Phil (rick flair) Neville?"
Took me a good 20 seconds to get that one. Could probably hear the sound of my mind ticking over from the next room.
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And it has nothing to do with getting paid ridiculous amounts of money even with limited skill set / performance?
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Why do we think that we've got world class players? Gerrard looked good last season with Mascerano, Alonso and Torres around him - this seaon he hasn't done much with Alonso gone and Mascerano and Torres out of the team. Lampard looks good with Deco, Ballack and Drogba helping. Terry looks good with Carvalio/Alex helping.
When you put all of our "world class players" together in a team they look ordinary with the exception of the occasional result. It's typical of the English to overhype their players and call them world class but when they come up against genuinely world class players they are shown up for the 2nd raters that they are.
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The best thing for England would be if Rooney went to play for Barcelona. But that's not something I could stomach as a United fan.
None the less, it would improve him beyond belief. He could have just as much an impact on the game as Messi - he has more pace, strength and a better shot technique. He lacks in dribbling, but Barcelona's schooling would make him a better player than he would ever learn by playing in England. Shame.
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296. At 11:31am on 17 Nov 2009, Spitfire wrote:
I think I know the answer but why dont English players play in foreign leagues?
They can earn plenty money over here without having to go to all the bother of learning a new language, moving their family etc etc
I used to think it was because they were so thick but Gazza made a decent go of it. I think it would bring Rooney's game on tremendously but he's a simple lad who doesn't want to be away from his family.
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296. At 11:31am on 17 Nov 2009, Spitfire wrote:
I think I know the answer but why dont English players play in foreign leagues?
some economic factors here as well, strong leagues and strong currency mean that the best players don't have to move, and therefore only those with the personal ambition to do more (john Collins, Beckham, Ince etc) in their lives go.
Eggsy, Arsene has the edge, no doubt. I still hate Eboue though, and think Lucas will come good.
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302. At 11:37am on 17 Nov 2009, ColchesterFC wrote:
Why do we think that we've got world class players? Gerrard looked good last season with Mascerano, Alonso and Torres around him - this seaon he hasn't done much with Alonso gone and Mascerano and Torres out of the team.
Did you ever see Gerrard play before last season? Ever heard what those 3 players you mention have to say about him? (We'll ignore his injuries this season for now...)
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295. At 11:29am on 17 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
Recall for Phil (rick flair) Neville?
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WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
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300. At 11:35am on 17 Nov 2009, Inspired by TA6 wrote:
was it worth it?
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Our players have just as good technique as anyone, but the stupid mentality of English football never lets them grow. It's strength and grit over guile. The cleverest players in the league are nearly all foreign. Even Cole has been broken into losing flair for the sake of retaining the ball. I'd far rather him lose the ball and try something special.
Last year Xavi explained how in the Barcelona academies they learn to protect the ball, never give it away. Lend it to another player, but always want it back, and protect it with their feet. Watch Carrick by contrast. It's stark and horrible to see. English players are lazy, poor movement off the ball and seemingly unable to adapt to new roles or formations.
Yes, maybe they get paid too much and it makes them lazy, but not in all cases. Beckham is as stupid as they come, but his football has improved immensely since he left England.
Yes, Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas, Alonso, Pirlo and Beckham are all rare. But most foreign players love the ball at their feet, have better movement once they've played it because they want it back. Aquilini might be another of them.
Don't Diego, Aimar, Cole, Arteta also fit into this category? Kaka started deep too and loves the ball, but plays long and short passes equally.
A euro league would improve England's team immensely i think
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adam, will rooney never produce for england without a 'shearer-type' to play off, then?
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He will produce for England without a Shearer-type but we need someone like that to stop us being over-reliant on him. PB used to supply for Andy Cole & Gary Lineker and they would score loads of goals. Shearer himself benefited from Sutton & Sheringham doing the same thing and England played well.
The problem I see is in the final minute of a knock-out stage game Rooney somehow gets in a good position, receives the ball, gets closed down but manages to thread it through to...Heskey who then misses and we're out. At least Defoe or Owen would hit the target and most likely score
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"Did you ever see Gerrard play before last season? Ever heard what those 3 players you mention have to say about him? (We'll ignore his injuries this season for now...)"
I'd put Gerrard and Rooney into the same category as vastly over rated. All of the top teams in the world have at least one or two players who would get into a World XI. We've got no-one.
I'm just saying that even I'd look good in midfield if I had Alonso and Mascerano or Ballack and Deco beside me.
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Ho#311 - How do you know that it isn't Gerrard and Lampard making Alonso, Masherano, Ballack & Deco look good.
Real Madrid aren't exactly on fire at the moment leading me to wonder if Ronaldo was making them look good.
As for inability to adapt look at Ryan Giggs, Schoiles, Keane etc they are all able to adapt to new tactics as is Rooney.
Just because a player is foreign doesn't automatically make them better
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312. At 11:51am on 17 Nov 2009, adampsb wrote:
As for inability to adapt look at Ryan Giggs, Schoiles, Keane etc they are all able to adapt to new tactics as is Rooney.
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Because Scholes looked so good playing on the left for England and Man Utd yeah? Keane playing at LB and in goal or just spending his entire career in CM? Giggs has played 98% of his career at left midfield/wing, aside from Rooney, none of those you mentioned has shown any real versatility at all......
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So all agree that in order to really improve the national team, most of the players need to spend at least a part of their career in unfamiliar settings, get use to playing outside their comfort zone.
Think of it as an 'attachment' (not the email kind but of military sorts) where the player must adapt.
Lets face it, the local/national fans are always delusional and oblivious to shortcomings of their 'own'.
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Beckham is as stupid as they come, but his football has improved immensely since he left England.
This isn't true, he is pretty clever for a footballer.
adam, carlton cole
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311. At 11:48am on 17 Nov 2009, ColchesterFC wrote:
I'd put Gerrard and Rooney into the same category as vastly over rated. All of the top teams in the world have at least one or two players who would get into a World XI. We've got no-one.
your opinion, i guess but Gerrard keeps on appearing in the UEFA teams of the year, so someone other than Liverpool fans rate him too.
I'm just saying that even I'd look good in midfield if I had Alonso and Mascerano or Ballack and Deco beside me.
You'd probably look better if you had Gerrard playing alongside you too.
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And adapting does not mean playing out of position. Just outside the comfort of thousands of crazy people chanting your name even though you are rubbish at the moment all based on some streak you got some moons ago.
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At the moment for the scots it really doesn't matter who is their manager/coach.As Souness said the quality is not there.As for Dunga he has added a lot of steel to the Brazilians but they look a little predictable.My money is on the Germans.
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311. At 11:48am on 17 Nov 2009, ColchesterFC wrote:
You'd probably look better if you had Gerrard playing alongside you too.
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Anyone who looks half decent alongside dross like Lucas is a very good player! ;o)
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317. At 11:59am on 17 Nov 2009, Spitfire wrote:
And adapting does not mean playing out of position. Just outside the comfort of thousands of crazy people chanting your name even though you are rubbish at the moment all based on some streak you got some moons ago.
straying outside reason now, Spit. this happens all over the world.
at the top level, i think british managers are tactically behind as well eg. Keegan, Ferguson), and fail to recognise that you can't just throw a player at a new position because they are good at football generally.
311. At 11:48am on 17 Nov 2009, ColchesterFC wrote:
I'd put Gerrard and Rooney into the same category as vastly over rated. All of the top teams in the world have at least one or two players who would get into a World XI. We've got no-one.
i disagree with this entirely, but i think playng in england all throughout your career can affect how you play.
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290. At 11:18am on 17 Nov 2009, Nevs_A_Red wrote
Wes Brown over Johnson at RB, really? Not a Man Utd fan by any chance? ;0
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"This isn't true, he is pretty clever for a footballer."
I hope you're joking Tim. The poor guy sounds like Matt Damon in Team America. Rooney has far more intelligence. Even Lampard does.
I don't know what motivated him, but I can't believe it was his intelligence. I suspect it was glamour, but it worked, whatever it was. I think the FA should buy a spanish team - maybe Betis - and send every England international there to play for a year.
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311. At 11:48am on 17 Nov 2009, ColchesterFC wrote:
I'd put Gerrard and Rooney into the same category as vastly over rated. All of the top teams in the world have at least one or two players who would get into a World XI. We've got no-one.
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I posted on this yesterday (109)
Gerrard is highly rated abroad and he is seen by many as "world class"
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To say Gerrard is not world class is, well plain stupid.
To say he does not dive is out right mental.
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321. At 12:11pm on 17 Nov 2009, Holloway2Holland wrote:
Wes Brown over Johnson at RB, really? Not a Man Utd fan by any chance? ;0
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Agreed, I'd rather have Big Bad Leroy Brown over Wes "tangoman" Brown any day...
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as far as world class player...
the pundits were going all giddy over Maicon for Brazil, but i'd say Johnson was just as good.
Cole is a world class left back - who is better, except Evra of course?
Rooney, a match with Messi, Ronaldo and Kaka (who did precisely what against an England B team?)
Gerrard, every side considers him a threat (and that's before the after game party at a club)
Would have added our centre backs, but i think they've dropped worryingly in the last year.
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326. At 12:18pm on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
Rooney, a match with Messi, Ronaldo and Kaka
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Now we're just being silly.
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We have one candidate for goal keeper who is consistently overlooked, despite his world-class qualities - Paul Mason. Call him up, Cap.
http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/paul-mason2.jpg
#259 RBA. ISDHAFC. Please refer to FAQ.
#262 Tim. Proudhon was an anarchist, even Beckham would know that. OK maybe not.
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O.K gents, this should liven things up, the way I see it the future of the England team is in thed hands of.......................
Arsene Wenger.
You're all welcome to disagree, and I'm sure many will, but love him or hate him, he does know how to find and train a player, and contarary to what many believe, the Arsenal reserves and youth teams are actually full of English kids.
These guys are getting the benefit of having a footballing education pretty simular to the likes of the Barcelona and French Academies were the emphesis is on "playing" football rather then the "get stuck in" or "play with spirit" mentality that seems to have plauged the English game.
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We downplay our players too much. Rooney is a player every nation in the world would happily have playing for it.
Most teams would build around such a player. Brazil for example, have Kaka and a good right back, and an ok forward. They have a pacy left winger and a ball playing defender. As a result, they have defensive players in position to give these players the room to do their stuff.
We, on the other hand, have a ball playing defender who is no longer allowed to play ball.
We have a world best deadball expert, who doesn't always play.
We have two strong midfielders who like to get forwards, for whom only one has a defensive foil (Lampard, by Barry); Gerrard is out of position.
We have full backs for whom only one (Cole, by Barry) is given cover to allow them to excel.
Now, at least Rooney is played to his strengths (sort of) behind a strong striker in Heskey. Albeit he still has no striker worth passing to, unless playing with Defoe.
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What a sad thought - that the future of England is in the hands of someone who will train them, but never give them much first team football
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331. At 12:38pm on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
What a sad thought - that the future of England is in the hands of someone who will train them, but never give them much first team football
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Should any of the blame be on the half-ready primadonas (Bentley comes to mind) who are not prepared to shut up and work harder for an extra year and jump off to lesser teams where they are the national heroes?
If they stick to it the will have a first team future (Cole, Walcott, Gibbs come to mind)
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331. At 12:38pm on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
What a sad thought - that the future of England is in the hands of someone who will train them, but never give them much first team football
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So how's Man Utd's upcoming English talent getting on?
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the problem isn't that we have too little talent per se, but too much of it is similar, due to the nature of the league in which they play. Players of a certain "Roy of the rovers" type are those that excel
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330, GenesisRed
With all due respect, the last thing that England could ever be accused of is "downplaying" its players.
The redtop media overhype some of these guys way OTT, hence the nations eternal dissapointment when these "world class" players "fail to deliver" in major tournaments.
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They're doing famously! Welbeck is looking good...
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What a sad thought - that the future of England is in the hands of someone who will train them, but never give them much first team football
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So AW doesn't play young players?
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I mean on here rather than the redtops. They hype reality TV stars, so i don't think we can worry too much about their opinions on anything.
compared to them, people on here are perfectly balanced, rounded individuals with excellent standards of social skills and personal hygiene.
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To be fair, H2H, manu, ipswich, col u, even the likes of barnet have youth academies or centres of excellence which have bought into these dutch-style values and practices. and these are just ones i know for sure. look at the local youth teams and I agree they tend to be dominated by fat lads who can hoof it a long way. but at the top end times have changed and facilities are improving. everyone understands - finally -that route one just wont get you very far against the top teams - didnt the immortal brian clough say if god had wanted the ball to be in the sky he'd have puut grass up there..
the 2028 world cup, when my boy will be at his peak, is in the bag: i can hear the commentary now : "he shoots he scores and its all thanks to his dad. BLOGDIGNAG has won the world cup for england! the disappointment of 2012 when SWP fell over the ball in the last minute of the final is a fading memory!"
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338. At 12:49pm on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
and personal hygiene.
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lol
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336. At 12:47pm on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
They're doing famously! Welbeck is looking good...
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They? They!? lol
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"337. At 12:48pm on 17 Nov 2009, Holloway2Holland wrote:
What a sad thought - that the future of England is in the hands of someone who will train them, but never give them much first team football
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So AW doesn't play young players?"
how many young English stars have made it from Wenger's youth to international level?
Upson (after he left). Bentley (after he left). Cole. Walcott. Wilshere (soon?) Gibbs (soon?). It's hardly a wealth, but hopefully your prediction for the future will come to fruit.
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339. At 12:52pm on 17 Nov 2009, blogdignag wrote:
"he shoots he scores and its all thanks to his dad. BLOGDIGNAG has won the world cup for england! the disappointment of 2012 when SWP fell over the ball in the last minute of the final is a fading memory!"
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that would indeed be one bloody disappointment. Espacially coz the lad would be about 2 years too late for the World Cup.
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I think it was the europa cup final Spitfire.
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pedants!
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339 OK Blogs mate, I realise otherr teams have them as well, its just that you here a lot more (abroad) about the "Arsene/Arsenal way". Just like you used to hear so much about the United set up that produced Giggs, Beckham etc.
Anyways, got to pop off for a bit, check back laters.
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Delusional !
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342. At 12:55pm on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
Upson (after he left). Bentley (after he left). Cole. Walcott. Wilshere (soon?) Gibbs (soon?). It's hardly a wealth, but hopefully your prediction for the future will come to fruit.
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So there are quite a few then yes? Also it would be nice for everyone to realise that Arsenal supply more players to the England squads from U16 through to the senior National side than ANY other team in the country. So the next time some mouth breathing numpty goes off blah blah about Arsenal "destroying" English football and not being good for our national game, you can put them in their place and tell them to STFU! :o)
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Delusional! from a man named after a world war two aeroplane! I can see you in the morning - "Goodbye, wife, Chocks away!" In the pub : "Harry Toppers chaps!"
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Tim - Carlton Cole could well be teh answer if he is consistent for West Ham
H2H - correct as long as Wenger brings through English talent - at the moment there are not enough young English players coming through but like United there are some so Wenger & Ferguson are to a large extent going to be influential
As Starfire said adapting to new tactics does not necessarily mean playing out of position but Giggs has played as a striker & central midfielder, Keane played at CM, CB & RB while at United, Scholes moved from a striker to an attacking CM and is now a deeper lying CM but can play in a 3,4 or 5 man midfield effectively.
English players are better than they are given credit for and it is interesting that no World Player of the Year has ever won the world cup while holding that title
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and before you say anything, blogdignag is my real name
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347. At 1:00pm on 17 Nov 2009, Spitfire wrote:
Delusional !
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Yeah like SWP would even get near enough to the ball in time to fall over it - don't be silly
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349. At 1:04pm on 17 Nov 2009, blogdignag wrote:
Delusional! from a man named after a world war two aeroplane! I can see you in the morning - "Goodbye, wife, Chocks away!" In the pub : "Harry Toppers chaps!"
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LOL!
that does sound like me.
But still beats being named after a southindian monk.
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349. At 1:04pm on 17 Nov 2009, blogdignag wrote:
Delusional! from a man named after a world war two aeroplane! I can see you in the morning - "Goodbye, wife, Chocks away!" In the pub : "Harry Toppers chaps!"
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Ah, but is ne named after the plane or the real ale? ;)
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350. At 1:04pm on 17 Nov 2009, adampsb wrote:
As Starfire said adapting to new tactics does not necessarily mean playing out of position but Giggs has played as a striker & central midfielder, Keane played at CM, CB & RB while at United, Scholes moved from a striker to an attacking CM and is now a deeper lying CM but can play in a 3,4 or 5 man midfield effectively.
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Sory Adam but that was I and not Starfire_599.
What would he know of football, being a Spurs fan and all.
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You're all wrong, Blogdignag was talking about the Olympic cup final, you were, weren't you Blogdignag?
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"You're all wrong, Blogdignag was talking about the Olympic cup final, you were, weren't you Blogdignag? "
Nice try, but Olympic football is played by U-23 teams, which would disqualify SWP from contention.
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True, True - although could be worse he could support Newcastle
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I cant believe people want Crouch to play ahead of Bent. He only ever scores against the "lesser" teams (though in the World Cup there is no such thing!) He is terrible, bad control, bad in the air and just awful at shooting. I think Bent would do well up front with Rooney had Gerrard and Lump-lard played...
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#358 is in response to #355
#357 - I thought they allowed a couple of overage players although SWP still looks like he's 10 so he may have a chance
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Spitfire. You win. Victory roll.
RPM. Kind thought but no i just didnt bother to check as i'm in no way interested in facts. didnt think it would be an issue. should of known better.
Yours,
Deflated of Tonbridge Wells.
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Who have England beaten? Croatia and Ukraine. Whenever they have come up against class teams they have faltered. Nobody wants to see them succeed more than me, I just don't see it with this team is all.
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The one thing you have to assume in the world cup is that most of the teams will want to try and win...
is that a false assumption? After the groups anyway...
as for the Arsenal affect, two players is hardly a glut. Can you still claim two who only become good after they leave?
And that is in how long? a decade?
I really liked my Betis idea :( or maybe we should allow foreign clubs to sign English youngsters to ensure they get more of a grounding, in the hope that one or two get picked up by Barca and Arsenal
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359. At 1:19pm on 17 Nov 2009, gooonerific wrote:
"I cant believe people want Crouch to play ahead of Bent. He only ever scores against the "lesser" teams (though in the World Cup there is no such thing!)"
Have you looked at the list of teams that have qualified? New Zealand, Honduras, Slovakia, Ghana, North Korea, South Korea, Australia, Japan, South Africa.
These are hardly giants of the world game so it would be handy to have someone who would score against them while Rooney is busy defending and Heskey is soing his best battering ram impression.
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#357 Thank you for that. I've never taken much interest in the competition and had not realised.
#362 Take heart. In 1966 if memory serves me correctly we didn't beat anyone then before the tournament started. I think we even lost to France 0-5 when Ramsey took over.
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The WC winning England team for 2028:
...................KWR
........................adam_Jr
...Starfire_(497.5).................Spitfire_II
................FBH............Blogdignag
...H2H..........RBA..........RPM...............Trotter
................. (GK) RR_III
Now that would be something
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363. At 1:30pm on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
as for the Arsenal affect, two players is hardly a glut. Can you still claim two who only become good after they leave?
And that is in how long? a decade?
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How long before Ferguson's Man Utd team produced Giggs, Scholes etc? I think you'll find that is about 10 years, shame your rose tinted view blinds you to the fact your team's manager has a similar record yet you chose to highlight Arsenal's and not your own....Atleast I can claim to be balanced in my views....you however (after that last shining example) cannot.
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New Zealand and Honduras maybe but the others will give any team they meet a tough game.
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363. At 1:30pm on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
Can you still claim two who only become good after they leave?
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Yet I'd lay money you are one of those fans who lay the success of Fabregas purely at Barcelona's door and nothing to do with the 7 years spent at Arsenal. Oh how fickle and two faced can a Man Utd fan be?
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Re 366. Dont tell me there is no WC scheduled for 2028 coz I know what you dont. It was postponed twice after hosts for 2026 Japan and 2027 Australia were both completely submerged by the rising sea levels as a result of the global warming. Final was played in Kathmandu.
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What a lovely thought Spitfire, I shall be 82 and on present form using a zimmer frame. Mind you it don't half shift!
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There no charlton, moore or hurst around today preach. (hope captain tim isn't online)
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371. At 1:45pm on 17 Nov 2009, redpreacherman wrote:
What a lovely thought Spitfire, I shall be 82 and on present form using a zimmer frame. Mind you it don't half shift!
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The wonders of modern meds preach. The son you will have from you affair with that buxom brunette carer is as solid a defender as they come.
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The son you will have from you affair with that buxom brunette carer is as solid a defender as they come.
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There's hope for me yet then.
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374. At 1:50pm on 17 Nov 2009, BojanglesOfOz wrote:
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Sory mate no Aussies.
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Spitfire ... Im a holding mid-fielder .. with Bloldignag (real name apparently) ... you know my limitations!!! |AAnd I'll be nearly 60.
P.s. JDR on the bench???
P.P.s robbo as team manager? If you can get him out the battle cruiser (I think youchaps call it)
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Bugger off, I'm as English as Prince Charlie.
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Spits... I like it mate, I have a baby due in June and up until now i have only daughters... So you are telling me not only am i having a son, he will also be representing England at the fictional 2028 WC... (though as a defender and not a midfield general come striker like his old man...)
I just hope he gets a game, and isn't brought along as a PR stunt a la Theo Walcot in Germany...
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377. At 1:53pm on 17 Nov 2009, BojanglesOfOz wrote:
Bugger off, I'm as English as Prince Charlie.
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And thats worrying coz as far as I know, he is a son of a German.
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376. At 1:53pm on 17 Nov 2009, followingborohurts wrote:
Spitfire ... Im a holding mid-fielder .. with Bloldignag (real name apparently) ... you know my limitations!!! |AAnd I'll be nearly 60.
P.s. JDR on the bench???
P.P.s robbo as team manager? If you can get him out the battle cruiser (I think youchaps call it)
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Its the next generation lads. Pay attention.
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son of a greek, grandson of a german i think...
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lol... well I think there may be some French blood there but definitely no German.
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IVe had the snip and only have daughters - what do you know spit!!??
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245. At 09:47am on 17 Nov 2009, ScotchEggsRule wrote:
Have things got this bad that we need James, Green and Foster in goal? God help us.
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Yes, Eggs, we need three keepers. One one each post and one in the middle.
In other news, Rafa has said he'll quit if the Pool sell Torres. This could solve all their woes. I can see G&H calling in an ad to the Liverpool Echo on Jan 1st. Mancs get Torres, Rafa opens a chippy in Benidorm.
Bloga, if you want your lad to represent England your dreams could well come true, by then Robbo could well be England manager.
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381. At 1:56pm on 17 Nov 2009, RedBlueArmy92 wrote:
son of a greek, grandson of a german i think...
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House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
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383. At 1:58pm on 17 Nov 2009, followingborohurts wrote:
IVe had the snip and only have daughters - what do you know spit!!??
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1st of all, I wont be that sure if it was done by NHS.
2nd of all, are you sure its following Boro thats hurting you?
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My house is in Henry Street, is that good enough?
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#379 -No Queen Elizabeth was also born in England as was Edward VII, William IV George III, George IV, George V & George VI.
While the Houses of Hanover & Saxe-Coburg Gotha have German names all the monarchs from George III onwards were born in England.
Interestingly both George V & George VI were 2nd sons and only became king due to death & abdication - coinciding with overseeing WW1 & WW2
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this blog is weird, man. how did we get onto english monarchs?
Spitfire - if that team was the present generation, its definitely a world beating bunch of b*llsh*tters
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364. At 1:37pm on 17 Nov 2009, ColchesterFC wrote:
These are hardly giants of the world game so it would be handy to have someone who would score against them while Rooney is busy defending and Heskey is soing his best battering ram impression.
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Fair enough though I still rate Carlton Cole and Darren Bent WAY above Crouch...!
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re 389: Not once did I say it had anything to do with football.
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Spitfire - anyway someone told me the chinese invented football and now i've lost interest in it and have taken up the trad. english sport of ping pong
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With b******* of that sort of quality watch out Eggheads!
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#390 - I would agree with that - Crouch doesn't even start regularly for Spurs. If it goes on current form then it needs to be either Cole, Defoe or Bent as Rooney's partner
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"How long before Ferguson's Man Utd team produced Giggs, Scholes etc? I think you'll find that is about 10 years"
fair point. Still, the output at the end was better.
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366, Cheers Spit,
Nice to see that my decendants will still be flying the flag for good ol'England, and in what looks like a pretty mean backline with the offspring of 'preach', Trotts' & RBA, if the apples didn't fall far from the trees than I can't see anyone getting much past that lot.
It would be pretty nifty watching my (Grand)son bombing down the wing, when ironicaly the only wings I've ever bombed down were from K.F.C.
Finger lickin' good
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Anyone seen that Boro have signed Dave KItson on loan - Boro just need to sign Jon Stead now and they'll have teh worst striker partnership in the league
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RE:397 And they're paying him 30 grand a week.
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and for all those that scoff at our readiness to spend with the big boys......
Bolton are lining up a £250,000 move for Hungary striker Laszlo Lencse, who plays for MTK.
Full story: The Sun
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Nice Trotter mate... just hope Real don't come in last minute and poach him!
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Colchester, i'll assume that's a type and you meant 3 grand
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RBA, there's always that risk, hopefully we have another lad targetted and within budget that hasn't been subjected to press leaks! Who are the Shots lookin' at for january?
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Over on CC's Quotes the following class nuggest from City
When we go to work and perform invariably it is in front of thousands. If we don't do our jobs, it gives the opportunity for people to criticise when they have not put their heads over the parapet and tried it themselves."
Mark Hughes addresses criticism of Wayne Bridge by Match of the Day's Alan Hansen - who won three European Cups, eight league titles, and was capped by Scotland 26 times.
Priceless
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In january we will be looking at Wycombe, and preying that Waddock don't nick any of our players... We have some pretty bad financial problems, i doubt we'll be spending big (even in our terms)... No big rumours at present either... But we have a new skipper, and he may have a few stragglers from Reading who would be good in L2? Failing that were running a scheme where every one in Aldershot puts in thier giro and we get Sol cambell for a match...
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399, Well Trotter, if your guys need some extra cash they could always sell the naming rights of the Ree.........
Whoops, sorry.
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so the headline might read SOL IS SHOT!
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H2, we'll sell Cahil for 20 mil (cough, cough) and buy the Hungarian striker bloke for 250k and convert him into two central defenders to replace Cahill and Knight who we'll try and offload to Aldershot for a fiver.
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407, Actually Trot if everything I read has even a grain of truth to it, than 20mil is not such a crazy price for Cahill.
Try offloading him on Man City, if others are offering 20mil, than Mark Hughes would probably give you at least 30mil for him.
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407. At 3:39pm on 17 Nov 2009, TrotterUSA wrote:
Knight who we'll try and offload to Aldershot for a fiver.
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I would of thought a pork pie and a bag if crisps would of been ample compensation?
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Cahill and Knight who we'll try and offload to Aldershot for a fiver.
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You'll be paying that Fiver to aldershot in addition to them
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Fair Point H2, and having made that trip to Abu Doobydooda his value must have at least doubled. Then, Meggo being the transfer market wizard that he is, will build us a team capable of avoiding relegation for years to come. Happy Days.
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the only problem with the pie and crisps valuation is that we'll be accused of circumventing the tax man.
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411. At 3:50pm on 17 Nov 2009, TrotterUSA wrote:
a team capable of avoiding relegation for years to come. Happy Days.
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LOl Trotts! Aim low and never be dissapointed?
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Eggs, that's not low! Out of 8,000 (somebody came up with that number several months back) clubs in the country 17th would be fantastic!
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If ic an just say that you'd not worry about the tax issue if you were to offer us a pie and crisps deal... these are common currency here.
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Infact we often do deals that way, in 1985 we had Teddy Sheringham on loan cos our chairman let the Millwall gaffer have a go on his new bike...
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that's settled then RBA, Campbell and Knight will be your new twin towers. Good luck!
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288. At 11:17am on 17 Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:
Micah has never been a rightback, regsrdless of his bling, Robboldman, and never will be, sadly. Maybe Martin Kelly is the future competition. Can't think of any other regular English RBs
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He just played for England there with a lot of swagger for a bit.
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416. At 4:00pm on 17 Nov 2009, RedBlueArmy92 wrote:
Infact we often do deals that way, in 1985 we had Teddy Sheringham on loan cos our chairman let the Millwall gaffer have a go on his new bike...
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Did he keep her afterwards or get divorced?
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414. At 3:56pm on 17 Nov 2009, TrotterUSA wrote:
Eggs, that's not low! Out of 8,000 (somebody came up with that number several months back) clubs in the country 17th would be fantastic!
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Ok, when you put it in relative terms like that I guess your right. Are you a fan of Gary (S)megson as I seem to hear a lot iof grumbles about him from your fellow trotters. Seem to remember him being -unfairly- unpopular at WBA also?
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Even using the pie method the tax man would still get his slice
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Robbo, how you are always about 200 posts off when you get involved?
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421, Very nice Jacks'.
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422: Me...
"how you are always"
Why am i asking questions like a polish imigrant?
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422. At 4:12pm on 17 Nov 2009, RedBlueArmy92 wrote:
Robbo, how you are always about 200 posts off when you get involved?
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Check out post 635 for the answer to that.
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Meggo's alright, the fans are still in love with Big Sam, Meggo's doing his best. He's bought some rubbish (Elmander especially) and a couple of good uns. No doubt if the money was available we'd have a better team! The last 4 or 5 weeks have been a rough ride against some top teams, he needs a bit of a run to settle the nerves but he won't be there forever, we'll go down, maybe come back up, maybe win the cup, it's only football! More important is the day out with your Dad or your kids, the pies, the tea, the memories!
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Do you think Mr Sheen was a Polish imigrant?
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What the hell happened to Micah Richards? He looked great a few years ago. In the same time, T*tf*k bumble has become good. Has someone been doing body swaps?
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A valid question though - why is he 130 posts off the topic. Where is his knowledge of the great European Dynastic Houses and their effect on the English Monarchy (1500 words answers in by Thursday please)
or whether the VAT on the crisps and pie would stop Aldershot from being eligible for gift aid on the fiver
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414. At 3:56pm on 17 Nov 2009, TrotterUSA wrote:
Eggs, that's not low! Out of 8,000 (somebody came up with that number several months back) clubs in the country 17th would be fantastic!
Thanks Trotter you've made me feel a lot better now. We're 47th out of 8000. If we finish anywhere above 60th we should have an open top bus tour of the town.
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GR, are the missing letters I and U ?
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#428 - GR - I would say Richards thinks he's made it and is all that because he plays at City and Bramble has realised that he needs to concentrate on actually being good so Wigan don't sell him
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421. At 4:11pm on 17 Nov 2009, jacksofbuxton wrote:
Even using the pie method the tax man would still get his slice
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Quality!!
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427 RBA>
Charlie or Martin?
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Colchester, let's not get too crazy with the open top bus, maybe a milk float would be appropriate.
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#425 Equally,very nice H2H
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426. At 4:16pm on 17 Nov 2009, TrotterUSA wrote:
More important is the day out with your Dad or your kids, the pies, the tea, the memories!
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Mmmmmmmmmmm pies, possibly the greatest ever invention along with those coat hangers that hold trouser AND a jacket at the same time! I'd go watch Bolton just for the pies from what I've heard there top drawer! Wigan's were great, tried them, Brimingham's also good, especially the balti pie, whomever invented that one needs a knighthood!
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#434 once again,H2H...
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You mean that great pie inventor; Sir Balti?
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430. At 4:18pm on 17 Nov 2009, ColchesterFC wrote:
Thanks Trotter you've made me feel a lot better now. We're 47th out of 8000. If we finish anywhere above 60th we should have an open top bus tour of the town.
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Being a resident of East London I know go and watch the mighty Orient when the Arsenal are playing away from the Grove, your mob thoroughly ruined what was starting to be a rather chipper weekend for me!!! Lost 1-0 in one of the worst matches in living memory. I tried to end it all prematurely by throwing myself off of the top of the stand, but they had only opnened the first 5 rows of seating and I ended up with a nasty seat mark across my chest.......and a grazed knee!!
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435. At 4:22pm on 17 Nov 2009, TrotterUSA wrote:
Colchester, let's not get too crazy with the open top bus, maybe a milk float would be appropriate.
Don't ruin it for me. I haven't been this happy since our great double winning season in 1992. Admittedly it was the Vauxhall Conference and the FA Vase but it's still a double.
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439. At 4:24pm on 17 Nov 2009, TrotterUSA wrote:
You mean that great pie inventor; Sir Balti?
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Couldn't find him on Wikipedia anywhere.....Dammit!
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426, Trotter.
There's quite a few teams who are nowhere near the standard of Bolton in the PL at this moment and Megson seems pretty apt at managing on a budget, so I think your safe for a while yet.
If Gartside spent more time concentrating solely on improving Bolton rather than that waste of space 2 tier/auld firm PL nonsense than you'd be fine.
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re 442:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/aug/12/sport.obsmagspecial7
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Don't ruin it for me. I haven't been this happy since our great double winning season in 1992. Admittedly it was the Vauxhall Conference and the FA Vase but it's still a double.
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Soon some northern guy will mention some dodgy team slightly west of Newcastle on the coast that won the Vase and a League Title recently...
Now its not Spennymoor (they are south), not Blyth Spartans, Not Ashington...
Any clues - answers on a post card please coupled with an appearance by teh man himself
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434, it was Pavel i was thinking of... Him and his dad were in Warsaw Street... Great film about high flying big city plumbers in Alperton...
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try looking on WikiPIEidea
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441, ColchesterFCwonthevase,
Has a nice ring to it, although I'm sure Ive heard it before, only different, Eeerrr.
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444. At 4:33pm on 17 Nov 2009, Spitfire wrote:
re 442:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/aug/12/sport.obsmagspecial7
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Shire Foods, in 1997, for Walsall and Villa. They're now sold at over 70 clubs, 14 in the Premier League, and Shire cook 100,000 a month at a bakery in Leamington Spa.
God Bless Shire foods and all who sail in her!
Note: The crusty orange treats.........are football's pie of choice
Thought they were talking about gordon Strachan a few yerars down the line! lol
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RBA, are they the new Cirque De Soleil "Plumbers On Trapeze" act?
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Trotter, they are. One of Robbo's finest I think (or maybe i've miscredited)
432. At 4:19pm on 17 Nov 2009, adampsb wrote:
#428 - GR - I would say Richards thinks he's made it and is all that because he plays at City and Bramble has realised that he needs to concentrate on actually being good so Wigan don't sell him
What a strange set of concepts... incidentally, either Bumble or Richards over Carragher in my view.
In order for England, Rio, Terry, Brown, Lescott, Bumble, Upson, Richards... Carragher.
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Trotter, glad i am not the only keeping up to date with the Polish entertainment news... They are hoping to be sucessful than theh french act "plumbers on ze peeze" 2 drunk plumbers causing havoc in a circus tent... think of a warped french Mario and you are half way thier...
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#445,Adam.Whitley Bay(oh nuts,I've said it)have their own twitter feed!When I was trying to find out how they got on in the vase on saturday,up popped a twitter feed.how many followers do you think?
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RBA, makes perfect sense, I'm seeing Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe in the lead roles which seguay's nicely with GR's Mr. Bumble making it into the England squad and Colchester asking humbly for MORE pies.
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447. At 4:35pm on 17 Nov 2009, TrotterUSA wrote:
try looking on WikiPIEidea
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Groan..........! lol
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Please replace 'Colchester' with 'Eggs'... now, where have I heard that before?
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Trotter, i love it when a plan comes together!
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Gents I have to be off but I leave you with this interesting piece of football history
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/nov/16/france
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....and we get modded for going off topic....if only they knew!
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Damn I miss pies.
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you have no pies in holland? What do the dutch cockneys say when they lie?
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H2, you're not alone in this!
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H2H, who do you think is the replacement for RVP?
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H2H,I apologise for the bit of cockney rhyming slang,but they're there if you just use you mince pies....
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RBA, I reckon they say "you're tellin' French fries"
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460. At 4:48pm on 17 Nov 2009, Holloway2Holland wrote:
Damn I miss pies.
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Don't they have pies in Lowlands H2H?
I make it a point to have a pie atleast 3 times a week, just to keep my "eye" in so to speak. Rather enjoying Pukka chicken and Mushroom currently. Flakey Pastry-tastic!
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461. At 4:50pm on 17 Nov 2009, RedBlueArmy92 wrote:
you have no pies in holland? What do the dutch cockneys say when they lie?
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England will win the World cup.
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461. At 4:50pm on 17 Nov 2009, RedBlueArmy92 wrote:
you have no pies in holland? What do the dutch cockneys say when they lie?
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Porky Piesh?
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funny, that's what Robbo said too!
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You can get pies over here but not the same quality or variety of choice, a bit like crisps I suppose.
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I agree. Quality crisps are hard to find abroad. How hard can it be to put a bag or two of some salt and vinegars?
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Ah, so Lampard is actually smuggling gold not pies... it all makes sense
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Trotts, what about USA pies? Opinions on quality, depth of filling and variety please.
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Your pies are like crisps... it is a crashy nashion thoshe dutch have!
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471. At 4:58pm on 17 Nov 2009, Spitfire wrote:
I agree. Quality crisps are hard to find abroad. How hard can it be to put a bag or two of some salt and vinegars?
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More of a Scampi Fries or Cheesy Moments bloke meself!
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rather alarming, eggs, unless you were alluding to something else?
Bet you loved those Lemon and Scampi Nik Naks didn't you...
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463 Spit,
I think AA, Eddy, Diaby & Rosicky will interchange in the front 3 untill NB & Vela come back in. Luckily I think our current squad has goalscorers throughout the team and we doesn't rely on one single player to score all are goals. RvP will ofcourse be missed, but did we really expect, givin his history, that he would last a whole season without injury?
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476. At 5:04pm on 17 Nov 2009, GenesisRed wrote:
rather alarming, eggs, unless you were alluding to something else?
Bet you loved those Lemon and Scampi Nik Naks didn't you...
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LOL
They are adequete copver when the Scampi flavoured fries cardboard wall hanger is empty, but only on such occasions. It's the finger smell afterwards...........!
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Right all this talk of delicious, high fat, pub based snacks has made me hungry, im stopping off at the rubbadub on my way home from "work".....cheers ears!
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474, RBA,
Best Steve Mclaren impression ever.
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Eggs, pies are very rare here and if you find one, it's likely to be crap so I don't even look! There are a couple of web sites which allow purchase of UK foods, such as pies, chocolate, tea, jams etc but you get the pies frozen which defeats the purpose and enjoyment for me which is a good fresh from the oven pie. There's a town an hour from me, Kearny which has a large Scottish population and the word is that they have real butcher shops with real pies! However, I haven't yet made the pilgrimage to find out. The chocolate here is rubbish too, even the "English" brands are made under license and they aren't allowed to put in the high fat, cream and sugar content that makes it so enjoyable in the first place!
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481, We're definatly in the same boat when it comes to pies Trotter, although luckily they don't mess around with the chocolate over here.
How are the crisps, (potato chips?) over there, do you get all the flavours like back in Blighty?
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I haven't eaten a pie in 4 months.
That really is the worst thing about living abroad. It's not adjusting to the weather or overcoming endless mountains of beauracracy or the difficulties and shattering isolation experienced before you get to grips with the language. No, it's the lack of pies.
Chicken and mushroom, steak and kidney, beef and onion, chicken curry, I'm not fussy. Heck, even a vegetable pie would be welcome right about now.
I just made myself sad. =(
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Same story H2, crisps are rubbish. The big market is for 'chips' which are usually corn based and used for dipping in different stuff like ranch dressing, creamy spinach, salsa, guacamole etc. There's the odd brand of decent all natural potato chips but nothing like the variety of flavours we have at home. Do you get real crisps?
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TA6, where are you?
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483, TA6,
Would that be a reference to the great Tony Adams?
If so, another exhhiled Gooner. Where are you "stationed"?
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We get real crisps and also those "nacho" dippy nonsense, it's just the flavours that are a bit bogus. You can get a pretty weak Cheese n Onion, but not a Salt N Vinegar or Smokey Bacon in sight. Just wierdo flavours like Paprica and Bolognesse.
Although the local brand Smits (not Smiths) have been taken over by Lays, so maybe a changes a-commin'.
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we have Lays here, the other thing with chips is that when you buy a bag, it's usually enough to feed 14 people, the small bags are rare unless you buy 48 packs! Take a big bag of Lays to a party and they're not strong enough to pick up the dip, they snap off leaving your chip sticking out of the creamy spinach like excalibur, try and extract it and your shoving your fingers in the dip wondering if you're being watched, then licking your finger tips and wondering if you should wipe 'em on your jeans, the sofa or a cushion because there's not a napkin in sight, life is so complicated.
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So, if there's anyone out there with links in the export biz', then get some pies & decent crisps to the USA and the NL please, \you'd make a couple of exhiled bloggers pretty happy, ha ha.
O.K. What was the topic again?
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Dandelion & Burdock pop too please!
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Dandelion & Burdock, the old nectar of the gods, well St. Thomas Aquinas actually, but close enough.
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Dandelion and Burdock? I'm not even sure that's easily available in Blighty any more. Always reminded me a bit of visiting the dentist that stuff. Pies, on the other hand, are still flourishing. As are crisps, even if I've had to re-train myself to call them that rather than "chips" in Auz or "chups" in NZ after living in both for a spell.
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Well Trotter if Robin Van Persie has to go all the way to Serbia to get his placenta fluid fix, then I suppose we'll just have to make the pilgrimage back home to get our pies and crisps.
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492, They're called chips over here too, tommy
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TommyB's here! I always thought that root beer tasted like germolene (not sure how I ever came to taste germolene) but D&B fabulous and yes, still readily available in the best chippies and other fine establishments.
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Holler to y'all! (Is that right, Trot?) I'll be dropping in from time to time whilst I pretend to attempt my online TEFL course.
Chips? Heathens and swine call them chips. I have re-learnt the old ways. I did, however, learn the value of wearing thongs in summer in Australia.
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placenta fluid? Is it draft or bottles?
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Just back in ... any theme I can join in on... or is it just any theme???
Penathworth (thats a good name for someone)
Kitson can do it for us ..... Well strachan does it for me ... Michaela what ya up to these days ....
ANd on the Royal theme .. why did Richard the Lionhart stop short of Jerusalem ... Crusaders my bakcside!?!?
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Jeez, enough already about food! What next? Colours of handbags? Manicures?
Getting back to football - please God don't let our 1st team players get injured, because if they do, we're in BIG trouble.
Darren Bent - impossible to judge when, as Robbo said, he had absolutely nothing to work with.
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495. At 6:24pm on 17 Nov 2009, TrotterUSA wrote:
"I always thought that root beer tasted like germolene...."
Maybe he's born with it.....
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