posted Sep 11, 2007

I've always felt that Russians, like Germans are technically very capable of striking a ball on target from anything within 40 yards. They'll be very disciplined and certainly won't be a bad passing side.

With Paul Robinson in goals I'd be soiling myself if I was English!!

Don't know why your worried... we're playing France tomorrow!

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posted Sep 11, 2007

--To all the England fans out there: don't get the hopes up too high. You have an okay team, but to be honest no world class players that can make the difference between winning and losing a match ---
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although I agree with the rest of your comment, you re just wrong about this.

With worldclass Joey Cole, Gerrard and Rooney you always have a chance...but I agree on the bit that all other guys are a overrated bunch (bar a talent like Richards)

As for Holland we dont really have overrated guys, just a few crap ones...

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posted Sep 11, 2007

As long as Lumplard isn't playing we'll run rings round the Russkies.

England! The backlash begins!!!!!!!

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posted Sep 11, 2007

Personally I believe that in todays game there is very little difference between the top 10-20 international teams in terms of quality, and on any given day either can win if you let them play.
This is why we (England) looked so good against Israel on sat, purely because they sat back and let us play football.
Wednesday will be a completely different type of game in which I believe Russia will look to play a technically good passing game similar to Germany several weeks ago, and if thats the case may cause us more problems defensively. However saying that, Germany got lucky and I believe that had there been qualification riding on that result then we would have taken the game to them more.

Basically I believe that its going to be too close to call and that the result may go either way - hopefully our way though.

Other than a win, the only thing that I would like to see tomorrow night though is Phil Neville at Left back....

At the training ground!!

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posted Sep 11, 2007

poland are a good team==> Top of their group!

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posted Sep 11, 2007

ezzzzzzzzzzzzz

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posted Sep 11, 2007

Those who say England lack quality players are plain wrong, a few bad performances by the team overall does not diminish individual quality.
Therein lies the true problem of the England team: While individual players are extremely talented and put in performaces that reflect that, the team (by this I mean McClown's favored 11)does not play well together.
Our flat 4-4-2 formation is unimaginative to say the least, our passing often leaves much to be desired, as we regularly fall back on the long-ball game. I wont go too much into tactics but instead offer the example of Greece in Euro 2004. Nobody predicted them to win, many called their victory itself a farce, but they won. No "world class" players, but a decent manager who succeeded in motivating his available talent and choose a formation and tactics to, not only best suit the players, but could out-play the celebrity teams fielded by the overconfident traditional powers of European football. Could McLaren have achieved a similar feat?

Any win for England will come off the back of individual players' efforts rather than as a consequence of McClown's ability to structure and motivate a team.

Under McLaren, England will win nothing, the best we can hope for is qualification and (possibly) survival of the group stage. If the FA want to end the 41 year rut, they must appoint someone with the qualities of Hiddink or Scolari.

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posted Sep 11, 2007

poland are a good team?? so what they are top of their group? i doubt they will finish there. northern ireland are second in theirs? poland still have to go away to serbia and finland and have already lost to the mighty armenia this campaign. although they have taken 4 points off portugal, so they are a decent side, but they are certainly not 'very good'.

I doubt u have seen them play since england beat them two years ago. we played them in a friendly last month and they were pretty poor (as were we) and only got a 2-2 draw through two late goals. anyway the polish team england defeated were awful in the world cup. so again...when was the last time england beat a good team in a competitive fixture?

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posted Sep 11, 2007

Germany had their best players out

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posted Sep 12, 2007

To say that England has no "World Class" Players you are either blind, dumb or Scottish.
Because in the England squad players who are definite World Class players are Gerrard, Owen, Rooney and Terry. And the rest of the outfield players in the starting team (when everyone is available) are in the top 10 in the world in their position. Robbo is shocking though, Carson all the way.

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