posted Nov 17, 2007

All I want to say is that if the England players really wanted to win, they would beat Austria 3-0 or 4-0, and they would be qualified by now. I agree that playing away from home against the likes of Israel, Croatia, Russia, etc. is not as straight forward as many might think, but England's players are (individually) much better than any of Croatia's, Russia's etc players.

In my view it's all about committment, hunger and desire, which the England players don't have.

I just saw a repeat of England's victory over Russia at Wembley. When Michael Owen scored, he didn't look as though he was excited and proud of his goal. It merely looked like job done for him.

On the other hand, when Scotland score a goal, not only the players but the whole country goes mad. Scottish players are passionate and hungry because they don't take success for granted (as the English do).

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posted Nov 17, 2007

u hit the nail on the hed there m8 scotts are so passionate about the team they deserve to qualify ...im ashamed in r national team tbh y did he throw lampard back in wen barry has been playing so well? n i personally wudnt hav played so many important players n in fact i think the freindly in austia was a complete n utter waste of time wen they cud av been preparin for croatia at home

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posted Nov 17, 2007

Well at least Carson, Young, Richards and Bentley got some useful experience. Not a complete waste, but 80% waste of a match.

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posted Nov 17, 2007

I watched the U21s and Seniors, and have to say that neither team seemed to have a clue about passing to each other. The U21s idea of football was play it down the wings and kick it in the middle. The seniors did try a bit more but having Crouch in the team makes it look as if that's the only tactic. That may be why so many people dislike Crouch. Both teams scored using this tactic, and then went defensive. This is ok if there is still a threat, but look what Smith did, I don't think anybody on the planet had a clue what he was supposed to be doing. Hiddink said he knew England would panic when under pressure. I think we are the only ones that don't know that. If last night had been crucial, they would have panicked again.

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posted Nov 17, 2007

I think it was stupid to play a friendly so soon before an important fixture. It would have been better to have a players get-together weekend where they bonded. Walter Smith and Alex McLeish adopted this, look what happened.....

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posted Nov 17, 2007

I saw the game Live, I am from Vienna.Of course, the Austrian team had better years than now. We are seeded in pot 1 because we are home side, thats not Ok, no question. UEF shouöd think about that. My impression yesterday was, that the english side played well in the first half, they could have scored 2-3 goals. Austria tried at the beginning to put some danger on England, but as always ,we were to slow in our playing.
Its not good, to play only friendlys...Germany did the same before teh WC 2006 and did really bad ... and then they played a class better at the WC (unfortunatly wich means, that the teams are better in a competition than in friendlys. Same to England. A friendly before an important will always be a poor game. In second half England had the control and they played 50 % I think. Austria could score the 1:1, but only because the english didnt play full power. Austria is not that bad, we beat Ivory Coast by 3:2 and played a draw (1:1) against Czech last year. Most important player to England is Beckham...players are searchingh im and they need him to give him the ball every second of the game...when he went off, the english offensive game was nearly over.And you missed Rooney...so english could do much better...yesterday it was enough for us...good luck for israel today, i really hope to see the english back here in vienna next summer...(i weared my QPR hat yesterday )greetings Florian

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posted Nov 17, 2007

Once again, I seemed to have watched a different game to McClaren et al. Against Austria, we were, at best, ordinary, and, at worst, out-worked and out-played. Beckham had his now usual game, innocuous, bordering on crap, although I am sure that his supporters will point out that it was his corner that led to Crouch's goal. Notwithstanding this sole contribution, he is off the pace, out of ideas and looked like he would be more at home in a pickup 'Hollywood Invitational'. If his ambition is to get 100 caps, can we not have a 'whip round' and buy him the missing two, so he can slink away and disappear?
Again, McClaren's substitutions defy logic - Brown and Smith are not of International class, yet McClaren perseveres. When Brown came on, the Austrians seemed to sense blood and became more attack-minded.
On the positive side, Carson loooks like he is a 'keeper' (pardon the pun) and Ashley Young really challenged the Austrian defence.

All in all, a total non-event, and likely of no value in the bigger scheme of things.

It gives me no pleasure to say this, but perhaps England need to miss qualification (and the incumbent revenue loss) to order to completely re-evaluate the direction that the entire England organisation (FA,team Management and players) needs to pursue.

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posted Nov 17, 2007

Maybe this game scared the Russians, and they saw what a superior force we really are.

The FA = Geniuses

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posted Nov 19, 2007

A Friendly figure is an opportunity to try out different players, formations,tactics. so;
1. Why did England play Owen when there is the Croatia match next week?
2. Why was Walcott not in the team instead of in the U21s?.

Personally, I thought England were dull, unmotivated, and lacking any ideas. Scotland would have stuffed us playing like they did (quality passing game)against Italy.
Finally, bad luck Scotland, I know we both hate each other really, but the officials were cr@p. Why does Spain produce such useless refs?.

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posted Dec 17, 2007

Great work Mac !

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