posted Nov 22, 2007

Being in the US and not having seen the game live, I've only just watched the highlights (lowlights?) on TV. I thought maybe in disappointment people were being a bit harsh on the team's performance--I was wrong. The defending on Croatia's final goal was just horrific, players just standing around like they could give a s***. I could not believe my eyes. What is going on with that team? I'd clear house, the lot of them.

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posted Nov 22, 2007

And how nervous did Lampard look before the penalty?
Lmao

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posted Nov 22, 2007

the last time i saw england play with passion, REAL passion, was in that friendly against agrentina in geneva. other than that, we could be talking euro 2004, or even as far as the shearer/lineker days...

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posted Nov 22, 2007

Firstly i'd like to say hats off to Croatia, I though they were outstanding and looked like scoring everytime they got the ball. It honestly could have been 6-2.

Secondly, what was McLaren in selection. An inexperienced back four who have never played together so play the most inexperienced keeper !!!. Throwing Carson into that position was ludicrous and for me leaving Beckham on the bench was crazy. 85% of Englands goals go thru Beckham.

Well done Lampard for scoring the penalty. The pressure he was under was immence, particulary in light of the fans booing him recently. However that aside where was the fight? The England player looked scared. Look at the Irish , Scots and the welsh last night... they fought for everything. Having three lions embriodered on your shirt doesn't make up for not having any in your heart.

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posted Nov 22, 2007

the suggestions above regarding the improvement of youth coaching is spot on, it's the best way to ensure good national teams (and i'm talking about scotland to an extent here too) and if you think about it, teams would love home grown players in their ranks as:

1) it improves their standing with fans and the media
2) if nothing else, the price tag a young homegrown lad commands is well worth building him up (yes, that's not a morally good reason, but it will appeal to some boards out there)

also, i'm quite interested in the notion of a shearer/adams combination, young blood and international experience might be just what england need to inspire them in the WC

thoughts?

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posted Nov 22, 2007

England should have beaten Russia and it wasn't McClaren's fault. The problem was England failed to bring the game to Russia, ok Rooney scored a great goal but Russia were on top and they completely deserved there win, England only played with spirit for the last 15 mins.


This created a problem for Steve McClaren but when Israel beat Russia he got a bonus card it was a mini miracle and it was going to be very easy to qualify.

I think this made him over-confident. If Russia had drawn with Israel he would have played his best squad and probabaly won and that would have given England qualification. And his biggest mistake was leaving out Robinson.

I think that the manager Steve McClaren is to blame for England losing to Croatia but the England squad are to blame for not qualifying I mean 0-0 to Macedonia at home? that's useles.

If you have any thoughts just say them thanks.

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posted Nov 22, 2007

Even without strikers like Rooney and Owen this England side has enough firepower to score enough goals to win most matches. But you can't take two kingpins like Ferdinand and Terry out of defence and replace them with a has-been and a wannabe and expect not to leak goals like a sieve.

Which makes it a lottery whether they manage to score more than they concede ... and we had a losing ticket against Croatia.

But of course the Croatia game wasn't the problem, they are a class side and we could have lost to them even with a full side. The problem has always been a lack of passion, particularly against teams England was supposed to cruise past.

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posted Nov 23, 2007

It is time for the England players to wake up and realise that they have to compete, not just pick up a huge wedge for running onto the pitch. They are representing their Country is there no pride or passion left, have they forgot that the shirt has three lions on it. Come on it is about time they gave something back to the loyal supporters. Not what we have had to bare over the last few years.

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posted Jan 3, 2008

I blame the FA, Steve McClaren and the players me, all culpable in our non-qualification. I also blame the Croatia players for scoring more than us

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posted Jan 4, 2008

I blame the FA, press, portions of the England supporters and the players, particularly Steven Gerrard. The most ridiculously overhyped of an overhyped generation and a serial choker. Heck, the guy can't even pass a football properly. Hopefully, Capello will see sense and drop the technically woeful Gerrard. A real waste of space and a load of hot air.

PS I can't even get that angry at McClaren. It's not his fault he isn't good enough yet was still chosen by the inept FA.

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