posted Feb 8, 2008

Its all to do with money. Maybe its a good thing going global but then again its all to do with money

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posted Feb 8, 2008

>>when we talk about England, can we please forget about club loyalties and support the national team? Does it matter which city they were born in, or which club they play for?

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Hear, hear.

Rooney is certainly worth his place, but I trust Capello will not play him as lone striker. That's never going to work IMO.

Interesting comment about Barry, too. I think Capello favours the DMF role for him, but Hargreaves is better for that position in my view.

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posted Feb 9, 2008

What I found encouraging was that although we lost the ball a lot, the mentality of playing the ball on the deck had obviously been passed on. We didn't see quite so many hoofballs going to Rooney to try to win on his own but more measured advancement of the ball. And yes I got frustrated by the passing back to defence and Stevie G obviously more than once thought no-one else could pass the ball so he came back to defense and got it. As a player he's far better when he's freed of this and I hope part of Capello's instructions is for him to sir further forward.

So whilst not all positives, the playing approach is better and I think we had the potential for more goals than we had in some other games.

Other pluses:
- Joe Cole is a fantastic player
- Rooney can adapt to different roles although I think best if he's not tackling back!!
- Rovers' very own David Bentley
- Crouch - can lead that line as long as he doesn't have to deal with long balls!!

Negatives:
- Too many changes - Bentley is better out on the right - he's not a central midfielder at this level.
- Young didn't get much of a chance - was genuinely excited by the thought of him
- Wes Brown and Ashley Cole. I know I'm biased but given the poor form of Cole and Bridge, other options surely? And Brown should only ever be third choice RB after Nev and Richards.
- Although James did ok I really wanted him to have a stand-out game to confirm him as the first choice keeper. I'd still have him as my no 1 for France but I think the jury's still out.

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posted Feb 9, 2008

"So we definitely need a passing game better than we have had before...also agree about the diamond midfield bit would be interesting. But Capello is building for 2010...South Africa I assume has hotter summers than here therefore I believe this is one of many formations and styles he will try out in the friendlies."

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In South Africa June and July is winter, isn't it ? I assume there could be a temperate climate though.

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posted Feb 9, 2008

England are still a group of individuals instead of a team.

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posted Feb 9, 2008

>>In South Africa June and July is winter, isn't it

Correct. I did a quick check on a website, and it said that average high temperatures for July range from 17C - 25C

"Winter in South Africa (May to July) is characterised in the higher-lying areas of the interior plateau by dry, sunny, crisp days and cold nights. So it's a good idea to bring warm clothes.

The hot, humid KwaZulu-Natal coast, as well as the Lowveld (lower-lying areas) of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, offer fantastic winter weather with sunny, warmish days and virtually no wind or rain.

The Western Cape gets most of its rain in winter, with quite a few days of cloudy, rainy weather. However, these are always interspersed with wonderful days to rival the best of a British summer.

The high mountains of the Cape and the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal usually get snow in winter."

Dunno where the venues are, but it sounds like the weather might actually be cooler than at Germany 2006!

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posted Feb 9, 2008

"Dunno where the venues are, but it sounds like the weather might actually be cooler than at Germany 2006! "

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Brazil chokes again then

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posted Feb 9, 2008

Good. Better chance for us then.

That is if we manage to actually qualify....

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posted Feb 28, 2008

Great match and a great start for Capello. One the best England performance Rooney has given us for a long time. Joe Cole is class as always but get rid of Brown and bring back Carragher and were all set! Can't wait for the France game.

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posted Feb 28, 2008

No Richards for France match I hear.

Another shuffling of the back four. It will be interesting.

As long as P Nev is excluded, I'll be happy.

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