posted Nov 20, 2008

Singingbosnich13 - Don't agree with you at all. Germany had quite a few A-team players in the game. Those not playing were Ballack, Lamm, and maybe a couple more; that's about it. Frings was not chosen.
I have to agree with Arsene Wenger, these so-called "friendlies" should be curtailed. Too many top-class players are getting quite serious injuries in these unnecessary games. Just the money, money, money, as always.

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posted Nov 20, 2008

Another excellent all round performance. Already this season England have beaten the numbers 2 and 5 ranking national sides in the world both on their own grounds and with two very different groups of players.

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posted Nov 20, 2008

2 scrappy goals and suddenly England are the best team in the world again. Question is who will appear in the Final of the WC, it's more than likely to be the Germans once again.

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posted Nov 20, 2008

First of all, great result, well done England.
Second, I saw the game in the stadium, from a great seat above the half way line. I have not seen any replays or tv of any sort, so forgive me if I am totally off the mark!

Positives
Winning
Beating Germany (albeit a very weak team)
Most of the players from our ‘B’ team can be relied on to step in when required.
Positive feeling among team and fans

Negatives
SWP had a couple of good runs, but spent most of the time trying (and failing) to get past players rather than playing a simple pass. His crosses are aimless, rather than trying to pick out someone. Hopefully his game will continue to improve though.
Downing had some good moments, yes, but at times his ball control and vision was truly appalling. But yesterday would have done his confidence good and hopefully he will also improve. I disagree about his crosses and free kicks – some of the were embarrassingly poor (as he admitted).
Agbonlahor did a lot of good running and his positioning was good, causing problems for the Germans, but again his control/ first touch let him down a lot. At this level you get very few chances and you have to take them. But give him credit as it was his debut.
Bent also looked limited.
Johnson shows very little coming forward (he had one good moment, but Richards, Brown offer a lot more).
Barry and Carrick did boss the midfield, but Carrick really showed a lack of vision at times when distributing the ball. Also his first touch is poor.
Disappointed not to see Bridge attacking the left wing more.
When we went 2-1 up we needed to show more composure and just play keep ball rather than pump the ball up the pitch. We don’t seem to have the ability or sense to take the ball back into our own half, knock it around and string together a lot of passes in the dying minutes to hold on to a lead.
I don’t want to be negative, be we need to be critical, even when we win in Berlin!

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posted Nov 20, 2008

After that performance there surely can't be anyone who still thinks Rooney is a shoe-in as a first pick upfront?
Sit him on the bench & bring on for 20 to 25 mins 2nd half as impact player: He can replace any 1 from Agbon, Bent, Defoe, Crouch upfront or JCole, Gerrard, Lampard, Carrick, Barry in the middle.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Depends how far you go - it's all about balance. I agree 100% that having English players playing with top quality foreigners under top quality foreign coaches is great for the English game but it gets damaging when it goes too far. What is the point of England having 4 club sides playing at the highest level in Europe if not 1 English player is picked? As far as I can see all that does is benefit/develop our international competition. The most obvious example is Arsenal last season who regularly played a 100% non English team, it's only this season that Walcott has broken through. In fact with him now injured, i'll bet that the next CL game Arsenal plays will have no English players again. It's no coincidence that Spain's international resurgence has been achieved off the back of so many of the Spanish team playing in England. I agree with the quota proposal, minimum of 4 English qualified (not British) players in every starting 11.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Number of points from interested Scotsman here:

Interesting that England are growing from strength to strength with confidence. Even with a good few supposed key players you are growing in confidence/capability. Capello is proving what a top class manager can do with very good players and why the last couple of appointments have been poor. I actually believe had Harry Redknapp been given a chance instead of Eriksson that you'd have played a lot better in those days too.

Playing regularly against top class European competition is absolutely necessary for England to progress in my view. Limiting these would be counter productive for your top class players.

Also, look at what it's supposed to achieve - more English players playing at the top level? The counter side is the top level becomes worse, therefore you miss your goal. Capello appears to be proving that this does not matter.

Given that we've no chance of going through to the WC, I'll be interested to see how England do when they're there. Could be your best chance since 86.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Yarek
‘Capello is proving what a top class manager can do with very good players and why the last couple of appointments have been poor.’
Indeed he is, but I wouldn’t say the last 2 were poor. Ericsson took us to ¼ finals every time, something we have never consistently done. Ok he wasn’t perfect, and someone else could have done even better (but I personally don’t think that Harry would have done any better).

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Only listened to a radio commentary last night whilst watching Finland away in Switzerland.
Saw the Eng - Gmy match this a.m.
Don't want to put too much of a dampener on things & it was great to see England's younger players get the result, but, the same German team played Finland in a World Cup qualifier a month ago. I was there & believe me the Finns should have won & Gmy only got the draw in the last 5 mins ( 3 all)!
So, yes let's be positive, but, don't get too carried away. England are on the up but Gmy are slipping at the moment.

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