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*Official* English Football Season 2007-08

Tom Halsey

International Coach
Try not to contradict yourself. One minute you're saying Crouch only scores against poor sides (12 goals in 19 games with some sub appearances is a very good ratio at international level) then you're saying England are poor at putting poor sides away because Crouch doesn't score enough goals. Should he have scored a double-hatrick against Jamaica then? Hit four against Greece?
He only scores against poor sides, but he still doesn't score very many by those standards. A striker against poor sides (who we should be hitting 5 or 6 past) should be nearing a goal a game.

Benitez might be slightly inept, but in reality the fact that Crouch doesn't get much game time for the Scousers is due to the fact that they have better options.
 

Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
He only scores against poor sides, but he still doesn't score very many by those standards. A striker against poor sides (who we should be hitting 5 or 6 past) should be nearing a goal a game.

Benitez might be slightly inept, but in reality the fact that Crouch doesn't get much game time for the Scousers is due to the fact that they have better options.
If the period of games involves so many poor sides why does Rooney only have 1 goal in that time?

And no Liverpool certainly didn't have better options last season.
 

Tom Halsey

International Coach
If the period of games involves so many poor sides why does Rooney only have 1 goal in that time?

And no Liverpool certainly didn't have better options last season.
Because Rooney does more than score goals. Crouch simply doesn't, as his best attribute his his height, yet he can't actually head a ball.

The second paragraph - fair enough, my statement was probably a bit unfair on Crouch, however Crouch can definitely not be said to be better than Kuyt, Bellamy etc with any certainty, which is quite embarrasing considering the quality of the players he's up against.
 

Jungle Jumbo

International Vice-Captain
P2 W2 D0 LO F5 A2 Pts 6

3 points clear of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool; 5 points clear of United. Premiership title, here we come.
 

Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Because Rooney does more than score goals. Crouch simply doesn't, as his best attribute his his height, yet he can't actually head a ball.

The second paragraph - fair enough, my statement was probably a bit unfair on Crouch, however Crouch can definitely not be said to be better than Kuyt, Bellamy etc with any certainty, which is quite embarrasing considering the quality of the players he's up against.
Crouch creates space for others, creates chaos, flicks balls on, wins the ball in the air when it's just hoofed upfield (as is often the case with England's horrible team shape). Again because he's ungainly you're just assuming he doesn't do anything other than scores goals. Rooney actually doesn't do a great a deal if he's not scoring or being direct (run at people, cross etc.) - which he hasn't done over recent times for England, he's been content to give the ball away with stupid flicks.
 

sledger

Spanish_Vicente
Crouch creates space for others, creates chaos, flicks balls on, wins the ball in the air when it's just hoofed upfield (as is often the case with England's horrible team shape). Again because he's ungainly you're just assuming he doesn't do anything other than scores goals. Rooney actually doesn't do a great a deal if he's not scoring or being direct (run at people, cross etc.) - which he hasn't done over recent times for England, he's been content to give the ball away with stupid flicks.
Chaos: the infinity of space or formless matter supposed to have preceded the existence of the ordered universe,
 
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sledger

Spanish_Vicente
in all seriousness, peter crouch is ok, not a great player by any means, but decent enough to do a standard job, rooney, is capable of much more.
 

Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
in all seriousness, peter crouch is ok, not a great player by any means, but decent enough to do a standard job, rooney, is capable of much more.
I don't doubt what Rooney is capable of, I was praising him myself not that long ago as a world class player (England's only one) - when he just simply did the basics extraordinarily well. If he could get a shot off he did, if he couldn't or it wasn't worth it he'd run with the ball or pass - I don't think he dived around like a fairy in those days either. Everything he did had a purpose and was direct.

Now he seems to just want to try some clever at the first possible opportunity. If it's not a poncy chip that has a 1 in 1000 chance of coming off it's a one touch flick or something else. His long range shooting talent reminds me of Bobby Charlton, the striking on either foot is exceptional, he's as strong as an ox and he's busy trying to play like some long haired prima donna in a Nike advert.

Ugh.
 

TT Boy

Hall of Fame Member
3-1 to the Toffees at the break. Oh, happy day. :D
Enjoyable game, thought Everton played some good stuff and how impressive is Mikel Arteta? The guys so underrated and its only unfortunate for Mikel that Spain have a plethora of similar young and talented midfielders (Xavi, Cesc, Xabi, Iniesta), for his definitely international class.
 
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Johnners

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Of the 3 games i've seen him play he's certainly looked a class act. I'm sure i read an article recently where Moyes was calling for his selection in the Spanish team.
 

Loony BoB

International Captain
Personally think Crouch, Rooney and Owen are the only strikers England has that are worthwhile. Also think Rooney suffers from a "long balls and crosses only" game that England often seems to play. United and England are two completely different sides and I wouldn't say Rooney suits the England style of play at all, and would probably rotate those three strikers purely in the aim of giving Rooney a shot once in a while to see if he's managed to adjust well enough. Lately his goal seems to be "hold on to the ball long enough to allow five defenders to surround him, then lose the ball" - not his fault that the defenders all crowd him, of course, but it is his fault that he gets into the positions and stays in them long enough for all five players to cramp his space.

Personally think Crouch is a great player for England - agreeing with Scaly on this one.
 

sledger

Spanish_Vicente
I don't doubt what Rooney is capable of, I was praising him myself not that long ago as a world class player (England's only one) - when he just simply did the basics extraordinarily well. If he could get a shot off he did, if he couldn't or it wasn't worth it he'd run with the ball or pass - I don't think he dived around like a fairy in those days either. Everything he did had a purpose and was direct.

Now he seems to just want to try some clever at the first possible opportunity. If it's not a poncy chip that has a 1 in 1000 chance of coming off it's a one touch flick or something else. His long range shooting talent reminds me of Bobby Charlton, the striking on either foot is exceptional, he's as strong as an ox and he's busy trying to play like some long haired prima donna in a Nike advert.

Ugh.
i wish you would put forward a rational argument like that all the time, i would debate with you properly on a regular basis if you did.
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
Also think Rooney suffers from a "long balls and crosses only" game that England often seems to play. United and England are two completely different sides and I wouldn't say Rooney suits the England style of play at all,
Word out here, if the England didn't play in such a boring way & more in the way of United or Chelsea before last season its fairly obvious that he would have a better international record.

Lately his goal seems to be "hold on to the ball long enough to allow five defenders to surround him, then lose the ball" - not his fault that the defenders all crowd him, of course, but it is his fault that he gets into the positions and stays in them long enough for all five players to cramp his space.
As i said due to the slow pace which England play it, it has affected Rooney style of play since Euro 2004, so it would hard to put any blame on him for the fact that he stays in good positions long enough & allows players to cramp him, since in every football game he plays whether for United or England every coach would set out marking order on him & with United you never see him get marked out by so many players if at all due to the pace United play at, with England geez its so different..
 

Pup Clarke

Cricketer Of The Year
Enjoyable game, thought Everton played some good stuff and how impressive is Mikel Arteta? The guys so underrated and its only unfortunate for Mikel that Spain have a plethora of similar young and talented midfielders (Xavi, Cesc, Xabi, Iniesta), for his definitely international class.
Everton will have an extremely tough time keeping him in January. Wouldn't at all be surprised if a top 4 club comes in for him. His form has been sensational and it should be obvious to all that he is a gifted player.
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
Looking foward to see what squad McLaren will come up with after the mid-week & weekend matches. I'm hoping for no garbage players given that i want to be a Wembley next week with all the injuries around but if i were to pick a squad i go something like this:

Well firstly i'd pick only 23 players:

GOAL-KEEPRS:

1. Robinson
2. Green
3. Foster/Carson/James - Either picked won't be a problem

DEFENDERS:

4. Richards
5. Terry
6. Ferdinand
7. A Cole/Shorey - If Ash not fit Shorey could keep his place
8. Carragher/Campbell - Hopefully Mclers can convince Jamie or else Sol to be picked
9. Dawson/Taylor
10. Barry - with Baines out & me not being convinced any other left backs in the land ATM, Barry could do a job here i feel.
11. Another Right back??

MID-FIELDERS:

12. Gerrard
13. Lampard
14. Beckham - only if not fit would give SWP or Bentley a recall
15. Hargreaves
16. Carrick
17. J Cole
18. Pennant - even though SWP had a good game think Pennant deserves a call up now
19. Downing

STRIKERS:

20. Owen - hopefully fit
21. Crouch
22. Johnson
23. Ashton
 

Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Word out here, if the England didn't play in such a boring way & more in the way of United or Chelsea before last season its fairly obvious that he would have a better international record.



As i said due to the slow pace which England play it, it has affected Rooney style of play since Euro 2004, so it would hard to put any blame on him for the fact that he stays in good positions long enough & allows players to cramp him, since in every football game he plays whether for United or England every coach would set out marking order on him & with United you never see him get marked out by so many players if at all due to the pace United play at, with England geez its so different..
England do play too slowly, but you can't blame his dire recent record on the way England play. I just think he tries too hard to be the star player for England in a manner that is not his game as I said earlier. I suppose if he's starved of the ball a bit that'll make it even worse.
 

Pup Clarke

Cricketer Of The Year
For a 23 man squad I'd have...

Keepers

Paul Robinson
Robert Green
Ben Foster

Defenders

Rio Ferdinand
John Terry
Micah Richards
Sol Campbell
Wes Brown
Joleon Lescott
Ashley Cole
Michael Dawson

Midfielders

Steven Gerrard
Owen Hargreaves
Joe Cole
David Beckham
Frank Lampard
Gareth Barry
Michael Carrick
Shaun Wright-Phillips

Strikers

Dean Ashton
Andy Johnson
Michael Owen
Peter Crouch
 

sledger

Spanish_Vicente
James
Foster
Kirkland

Terry
Brown
Richards
Cole
Campbell
Lescott
Carragher

Beckham
Hargreaves
Gerrard
Lampard
Wright - Philips
Carrick

Owen
Crouch
Johnson
Defoe
 

Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
James
Foster
Kirkland

Terry
Brown
Richards
Cole
Campbell
Lescott
Carragher

Beckham
Hargreaves
Gerrard
Lampard
Wright - Philips
Carrick

Owen
Crouch
Johnson
Defoe

Hmm the most lopsided midfield in history... Not only are they not remotely left-sided most of them can't even kick with their left foot.
 

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