*Official* English Football Season 2006-07

[aussie]

Excuse me. What do you mean "WTF"? Scotland scored more, therefore Scotland won.

maybe i said WTF because i'm surprised at the result?, i dunno

 

[Pothas]

Why do you need pace for the role, I don't want him bombing to the byline, hes better crossing from deep.

You may have a point on Barry, I just want lumpard out of the side tbh.

You need a lot of energy to play that role and he cant tackle either. As i say i dont like 3 at the back, much prefer to get width both from full backs and midfeald players.

 

[Scaly piscine]

didn' see the game but by all reports England were poor, hope to catch the highlights soon. For those who watched how did Downing, SWP, Lampard, Carrick play?

Downing was decent, SWP had a scuffed shot straight at the keeper on the edge of the area, otherwise didn't get a chance to do anything the time he was on the pitch, Lampard competent but did nothing of note really (just short passes, sitting too close to the back four and taking the ball etc.), likewise Carrick. Gerrard was downright atrocious - pretty much single-handedly stopped England playing any better than rubbish because he had the first touch of a sack of spuds, kept screwing up the balance and nearly cost England two or three times because he was too bone idle to do his defensive duties. Rooney was poor, Crouch looked a threat but didn't finish well enough.

 

[grecian]

You need a lot of energy to play that role and he cant tackle either. As i say i dont like 3 at the back, much prefer to get width both from full backs and midfeald players.

No-one tackles in football anymore.

If your going to play the system, you need one wingback who will stay deeper, and the other to bomb forward, thats cashleys job.

^Downing=decent, s******s

 

[Pothas]

you havnt explained why England should play that system. A wing back does need to have some defencive capabilites. Beckham does not possess any

 

[grecian]

you havnt explained why England should play that system. A wing back does need to have some defencive capabilites. Beckham does not possess any

Just think we've better players at centre-back then in the wings. We have no naturally good widemen, so why not try this. It may be crap, but we won't know until we try.

The left-sided problem is perrenial, SWP doesn't play for his club side. Beckham was good in the position in 1997, he may not be now admittedly, we won't know until we play him there again.

Aaron Lennon coming back may change things a bit though.

 

[Pothas]

Joe Cole is actualy pretty decent on the left side and England have two very good full backs in Neville and Cole. Neither of them though are wing backs. England have a decent back four which normaly seems to be exposed by set pieces which isnt an issue with the formation. 5-3-2 is pretty unusual in the premiership at the moment and the players are used to playing in a back four. It should stay like that.

 

[grecian]

Joe cole would be better as one of three floating midfielders though, wouldn't he. Hes not exactly a natural winger.

With an extra centre-half we may be better at set-pieces.

I don't see any reason for keeping with the status quo, when they're as tired and innefectual as the band of the same name.

 

[Pothas]

He would be that is true but he is the best option there. Im not saying there arent issues with the midfeald, im so tired of England that i really be botherd to get into them. All im saying is that four at the back is the way that modern sucesfull football is played. England will never be sucesfull playing 3 at the back and i wouldnt have thought will ever really seriously consider playing it.

 

[Scaly piscine]

ITV Teletext's ratings for the England game are absolutely hilarious.

Gerrard got 7 when he was far and away the worst player. Downing got 5 when he setup virtually every chance England had, Carrick got 5 and Lampard 7 when they both did the same virtually (practically nothing - Carrick hit the odd nice pass so he'd be higher if anything) and Wright-Phillips got an 8 when his only contribution was scuffing a shot straight at the keeper...

 

[Craig]

And Cyprus 5 - 2 Ireland

 

[Matteh]

ITV Teletext's ratings for the England game are absolutely hilarious.

Gerrard got 7 when he was far and away the worst player. Downing got 5 when he setup virtually every chance England had, Carrick got 5 and Lampard 7 when they both did the same virtually (practically nothing - Carrick hit the odd nice pass so he'd be higher if anything) and Wright-Phillips got an 8 when his only contribution was scuffing a shot straight at the keeper...

Downing was pretty average, got a few crosses in though, prob a 6.
Lampard was more involved than Carrick, but Carrick doesn't deserve a 5.
SWP rating is a joke, he had one good run as soon as he came on and hit a distinctly average shot straight at the keeper.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Downing was pretty average, got a few crosses in though, prob a 6.
Lampard was more involved than Carrick, but Carrick doesn't deserve a 5.
SWP rating is a joke, he had one good run as soon as he came on and hit a distinctly average shot straight at the keeper.

Downing just did what Beckham used to do a few years ago, get balls into the danger area. Virtually every chance in the first 70 minutes (before he was stupidly taken off) was created by Downing. Downing isn't particularly pretty or stylish, he just does his job including his defensive duties - but it seems the media (and fans who largely just ape whatever tripe the media spout) want show ponies like Gerrard whilst ignoring the fact that he has the touch of a sack of spuds, keeps lunging in with ugly looking challenges and is too lazy to track back (nearly cost England 2-3 goals last night) and has hardly ever performed for England in his relatively large number of caps. Gerrard would have cost England 2 goals last night against good opposition and completely screwed up the shape of the side. Downing would have created 2 goals last night had England finished better. Guess who'll get all the stick?

The average stupid football fans disgust me, the way they cheered and jeered when Downing went off - absolute scum. McClaren has always been a bit soft, so I expect he'll cave to pressure eventually and pick the golden boys.

 

[GIMH]

Poor England performance, but a big up to S****horpe for there demolition of Forest, even if it did take them above us in the table. Nice and tight at the top of the league. Whites, goin up.

England were very poor. And steds, I must admit I saw the Scotland score and thought of you. Sad innit.

 

[marc71178]

Last moronic fad was to boo Crouch - the guy who's scored hatfuls for England lately.

Funny how the booing wasn't actually aimed at Crouch then isn't it?

It was because SWP was being taken off.

 

[marc71178]

Pathetic, this bunch of players must be the most over-rated bunch of tossers ever to wear an England shirt, my team would be.

Anyone still think McLaren is doing a good job?

 

[marc71178]

didn' see the game but by all reports England were poor, hope to catch the highlights soon. For those who watched how did Downing, SWP, Lampard, Carrick play?

Was Carrick actually playing?!

 

[marc71178]

That is a joke.
Beckham does not have the pace to play right wing back and playing a 3 in midfeald with wing backs neagates the need for a left footed midfeald is negated due to Ashley Cole playing at left wing back so there is no need for Barry.

Yet, when Beckham moved into that role at the world cup he caused a great deal of problems, whilst Lennon moved into space ahead of him.

 

[marc71178]

Don't know if Mclers will drop anyone, but with Gerrard out along with Lennon England need some pace on the right i'm not convinced about SWP but then again i didn't see him 2 night, Pennant is the best man to play on the wing ATM. Same with Downing, get Barry in, Lamps is having a tough time, Parker is in top form give him a go instead.

So here's another 2 midfielders to add to the many in the squad.

Funny how the worst of the 4 yesterday is the one you retain.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Funny how the booing wasn't actually aimed at Crouch then isn't it?

It was because SWP was being taken off.

Crouch was booed on numerous occasions.