*Official* English Football Season 2006-07

[Matteh]

Any idea when Owen will be back?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Any idea when Owen will be back?

Think I heard April as a possible, but his tear is bad even as anterior cruciates go. He's needed two ops already. I wouldn't be at all suprised if we don't see him this year.

EDIT: & by "year" I mean "season".

 

[Matteh]

Think I heard April as a possible, but his tear is bad even as anterior cruciates go. He's needed two ops already. I wouldn't be at all suprised if we don't see him this year.

EDIT: & by "year" I mean "season".

Ouch, thought he might have been back before March's games but yeah sounds like you're probably right.

 

[steds]

EDIT: Crouch may be banging the goals in, but he's far from a target man. The likes of Rooney are outcompeting him in the air at the moment. Johnson a possiblity, even with my pro-Everton bias?

Crouch can't even get in the Liverpool team, atm. Joke that benchwarmers at club level can get in the national side just like that. As for Johnson, people write him off. I did when he signed for Everton, but how many other English strikers have a goal ratio close to 27 in 44 Premiership appearances, nearly 3 every 4 games.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Crouch can't even get in the Liverpool team, atm. Joke that benchwarmers at club level can get in the national side just like that. As for Johnson, people write him off. I did when he signed for Everton, but how many other English strikers have a goal ratio close to 27 in 44 Premiership appearances, nearly 3 every 4 games.

He's got pace, strength, passion, and (most importantly) hits the back of the net. Crouch hits the back of the net occasionally (when he's actually playing), but can do none of the former three, and "inch-for-inch" is probably one of the worst headers of the ball in the England side.

 

[Matteh]

He is seriously shocking at heading considering that should really be his strong point.

 

[sledger]

well, glad of last nights result, feel sorry for paul robinson but ha, hes overated anyway, rest of the team very poor, tactically outclassed, this formation doesnt work with the type of player england possess, distinct lack of shape, very poor performance, makes you realise that take away 3 players from the england line up and they become a very average cumbersome side, tactically and otherwise inept, well played croatia, hopefully another performance like this against russia will see england fail to qualify.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Crouch can't even get in the Liverpool team, atm. Joke that benchwarmers at club level can get in the national side just like that. As for Johnson, people write him off. I did when he signed for Everton, but how many other English strikers have a goal ratio close to 27 in 44 Premiership appearances, nearly 3 every 4 games.

It's closer to 1 in 2 games than 3 in 4 games... ie not 'nearly 3 every 4 games'.

 

[sledger]

The performances of the team over the years may not show it, but really this is best group of players England have produced arguably since we last won a major championship, if you can be superb in leagues you should be able to the next level. England & Spain are two sides who just can't do that it seems.

crap argument, they have done nothing to justify such a claim, the teams in 96 and 90 were far better.

 

[sledger]

ITS NOT A GOLDEN GENERATION, get over it Aussie, they may be decent to great premiership players, but they lack the greatness to move into any positions on the pitch.

concurred on all accounts, take away gerrard and terry from that team and it becomes extremely mediocre.

We went into the WC with a team that could have won it & played some appauling football, McClaren comes in they destroy some minnows & its back to normal again.

firstly its worse than it has been in a long while, secondly i dont know why you are surprised.

Is the coach the problem?, i dunno looking at tonights game its no different to when Sven was in charge,

it was massively different, totally different system and use of players, if you thought sven had no idea about tactics then mclaren must be shocking, that was worse than in a long time.

guess now i actually feel that way which is disappointing

why would you ever feel any different?

 

[marc71178]

Crouch can't even get in the Liverpool team, atm. Joke that benchwarmers at club level can get in the national side just like that. As for Johnson, people write him off. I did when he signed for Everton, but how many other English strikers have a goal ratio close to 27 in 44 Premiership appearances, nearly 3 every 4 games.

10 penalties for Palace in that season.

This season he's score 6 out of 7, 2 from huge deflections and 1 was a keeper own goal in all honesty...

 

[Matteh]

Tim Cahill for England?......oh wait.

 

[aussie]

crap argument, they have done nothing to justify such a claim, the teams in 96 and 90 were far better.

Yo did i say they were the best since 66?, its said ``arguably. Dont know too much about the in 96 & 90 but i would be interested to see how they would match player vs players againts the current crop of fools..

 

[aussie]

concurred on all accounts, take away gerrard and terry from that team and it becomes extremely mediocre.

No way, in the current England side the top players are definately the three you mentioned here plus the Cole's, Owen (when fit), Rooney & Ferdinand.

Blokes like Hargreaves (although if he keeps up his current performances could become top-class), Neville, Lampard, Robinson, Bridge, Lennon, Crouch, King, Woodgate, Carragher would be in good category.

Mediocre would be Carrick, Parker (even though its early days in his international career), SWP (a bit harsh on him here after his recent outings, but he has blown hot & cold in his international career for me to be totally convinced), Downing.

firstly its worse than it has been in a long while, secondly i dont know why you are surprised.

I wasn't surprised since i've seen it all before, unlike some critical fans i was just hoping that the boys could have turned it around.

it was massively different, totally different system and use of players, if you thought sven had no idea about tactics then mclaren must be shocking, that was worse than in a long time.

Agreed, but the overall demeanour of players was nothing different to anything bar a few games over the past 5 years.

why would you ever feel any different?

Why do you even care, how i feel is entirely up to me yo..

 

[Magrat Garlick]

but i would be interested to see how they would match player vs players againts the current crop of fools..

Seaman 96 > Robinson
G Neville 96 > G Neville 2006 (slightly)
Adams > Terry
Southgate > Ferdinand
Pearce > Carragher
McManaman >>>>> Parker
Gascoigne = Lampard
Platt >>>> Carrick
Anderton > Ashley Cole (as far as left wing is concerned anyway)
Sheringham > Crouch
Shearer > Rooney, slightly.

 

[GIMH]

Seaman 96 > Robinson
G Neville 96 > G Neville 2006 (slightly)
Adams > Terry
Southgate > Ferdinand
Pearce > Carragher
McManaman >>>>> Parker
Gascoigne = Lampard
Platt >>>> Carrick
Anderton > Ashley Cole (as far as left wing is concerned anyway)
Sheringham > Crouch
Shearer > Rooney, slightly.

Is that some kind of sick joke?

 

[GIMH]

10 penalties for Palace in that season.

This season he's score 6 out of 7, 2 from huge deflections and 1 was a keeper own goal in all honesty...

I had this argument with everyone pre-World Cup. Noone likes to see Everton fail more than I do but Johnson is quite simply a very,very good striker. If we're discounting the penalties he's scored, let's write off a massive portion of Shearer's career tally. By the same logic, tap-ins are also not worthy, so let's write off most of the goals van Nistelrooy has ever scored.

In fact, most centre-forwards are actually crap, it's a coincidence that they turn up at the right place at the right time, and it's a coincidence that Johnson happens to win a lot of the penalties he's scored.

Simple fact is strikers are in the team to score goals, and goals are still goals regardless of how they are scored. What's to say Johnson won't get in the right place to be in receipt of some friendly deflections if given a proper chance internationally??

 

[Craig]

well, glad of last nights result, feel sorry for paul robinson but ha, hes overated anyway, rest of the team very poor, tactically outclassed, this formation doesnt work with the type of player england possess, distinct lack of shape, very poor performance, makes you realise that take away 3 players from the england line up and they become a very average cumbersome side, tactically and otherwise inept, well played croatia, hopefully another performance like this against russia will see england fail to qualify.

Over-rated Paul Robinson he maybe, but who else is there?

Scott Carson - not ready
Chris Kirkland - injured quicker then Shayne O'Connor
David James - Started off well, but may not be the long term option
Robert Green - haven't seen a great deal to pass an accurate judgement

Pardon my ignorance but I don't see any young up and coming goal tenders.

 

[Craig]

FIFA Shortlist for World of the Player:


FIFA World Player of the Year shortlist: Adriano (Inter, Brazil), Michael Ballack (Chelsea, Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Republic), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Luis Figo (Inter, Portugal), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan, Italy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France), Kaka (Milan, Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Germany), Philippe Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal, Germany), Alessandro Nesta (Milan, Italy), Andrea Pirlo (Milan, Italy), Franck Ribery (Marseille, France), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal, Czech Republic), Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea, Ukraine), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France), Patrick Vieira (Inter, France), Zinedine Zidane (retired, France)

Suprised John Terry did not get listed if Adriano can get listed and he has been in shocking form for the whole of 2006.

But 12 players nominated is a pretty good thing. Who will win?

I think Ronaldinho will probably get it, even though his World Cup form was rubbish (compared to some of his displays for Barcelona).

 

[Barney Rubble]

FIFA Shortlist for World of the Player:


FIFA World Player of the Year shortlist: Adriano (Inter, Brazil), Michael Ballack (Chelsea, Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Republic), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Luis Figo (Inter, Portugal), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan, Italy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France), Kaka (Milan, Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Germany), Philippe Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal, Germany), Alessandro Nesta (Milan, Italy), Andrea Pirlo (Milan, Italy), Franck Ribery (Marseille, France), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal, Czech Republic), Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea, Ukraine), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France), Patrick Vieira (Inter, France), Zinedine Zidane (retired, France)

Suprised John Terry did not get listed if Adriano can get listed and he has been in shocking form for the whole of 2006.

But 12 players nominated is a pretty good thing. Who will win?

I think Ronaldinho will probably get it, even though his World Cup form was rubbish (compared to some of his displays for Barcelona).

That's a joke. An absolute joke.