*Official* English Football Season 2007-08

[grecian]

Sweaty sock = Jock

 

[Loony BoB]

Scotland vs. Italy will be a pretty big game, although France going to the cold of Ukraine late in November might be interesting too.

 

[Matteh]

Andorra and Estonia might be an interesting game, might not be, but there we go.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Great result for England; the injuries we've had have seemingly helped shape us a team, finally. Credit to McClaren for his calls on Heskey & Barry tho. Both were brave decisions and both absolutely correct.

WRT Barry, it was interesting that Gerrard generally played the deeper of the two, as he usually does with Fat Frank, but with far greater effect. For whatever reason the alchemy just isn't there with Lampard & Stevie G. Hope McClaren makes another brave call and picks one for the next game (doesn't even matter which overly), but not both.

& what about those sweaties, eh? Haven't seen the game, but what a result. Awesome stuff. Hope they can finish the job off now.

It doesn't have anything to do with the players and alchemy and all this crap. A lot of it is simply that the two central midfielders have *finally* stopped camping about 5 yards in front of the back four when we've got the ball. England with their full backs advancing (helping to make up for Joe Cole's over-ratedness and inability to attack down the line) now have players well spread and options everywhere, finally England have multiple dimensions to their attack. They've got pace, strength, aerial ability and nous up front, whilst being able to stretch defenses across the pitch. England can realistically score goals from anywhere now. The crossing is unfortunately still crap but Barry's delivery from dead ball situations so far is a cut above David 'I hit the first defender 9 times out of 10' Beckham.

 

[sledger]

well despite my desire for a russia win, england played ok and fair play to them. A fairly decent performance brought them a win in a game they should have won, however defensive frailties were evident.

I accept that england performed well, several players in particular, but what i CANT STAND, is the way the pundits on the BBC and that idiot John Motson were crowing on about what an awesome display by england it was and how this is the dawn of a new era etc... that is a load of trash.

Simply put, england played ok, and won a game that they were fully expected to against a side who were less talented than they were, end of, well done england, but its this getting carried away with reasonable results which creates the illusion that they are world beaters, and increases dissapointment when they fail repeatedly on the big stage.

 

[GIMH]

Great result for England; the injuries we've had have seemingly helped shape us a team, finally. Credit to McClaren for his calls on Heskey & Barry tho. Both were brave decisions and both absolutely correct.

WRT Barry, it was interesting that Gerrard generally played the deeper of the two, as he usually does with Fat Frank, but with far greater effect. For whatever reason the alchemy just isn't there with Lampard & Stevie G. Hope McClaren makes another brave call and picks one for the next game (doesn't even matter which overly), but not both.

& what about those sweaties, eh? Haven't seen the game, but what a result. Awesome stuff. Hope they can finish the job off now.

Gerrard-Barry have played well as a partnership.

BTW, this might already have been mentioned but did anyone here refer to Motty referring to England's 50-50 victory on Saturday

 

[BoyBrumby]

It doesn't have anything to do with the players and alchemy and all this crap. A lot of it is simply that the two central midfielders have *finally* stopped camping about 5 yards in front of the back four when we've got the ball. England with their full backs advancing (helping to make up for Joe Cole's over-ratedness and inability to attack down the line) now have players well spread and options everywhere, finally England have multiple dimensions to their attack. They've got pace, strength, aerial ability and nous up front, whilst being able to stretch defenses across the pitch. England can realistically score goals from anywhere now. The crossing is unfortunately still crap but Barry's delivery from dead ball situations so far is a cut above David 'I hit the first defender 9 times out of 10' Beckham.

Fair enough, but the fact that it's not Gerrard & Lampard cramping each other isn't entirely co-incidental. You can't escape from the simple truth that they don't play well together.

As I mentioned, Gerrard was generally playing deeper than Barry, which he also does when combined with Fat Frank, but the end result was far superior. It's also worth noting that Lampard actually did a lot better playing with Hargreaves in the shielding role than he has with Gerrard since, well, forvever.

I really don't care which of Gerrard or Lampard McClaren picks, but they don't work together. I'm not saying they can't in theory, but in practice they do not. When was the last time they produced the goods in tandem?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Fair enough, but the fact that it's not Gerrard & Lampard cramping each other isn't entirely co-incidental. You can't escape from the simple truth that they don't play well together.

As I mentioned, Gerrard was generally playing deeper than Barry, which he also does when combined with Fat Frank, but the end result was far superior. It's also worth noting that Lampard actually did a lot better playing with Hargreaves in the shielding role than he has with Gerrard since, well, forvever.

I really don't care which of Gerrard or Lampard McClaren picks, but they don't work together. I'm not saying they can't in theory, but in practice they do not. When was the last time they produced the goods in tandem?

When was the last time they didn't camp 5 yards in front of the back 4?

 

[BoyBrumby]

When was the last time they didn't camp 5 yards in front of the back 4?

Estonia away? Gerrard played deeper as per usual, but can hardly recall Lampard getting in the defence's way.

 

[sledger]

4-4-2 Lists the 100 Best Players in the World

100) Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic)

99) Alexandre Pato (AC Milan)

98) Maicon (Inter Milan)

97) Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)

96) Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid)

95) Nery Castillo (Shakhtar Donetsk)

94) Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)

93) Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina)

92) Kim Kallstrom (Lyon)

91) Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan)

90) Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan)

89) Eduardo Da Silva (Arsenal)

88) Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese)

87) Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza)

86) Gabriel Milito (Barcelona)

85)Gary Neville (Man Utd)

84) Juninho Pernambucano (Lyon)

83) Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg)

82) Robin van Persie (Arsenal)

81) Samir Nasri (Marseille)

80) Ricardo Quaresma (Porto)

79) Carles Puyol (Barcelona)

78) Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd)

77) Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid)

76) Philip Lahm (FC Bayern)

75) Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona)

74) Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen)

73) Pavel Nedved (Juventus)

72) Fredi Kanoute (Sevilla)

71) Kolo Toure (Arsenal)

70) Vicente (Valencia)

69) Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid)

68) Michael Owen (Newcastle)

67) William Gallas (Arsenal)

66) Ze Roberto (FC Bayern)

65) Frank Ribery (FC Bayern)

64) Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea)

63) Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan)

62) Diego (Werder Bremen)

61) Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid)

60) Arjen Robben (Real Madrid)

59) Robinho ( Real Madrid)

58) Joe Cole (Chelsea)

57) Miroslav Klose (FC Bayern)

56) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

55) Luca Toni (FC Bayern)

54) Alex (Chelsea)

53) Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan)

52) Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd)

51) Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid)

50) Ronaldo (AC Milan)

49) David Silva (Valencia)

48) Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)

47) Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan)

46) Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan)

45) Florent Malouda (Chelsea)

44) Carlos Tevez (Man Utd)

43) David Beckham (LA Galaxy)

42) Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma)

41) Michael Ballack (Chelsea)

40) Lucio (FC Bayern)

39) David Suazo (Inter Milan)

38) Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)

37) David Albelda (Valencia)

36) Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan)

35) Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)

34) Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

33) Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

32) Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona)

31) Juan Roman Riquelme (Villareal)

30) Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)

29) Ryan Giggs (Man Utd)

28) Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)

27) Ashley Cole (Chelsea)

26) Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan)

25) Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

24) Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd)

23) Deco (Barcelona)

22) John Terry (Chelsea)

21) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan)

20) Michael Essien (Chelsea)

19) David Villa (Valencia)

18) Francesco Totti (AS Roma)

17) Paul Scholes (Man Utd)

16) Roberto Ayala (Real Zaragoza)

15) Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)

14) Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

13) Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

12) Daniel Alves (Sevilla)

11) Petr Cech (Chelsea)

10) Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid)

9) Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

8) Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)

7) Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona)

6) Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

5) Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

4) Thierry Henry (Barcelona)

3) Ronaldinho (Barcelona)

2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)

1) Kaka (AC Milan)


where i think that list in totality is pretty good, i have several issues with the order of some players, firstly Henry wouldnt be so high up in my opinion, neither should messi, Drogba should also be slightly lower than he is, and Carvalho to be rated higher than Nesta is a bit off tbh....

but then again this is a list published by a magazine who are...pretty middle of the road when it comes to expressing any sort of opinion...

 

[Matteh]

Rooney a bit high for mine.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Cech at 11.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Scholes and Giggs far too high IMO. It makes interesting reading though, saw it in the magazine a few days back. I can't really judge overseas players however.

 

[sledger]

hmm i wouldnt be so sure, they have both been top players for a long period of time... some players with more talent below them in the list, but with the form they have both been in over the last 6 months or so they probably warrant a high place.

 

[1-9-7-7]

64) Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea)

Oh how the mighty have fallen

 

[Tom Halsey]

Cech at 11.

Indeed, absolute joke, nearly gifted Ireland a free goal yesterday before being bailed out by his defence... again.

As to the list in general... I've seen worse.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Scholes and Giggs far too high IMO

Not a chance.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Zambrotta at 75 is an absolute disgrace

 

[sledger]

Zambrotta at 75 is an absolute disgrace

i'm guessing hes been given a lowish rating as his displays for Barcelona over the last season were pretty average, he didnt do at all badly, but neither did he do particularly well by his standards.

 

[GIMH]

Only had time to glance it, surely I'm mistaken in not noticing Chris Greenacre's presence?