***Official*** Road to Euro 2012

[GIMH]

Been a great game if you ignore about 85 or 86 minutes at the start

 

[wpdavid]

Strewth, I didn't see that coming from Young.

EDIT
Or that from Holland. ffs why didn't you close him down Baines???
Decent finish, but you just watched him you lazy turd.

 

[grecian]

Well at least it was interesting in the end, woke me from my slumber.

Not sure what it's told us though.

 

[wpdavid]

Well at least it was interesting in the end, woke me from my slumber.

Not sure what it's told us though.

Only what we already knew - that we're not within light years of what it takes to progress against the big boys. Quite why Holland have routinely produce significantly better footballers than our good selves for about 40 years is perhaps for another time.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Thought Baines got shown up pretty badly there. Cashley still the man, as much as it pains me to say it.

 

[wpdavid]

Thought Baines got shown up pretty badly there. Cashley still the man, as much as it pains me to say it.

You did well to spot him. If he'd stood any further back for the winner, he'd have been the seated area.

 

[Furball]

The comment on Parker winning an award for when West Ham got relegated is typical of the sort of nonsense people spout. Because yea you can judge a midfield player on assists and goals... what a load of ****.

West Ham getting relegated tells me everything I need to know about how good a season Parker had last season. A team with a central midfielder in genuine POTY form simply wouldn't come close to being relegated.

There's a reason why he's just hit double figures in international appearances at the age of 32. The Spurs midfield has been hyped beyond belief this season yet they got utterly bitch-slapped by Arsenal's "lightweight" midfield which featured Thomas Rosicky and is without Arsenal's best midfielder.

 

[Uppercut]

Roy ****ing Keane? Surely the ITV coffers could've sprung for a proper Dutchman?

They'd doubtless have a greater fluency in English too.

As usual I'm not having a bad word said about Keano- he might not be any more articulate than the Townsend/Southgate axis of evil but at least he does away with the very English habit of treating totally ****e performances with an entirely unwarranted politeness. Has footballing authority over anyone else they'll get on the sofa, too.

Just watched the highlights, always nice to be reminded just how good Robben is.

 

[marc71178]

Thought Baines got shown up pretty badly there. Cashley still the man, as much as it pains me to say it.

Baines was dire all game. His fault for the 2nd goal by standing so far back as to play Dirk a mile onside.

Then his "shot" when he got into the penalty area was shocking.

Smalling looked poor to me, definitely culpable for the 1st goal and caught out for the 2nd as well.

Didn't get the Welbeck hype either, looked out of his depth in that position.

And if you don't trust Phil Jones at centre half then don't put him in the squad, absolute joke to move one of the few who looked OK out of his natural position to put that lump there when he's supposedly a centre back.

 

[cpr]

Phil'll be a centre back in time, just not yet. He needs a bit more calmness to his play, know when to maraud forward and when not.... best at RB for now.

Suppose its worth a look at Richards in the centre, might as well in a friendly, rather than wait until the Euro's and find you need him as cover. Likelyhood he'll be in the squad to fill in both... If it was a serious match, i'd agree 100% with not moving him. Also Richards less likely to get done by Robbens pace than Jones.

 

[roseboy64]

Think you have to blame Cahill for those goals not Smalling. First one he was telling Smalling to mark Huntelaar then also marks Huntelaar leaving Robben a free run and means Smalling has to turn back and pick up Robben despite Cahill having been in the better position. Second one, Cahill follows Huntelaar deep then they're both running into the box and he loses him and misses the header so Smalling has to come round on the cover and hence the head knocking.

 

[marc71178]

Phil'll be a centre back in time, just not yet. He needs a bit more calmness to his play, know when to maraud forward and when not.... best at RB for now.

In which case he shouldn't be anywhere near the squad as there's at least 3 ahead of him in the queue for that spot.

 

[roseboy64]

He's versatile though and is a good option in CM as well. Useful since Rooney can't play the first two games and you want the most out of the rest of the squad.

 

[sledger]

Surely you're not suggesting he'd be an adept replacement for Rooney?

 

[marc71178]

He's versatile though and is a good option in CM as well. Useful since Rooney can't play the first two games and you want the most out of the rest of the squad.

23 players gives enough for 2 specialists in each position - somebody being versatile is only really a benefit if your bench is limited to 6 or 7 out of the squad, but it's not so I'd rather see specialists taken. Was stupid to put him on and move Richards, suggests nobody has faith in him in the position he's supposed to be a specialist in if they'd rather play a second player out of position rather than him.

As for a "good" option in centre mid, I'd rather play a quality player in that position, certainly don't lack players there.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I see Gerrard got injured again last night, I worry about him in the tournament. Liverpool have tried managing the workload since his return from injury but England will play him in every game, I fear he will break down again in the summer. Has been a quality player but nowhere near the player he once was.

I've written off this summer, don't even expect us to get out of the group stage, just hope they learn from it and are better prepared for the World Cup if we qualify.

 

[Eds]

I see Gerrard got injured again last night, I worry about him in the tournament. Liverpool have tried managing the workload since his return from injury but England will play him in every game, I fear he will break down again in the summer. Has been a quality player but nowhere near the player he once was.

I've written off this summer, don't even expect us to get out of the group stage, just hope they learn from it and are better prepared for the World Cup if we qualify.

Even though I do agree with this post, it was precautionary rather than an actual injury. "Tight hamstring", supposedly.

 

[Tom Halsey]

As for a "good" option in centre mid, I'd rather play a quality player in that position, certainly don't lack players there.

Can't think of too many good (and available) English central midfielders myself...

 

[roseboy64]

Surely you're not suggesting he'd be an adept replacement for Rooney?

Not at all.

 

[marc71178]

Can't think of too many good (and available) English central midfielders myself...

He'd be behind Parker, Barry, Milner, Gerrard, Lampard for starters.