England Vs Jamaica

[The People's Hero]

Connolly scored a hat-trick against Stoke last year for us and it was against defenders probably on a par with Jamaica's. If Connolly were going to the World Cup to play up front for England (which I appreciate is impossible as he's Irish) I wouldn't be all that confident of him performing well.

[macbeth]

Connolly scored a hat-trick against Stoke last year for us and it was against defenders probably on a par with Jamaica's. If Connolly were going to the World Cup to play up front for England (which I appreciate is impossible as he's Irish) I wouldn't be all that confident of him performing well.

with you there!!

[Knighton Matt]

Nobody slated him for his performance yesterday.

We just think that he doesn't have the ability to do the business in the World Cup against better opposition. A hat-trick against third rate opposition is meaningless and proves nothing.

It's about time people realised the difference.

Come on Anish lighten up mate!

Don't get me wrong I'm no fan of Crouch but give the guy a break.

Playing devil's advocate Jon-Dahl Tommasson was a laughing stock in the premiership and Milan Baros made no great impact either but both were amongst the top scorers at Euro 2004.

I think Crouchy will be our top scorer at the world cup and my God we need someone to bag a few for us.

[Stevosevic]

i havnt heard anyone slate Michael Owen yet. he hasnt played well for the last 3 years for England.

[filbertway]

Crouches 3rd goal against jamaica and his goal against hungary were both quality goals. Who's to say he can't finish like that against better oposition?

[The People's Hero]

Maybe he will. Against the defences of the premiership he struggled though.

[Thracian]

Nobody slated him for his performance yesterday.

We just think that he doesn't have the ability to do the business in the World Cup against better opposition. A hat-trick against third rate opposition is meaningless and proves nothing.

It's about time people realised the difference.

As Syston Fox rightly said, he was the difference between winning and losing against Argentina. They are generally regarded as a world class side or do you think they're crap like Jamaica.

You can only beat the team you're up against. Crouch will never look elegant but it is what he does that counts and he nearly always has some sort of effect.

He is difficult to completely mark out of a game and he does what I love. He makes goals or scores goals. Vitally, he also takes weight off others and if others score because of his presence so what?.

Beckham is another who has effect. Compare those two, for instance, with the much more elegant Aaron Lennon. The guy's a decent player but against ordinary Jamaica his effect was zero because his first touch was always backwards. He let no-one down but he had no effect.

I never judge players by their appearance, their speed, their ability to catch the eye, though I might notice these things. I judge them by consequences. That's why I would never have signed some of the duffers Leicester get lumbered with.

Crouch is consequential. Furthermore there is no more worthy England striker right now considering the circumstances and he has as much chance as anyone else - perhaps a bit more considering his attributes - of making a vital impression.

If not - well I've not noticed anyone else pressing a stronger case for the position. He's been successful enough with Liverpool, the Reds have been successful with him and England have been successful with him. He's as much chance of shining on the world stage as anyone else I can think of and I hope he does.

[The People's Hero]

As Syston Fox rightly said, he was the difference between winning and losing against Argentina. They are generally regarded as a world class side or do you think they're crap like Jamaica.

You can only beat the team you're up against. Crouch will never look elegant but it is what he does that counts and he nearly always has some sort of effect.

He is difficult to completely mark out of a game and he does what I love. He makes goals or scores goals. Vitally, he also takes weight off others and if others score because of his presence so what?.

Beckham is another who has effect. Compare those two, for instance, with the much more elegant Aaron Lennon. The guy's a decent player but against ordinary Jamaica his effect was zero because his first touch was always backwards. He let no-one down but he had no effect.

I never judge players by their appearance, their speed, their ability to catch the eye, though I might notice these things. I judge them by consequences. That's why I would never have signed some of the duffers Leicester get lumbered with.

Crouch is consequential. Furthermore there is no more worthy England striker right now considering the circumstances and he has as much chance as anyone else - perhaps a bit more considering his attributes - of making a vital impression.

If not - well I've not noticed anyone else pressing a stronger case for the position. He's been successful enough with Liverpool, the Reds have been successful with him and England have been successful with him. He's as much chance of shining on the world stage as anyone else I can think of and I hope he does.

There's something we can all agree with.

[filbertway]

As Syston Fox rightly said, he was the difference between winning and losing against Argentina. They are generally regarded as a world class side or do you think they're crap like Jamaica.

You can only beat the team you're up against. Crouch will never look elegant but it is what he does that counts and he nearly always has some sort of effect.

He is difficult to completely mark out of a game and he does what I love. He makes goals or scores goals. Vitally, he also takes weight off others and if others score because of his presence so what?.

Beckham is another who has effect. Compare those two, for instance, with the much more elegant Aaron Lennon. The guy's a decent player but against ordinary Jamaica his effect was zero because his first touch was always backwards. He let no-one down but he had no effect.

I never judge players by their appearance, their speed, their ability to catch the eye, though I might notice these things. I judge them by consequences. That's why I would never have signed some of the duffers Leicester get lumbered with.

Crouch is consequential. Furthermore there is no more worthy England striker right now considering the circumstances and he has as much chance as anyone else - perhaps a bit more considering his attributes - of making a vital impression.

If not - well I've not noticed anyone else pressing a stronger case for the position. He's been successful enough with Liverpool, the Reds have been successful with him and England have been successful with him. He's as much chance of shining on the world stage as anyone else I can think of and I hope he does.

I ahve to agree about Lennon he didnt seem to be doing what he does for spurs getting down the line and running at defenders, he always seemed to want to take a safe option which was always a pass backwards. To be fair when he did run down the line and get in space didn't he set up one of the goals (I wasn't giving the game my full attention )? Has sven taken the adventure out of him ???

[potter3]

Perhaps he was nervous of making a mistake on the big stage?

[davieG]

Perhaps he was nervous of making a mistake on the big stage?

What big stage, we've all just agreed I think, that Jamaica were a very ordinary side at best.

I said to my son when Lennon came on that he would see a different player to Beckham, some one that would attack the defence and head for the byline. What a dissapointment and how stupid did I look, here was a chance where, we were winning by a mile against poor opposition to make a big impression by giving it a real go and attacking the defenders. What did he do, bar one attempt he declined the opportunity and passed the ball sideways or backwards even when he had only one player to beat.

[Daggers]

As someone who went to old trafford and had VERY decent seats, i can honestly say Peter Crouch was the best player there today. He touches, headers, skills, awareness and finishing (bar the peno) was spot on and there is no other player like that in the world, he is in a class of his own. defenders get too tight to him he nods it on, defenders stand back from him he can bring the ball down and bring others into play.

CROUCH AND ROONEY!!!!

Thats the impression I garnered from the game on the radio...while trying not to fall asleep at the Test (pretty sure I was the only one at Trent Bridge in blue and white). I think he, like it or not people, is our best current option. Crouch has to start with whomsoever is fittest to partner him coz we aint got a lot of other options.

Once upon a time we had nothing for the left wing - now we have precious little up front aside from Rooney

[Ultra]

I think people are being a little harsh on Michael Owen. He had some useful touches yesterday, and showed glimpses of his best form. As a strike duo, he and Crouch are among the most prolific in recent times, not just for England, but worldwide.

With decent service, which the current midfield should give them, they'll be too strong for Paraguay and Trinidad/Tobago. That will boost their confidence for the tougher tests we'll face later in the tournament.

[potter3]

What big stage, we've all just agreed I think, that Jamaica were a very ordinary side at best.

What i meant was the large majority of the football nation watching

[filbertway]

What i meant was the large majority of the football nation watching

I doubt he would have been thinking about that? He would be more worried about letting the almighty sven down.

[shen]

i havnt heard anyone slate Michael Owen yet. he hasnt played well for the last 3 years for England.

What? How can you even say that against a striker with an absolutely amazing strike rate for his country? You remind me of the people here in Denmark calling for Tomasson's head. They handily oversee the fact that he'll probably hang up his boots as Denmark's all time greatest goalscorer, yet he's apparently 'not good enough' for some. Fickle and stupid are very much the words that come to mind.

[SystonFox]

What big stage, we've all just agreed I think, that Jamaica were a very ordinary side at best.

I said to my son when Lennon came on that he would see a different player to Beckham, some one that would attack the defence and head for the byline. What a dissapointment and how stupid did I look, here was a chance where, we were winning by a mile against poor opposition to make a big impression by giving it a real go and attacking the defenders. What did he do, bar one attempt he declined the opportunity and passed the ball sideways or backwards even when he had only one player to beat.

after about 60 minutes i think we were saving energy and trying not to get injured or anything. the 2 goals in the 2nd half were just bonuses.

[davieG]

after about 60 minutes i think we were saving energy and trying not to get injured or anything. the 2 goals in the 2nd half were just bonuses.

I don't see the relevance of your response to my comments on Lennon, saving energy? I'm talking about his individual performance and the chance to impress.

[Anish]

What? How can you even say that against a striker with an absolutely amazing strike rate for his country? You remind me of the people here in Denmark calling for Tomasson's head. They handily oversee the fact that he'll probably hang up his boots as Denmark's all time greatest goalscorer, yet he's apparently 'not good enough' for some. Fickle and stupid are very much the words that come to mind.

Exactly - Owen is the greatest predator in his generation. I'm not bothered that his build up play isn't as good as Rooney or Crouch, all I know is that he will score goals consistently and always be in the right place at the right time.

His strike rate is fantastic, if he was out there would be nobody who I'd be confident in to score us goals.

[The People's Hero]

Exactly - Owen is the greatest predator in his generation. I'm not bothered that his build up play isn't as good as Rooney or Crouch, all I know is that he will score goals consistently and always be in the right place at the right time.

His strike rate is fantastic, if he was out there would be nobody who I'd be confident in to score us goals.

Once again Anish, I find myself agreeing with you.

I might make you my official football spokesperson, you can have my 'proxy' opinion! I just find posting about football tiresome and so much of the time you sum it all up.