Israel v England Pre Match & Predictions

[lookwhaticando]

And I'm not not even joking this time, thats an insult to SGE.

The way some of you look back on his reign is nothing short of pathetic.

SGE was hardly inspirational, but compared to McClaren he's a footballing god right now.

The way he managed to keep winning the important games running up to a tournament while he was bonking most of the FA's female staff (probably some blokes too) as well as his missus of many years and a whole raft of others... kudos to the man. Despite going around with his trousers down half the time, he still managed to get us to the tournaments - even if his decisions once we got there were a little less than great.

McClaren will be lucky if he gets the chance to make silly tactical mistakes in a major tournament at this rate.

Smiler doesn't have much to smile about these days. Shame really... instead of having that smug grin all the time, we'll have to suffer his sad, saggy chops for a while.

And at least Sven played Gerrard where he belongs in the middle... not isolated on the wing.

All Hail, Sven!

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PS: Manwell... love the link in your sig. Keegan a joke eh? No wonder Daggers wants him here... probably thinks he'll fit in quite nicely with the set-up we have here.

[MONreborn]

So then, are people now begining to realse just what a world class coach sven was?

Do people realise that Sven probably got the best out of a good bunch of players, got them to play effective football (with goals) and sometimes entertainment, and more importantly, got results on a regular basis.

Do people realise that sven actually did a decent job, now?

I would have Sven back right now, afterall, we are still paying him!

Mclaren isnt fit to be even compared to sven, we had one of the best coaches in the world, statistically the best english manager in HISTORY, and our evil press watered him down, diluted him, and made the FA sack him. If you look at his record, we only lost 3 competivite games in his whole 6 year tenure. We scored at least a goal in EVERY SINGLE QUALIFIER at home, and only failed to do so twice away. We have failed to score under Mclaren, away, already. Congraculations you muppet, McDisaster.

And we got to the championships, and although sven did make some mistakes, afterall we are all human, sven got us past the group stages with ease and then though the 2nd rounds with ease. Then in the quarters and beyond it is all about luck. Against Brazil we just didnt have the fitness, were not suited to the climate as well as brazil, and just did not have the players to progress there. We still gave the brazilians a bloody good game.

Against Portugal in 04 we were unbelivably unlucky, with the last minute goal by sol cambell not being given, and then, penalities are a lottery.Also Rooney got injured and before rooney got injured we were looking the best side in the tournament.

in 06, the preparation was all wong, if thr world cup had started before the january of 2006, then we would have won it. But instead, Rooney got inured, owen got injured, gary neville got injured, the news of the world did the fake sheik thing which fukd us over even more. This probably made sven lose some motivation, yet he still put together a side which was effective and so very unluck against portugal, considering we played 60 minutes without rooney and yet still had the chnaces to win.

Without sounding gay, I MISS SVEN....atleast england were interesting off the pitch

[lcfc_jme]

And I'm not not even joking this time, thats an insult to SGE.

The way some of you look back on his reign is nothing short of pathetic.

I believe earlier on in this thread I stated that SGE had a better record than McClaren already, and that SGE was better in the respect that he never lost a qualifier in his tenure, and guided us to automatic qualification for major tournaments in his entire reign here - something McClaren is going to struggle to do at the first time of asking. I was simply trying to put the point across that I don't expect us to suddenly start ripping teams apart and playing the most adventurous and inspiring football the world has ever seen because McClaren was part of SGEs regime, and so will try to employ the same style and tactics as his predecessor.

[BartonFox]

You haven't worked it out yet have you?

England players are not that good but the marketing machines at work make them out to be something they are not. Add to that gullable fans, media and arm chair scratchers then there are ridiculous expectations placed on a distinctly average group of players.

It doesn't help that the best coach England has to offer is a product of their own inept coach education system; the brain child of Howard Wilkinson and added to and tinkered with by Les Reed ( ). The arrogance that this is the only way to coach players and set out teams is laughable. Many have noted similarities between McLaren and Kelly's teams already in this thread.

England will never produce a team good enough to win anything as long as they churn out limited coaches who are made to believe they are the best. Almost 15 years since an Englishman won the top division in his own country

[Fez of Mahrez]

You haven't worked it out yet have you?

England players are not that good but the marketing machines at work make them out to be something they are not. Add to that gullable fans, media and arm chair scratchers then there are ridiculous expectations placed on a distinctly average group of players.

It doesn't help that the best coach England has to offer is a product of their own inept coach education system; the brain child of Howard Wilkinson and added to and tinkered with by Les Reed ( ). The arrogance that this is the only way to coach players and set out teams is laughable. Many have noted similarities between McLaren and Kelly's teams already in this thread.

England will never produce a team good enough to win anything as long as they churn out limited coaches who are made to believe they are the best. Almost 15 years since an Englishman won the top division in his own country

No arguments with the coaching problems but the players are good enough. If far weaker nations with inferior players (mentioning no names ) can achieve a bit of cohesion, there's no reason we can't do it either with the right coaching staff. We have got the players, we just haven't got a manager with the balls to turn them into players in a team that play together as a team with a plan and an objective rather than just a bunch of names, a bunch of individuals who score lots of goals in the Premiership.

[BartonFox]

No arguments with the coaching problems but the players are good enough. If far weaker nations with inferior players (mentioning no names ) can achieve a bit of cohesion, there's no reason we can't do it either with the right coaching staff. We have got the players, we just haven't got a manager with the balls to turn them into players in a team that play together as a team with a plan and an objective rather than just a bunch of names, a bunch of individuals who score lots of goals in the Premiership.

To do what?

Not trying to be funny, but people always say these players are good enough but at some point they have to show it to justify this assumption? When?

Could it be they perhaps look good surrounded by technically superior forgieners on the average Saturday afternoon? Because the one thing that stands out to me when England or any Home Nation side plays is that the opposition, no matter who, always seem more comfortable with the ball at their feet.

Some of the Georgians yesterday were a joy to watch, Thracian would have made a mess watching some of them.

[Fez of Mahrez]

To do what?

Not trying to be funny, but people always say these players are good enough but at some point they have to show it to justify this assumption? When?

Could it be they perhaps look good surrounded by technically superior forgieners on the average Saturday afternoon? Because the one thing that stands out to me when England or any Home Nation side plays is that the opposition, no matter who, always seem more comfortable with the ball at their feet.

Some of the Georgians yesterday were a joy to watch, Thracian would have made a mess watching some of them.

Well you've answered your own question there really. Georgia were a joy to watch and they got beaten by Scotland. You can be great at knocking the ball around but you have to play as a team with a purpose and more than one idea of attacking.

Xabi Alonso might be the latest in a long line of brilliant passers of the ball from Spain but how many World Cups have they won? Every country has its problems.

Frank Lampard looks good surrounded by technically superior foreigners on the average Saturday afternoon, no complaints there. I'd lock him in the Kensington branch of Burger King next time he goes in there.

[Anish]

I believe earlier on in this thread I stated that SGE had a better record than McClaren already, and that SGE was better in the respect that he never lost a qualifier in his tenure, and guided us to automatic qualification for major tournaments in his entire reign here - something McClaren is going to struggle to do at the first time of asking. I was simply trying to put the point across that I don't expect us to suddenly start ripping teams apart and playing the most adventurous and inspiring football the world has ever seen because McClaren was part of SGEs regime, and so will try to employ the same style and tactics as his predecessor.

When did the Northern Ireland game get erased from the history books?

In all fairness though, SGE was a pretty poor manager when it came to the finals - but he's being made to look like a messiah by McLaren the clown. Eriksson's stock is rising even when he's unemployed!

[lookwhaticando]

When did the Northern Ireland game get erased from the history books?

In all fairness though, SGE was a pretty poor manager when it came to the finals - but he's being made to look like a messiah by McLaren the clown. Eriksson's stock is rising even when he's unemployed!

Good!

Hopefully it'll help get him off the FA's books early.

[lcfc_jme]

When did the Northern Ireland game get erased from the history books?

I think I must have forgotten about that as it was a truly forgettable night both result-wise and performance-wise. Still, does that equate to one loss in around 4 qualifying campaigns? And McClaren has already been beaten in his first qualifying campaign? I think under Sven we beat Germany 5-1 didn't we away from home as well? Yet we couldn't even beat Israel away from home under SM yesterday?

[Ultra]

I think I must have forgotten about that as it was a truly forgettable night both result-wise and performance-wise. Still, does that equate to one loss in around 4 qualifying campaigns? And McClaren has already been beaten in his first qualifying campaign? I think under Sven we beat Germany 5-1 didn't we away from home as well? Yet we couldn't even beat Israel away from home under SM yesterday?

We did. But remember who got a hat-trick in that game.

If Sven had been without Michael Owen his record would probably be no different to what McClaren's is now.

[Joe.]

I still can't get my head around why Jamie Carragher is constantly overlooked at centre back for England

And Phil Neville? How he manages to get in the side, injuries or not, is beyond me...

Downing in the squad? Why?

[lcfc_jme]

We did. But remember who got a hat-trick in that game.

If Sven had been without Michael Owen his record would probably be no different to what McClaren's is now.

OK, so if Owen didn't get a hat-trick in that game, the score would have read 2-1 to England. But he did. Oh, and if Geoff Hurst didn't get a hat-trick in the World Cup final, England would have lost it 2-1. But he did and we won it.

I can't imagine that Sven would have been as poor as McClaren currently is if Owen hadn't been playing for him. Automatic qualification in every qualifying tournament he participated in. I don't think Owen single-handedly helped us to qualify every time did he?

[lildave3]

I still can't get my head around why Jamie Carragher is constantly overlooked at centre back for England

Because i'd rather have Rio and JT tbh.

[Joe.]

Because i'd rather have Rio and JT tbh.

How is Rio better than Carragher????

[lcfc_jme]

Because i'd rather have Rio and JT tbh.

Carragher is way too underrated by most people. I know there are many people out there saying Gerrard is Mr Liverpool, but Jamie Carragher is a top quality defender, extremely consistent and committed, and tends to be in the right place at the right time throwing everything in the way to prevent crosses and shots. Rio is probably better than Carragher going forward, and probably has more pace, but that's about it.

[lildave3]

How is Rio better than Carragher????

He is imo. Plus if you dropped Rio for Carragher that would leave a not so pacey back line.

[Joe.]

Carragher is way too underrated by most people. I know there are many people out there saying Gerrard is Mr Liverpool, but Jamie Carragher is a top quality defender, extremely consistent and committed, and tends to be in the right place at the right time throwing everything in the way to prevent crosses and shots. Rio is probably better than Carragher going forward, and probably has more pace, but that's about it.

Ferdinand get's the ball and tries to knock a 60 yard pass which he just can't do.

Carragher does his job, win's the ball and gives it to somebody who can play.

[JoeyB]

How is Rio better than Carragher????

How is Carragher better than Rio?

our best back 4 atm is(our current squad):

Richards Rio Terry Carragher

[Joe.]

He is imo. Plus if you dropped Rio for Carragher that would leave a not so pacey back line.

We don't need pace. We defend deep anyway...

How is Carragher better than Rio?

our best back 4 atm is(our current squad):

Richards Rio Terry Carragher

He is better than Rio. He can head the ball just as well as Rio, he can tackle better and he doesn't do stupid things with the ball either.

And Richards instead of Neville? You've not taken your pills today have you Joe?

[lcfc_jme]

Ferdinand get's the ball and tries to knock a 60 yard pass which he just can't do.

Carragher does his job, win's the ball and gives it to somebody who can play.

Carragher can't pass forwards, only sidewards. Rio either knocks the ball 60 yards like Stearman, or he tries to bring the ball out over the halfway line and look for a one-two. Ferdinand is better with his distribution than Carragher, but I'd prefer Carragher anyday.

[lildave3]

We don't need pace. We defend deep anyway...

He is better than Rio. He can head the ball just as well as Rio, he can tackle better and he doesn't do stupid things with the ball either.

And Richards instead of Neville? You've not taken your pills today have you Joe?

Neville isn't in the squad

I think people are just slagging off as many people as they can tbh. I don't see a problem with Ferdinand, he has been solid all season for United just like Carragher has for Liverpool.

[Joe.]

Neville isn't in the squad

I think people are just slagging off as many people as they can tbh. I don't see a problem with Ferdinand, he has been solid all season for United just like Carragher has for Liverpool.

Ok fair enough, didn't read JoeB's post properly sorry.

I'm not slagging off Ferdinand as I think he is a very good player but I just think Carragher is better.

[BartonFox]

Because i'd rather have Rio and JT tbh.

You are kidding surely?

Jamie Carragher is a far more complete footballer than that self promoting gansta wannabe.

The night Liverpool won the Champions League it was Carragher that got Liverpool beating again, but as he isn't one to crave the limelight or be pushed by the sports companies so he gets overlooked for Stevie "I love Liverpool FC honest lad' Gerrard as they needed an English angle to it.

I'd go for any 2 of Carragher, Woodgate or Terry, Ferdinand doesn't even register a starting thought.

[lildave3]

You are kidding surely?

Jamie Carragher is a far more complete footballer than that self promoting gansta wannabe.

The night Liverpool won the Champions League it was Carragher that got Liverpool beating again, but as he isn't one to crave the limelight or be pushed by the sports companies so he gets overlooked for Stevie "I love Liverpool FC honest lad' Gerrard as they needed an English angle to it.

I'd go for any 2 of Carragher, Woodgate or Terry, Ferdinand doesn't even register a starting thought.

So Rio is that bad then, that's why people have forked out 48 million pound on him over the years. That's why he's at the heart of a central defence that has bossed the league this season.