Lineker's Left Foot Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Last Summer after the World Cup, I'd basically turned my back and given up on watching and cheering for England FC. Having totally avoided the 0-0 debacle with Israel yesterday, I can safely say that I enjoyed watching the cricket and listening to music - much less heartbreaking. England just frustrate me. With the players they have, their performances are so inept, especially Frank Lampard's efforts - who would have scored all of those for Chelski; which makes it even more strange considering that Chelsea hardly ever have many attempts on goal, but tend to score every one that does. Even with Rooney up front - a world class striker? Not on the international stage I'm afraid as he's only ever performed well in Euro 2004. So from now on, I won't get excited about England's performances during the Euro or World Cup Finals, because they're bound to get eliminated at some stage. A sad state of affairs, it has come to !!
City Fan Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Agree 100%, I haven't watched any friendlies for about 4 years, I used to just watch the qualifying games and the tournaments. But after World Cup 2006, I just can't bring myself to watch the qualifiers. Not until they get a decent manager in charge. Didn't see one second of the Israel game, and so glad I didn't.
filbertway Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 I just watch because it's tradition Whats the FC about though?
Fez of Mahrez Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 If you're not that fussed, and just watch it as another football game, it's bizarre to see players like Lampard and Rooney underperform so much in comparison with their club football.
The People's Hero Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Whilst motivation shouldn't be an issue on the international stage (well.. it should be its own motivation and its own reward) I still feel that McLaren isn't the man to motivate or inspire these wan kers to play well together. Especially away in Israel.
Wasyls Pec Deck Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 I'll always follow England, but MClaren brings nothing to the set up. He sacrifices a 'team' to play what he sees as his best players, regardless of playing them out of position. Lamps and Gerrard can't play together... Put Gerrard in the middle and drop Lamps - simple. AJ is not good enough, by playing Phil Neville at left back he's essentially going backwards, esp when we had a great young attacking full back who eventually came on in Micah Richards. Lennon was wasted down the left, stick him down the right. My selection for yesterday would have been Robinson Carragher LB Richards RB Terry CB Ferdinand CB Dyer LM - done it before for Eng! Gerrard CM Hargreaves CM Lennon RM Rooney CF Defoe CF - AJ isn't international class Surely thats a more balanced and fluid team????!!
Jay Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Whilst motivation shouldn't be an issue on the international stage (well.. it should be its own motivation and its own reward) I still feel that McLaren isn't the man to motivate or inspire these wan kers to play well together. Especially away in Israel. amazing lack of effort from the players and amazing lack of balls from Mclaren!! players who look like they couldn't give a shit who come out with loads of crap about wanting to put things right, a real "England" performance and then wander around like they couldn't give a monkeys for 90mins!! I am sure they will be delighted next year when they get the summer off to watch Nth Ireland and Scotland at Euro 2008 as it will give them more time for photo shoots and books and things that earn them money, seems to be the only thing they are bothered about these days as for Mclaren refusing to take of Lampard who hasn't turned up for England in 3years and then with a team playing 10 men behind the ball has a brainwave to replace the right back with another right back GENIUS!! it's obvious Mclaren hasn't got a clue, he needs to go now!! Should have gave the job to Big Sam in the first place, he wouldn't be worried about how Lampard would react if subbed he would just take him off if he was playing shit!! it's not about working hard on the training pitch at international level in a Mclaren/Rob Kelly way it's about getting them organised and giving them the passion, belief and desire to want to play and do well, I think Klinsman is evidence enough of this for what he did for Germany
The People's Hero Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 I'll always follow England, but MClaren brings nothing to the set up. He sacrifices a 'team' to play what he sees as his best players, regardless of playing them out of position. Lamps and Gerrard can't play together... Put Gerrard in the middle and drop Lamps - simple. AJ is not good enough, by playing Phil Neville at left back he's essentially going backwards, esp when we had a great young attacking full back who eventually came on in Micah Richards. Lennon was wasted down the left, stick him down the right. My selection for yesterday would have been Robinson Carragher LB Richards RB Terry CB Ferdinand CB Dyer LM - done it before for Eng! Gerrard CM Hargreaves CM Lennon RM Rooney CF Defoe CF - AJ isn't international class Surely thats a more balanced and fluid team????!! Mate, you're spot on. Lampard, Downing and Phil Neville have been a waste of space for England for as long as I can remember. My only concern would be Defoe up front - he looks lively up front - I'd continue to search for a better partner for Rooney though. The team last night was crying out for some width and Dyer on one side with Lennon on his more natural right side would have given that. Micah Richards to get a few games then to deputise for Gary Neville.
Milky Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Last Summer after the World Cup, I'd basically turned my back and given up on watching and cheering for England FC. sorry but that's just pathetic
Daggers Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Complacency Scratch the surface of the England squad and the superficial nature of the talent there is all too obvious, like at City ~ if a a player has a shite game he is safe in the knowledge that it won't change anything because there's no one with any talent banging at the door to get his spot. When you have the likes of Phil Neville being selected for international games and amassing the number of caps he has it speaks volumes. The game in England is rotten from the top down.
Fez of Mahrez Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Complacency Scratch the surface of the England squad and the superficial nature of the talent there is all too obvious, like at City ~ if a a player has a shite game he is safe in the knowledge that it won't change anything because there's no one with any talent banging at the door to get his spot. When you have the likes of Phil Neville being selected for international games and amassing the number of caps he has it speaks volumes. The game in England is rotten from the top down. Fair play to Frank Lampard though. He doesn't need to fight for his place, he can just swagger about doing f**k all safe in the knowledge he will be picked again for the next game. Would have been nice to see Gerrard in the centre (where he always ends up anyway, doing the things Lampard can't manage) and Lennon in his proper position on the right from where he can actually put a decent ball or two per game in. I'm just glad I don't care as much about England as I do about Leicester.
Tubes Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 i bet the FA are really regretting to not allowing MON take his two assistants now
dandannieldanok Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 How much longer is Joe Cole injured???? Anybody know, we desperately miss him. When fit the team in my opinion should be: GK Robinson LB Ash Cole CB Terry CB Ferdinand RB Richards LM Cole CM Hargreaves CM Gerrard RM Lennon CF Heskey (I'm not joking, honestly) CF Rooney
Fez of Mahrez Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 How much longer is Joe Cole injured???? Anybody know, we desperately miss him. When fit the team in my opinion should be: GK Robinson LB Ash Cole CB Terry CB Ferdinand RB Richards LM Cole CM Hargreaves CM Gerrard RM Lennon CF Heskey (I'm not joking, honestly) CF Rooney I'd play Heskey too. No, really. No, really. No, really. No, really. No, really. No, not really. If you're talking "when everyone's fit" it's got to be Ashton. Or Owen...
lazeez Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 I know i will probably get laughed at, but i would play Heskey too. just the fact that he provides something different and he always has 2 defenders on him...... In fact England have been struggling since Heskey was left out. BRING BACK HESKEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Too many regulars have under performed ever since the World Cup, it's time they were dropped to at least show them they won't automatically be picked every game. Robinson Richards Terry Carragher Barry Dyer Gerrard Carrick Lennon Rooney ............Nugent No one out of position for a start has to be an improvement AJ and Defoe haven't done anything at International level so Nugent may as well play against Andorra to see how he fairs up front with Rooney.
Poakey Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Yep,the England passions gone from me aswell,i could actually feel myself urging Isreal on as i want Mc Claren out,we needed something fresh when Sven went,whats fresh about his assistant?? Id play Crouch up front personally.
lcfc_jme Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 If you're not that fussed, and just watch it as another football game, it's bizarre to see players like Lampard and Rooney underperform so much in comparison with their club football. Couldn't agree more to be honest. The players in the England side are on the whole absolutely outstanding in their club football (even Lampard as much as I dislike him), and so are selected for England on merit. Yet they struggle so much to transfer it to the international stage. Whether it's a complacency thing, or whether the tactics/balance of the side is wrong is a debate that could go on for a while I'd think, but one things for sure - something needs drastically changing. This England side has the quality to win things, yet they haven't and they have massively underachieved.
Bryn Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 sorry but that's just pathetic Not really, England is no team of mine. It's my country yes but I'm not gonna sit and get depressed about how they play, especially when LCFC are quite capable of making me reach for the prozac as it is.
foxes_fan Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 I'll always follow England, but MClaren brings nothing to the set up. He sacrifices a 'team' to play what he sees as his best players, regardless of playing them out of position. Lamps and Gerrard can't play together... Put Gerrard in the middle and drop Lamps - simple. AJ is not good enough, by playing Phil Neville at left back he's essentially going backwards, esp when we had a great young attacking full back who eventually came on in Micah Richards. Lennon was wasted down the left, stick him down the right. My selection for yesterday would have been Robinson Carragher LB Richards RB Terry CB Ferdinand CB Dyer LM - done it before for Eng! Gerrard CM Hargreaves CM Lennon RM Rooney CF Defoe CF - AJ isn't international class Surely thats a more balanced and fluid team????!! Neither is Defoe.....
Fez of Mahrez Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 Couldn't agree more to be honest. The players in the England side are on the whole absolutely outstanding in their club football (even Lampard as much as I dislike him), and so are selected for England on merit. Yet they struggle so much to transfer it to the international stage. Whether it's a complacency thing, or whether the tactics/balance of the side is wrong is a debate that could go on for a while I'd think, but one things for sure - something needs drastically changing. This England side has the quality to win things, yet they haven't and they have massively underachieved. Another theory I have is that both European and international football are great levellers. A lot of people wrote Liverpool off when they drew Barcelona in the last Champions League knockout round but I always had a funny feeling they would qualify because brilliant players can often look very ordinary when faced with a well-organised defence and then it's down to the odd ball falling your way, deflections, refereeing decisions and all those things that people can't account for when they argue things as if they are gospel based on one goal or one mistake. If you look at Everton, you'd say they are a decent, well-drilled team with a decent defensive record and a propensity to nick games 1-0, yet they never seem to get anything at Old Trafford - whereas in international football teams like Italy, France, England and Germany often draw at home against weaker nations who set themselves up defensively. If you're an Everton fan or player you are so used to going to Old Trafford year after year and getting tubbed, it becomes ingrained into you. We used to get thumped every year at Highbury, not just beaten but get really thrashed, and you'd go down there in 2000 or 2001 thinking "here we go again". International football is different, the games are so far apart that weaker teams can concentrate on their own game and not worry about what has happened previously against their opponents. It's a lot easier to set yourselves up defensively and nick a point than it is to set yourselves up in an attacking fashion and win at a canter. Another point I'd make is that although qualifiers are decided in groups, there is a knockout element to it. The draw yesterday was seen as a devastating result when really, with any sort of belief, England have the chance to beat Russia home and away and get themselves into pole position. We've seen a lot of results in the FA Cup this season where weaker teams have raised their games, set themselves up defensively, and got results (Blackburn home and away against Arsenal, Reading away against Manchester United, Middlesbrough at home to Manchester United). Personally I don't see why we played Andy Johnson when his main asset is getting in behind the defence when it was fairly obvious Israel would defend deep. We couldn't pass through them because Hargreaves plays deep, Lampard isn't up to it, Lennon was out of position all game and barely got a kick second half as he is wont to do and it is left to Gerrard to create everything. Then, getting more desperate, the balls are longer and higher and centre-backs like Tal Ben Haim will lap them up against Rooney and Johnson. You'd think with the way a lot of league teams go to Stamford Bridge, Anfield and Old Trafford that Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard would be used to having to break down stubborn defences but they didn't look like they had a clue last night. But then we didn't have a brilliant all-round central midfielder who can pass the ball like Xabi Alonso, Michael Essien or Paul Scholes and we haven't got anyone at all to hold the ball up as effectively as Dirk Kuyt, Didier Drogba or even Louis Saha.
Thracian Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 I think McLaren and Kelly must have qualified from same flawed coaching school. It is time both focused on building a balanced, adventurous team rather than continuing to be influenced by reputations. Not that I care what either do any more. They are beneath contempt really, effectively offering two fingers to the fans in terms of approach almost every time they put a team in the field. .
Stevosevic Posted 25 March 2007 Posted 25 March 2007 i wouldnt say i have given up supporting England, i certainly dont look forward to watching the game, however i would be disappointed if we didnt qualify for Euro 08 as i enjoy watching the team in a major competition.
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