England XI To Stop Group Stage Exit

[poopbutt]

rooney not as good as diego milito... i've seen it all now

[Uncle Albert]

As usual Aquilani, you don't make much sense - your first query is a non sequitur ('excuses - injured'). Of course, the main purpose of your questions is to rub in a little of the old schadenfreude - but I'll humour you.

Meghni has been a doubt for some time for the finals and I would think that England's chances of victory against Algeria would be slightly increased if he did not appear in this match.

England can also draw some comfort from the USA's home loss to the Czech Republic but the reports that I have read suggest that Bradley put out largely a second string side. Perhaps though, one could see this as an 'excuse' as the coach does not seem to know what his first XI is.On the flip side, the Algerians, Yanks and Slovenes could draw some comfort from England's abject display at home to Mexico - a side that could be seen as the median of our Group C opposition.

If i were you Uncle Aquilani I'd show a little more respect for our World Cup opponents - you've made an awfully thick rod for your back if things were to go awry...

Well you clearly said that Meghni was Algeria's best player and would cause England problems, where as I said Belhadj was their best player, so was just wondering what other excuse you can use to suggest Algeria will worry England, you have used they are playing in Africa so that will benefit them and their player, so you must have back ups.

So what if it was second string players, England played a few second string players against Mexico on Monday night and won 3-1 but like you say England will struggle to breeze the group and who I am to argue you? Jeez you must have about 30 screens in your living room as you have watched practically everygame that Slovenia, Algeria and the USA have played in the last few years, plus all the other group games such as the Czech Republics 'tough' group.

Stop saying our Group, your clearly not an England fan because if you were you wouldnt go around with this attitude that its going to be a tough group, we are one of the best teams in the World with the quality we have and we can get the team performing as one then we are easily one of the favourites but you keep finding reasons.

[Fosse Fox]

Well you clearly said that Meghni was Algeria's best player and would cause England problems, where as I said Belhadj was their best player, so was just wondering what other excuse you can use to suggest Algeria will worry England, you have used they are playing in Africa so that will benefit them and their player, so you must have back ups.

So what if it was second string players, England played a few second string players against Mexico on Monday night and won 3-1 but like you say England will struggle to breeze the group and who I am to argue you? Jeez you must have about 30 screens in your living room as you have watched practically everygame that Slovenia, Algeria and the USA have played in the last few years, plus all the other group games such as the Czech Republics 'tough' group.

Stop saying our Group, your clearly not an England fan because if you were you wouldnt go around with this attitude that its going to be a tough group, we are one of the best teams in the World with the quality we have and we can get the team performing as one then we are easily one of the favourites but you keep finding reasons.

Well, the last time I looked at the laws of the game Algeria are allowed ten other players (but you never know with FIFA these days).

Reasons can be very uncomfortable can't they? Sometimes they can even make the most impulsive THINK. And England's appalling record in offshore tournaments (two semi's in the 25 entered) is rich food enough for the darkest of thoughts. Anything can happen as the punters point to Spain but, lest we forget, they are the current European champions, actually deserve their FIFA ranking and have been knocking on the door for some considerable time now. Even allowing for all that I don't think they'll win it.

Ah winning it! There's the thing. Do you seriously think that England will conquer all? Only the deluded, shit as pig-thick, I'm with the mindless mob could think such a thing ('but carry on, it's good for business...' - Paddy Power).

PS I'll only stop saying 'our' group when you come clean about your Anusfiled affiliations and you stop masquerading as a Leicester fan.

[Jordan]

Free scouting report:

The good news for the USA is that they found a few things that worked (and helped especially in keeping possession and generating offense) in the second half against Turkey today. USA were terrible in the first half, then made a few subs/switches and ripped Turkey to shreds in the second half.

The good news for England is that they most likely won't see all of these "few things that worked"--or at least not in the first 45 minutes. My guess is that the U.S. will choose a starting lineup on June 12 that will look, if not exactly like this, then very close to this:

-------------Altidore-----Dempsey-------------

Beasley-------------------------------Donovan

----------------Edu---------Bradley--------------

Bocanegra--Onyewu--DeMerit--Cherundolo

-----------------------Howard-----------------------

make of that what you will. Spector (left back) and Clark (DM) probably played their way out of the starting lineup today. Bob Bradley will probably go with a tougher tackler in Edu instead of the smaller Torres (who will be an option to come on in the 2nd half) despite Torres' sensational performance today. Oh, my God, Torres was amazing.

Our other forward options, Gomez (a "right place/right time" forward) and Findley (speed) seem to be better suited as subs and Buddle will probably be used as a back-up for Altidore if needed, so I'm guessing Dempsey starts up front even though we're more dangerous with Dempsey on the right and Donovan on the left (and Davies up front ).

If the U.S. needs a goal late, there's a good chance Bob Bradley will have figured out a way to sub in Findley, Torres and Holden--your boys had better be ready to run, run often and run fast.

If Onyewu either can't start for some reason or can't go the full 90, there are other options (Goodson staring/subbing or Edu dropping back with Gooch replaced by Torres if we need to score or Clark if we're fine with the score), though those aren't necessarily things that make me feel confident.

Don't ask me how Beasley found his way back into this team. The sad thing is that he's currently our second-best LB option because Spector and Bornstein both suck. Seriously, I don't know what happened to Spector this year--there must be something nasty in the water at Upton Park. We'll definitely give Holden and Donovan spells on the left wing at some point during the group stage (or even in the England game).

The U.S. is best as a counterattacking team. If we have a style, it's that. It seems that nearly every great game they've played since I started watching them in 1994 involves them forcing their opponents out on the wing, daring them to send in crosses that our two big center backs handle easily and having our speedy wingers pick up the ball and slice on the break. Or pack it in and score off a set piece. Or rely on an other-worldly goalkeeping performance.

... and every time we get killed, we get ripped to shreds in the middle of the park. Unfortunately, England have a few guys named Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard that play in exactly that spot.

[Fosse Fox]

Free scouting report:

The good news for the USA is that they found a few things that worked (and helped especially in keeping possession and generating offense) in the second half against Turkey today. USA were terrible in the first half, then made a few subs/switches and ripped Turkey to shreds in the second half.

The good news for England is that they most likely won't see all of these "few things that worked"--or at least not in the first 45 minutes. My guess is that the U.S. will choose a starting lineup on June 12 that will look, if not exactly like this, then very close to this:

-------------Altidore-----Dempsey-------------

Beasley-------------------------------Donovan

----------------Edu---------Bradley--------------

Bocanegra--Onyewu--DeMerit--Cherundolo

-----------------------Howard-----------------------

make of that what you will. Spector (left back) and Clark (DM) probably played their way out of the starting lineup today. Bob Bradley will probably go with a tougher tackler in Edu instead of the smaller Torres (who will be an option to come on in the 2nd half) despite Torres' sensational performance today. Oh, my God, Torres was amazing.

Our other forward options, Gomez (a "right place/right time" forward) and Findley (speed) seem to be better suited as subs and Buddle will probably be used as a back-up for Altidore if needed, so I'm guessing Dempsey starts up front even though we're more dangerous with Dempsey on the right and Donovan on the left (and Davies up front ).

If the U.S. needs a goal late, there's a good chance Bob Bradley will have figured out a way to sub in Findley, Torres and Holden--your boys had better be ready to run, run often and run fast.

If Onyewu either can't start for some reason or can't go the full 90, there are other options (Goodson staring/subbing or Edu dropping back with Gooch replaced by Torres if we need to score or Clark if we're fine with the score), though those aren't necessarily things that make me feel confident.

Don't ask me how Beasley found his way back into this team. The sad thing is that he's currently our second-best LB option because Spector and Bornstein both suck. Seriously, I don't know what happened to Spector this year--there must be something nasty in the water at Upton Park. We'll definitely give Holden and Donovan spells on the left wing at some point during the group stage (or even in the England game).

The U.S. is best as a counterattacking team. If we have a style, it's that. It seems that nearly every great game they've played since I started watching them in 1994 involves them forcing their opponents out on the wing, daring them to send in crosses that our two big center backs handle easily and having our speedy wingers pick up the ball and slice on the break. Or pack it in and score off a set piece. Or rely on an other-worldly goalkeeping performance.

... and every time we get killed, we get ripped to shreds in the middle of the park. Unfortunately, England have a few guys named Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard that play in exactly that spot.

The good news for you guys is that Rooney, Lampard & Gerrard and Uncle Tom Cobley & all normally go AWOL behind the bike shed as we get ripped to shreds in the middle of the park by the world beaters of Slovenia, Egypt and Mexico.

And the bad news for you is that any rare England foray always results in a corner. A crane then winches a bean pole like figure into position and the ball trickles over the line off its cock.

It says on the tin 'Guaranteed to work for group games only - attempts to use in knock out phase will result in penalty shoot out misery.'

[Jordan]

'Guaranteed to work for group games only - attempts to use in knock out phase will result in penalty shoot out misery.'

They'll just have to cross that bridge when they get there.

[Jordan]

I'm curious as to why the BBC website had a front-page link to the match report when a second-string Czech team beat a second-string American team, yet when a stronger American squad beats a full-strength Turkey, there's nary a mention of this anywhere on the site.

[lildave3]

Spector was absolutely dreadful

Arda had the freedom of the pitch.

[Guest ttfn]

I've been reading this thread 5 minutes and have already come to the conclusion that fosse fox is a total goon

[poopbutt]

I've been reading this thread 5 minutes and have already come to the conclusion that fosse fox is a total goon

congrats on catching up with the rest of us

[purpleronnie]

I'm curious as to why the BBC website had a front-page link to the match report when a second-string Czech team beat a second-string American team, yet when a stronger American squad beats a full-strength Turkey, there's nary a mention of this anywhere on the site.

Typical.

[Guest ttfn]

I'd go with:

James

Johnson

Terry

Ferdinand

A Cole

Lennon

Gerrard

Lampard

J Cole

Rooney

Heskey

But only out of necessity. Carrick is woeful at the moment. When Barry comes back, Gerrard goes wide left and Cole drops to the bench.

Gerrard to hold.

[Jordan]

Another reason why England won't win the World Cup:

England's rugged center back, rockin' the man-purse. Hey JT, you could use a little more eye shadow.

[Mikey]

Another reason why England won't win the World Cup:

England's rugged center back, rockin' the man-purse. Hey JT, you could use a little more eye shadow.

[Fosse Fox]

Just thought that this was the right time to remind you of this thread's existence.

And that it was yours truly that started it.

And that some people around here know what they are talking about...