Without getting too carried away - doubtless some numbnuts will now believe we are world beaters - I thought last night's performance was very encouraging - Hart - Best English keeper currently playing by a country mile (Kaspar take note of how he CATCHES high balls please) Cole - Whatever we think of him as an individual - deserves great credit for the number of caps achieved - however - quite worrying that Oscar seemed to breeze by him on occasion Smalling - thought he showed a lot of promise - although i fear he might be another Ledley King in terms of the injury front Cahill - not convinced about him at this level Glen Johnson - not the best defender but going forward and combining with the midfield and Walcot last night great - our best avenue of attack all night long Gerrard - fine performance, possibly helped by the younger legs around him Wilshire - a revelation for me - he 'arrived' on the world srage last night - capable of competing with the best technical players in the world if he maintains that level Cleverley - thought he complimented Wislhire and Gerrad very effectively - another very good technical player Rooney - very good - thrived on the service and the inter-play with better technical players Walcot - fantastic display - had Brazil on the rack all night - choice of options not always correct but will trouble any defence in the world with his pace Wellbeck -I think this place in the team is still very much up for grabs - needs to learn to shoot with both feet at least. Subs Baines - think Ashley Cole is not guaranteed a starting spot now Lampard - effective but surely now not first choice for any of the midfield berths? Milner - found his best position - on the bench Lennon - Walcot's stunt double
I didnt watch the game as i was at work but how mad are Chelsea if they are going to let Frank Lampard walk. He still has alot to give and will be the bargain of the summer for whoever signs him Bit unfair on Kasper
.. not really - it's the only really obvious weakness that he has ... if you catch it you have possession - trying to punch a catchable ball - as happened against Wolves- means at best 50/50 and at worse a goal - and in these days of 'protective refereeing' more likely than not to get a free-kick if impeded trying to catch (no brainer for me) ...
.. you have a point - but the problem for Frank is that Brazil's best player last night was Oscar (only just losing out to official MOM Wishire) ... and with Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Moses, Ramires and even Mikkel on the scene Frank's opportunities are likely to become more limited ..
Moses, Hazard and Mata are wide men who play off the striker Mikel and Ramires are defensive players Oscar is very young and unexperienced. Can he step up in the big games? Remains to be seen Other then Mata, Lampard is Chelsea's best midfielder
Man Utd are after Lampard so don't feel too sorry for him. Also Hart is over half a foot taller then Kasper so is easier for him to catch high balls while Kasper has to punch.
One thing that was definitely clear from last night, is that despite being the host nation in next year's WC, Brazil have a mountain to climb if they are going to win the WC!
Changed their minds apparently.... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ck-U-turn-Roman-Abramovich.html#axzz2K7SWTGcD
Moses and Hazard are wide yes .. Mata no - he has a free role and invariably orchestrates most of their moves - he is one reason why Frank isn't getting so many games now - the other is Ramires - yes he is primarily defensive but that is too simplistic - he gets box to box and now has abetter engine than Frank. It's all about opinions but for me Frank is about fourth now on Chelsea's 'best midfielder' list ... Oscar is going to be some player (in fact he already is) ...
I think Oscar we be a bit like Andy King. He isnt going to fancy playing games were you have to dig in and scrap Frank will Look at Fergie he has used Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes superbly over the years and thats how Chelsea should be using Frank
... if you'd watched last night you'd have seen that Oscar, despite resembling a choirboy is not frightened of 'digging in' in fact, he is a dirty little sod .. but he also has tremendous ability and pace ... he left Cole for dead on more than one occasion and Neymar missed a sitter from about two feet out sliding in to a wonderful cross from Oscar that went across the face of goal ... Oscar is a shoe in for my FF team next season ...
I wouldn't say it was a sitter. Neymar was at full stretch but he still couldn't get to it. Good cross though and I agree Oscar looks a decent player, which is more than I can say about most of that Brazil team last night. Regarding the Kasper punching issue, punching is obviously the European way. I have seen more goals from keepers catching the ball but bringing it down onto a crowd of players and losing the ball than from punching to an opposition player. At least directly - punching does invite more pressure. I suppose catching is a gamble - it comes off, you can go on and counter-attack. You lose the ball, you may very well may concede. Punching brings immediate safety but invites more pressure. Ideally, you want a keeper that catches safely every time, like Shilts!
Some comments by Joey Barton about Neymar @Joey7Barton This Neymar fella is massively overrated. Not in the same street as Messi or Ronaldo. @Joey7Barton I wouldn't pay the £40-50 million there asking for Neymar. Not a chance. #showpony @Joey7Barton It really annoys me when footballers start praying on the pitch. Why would a God, if he existed give a **** about the outcome of a match! Neymar's reply? I dont know who Joey Barton is
God!!!!!!! ... I'd be a bit careful if I were you AKCJ ... the last bloke who was that openly critical was forced to leave Egypt after a bout of plagues ... mind you, he did subsequently sign for West Brom ... Remi Moses was his name as I recall ... his son's at Chelsea now ...
I thought Peter was the fisherman? ... mind you what God would do now with 3 subs and a squad system I just don't know ... if he asks for my advice mind, I'd tell him to leave Judas on the bench ..
Thought our CBs were pretty shaky last night though, with Terry gone it suddenly looks like a weak part of the team. I know this is a biased opinion but I genuinely don't think Wes Morgan would have looked that out of place, particularly with Championship players apparently being deemed fit for the team in recent games. Great game though last night, can't remember enjoying an England game that much in a long time. Brazil were more bad than we were good, their finishing was shocking!
