**** off you bitter dick! Our defence was fragile, to say the least, last night, and let's be frank and say that the Italians targeted what they perceived to be the weakest link, and not Johnson as all the pundits had confidently predicted they would. I'm a big fan of Baines, and he was left isolated last night, but even so, did he manage to win one tackle or stop one cross in the game? As to Henderson, I thought he had a fine first half, especially when he got forward, and given his athleticism I'd have been inclined to push him forward rather than bring on cul-de-sac Wilshire, who brought NOTHING to the game last night. But the biggest problem last night for me was not Henderson, Wellbeck, Sterling or even Rooney leaving defenders exposed - it was Gerrard. He thought he'd out Pirlo Pirlo. I think I saw him make two tackles throughout the game. This meant that whilst Johnson had Henderson and, often, Wellbeck shoring up his flank, Baines was isolated. That said Tobes, don't get away from the fact that the Eyeties had already made their minds up to attack Baines from the kick off. And you're wrong about England and the matches against Uruguay and costa Rica, you'll see. I think your bitterness is clouding your judgement again, simply for the reason that Hodgson - rightly- picked a Liverpool-centic side last night. We were beaten by a nailed-on semi-final side, and we deserved a draw if not more. Henderson covered more ground, got in more tackles, made more telling passes (especially in the first half) than Wilshire would have done; and if you watched that game and thought that he was our problem it's unsurprising that for you the highlight of last season was not being taken over by an exciting, young manager that had you playing your best football for decades and pushing for a CL place (and probably could have gotten it too had you pushed a bit harder at the end) but.... Gerrard falling over. Take those ****ing blue chains from your eyes feller.
So in the 91st minute, what player got a yellow card having to track back? Oh that was Sterling. Gerrard, Henderson and Sterling will always track back as it's what they do for Liverpool. Sturridge never usually has that job, it's usually for Suarez and Johnson gets up and down the pitch anyways. Rooney isn't given the role to track back, he does so because he feels running around like a headless chicken helps the team.
Hmmmm, disagree there. Italy weren't great by any means, they targeted one side for the whole match and Hodgson didn't do anything but swap either winger around, it wasn't until Lallana came on that Baines had support. I've said before, Baines cannot be criticised, he played in his own in his first World Cup, it's the players around him who need a word with. On the second goal Welbeck walked to help Baines, Baines then asked Jagielka for help and he ended up running with a Man which led him to be on his own for fiftieth time in the game.
Basically what I've written has shut you up so you give a poor response? Go back in the Man U board then
t, for sure, but Baines got the poison chalice last night, and I don't argue that he's the best left-back in the country atm, but don't bury your head to the fact that he barely won or stopped a cross in the game. We wouldn't had Johnson performed the same. Talking of which, whether 'blame' Baines, Wellbeck or cahill for Italy's second last night, did you hear mogadon Neville blaming Johnson? He tracked a player who would have otherwise been standing unmarked on the six yard line in front of goal and cahill lost his man - and that was Johnson's fault according the Bitter Chuckle.
Johnson played well, he's delivery was poor in the game but we know that from Liverpool. Yes, Baines should of stopped crosses and got tackles in I agree, but when your playing in your first World Cup and you have to Man running at you constantly, would anyone think smart in the game?
Except for last night while playing centrally leaving his pals henderson and gerrard exposed im sure he does.
Baines' 'poor' performance wasn't really his fault. He was consistently in 2-on-1 situations on his side. Once Lallana came on, and helped out on that side, Baines looked better, but, by then, the damage was done.
As I said in the 91st minutes, after getting cramp and clearly looking shattered, covered Johnson and picked up a yellow. If he doesn't track back, he certainly wouldn't if started in the 91st minute.
A wouldn't consider it praise worthy. No idea why you think its a plus point. He was also playing wide right by now so as i said, centrally he didnt track back at all and this was a factor in italy having control. Its also why gerrard was the worst player on the pitch by far.
I'll say again that I'm a fan of Baines, but he was laced for the second goal, no if-or-buts. **** all to do with him being outnumbered.
Gerrard was woeful defensively, that's for sure. But Rooney was somehow worse when he got his way and played 10 in the second half than he had been on the left. And that act cut out 50% of Sterling's effort by sticking him out on the right wing. As Lineker said to Rio last night after Rio had said there was no point playing Rooney on the left when the centre is his best position, if our best player (Sterling) was already playing there.... wouldn't it be better playing someone who wouldn't be wasted on the left and leaving Rooney on the bench until sterling had burned himself out? It's what I'd do against uruguay for sure - Lallana or Shaw on the left for me. Rooney an impact sub.
Wilshere's ****ing crap and shouldn't be anywhere near the England squad imo. But that's got **** all to do with mouth breather Henderson, who's nothing more than a terrier chasing a tennis ball on Southport beach. He's brain dead and it shows in his play as positionally he's ****ing awful Baines wasn't great either, but was left hopelessly exposed by the wandering Rooney not covering him properly as the egotistical twat wanted to drift into his preferred position all the time We won't win both remaining games, you're dreaming mate
You said Sterling didn't track back, I'm giving an example at how in the late stages if the game he was tracking back, to show that Sterling did in fact track back. I didn't say it was a positive I was using it as an example.
Im going to rate pur players by holding them all to the standards rooney is held to. Much harsher criticism will be applied if the player was in his best position or didnt score. Hart - shocking performance. Truly one of the worst ever. Didnt score, didnt create and has no excuse as he was in his best position. Johnson - f**king ****e. No goal threat, no threat of any kind at all. Waste of a place in the sqaud. Cahill - in his best position and didnt score? What did he do as he certainly didnt do his job. Jag - as above. Pointless performance Baines - why? Just f**king why. Shoot him or something. Also didnt score or do anything for that matter. Gerrard - may as well have been dead. Infact no, the dead move more and offer more. No goals, no assists and wtf was that free kick? Henderson - no words are offensive enough. Welbeck - should have been drowned at birth Sterling - ran and did nothing most of the time, terrible touch and spent more time giving the ball away that fathering kids. Sturridge - scored, god like performance. Knight this motherf**ker. Subs: Barkley - headless runner with zero end product. Didnt score. Why was he in brazil? Llalana - your team play in white pal. White is different to blue. Didnt score, should have been aborted. Wilshere - his mother should have been aborted. No hatrick. ------------------------------------------------- The above is in no way a refelction of my view of the game, ive jusr tried a pair of 'judge rooney' specs on and thats what happens...
