@ Super 1st Uruguay goal - Gerrard missed tackle 2nd Uruguay goal - Gerrard missed header No surprise thought to see Gerrard straight in front of the cameras after, trying to convince us all that it was 'still possible' It isn't. The guy is a myth, an imposter. Just like the other members of the Golden Generation.
I have been told that your Oz account has been sorted now mate (a new temp password has been set), is this true?
He's always escaped criticism. From back passes against France that cost us to everyone forgetting his night club altercation. He's been brilliant in the Champions League, but the guy is an idiot and hasn't produced at international football. He should retire from England before the plane lands down at Heathrow
Everything about England is wrong. We have a national anthem that lacks identity and is sung half heartedly at best. Jo Hart is an arrogant, talentless finger sniffer who has worse positioning than piles. The back four consist of a midget greasy haired scouser, two centre backs that are as soft as a Mr Whippy's poo and Glen Johnson Sturridge is crap, Gerrard can't do tournament football on account of his missus doing bouncers Rooney is a wig wearing overhyped and stinky. Wellbeck is quite shockingly poor and looks like an extra from Fame. Another tournament gone.
We are far, far worse than Spain Incidentally AHLL, despite you previous denials, your recent reply to Oz confirms that you are indeed the busiest Mod since Paul Weller was in his pomp
Spain were awfull this year, but when they get home, they will find three major trophies in the cabinet from the last decade. Oh to see England win just one!!!! I thought Sturridge looked okay if a little abandoned, but Wellbeck and Gerrard simply are'nt up to it. I remember reading that this tournament had come too soon for the youngsters, but would be good build up for 2016. Can't for the life of me see what we've gained so far.
I appreciate all assistance, and i will say i am starting to feel like a right pain in the 'junk'. Not just locked out, that old email account is no longer existing so i dont know ... If i cancel this Roly account and that allows the new email to be attached to the old OZ then i will do that if instructed We will get through these tumultuous times together gents, my account will be resurrected !
This article by Matt Hughes appeared in the Times this morning. Here's the article, "Fabio Capello is not known for his lyrical and insightful use of English, but one of his observations about the national team struck a chord. “Lions in the autumn, lambs in the spring,” he said when asked to explain England’s recurrent failures. Although Capello’s emphasis on the gruelling effects of a Premier League season has some merit, there has been a deeper malaise at work in Brazil, as England’s players have appeared to morph into even less intimidating farmyard animals. For crucial periods of both defeats by Italy and Uruguay, they resembled headless chickens, or rabbits caught in the headlights. Steven Gerrard said as much on Thursday evening, conceding that England were naive and lacked the nous to respond to the changing game situation. Many of us are equally guilty of ignoring the mental side of the game, and the conversation soon moved on to more emotive topics, such as Gerrard’s feelings and international future. While these were perfectly valid lines of inquiry, he confirmed the impression of a sporting culture in which the mind is regarded as secondary to the heart, and of course the feet. This old-school attitude remains depressingly widespread, with some even arguing that the presence of Steve Peters, the psychiatrist, at the World Cup is a sign of weakness. Peters was brought in by Roy Hodgson to improve his players’ mental edge, but it was unrealistic to expect him to have a transformative effect in such a short period. What English players really need is a cultural revolution, in which the power of the brain is valued as much as the body. Having spent years lamenting the technical deficit between English and foreign players, which has shown signs of closing recently, an even bigger mental gap may have been ignored. Even in their better moments, England appeared to be playing off the cuff. Why do English players seemingly lack such basic skills? A big factor in this tournament is a lack of experience, for which Hodgson is culpable after assembling a squad in which only five players had played at a previous World Cup. He is also the victim of a systemic failure, however, as it is not just World Cup experience that his squad lacks. Very few of them have experience of any tournament football as a result of the disdain shown by Premier League clubs towards the international age-group competitions that take place every summer. This point has been laboured by the likes of Stuart Pearce, but remains pertinent. As England Under-21 manager, Pearce was furious at being denied the services of 17 players at the European Championship last summer, and returned to the theme yesterday, arguing convincingly that Luke Shaw would have gained more from playing in the under-20 tournament in Toulon last month than warming the bench in Brazil. As a result of being denied such experiences, England’s players do not develop skills that are vital in tournament football — managing yourself through several games against very different opponents in a congested period, assessing evolving match situations and knowing when to accept a draw or push for a win — shortcomings that have all proved costly, as Gerrard acknowledged. Though the pathway from age-group to senior international sides is clearly smoother elsewhere, even those who do make it to the top in this country are lacking in key areas. The tactical flexibility shown by many teams at this tournament, with many regularly switching formations during matches, is unheard of in England. The gung-ho nature of the Premier League does not help in the development of players with more cerebral qualities, but there are other problems. It sometimes feels as if tactics are a dirty word in English football, with journalists often scorned by managers for asking about tactical issues. When a Premier League manager such as Tim Sherwood says he does not study formations and simply sends 11 players out on to the pitch, it is no wonder the English game is lacking. This environment is not conducive to the production of thinking footballers, and it is instructive that even the most talented players who have emerged in recent years largely rely on physical virtues or their individuality. Such qualities are invaluable, of course, but it feels increasingly that England’s players and coaches should be sent back to school. And not to read Animal Farm."
Best thing for the National Game is if we leave the EU, will mean only 3 EU players per prem squad pretty much, we'd suffer in Europe but the national game would be stronger.... not that I vote UKIP or want to leave the EU. I saw someone say, "it's the fans fault. They want success so will happily buy good foreign players than up and coming English ones" It's kind of true, we want English players, or at least British in our squad, Vol is a big fan of it and so am I... but if signing 18 European players will help us win promotion, I think a lot of us would go for the 18 Europeans and promotion. What needs to be done is what the FA wanted to do, non EU players not in the football league, they need to do that BUT extend it to the premier league as well and decrease the amount of non British players, 7 in a 23 man squad maybe? Will then mean, even at city there are at least 4 British players (preferably English) in the starting 11, much better than many of the clubs around.
How good was that performance from Reza against the mighty Argies.... He even floored one of them in the first minute... Great work rate and extremely unlucky not to have scored... I've been positive about him from the start, and was surprised by some of the criticism he got, because even though he was in and out of the team a lot last season, when he played he did show qualities that the rest of the old squad simply lacked... Let's hope there's more to come from him next season...
I've seen this countless times before, a player from a chicken in a bus nation has a good World Cup and is suddenly heralded as the next big thing. Reza was poo for us and won't show that sort of commitment in a cafc shirt. They never do. It's sort of England in reverse, only turn it on at tournaments to get a transfer and spend the intervening years shopping in Prada and group shagging Bimbos till the next tournament comes around.
Group shagging bimbo's is a serious distraction though I was impressed with Reza this morning, if he plays like that always he wouldnt be in a championship side anyway...
Reza has already shown that commitment and was far from poor in many important games... He wasn't perfect but he & AA were the best of the imports, and compared to the majority of the squad, actually gave us some much needed attacking intent...
