The spine is there. Hart, Wilshere, Sterling, Barkley and Sturridge are all young and all have the potential to be world class players. Let's hope they fulfil it. In four years' time we may have a much better chance although I'm not sure what our defence will be. Of course, all hope is not yet lost (although no team has ever lost their first two games of a world cup and qualified for the next round - it has to happen at some point though...) If we do go out, however, I'll be able to re-focus my support on Colombia and Chile. These are two really exciting teams and I hope one of them goes on to win it. There is no exceptional side this year. Oh, and Hodgson shouldn't leave. I think he was out-thought tactically by Prandelli but he's done well and we need a manager who is willing to play good football and trust the younger players. Hodgson has shown he is willing to do that.
Sorry and shoot me down in flames if you like, but I just cannot understand the Joe Hart, best goalkeeper in the Country nonsense. He isn't! His positional sense is appalling, his judgement as to when and when not to leave his line only marginally better. Against Italy on three occasions he was very nearly caught out by failing to properly guard his near post. Did he learn from that? Did he hell as like. The same thing happened last night on three more occasions including twice when facing Suarez corner kicks. It wouldn't have been so bad had he organised for a defender to be on the near post but he failed there as well. As for coming off his line at the right time, when he did come off the line against Italy it was to chase a ball he had absolutely no chance of reaching as a result of which Ballotelli was only prevented from scoring by a central defender heading clear from directly underneath the crossbar. Again he didn't learn. When he should have come off his line in the same match, he didn't and Ballotelli scored with an easy header from no more than three yards from goal from a cross which was in the air for so long that my Grandmother, if I had one, could have caught. The goalkeeping standard in general in England is poor. Whatever happened to the straightforward skill of actually catching the ball. Agreed, it isn't always easy or indeed the right choice to make but 'keepers nowadays punch when under no pressure at all. WHY!!!!!!! And I might add that this post is in no way an attempt to put forward John Ruddy for the England team. IMO he too, blows hot and cold.
I entirely agree with your summing up of Hart's weaknesses, as a former keeper at a reasonable standard, I can only conclude that the ball is punched so often because it is so light and mobile in the air making a catch more difficult! in my day the ball was so heavy it would fly straight and true!
Dave, I also was a goalkeeper at what might be loosely termed as a reasonable level, hence I feel justified in making my comments re Hart. We must be roughly around the same age because you are right in saying that in your day - mine too - the ball was heavy, no more so than when it was wet and more akin to a medicine ball than a football. Even then, I prided myself on catching much more than punching. The fact that it was so heavy made it more difficult to hold on to a shot or cross coming in at pace as one had to take the pace off the ball as one caught it in order to hold onto it. In those far off days 'keepers only wore gloves when the ball was wet unlike now when they wear massive gloves containing "sticky patches" making it even easier to catch the ball. I often wonder if there is any rule or regulation as to the maximum size these gloves are allowed to be as some I've seen on TV games appear to be around twice the size of the 'keepers hands!
That's a good shout about gloves, some of them look more at home on a circus clown. I also caught the ball much more often than punching it and if it was impossible to catch or punch, I would make sure I finger-tipped it out for a corner rather than risk setting up an attacker! How often these days do we see a keeper push the ball straight to an attacker?
I don't mind him, at least he says it as he sees it unlike some of the morons and so called expert pundits and he can be amusing, as can Lawro who has a very dry sense of humour. Just so long as we don't have to put up any more with Neville!
I have to say Ferdinand has been surprisingly good. Glenn Hoddle is the main man, I'd love him to be our manager.
Agree about Ferdinand too. Not so sure about Hoddle as Canary manager. He'd no doubt bring his shrink along with him to totally confuse the players. My advice: Stick with Adams. I've got a strange feeling he'll surprise you all and come up with the goods. Time will tell.
If someone had said we would have lasted longer than Spain before the tournament started I would have never believed them. on that basis we did rather well.
I gave up watching the Belgium v Russia match - can't see Belgium progressing much further unless they up their game.
