8 players on that pitch have been playing football similar to the Swansea Way this season, and they couldn't have been further from the system we play/played.
Better team lost imo. Cahill was class...apart from not going with Suarez for the 2nd goal. Switched off. Harsh punishment for his only mistake. Gerrard had a very good game. Proper captain stuff...though I suspect he'll now get murdered and be held responsible for the 2nd. Rooney was also class. World Class. Didn't deserve to be on the losing team at all for me. Sturridge did well. Baines finally started playing in the second half. Overall, very very unlucky. That ****ing referee did my head in (and that's coming from someone who usually enjoys an England loss). Godin should have gone. Persistent fouling was tolerated. A number of Uruguayan challenges were worthy of a yellow card and never got one. They time wasted and got away with it. They kicked the ball away and weren't booked. Not pleasant....particularly that arsehole at left back who made out Rooney was diving when he in fact got fouled and kept on playing. Don't like them as a team and I hope they go out ASAP.
Would it be racist of me to suggest that the Latin referees seem to encourage this sort of thing rather than eliminate it?
I agree Mika I foresee Italy beating Costa Rica tomorrow and surprise surprise Italy and Uruguay have a very tedious 0-0 next week and both go through! We could do with Howard Webb refing that one and giving Italy a last minute penalty
Most accurate post of the night amongst the usual rubbish from the uber-bitter "We're-not-there-and-we-hate-it cos-you-are" brigade. Top notch.
Usual thing of Woy picking players before a system & philosophy. Johnson gave Cavani too much space for the 1st. When 1-0 you keep on two defensive midfielders rather than changing it early. Gerrard was shocking. Still don't see what Rooney gives to the team (regardless of his goal and header). Got what they deserve. You can't honestly say that any of that England 11 are 'world class' at this moment in time. This is spot on: http://www1.skysports.com/football/...ten-let-down-by-their-key-men-when-it-matters
I do agree that Glenn Johnson isn't good enough...he totally switched off and lost Cavani in the second half which could have resulted in a goal also but Rooney was outstanding for me. Just an opinion. He always had 2 men on him and was fouled almost every time he received the ball. Despite this he kept on showing, shrugging off challenges, often beating the first man, driving forward, passing well, switching play to the flanks at the right time. He scored, hit the bar, arrived in the box at the right times (would have scored a second if not for a good save) and saw a very good free-kick go narrowly over...He was strong, hard working and didn't complain to the ref despite the cynical play by Uruguay. What more do people want? For him to win the game by himself? If Uruguay's defence had switched off and allowed him a clear run on goal from a punt upfield I'm sure he would have scored 2 goals also. It's small, small margins at that level. Why does everybody always feel the need to vent their anger on somebody, usually blaming the wrong person to boot. England lost because of some defensive slackness and the fact they were playing 9/10 men behind the ball who were allowed by the ref to kick them off the park in the final third. They didn't have the luck with them also whereas Uruguay did.
Regarding the coaching: I do think England's chances of progression would have increased if they were a little more conservative, a little more canny/cute/cynical etc. If I was coach I would have planned like this. To go through we need at least 4 points, possibly 5 (Aim for a minimum of Italy draw, Uruguay draw and Costa Rica win). Therefore against the strongest team in the opening game....play conservatively, protect the draw. I would have selected the formation and the team on that basis. Watching Costa Rica defeat Uruguay should have reinforced how valuable a point would be. England played to win...as the English press and fans wanted them too. They were unlucky not to get a point. Having lost Hodgson stated that "like it or not it's knockout football now" It wasn't. As I posted straight after their loss...a draw v Uruguay and a Costa Rica victory would almost certainly be enough. They didn't play tight enough last night and what's more didn't have the best personnel for that job....the decision to leave 2 of their best defenders at home (John Terry and Ashley Cole) now seems barmy. Even taking just what players he had available in last night's game his formation and selection was to attack. The subs he brought on were attacking players. When Rooney equalised he should have shut up shop. Take Sturridge off (leaving Rooney up front or in a false 9) and bring on a defender to follow Suarez around....making Cahill a sweeper. England fans demanded an attacking team and that's what Woy gave them....Capello wouldn't have! They were not quite good enough but will be unlucky to go out at this stage.
