so john o shea rugby tackles a German and the kraut gets booked for diving. meanwhile fletcher scores from 5 yards onside and the goal is ruled out and in the same game bale trips himself and gets a penalty! goes to show there's **** refs all over the place not just the prem.
I stand corrected then. if Fletcher's goal had stood it wouldn't have mattered. couldn't see wales coming back from 2 down. now Ireland had 5 more mins.. we had Germany worried!
And meanwhile England.... I seriously lost count of how often I shouted "just bloody SHOOT!!" at the screen. And then that goit gives Wellbeck motm! He was probably the second worst on the pitch (sadly after Walker). MOTM should have been Baines or The Ox.
Totally agree with your best and worst players last night, when you look at an England team these days its hard to imagine when we might ever win something again. Germany manage to beat Ireland 1-6 and we only manage the minimum again the worst european team.
Totally unfair to compare the England game with the German one imo. England were at home against a team with ZERO AMBITION TO ATTACK. We all know that a massed defence like that is hard to break down. When the players did "just shoot" it was nearly always blocked by all the bodies in the way. Ireland were at home and would have had more ambition to attack, which by definition gave Germany much more space to attack into. England won 5-0 and it could have been 7 or 8. Also, the keeper should have been sent off for his reckless challenge on Walcott and England should have had a penalty from that too. I thought some of the one touch stuff around the penalty area was great to watch, with Ox and Rooney linking really well. I also thought Welbeck played well. scoring two goals, one of which was a brilliant finish. I don't get all the criticism of him....maybe a Utd thing? Thought Baines was average at best and his crossing for the most part was awful.
Amazing how we see things differently eh? When they did "just bloody shoot" it invariably struck one of the 9 or 10 in and around the penalty area ALL GAME!! We did lack a little width and I felt that Lennon and Walker, who was very disappointing imo should have taken men on more on the outside rather than cutting in too much. Don't get the criticism of Welbeck. Good player. Scored twice, the first of which was a brilliant finish! Thought Baines was average at best and his crossing for the most part was awful. Not in Cole's class. England won 5-0 and it could have been 7 or 8. Also, the keeper should have been sent off for his reckless challenge on Walcott and England should have had a penalty from that too. I thought some of the one touch stuff around the penalty area was great to watch, with Ox and Rooney linking really well. Welbeck also linked well with some clever one-twos!
Didnt think the Walcott challange was reckless, the goalie came out, made himself big and made a good save, collided with a small forward who came off worse, nothing wrong with that at all. The point I was making is 5-0 is the minimum result whilsts a good team would have scored 8 or more. England were playing against a team with one professional, that one playes in the Italian 4th tier. I do not feel confident that Welbeck will score, when you have a great forward you always feel you have a chance. Like having Ferdinand at Rangers 1-0 down with 10 mins to go you felt you had a chance, don't get that with Welbeck and I am sure united fans dont either, more confident that Defoe would score.
To be honest why the hell were we playing a back four? Should've gone 3-5-2 and played Andy Carroll, even if half-fit, he'd have scared the sh*t out of them. Sometimes I think Hodgson is so pedantic in all he does, absolutely no risk-factor against a team that would struggle in the Ryman League...
As I said earlier........it's amazing how we all see things differently. Beauty of the game I suppose!! I thought the keeper's challenge was dreadful. Spain would have played the same way as England, with little width and lots of intricate stuff around the box. No guarantee that they would have scored more in my opinion. I would love to have Welbeck at Loftus Rd right now!!
Fair enough mate. I just think some people will never be happy with an England team. no matter what they do!
Nothing wrong with the Walcott challenge, the goalie made a save with an unfortunate result. It would have been a pen if he missed the ball though. Football is still a contact sport, only just though.
Wellbeck is great from 1 yard out, and can hit the post from 2 yards out. Beyond that, there was nothing from him save a determination to be over-prissy with his flicks and never to play the simple, effective pass. Had he missed with that back-heel (which the keeper nearly saved) he should never have been allowed near the squad again. Don't forget who the opposition were. These aren't people you need to play the pretty passing game against, because they DO put 10 players behind the ball. You need to be quick, get it wide and get it in. We spent so much time with little one or two yard passes on the edge of their area, it was like nobody actually wanted to take a shot. Every time we moved the ball quickly wide and got early crosses in, we opened them up and all of our goals came from moves just like that. As for Cole? Never thought I would see his nema and the word 'class' in the same sentence (at least not without the word 'no' also there) but Baines attacked well, continually got beyond the defenders and got the ball in. However, as you said, 10 men behind the ball, there's always a chance crosses will be cleared. But you keep putting the ball in, because if you don't, you'll get nowhere.
Cole is a horrible, obnoxious individual and no mistake. He also happens to be one of the best left backs in the world and an exceptionally good footballer. I thought Baines' crosses were mainly very poor (unusually for him.......I'm sure he'll be brilliant against us!!). I just don't get the criticism of Welbeck. Some people just seem to really dislike the bloke. I rate him and, as for that 1st goal, the ball was behind him. If he hadn't done what he did, he couldn't have scored. Never easy playing against a side that don't want to come out of their penalty area. I think we'll play better against Poland who will attack us.
Just watched the extended highlights of the Wales Scotland game (BBC Sport website). Bale's performance and his winner were absolutely stunning. What a match though! Great spectacle and superb entertainment throughout played at blistering pace with well set up chances both ends. Modern British-type game at its very best imho. Beats all this slow build up tippy-tappy stuff hands down for me. That style might win major tournaments but THIS is the standard that makes the price of a football ticket feel like money well spent.
5-0! Why all this criticism, if you not happy with that what will do it! Holland beat Andorra 3-0. Sweden beat FaeroIslands 2-1 after being a goal down. Big wins in any International are unusual now, Germany's result was unusual.
