Blamed for playing Balottelli on from Pirlo's through ball by Lawrenson-Grayson - it was fooking Terry!
I've noticed - Milner exposed Johnson for most of the match, he regularly expected Johnson to run up with him and then always lost the ball, leaving Johnson out of position. This match though he's been immense, not a foot out of place. If he's caught out he tracks back fast, and has been exponentially better than Young/Cole on the other side. Carroll + Gerrard have been good as well.
Whats the bet on Johnson getting a rating of less than 5 but Young getting a 6 or more in tomorrows papers?
This has been the best I've seen Johnson play for England, he's had a really good match. Ashley Young has had a terrible tournament, he was fantastic in qualifying but has just looked like a different player in these games and is surely only playing now on reputation and the lack of a good understudy (Walcott has been fantastic since he came on but i think he's best off the bench). I though there were a few players doing well, Welbeck won everything thrown at him and Carroll is carrying that on but Rooney has blown hot and cold. At least we can't accuse the players for a lack of effort.
Good - Johnson, Gerrard, Welbeck, Walcott, Hart Promising (not perfect but better than average) - Carroll, Terry, Lescott Poor - Young, Cole, Milner, Mixed - Parker, Rooney, Henderson (not been on long enough for an impression, but he had a good pass)
I'd mostly agree with that danil though I think Gerrard hasn't been as good as he was in previous games (when he was our best playeer generally) and Cole has been off the boil but probably 'mixed' - certainly the worst game I've seen him have for England for a while as he's usually a relaible 7/10. With all due respect its like he and Johnson have swapped ability for the night.
danilo* yeah he was good in the first half and put in some excellent crosses throughout the game, has been absent for about 20 minutes now. Cole got better in extra time, fair enough about the Johnson comment. But I do rate Johnson much more than he is blamed for which is over the top. Now that we've played a good part in this game, it's time to let some other clubs miss the penalties
He was also blamed for playing the Italian onside from the corner when he missed a sitter and that was lescott. He was as good as anyone,which is not saying much. Thank goodness we are out because the Germans wouldn't have been that wasteful and we could have been really embarrassed . Rooney and young were bad beyond words which just makes you wonder how manure win anything with them. Or how poor quality the premiership is when in comes to technical ability. Just simple basic passing was beyond anyone and heaven forbid they should try and play pass and move. One instant summed it all up when cole ran forward 20 yards stopped turned round and played it backwards!!! And how are opposition teams able to find their players in such tight areas when we can't pass to a player in acres of space e.g Parker to Walcott. I wasn't expecting us to qualify from the group so I guess we exceeded my expectations at least. What has English football come to huh !
