Streuth! I got a football prediction right... well kind of anyway. 1-1, I reckoned, in a drab end of season affair. Just got back to Brixton Towers, cuppa tea and quick scan of not606 to check whether the next QPR nightmare had struck us in my absence. Doesnât appear so, so I thought Iâd amuse myself by sharing with you my take on todayâs trip to Wembley. (Well, for those interested, itâs something to read that doesnât involve the Goons on another in many league-less weekends to come.) I was definitely right about the drab end of season affair. I wasn't that keen from the start tbh. Love him or not, a Rooney-less England has about as much appeal as a Taarabt-less Rangers. Having said that, there were players out there on both sides who I'd never seen live and whose reputations go before them: for England, Scott Parker and Jack Wilshere; and for les Suisse, Ziegler (3), Barnetta (7), Derdiyok (9) and Xhaka (17). First thing I noticed was the similarities, not just in Parker and Wilshere's game (the latter playing slightly further forward) but in their height or rather the lack of it. Googled the facts just now and they reckon short-arse Parker's 5'9". Strange that cos he looks a lot more like Wilshere's 5'7"! Both were extremely composed both positionally and on the ball and did their thing but can't say I was particularly impressed - and nor were the Swiss it seemed. On the whole, both teams performed in ways that mirrored their fans. England were lacklustre from start to end and the only atmosphere barring that infernal band blowing all the usual tripe, came from my erstwhile compatriots in the red corner. The Swiss fans turned up in numbers and made their presence felt with regular chanting, singing, roaring and at one time kicking off a Mexican wave that to the amazement of many, did several rounds of the stadium. Has the sterile nature of an all-seater arena had such a dour effect upon England fans that it takes the reputedly conservative Swiss to show them how to party? On a personal note, I was rather chuffed to see quite a few duel-nationals like me and my son there - proud as punch they wore shirts and scarves half England and half-Switzerland. Me and another guy a couple of rows down in front of us celebrated when both teams scored. I was also giving a bit of 'come on you Rs' just to draw a bit of silent disdain from the England fans around us (mostly Nigel-types imo)! As for the players, no one particularly stood out for England, well not in a positive way. For me, until Ashley Young came on, James Milner was the only one who showed any passion but as often as not, failed to get the rub of the green. On the b-side, Johnson, Baines, Walcott and Bent wouldâve had a more productive day staying at home playing with their joy pads - as should Postman Pat. If England has a manager in place, his strategy, imagination, direction and positive influence were about as evident as they were last year in South Africa. If the FA canât see that (that other Fabio) Capelloâs a knob-head, they should do the right thing and book into the local funny farm. There was no indication of a Warnock-style hair-drying during the interval... Youngâs equalising shot was more about luck than design and England quickly slipped back into their first-half malaise thereafter. Walcott and Baines, when he came on, personified a comedy of errors in which they beat themselves half the time and on one occasion the hapless Walcott literally tripped himself over running into space with the ball at the other end of the park. As for Darren Bent, well⦠what can I say? Benign isnât the word. Iâd never seen him play live either but have rarely been impressed with what Iâve seen on the box. A lot of these one trick striker ponies are great early on - but once over 25 or so, fade and spend the remainder of their careers trotting about living on past glories. Bent is very much a case in point. Waste of space imo. Coming back to QPR reality, here we are busting a gut for premier-class signings⦠I studied a number out there today who weâd cheerfully accept for millions. Quite frankly, on todayâs performance (and in competitive mode) many out there wouldnât do us much good at all. Conclusion: the Swiss cared and buzzed about a bit and on the other hand, England were not so much impotent (because that implies a level of care which was clearly missing), they were a nonchalant rabble lacking both plan and sense of occasion. Consequently, they find themselves striving to overcome an very ordinary Montenegro side that rarely score. Oh woopy-doo... MotM: Leverkusenâs Tranquillo Barnetta. Tranquil by name but not by nature. Sign him up for the Rs please.
"Rooney-less England has about as much appeal as a Taarabt-less Rangers." We are not a one man team....just remember if we get £6million+ offer for him, be under no illusion, we should take it.
I said before the game Barnetta was their main threat. Oh, and also, a player i rate very highly is the swiss' Xerdan Shaqiri, he's a great prospect on the wing.
Barnetta's been around a while, was a teenage prodigy way back. Would look good in hoops... Shaqiri's being tracked by all the big guns...
The whole England thing is such a load of bollocks. It's laughable. No one cares, players or fans. By the way, I saw Scott Parker in selfridges a couple of weeks ago - ladies shoe department and I'd go with 5'7''. I'm not tall but I towered over the little fella. Maybe he was after some high heels! Love shouting QPR chants at England games, also at concerts.
