Football

More Failure

It's always strange when England get knocked out. It's like I expected it but even in the face of defeat I can't help feeling bitter about the way it happened. Mahybe it's because I spend to much time reading articles where another columnist has an attempt at explaing just why England went out. The most interesting one though was one I read from an old newspaper sitting on the 179 bus coming from Barking.

It was a refreshing article reinstalling my faith in some of our writers as up till then everyone seemed to have the same arguement or perhaps they had interests in protecting certain players from a slaughtering. It had a refreshing opinion that seemed to differ from other neanderthal arguements. I just wish I could remember who wrote it. The only thing is I was unsure if I agreed with it. I'll break it down for you.

 Point 1- Expectation was raised by the medias constant need to overhype players who in all honesty are pretty average.

I agree with this sentiment as I believe some of the players have very limited ability and merely have a very good PR person. One of those is Frank Lampard, a player who's game revolves around his ability to be able to bring goals from midfield. In my opinion he isn't much better then Kevin Nolan, his better long distant shot edges it for me. Outside of that Frank's passing isn't that great and his tackling is just not up to standard though I did enjoy his rape of a Portugal player which he got away with. Sometimes I often feel my big problem with him is that he's not Steven Gerrard

David Beckham is another player who benifits form good PR. After all the so called best free kick taker in the world managed to flunk most of our deadball oppurtunities onto the first man and was saved from a savaging by two free kicks out of a possible thirty actually doing enough to cause a goal. The rest were poor and barely beat the wall. He proved he couldn't beat a player, even with a big stick and most of all he proved he's pretty useless unless he has 10 yards of space to exploit. His reputation was surely the only thing that kept Aaron Lennon on the leash.

Wayne Rooney was another who suffered from a sickening backing from the media. Rushed onto a plane bad foot or not he was expected to carry the nation to victory. As he come on against Trinidad he was hailed as our saviour from mediocrity, our shining light from all the darkness and all that shite. When the match finished he changed the game. This despite the fact it was always inevitable England would score and that eventually the genius came from Sven and Gerrard.

Straying for a moment that Trinidad game showed Sven does have something about him. The inclusion of Downing and Lennon brought width to the side which terrified Trinidad. With Sven realising Trinidad can't attack us he put Beckham at right back freeing up room for him to deliver crosses in his preferred ten yards of space. The width created made more space in the middle made room for the likes of Lampard and Crouch to exploit. Somehow though Rooney hogged the credit because he was fortuanate enough to come on with the real star of the show young Lennon.

That day and again after the Sweden game I told anyone that would listen that the fact Rooney wasn't himself, as the injury had more bearing on his game then the media would let you think and the fact he wasn't as good as everyone kept saying he was meant that the first decent opposition he came against would mean he would get shown up. Cue the Portugal match and the rest is history.

But no he didn't deserve to get sent off and yes he did show the glimpses of class which proved that he is a player of great potential. But unlike Stevie Gerrard he isn't Mr. Right now. 

Back to the topic at hand and we have John Terry, who with Frank Lampard apparently give us an unbeatable core. Though I've already touched on Lampard I believe the Chelsea players suffer because they play for Chelsea. They are meant to be this great English core who are given all the credit for a Chelsea victory and are hyped up by thier manager, colleagues and journalists alike. It's just when they play for England they suddenly look ordinary.

The rest of the squad doens't get much better. Downing's in because he has a left foot but is otherwise another average player. Gary Neville is an automatic choice yet considering Danny Mills at the last world cup and Carragher and Hargreaves at this world cup, he doesn't actually offer anything they don't. However there is another BUT.....

Point 2- The claim this England side is the best we've probably had since 66 is a joke! Thats why Sven isn't to blame.

Here is where me and the writer differ. The pool of English players we have now is the best since I've been alive. Though there is certainly a weakness in some positions like Right back, in goal and on the left there is still an abudance of strength in other positions. For starters our fourth choice centre back has starred for Liverpool in the last two seasons yet plays anywhere but centre back for England. Despite a relatively young squad thier is masses of experience there. Half of the squad were at Euro 2000 for example. 

In central midfield some players would walk into other sides. Why Carrick doesn't get a game is beyond me. Ultimately it is down to Sven to pick a team. For me the way forward is to have a team who attacks like germany have at this tournament. The stale Italian style Football doesn't suit England and thats been Sven's downfall. Gerrard has been criticised for hitting long balls, yet Sven has England deep and pegged back in your own half to get forward you have to hit one of the isolated front men its the only way.

Sven's decision to pick Walcott was baffling as was the decision to take Jermaine Jenas. Neither of them got a look in to the first team even in the friendlies. Wouldn't it have been a better idea with Rooney and Owen suffering from injuries to take Defoe and Bent who didn't go mainly because Sven doesn't really fancy them that much. That way you have five strikers two who you can call upon should disaster strike Owen or Rooney. Against Portugal we needed a livewire up front but instead we had Crouch who wasn't ever going to score. The last thing we needed was a striker whos game revolves around bringing midfielders into the game when we're down to ten men. But he's all we had as it was all Sven brought with us. When the Premiership is dubbed one of the top three leagues in the world you have to trust strikers who are scoring don't you?

 
5.7.06 10:55


My team to start against Poland

Kirkland


Young, King, Carragher, Warnock


Wright-Phillips, Jenas,  Richardson


         Rooney/ Lampard*


             Defoe, Bent


If there was ever a better time to give this lot a game to see if they can really hack it in an England shirt then nows surely the time. Wednesday nights result is meaningless and we all have seen what Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand etc. can do in an England shirt. The only reason I'd have Rooney play is if he doesn't then you have to Smith or worse still Neville. I'm not saying its the best team England can play but perhaps to see eleven hungry lions trying to put thier name in the hat for an England place next summer will be refreshing.


 


*Before the smart ass spots there is Twelve players in the team that is Lampard OR Rooney.
10.10.05 14:38


My England ratings (because the tabloids are shit at it and im bored)

Paul Robinson 6 (out of ten) Never really had that much to do but looked comfortable when the ball came at him. You just have to thank the lord when you see Paul Robinson save Englands blushes when not long ago we'd be cursing our luck as David James looks on.


Luke Young 7 Do we finally have Gary Nevilles replacement. Luke Young played very well down that right hand side. Perhaps lacked the quality to just beat his man but otherwise this was a much improved performance from him. Definitly number two to Neville if not first choice.


Sol Campbell 6 There have been better performances by big Sol in an England shirt but he done all that was needed of him. Didn't look as shaky as Rio had looked in Ireland and gave good support for John Terry.


John Terry 8 Other then one mistake that allowed Linz to have a go at dinking the ball over our keeper Terry done very well at taking his club form onto the international stage. Won everything that I can remember and looked assured on the ball. Even showed a bit of dribbling ability on route to starting an attacking move.


Jamie Carragher 7 Attackingly he was no Ashley Cole but we all knew that didn't we. Too right footed to trouble either Ashley Cole or Wayne Bridge when fit for that left back spot but he didn't do anything wrong. Played it simple and helped the centre backs out when needed. Reliable performance from Carra.


David Beckham 5 Everything he does just seems to annoy me. When he isn't charging across the pitch like some kid in a schoolboys game hunting for the ball on the left wing, he's greedily trying to knick the strikers chances. The first thing of note he done was shoot. I didn't think it was bad he went off. The England midfield performed far better when Becks was removed. Eriksson has got to see unless he plays Beckham in a central midfield role he can not ask him to dictate the game. Leave that to your two quality centre midfielders you have.


Steven Gerrard 7 Seemed to play a holding role and started brightly leading by example and trying to lift the team. Only Beckham started getting in the way and Stevie was left chasing the ball in defensive positions mopping up the mess a midfield in dissaray had made. But once Beckham went off Stevie clicked into gear again and showed he can work with Frank Lampard as the Central midfielders took it upon themselves to insure the game was won.


Frank Lampard 8 In Danger of having one of those games where he sort of drifts in and out of the game as he pleases. But his penalty was well taken and he was a decent attacking option. When Beckham went off though Frank and Stevie got going. Frank Lampard showed that he has what it takes to fill Beckhams boots from set peices and began to stand out in an England shirt for the first time since Euro 2004. Where of course Beckham was knackered......


Joe Cole 5 The one player who was worse then Becks but hey its not his fault he never once said that he was a left midfielder just that he'd play wherever sven put him. Going forward he was greedy, Defensively he tried his best to scare the shit out of Carra. (who thankfully is used to it having to cover for Josemi this season) The one time he had a chance to create a chance he got it wrong. Only unlike Beckham he was not in a position tailor made for him. An unlucky player whos England career has been about where to put him rather then where he's best played.


Peter Crouch 5 Ok there was a few flash touches a few glimspses of a 7 million pound striker but for the first time since the premiership season started I had my doubts about Crouch. His touch was average, his heading ability was poor at best and he looked like an old man when he started running with the ball. He is in no way international class. Be honest how many times did he get the ball and you wished either Rooney, Defoe or even Bent was in the ball. Hey I was even thinking how Heskey would do the role better...


Michael Owen 6 Liverpool fans have been lamenting how he is the one that got away. Well thank fuck for that. Michael Owen didn't look like an 18 million striker out there. No wonder Real Madrid were leaving teeth marks on Freddie Shappards hand. He worked hard mind and still had to get in behind the boys. Yet his finishing touch that apparently made him famous (and there was me thinking it was his pace) was missing yesterday.


Subs


Ledley King 7 Sorted out the shall we go shall we stay dilenma of Frankie and Stevie and helped us shut up shop for the last few minutes. Its a shame he won't get too many chances for England because the boys quality


Rio Ferdinand 6 added calm to the England defense. Didn't have that much to do though, as he put on his mean face that probably meant he had something to, whether he forgot what it was is another matter


Kieran Richardson 6 One of those players who plays for England because he plays for United types. Unlike Neville and Butt though he seems to have promise about him. Perhaps he could give us that answer to the left hand side in the future though he doesnt look quite ready yet. 


 


 


And to top it all of Stevie only wnet and got injured. GRRRRRRR
9.10.05 14:17


Wild dreaming.

My dreams have become very very bizarre just recently. With all due respect demons and the odd soapstars setting each other on fire is wierd enough. But when England win the world cup as Steven Gerrard holds it aloft is fucking bizarre. Firstly Stevie Jesus is not Englands captain and is probably about sixth in line for that honour. Secondly England winning the world cup, if George Bush hadn't got away with talking about a voice that told him to invade Iraq I could be back in London locked up in Goodmayes Frank Bruno style under the mental health act.


Well anyway in just under an hour an a half England kick off against managerless Austria in hope of restoring thier battered world cup hopes. Coupled with a Holland win today an Austrian Victory would send us through with the bold honour of being the best second placed team. Thanks but no thanks. Surely we must win a group that involves world cup no hopers such as wales, Northern Island and Austria. Poland are an OK team but will never set the world alight. We have a generation of superstars where all they've known is hype about how good they are. Are they really that good.


For me there are possibly three world class individuals in the side with a few excellent players and the rest over rated. The three devoid of criticism for me are Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Sol Campbell. One is obviously a bit of a baised opinion but I'll explain why in a moment. Michael Owen is one of the worlds best strikers I mean any guy that can score for Newcastle has to be World class right? While Sol Campbell is getting on abit but he shows that his presence alone can seal up an Arsenal defense that likes to gift goals to the opposition and in every major tournamet so far Sol has been a rock.


Steven Gerrard meanwhile is at the centre of a major cock up by Draculas distant swedish cousin who continues to screw about with the midfield. Why can't Stevie G and Frank Lampard work as an attacking unit but then come back and defend? why does one have to stay back and then the other go forward to make the tactic look any good at all. It sticks in my throat that the example I'm about to use is the Manchester United teams between about 1998 and 2001 which had a midfield of Beckham, Keane, Scholes and Giggs. Ok we don't have a Giggs on the left hand side but the rest is about the same. Gerrard is according to Fergie the closest thing that we can get to Keane in modern times. Anyone else agree with me that Frank Lampard is as good as if not better then the Scholes of those times. He's certainly the same kind of player. It just so happens that Keane dominated midfields around the country allowing Becks, scholes and Giggs to attack freely. Keane didn't just defend though. He often burst forward opening defenses for England. Why can't Gerrard be given that kind of role for England.


Two people are stopping this Beckham and Sven. Beckham is Svens star man merely because the media demands he is. Beckham is the guy that is stuck out on the right wing and then told right go and dominate the midfield. Which means Beckham has to drift inside leaving us devoid of width because Joe cole is no left winger. What should happen is either Frank Lampard or Stevie G be given the dominant role and Becks be told to stick to the right wing. No disrespect to lamps but Stevie is a better all round player then Lamps in the way that Gerrard has defensive and attacking qualities whereas Lampard is much more of a force when asked to attack. Gerrard should be given the right too dominate the midfield and then this would lead to a dominant england team. There won't be any question about Lampard and Gerrard then but Sven Doesn't see it.


We won't win the world cup while Sven is in charge and most importantly we will probably struggle today while Sven is in charge. The best answer is to get rid of Sven and dress down Beckham. Then England will progress
8.10.05 13:52


Ignnore the tabloids, watch the full 90 minutes and form your own opinion

4-1 A freak result in its own right. Chelsea were never ever three goals better then us but showed why they are european champions. They are extremely strong at the back, have a goal scoring threat in midfield, a pool of talent aching to get on the wing and an athletic striker. With the team Benitez sent out we were always going to beat. Chelsea overpowered us, soaking up the pressure and then knocked us the fuck out on the counter attack. That is my evaluation of what happened. It didn't happen on Wednesday because we were ona par with them. But having put a lot of energy into the Champions league game we found ourselves dead on our feet. The key battles we won on Wednesday were lost today.


Sami Hyypia who four days earlier, managed to deal with Chelsea effectively had a problem called Didier Drogba. Now the effects of 90 minutes of intense football is going to take its toll on an ageing defender like Hyypia and when the full back meant to protect you from the winger has turned kamikaze suddenly you look out of sorts. Drogba on the other hand didn't have too much to do and his athletic mould meant he was far fitter then Hyypia. Hence he then brushed the Finns challenge aside.


Djimi Traore meanwhile who usually has a good game against Chelsea decided the kamikaze show he puts on once a month would arrive at Anfield yesterday. He gave away a penalty that for me wasn't, but more on that later and gave the ball away far too much.


Our midfield trio of Xabi, Gerrard and Hamann actually outplayed the Chelsea boys but thanks largely to huge long balls hoofed up the pitch to Drogba they were often bypassed and redundant. Not that we were much better. When it became apparent Garcia was having one of those days and Riise wasn't going to beat Gallas anytime soon, the ball went up to Crouch who held his own but much like wednesday was taken out of the equation by the imperious John Terry. The chelsea fans will point out that 13 short passes were put together before Duff scored but there was a long ball to Drogba that can't be denied.


Steven Gerrard cut a frustrated figure as did Jamie Carragher. Stevie was trying to inspire the boys and despite being the best midfielder on the pitch ended up on the losing side because nobody else could quite have the impact he did. Carra was trying to be a one man defense and defensive midfielder as the defense fell apart and he tried to push us forward.


Meanwhile Chelsea were smug. Drogba was happily bullying Hyypia into submission. Cole wasn't playing well but probably couldn't believe his luck at catching Traore on his off day and the defense were happily picking off Garcia and Riise all day. It was dissapointing if you are a reds fan but its what happened.


The key point of the game probably came with the penalty. One of my key annoyances yesterday was the referee, nothing seemed to be going our way. Admitedly nothing does when you are being beat unjustly but the penalty changed the game and I felt the ref got it wrong. Drogba handballed Traores clearance, he put his hands in the way. Is that aloud. Drogba does seem to get away with alot. There isn't to many moments where he isn't trying to persuade the referee to book a player, or attacking one of our players or diving or not being asked to leave the pitch despite having rolled on the floor for five minutes untill the ref stops play. But he played well yesterday when he isn't doing that though he should have had a hat trick.


The penalty changed the game because then Liverpool had to chase the game. Clearly this wasn't ideal when our players seem jaded from wednesday. We got an equaliser but at the cost of ebergy which Chelsea would later capitalise on. I believe if that penalty wasn't given or even if Reina hadn't let it squirm under his body we would have got a point. It would have been settled by one goal and there would have been no 4-1.


The next goals all just seemed to not be happening for me. With each one it was like there had to be something wrong with it. There was no way they deserved it. For long periods of the game they were pegged back in thier own half only for John Terry who was my man of the match yesterday to happily boot it up pitch. But the result reads 4-1. Gutment doesn't describe my reaction to it.


But then even worse now the papers are happily licking mourinhos ass. Now chelsea are entertaining. Fuck no they aren't. Chelsea were in no way a great attacking force. The way they played yesterday was similar to the Liverpool of the Houllier era. Sucked up pressure form the opposition and at the right time hit them on the break. Mouriniho is demanding respect but for me he loses respect when he goes on these pre match rants. Chelsea had respect as a dominating team who are very good. But they are not entertaining. You don't go to Stamford bridge expecting to be blown away by what your watching. To be honest perhaps I can't talk as a Liverpool fan. My team isn't playing the most exciting stuff either. But our squad isn't assembled on 350 million worth of talent and thats the difference. If you pay that amount of money surely you should be able to entertain your crowd. Chelsea fans are happy with it, at least the ones I come into contact with. Most of them though are turncoats, fans who supported Arsenal when they were winning and Man Utd. What do the fans who watched Zola think? Chelsea as a top team have a responsibillity to entertain. Perhaps Liverpool do to, but Fuck me I hate it when the papers go and lick ass once a team wins its fucking disgraceful.


Now for the international break where Frank Lampard plays badly again because hes not really that good and then Gerrard gets slated because Frank Lampard looks shit alongside him. Only Sven has the answer..........on second thoughts
3.10.05 19:25


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