BoxRec

GO FRANCE GO !!!! SEMI FINALS BABY !

I thought France were exceptional against Brazil and deserved the win.

Zidane made a mockery of the 'too old" jibes.

I would arguably, rate him fourth on my list of all timers behind

Pele
Maradona
Cruyff ( they showed some clips of him on channel 4 on saturday during a bit about Total Football - I had forgotten just what an exquisite player he was )

As for England, whatever the circumstances of their loss, it would have been a travesty if a team that had played so miserably and with so little passion got any further.

I don't fancy Ronaldo's chances on the training pitch if he comes back to Man Utd, but that is only papering over the cracks of a wretched performance.

The only passion I saw were the crocodile tears they all shed at the end. I bet they will soon be forgotten when they are sunning themselves on a beach next week in Mauritius or the Maldives.

It is the saps who spent fortunes they can barely afford to go and watch this bunch of nitwits I feel sorry for.

Never thought I would say this but

ALLEZ LES BLEUS ( is that right Raff?)

I don't blame the players, but rather the pathetic ineptitude of the manager. He hadn't a clue how to devise a system to make them function as a team, and picked the wrong team. There are too many players in there because they are big names, rather than because they serve a function. Rooney should not have been played as a lone striker,

I don't really see what Ronaldo did wrong, and I think the ref was going to send Rooney off anyway, and rightly so, he stamped on the guys bollocks for christs sake

I'm glad England are out, I was bored to tears by their shite performances in their previous games, and was sick of listening to the frankly nonsensical suggestion that they were in with a 'very good chance of winning' what utter bollocks. It was just trotted out by various pundits and talking heads, but you know damned well

Gary Lineker had a piece in the Telegraph at the weekend, which was pretty well written, which savaged Sven's tactics. I guess now the guy has gone he feels he can speak his mind, at least in the papers. Sven's negative tactical game is simply not suited to England, our players are not comfortable playing a possession rich passing and holding game, and never will be.

I'm glad France are through, they showed what a proper team is like, finding their form in the competition as it went on after a poor start, and controlling the game against Brazil. They won't win it, because I think Brazil were being overrated based on their win over Japan, and I think Germany are going to win this one.

and germany are only a very average side with an enterprising bloke in charge - one day we'll have such a man

I don't particularly think Ronaldo did anything wrong. I just think he will be the subject of the tabloid's ire while Rooney will be the poor little soldier rather than a meathead who got sent off for stamping on a guy's crown jewels.

Slapsie

harrygreb wrote:and germany are only a very average side with an enterprising bloke in charge - one day we'll have such a man

They aren't an average side though. Just because a team isn't packed with superstars doesn't make it average. Man for man, England's current team has far more talent than the men who won in 1966, Jack Charlton wouldn't have made out current squad, he'd have been considered too ordinary.

It's how the team performs that matters, Erikkson seemed terrified of leaving out any of his big stars and tried to fit formations around the squad he wanted to pick, rather than pick players who fit his system.

The FA are a bloody shambles, why on earth did they ever appoint Erikkson in the 1st place, surely a premiership manager makes the most sense as almost every man in the squad plays there. We need a manager who is able to utilise the strengths that our players display week in week out on the football field in their domestic games, not trying to play some sort of continental style game. It's clear that in games where England managed to score, they had been instructed to try to defend a slender 1-0 lead. England don't have the confidence to do that,

Why oh why are we so fekking shit at penalties? Is it lack of practice, or is it lack of confidence. Gerrard and Lampard's penalties were poor. Why did everyone put them along the ground where it's easiest to save unless you place it well and/or with pace?

I'm glad we didn't make the semi finals, because now people are going to have to accept that we need a radical shake up in the mentality of the England squad, it's time to get rid of Beckham, and start adopting a more aggressive approach to our games. We have the players to do so in Ashley and Joe Cole, Wayne Rooney and Gerrard, but they have to be placed in a system which enables them to work well together.

Goodbye Sven and good riddance.

It strikes me as silly that people are talking about Gerrard to replace Beckham as captain.

Gerrard, apart from two very decent goals did nothing and was quick to disappear into his shell as soon as it got tough. In fairness that may have been the ludicrous system but.....

Terry would seem the obvious choice for me. Along with Ashley cole and Hargreaves, he was one of the few bright spots

Another plus. We will never have to worry about Sol Campbell in an England shirt again

Slapsie

Slapsie Maxie wrote:I don't particularly think Ronaldo did anything wrong. I just think he will be the subject of the tabloid's ire while Rooney will be the poor little soldier rather than a meathead who got sent off for stamping on a guy's crown jewels.

Slapsie

Very true ronaldo is portugese for gods sake whats wrong with showing patriotism and being happy about your team playing against ten men in the quarters of the world cup, at the end of the day the nature of the english press and supporters someone will naturally be made a scapegoat of instead of accepting that the team is not as good as people think and the hype surrounding the premiership has been bought into hook line and sinker.

Instead of upsetting the 'golden chav' for once again acting like a prize tool and stamping on someones nuts it will be ronaldo that will get the boos next year cos of course scapegoat number one svenny will be off sunbathing in nancy's back garden with 20 million or so burning a hole in his bank account.

Not sure who should get the captaincy.....Definately would not give it to Gerrard though....

Terry seem's a likely choice but again I am not completely convinced.

Neville's name has been thrown about but time will tell.....

Whatever happen's we ain't winning anything anytime soon!

Rooney will probably calm down a bit as he gets older, but he's always going to have the odd incident, to play at his best he has to play angry, and his style depends on his physical force and strength. He has so much talent that no manager is going to want to take the edge of his combative nature TOO much.

Terry for captain, he'll grow into the role and it will make him an even better player. Lampard should go, just because he plays well for chelsea who are the preeminent team right now, shouldn't guarantee him a place. In a straight choice between him and Gerrard, there's only one choice.

France are playing a 4-5-1 also, but its not as negative as England's formation, England might have done better in the circumastances with the squad Sven picked, with the Bridge/Cole system he started playing in the friendlies and Joe Cole in the Zidane role, with Gerrard/Lampard in the Makalele/Viera role.

I think Joe Cole is a match winner, but isn't playing his best position. He needs to be in the middle of the park.

You guys won the world cup with no true wingers, you haven't got any now - so why play Cole and Beckham there. Go back to the Venables style 3 at the back, have Beckham (yes, still for now) and Ashley Cole as Wing backs. Have a centre Midfield trio of Cole/Lampard/Gerrard and Owen and Rooney up front. It has Joe playing more centrally, it will give Gerrard or Lampard (one would stay back when the other makes a run) more freedom also, with the comfort of knowing there are players back. When Viera makes a break, he knows Makalele will pick up the pieces if the move breaks down. It also utilises 3 centre backs where you have strength in depth (Ferdinand, Woodgate, Terry, Campbell, Neville - he can do a job there, King, Brown etc).

Owen Hargreaves has become a hero, but you shouldn't forget how negative he was when it was 11 v 11. He got lambasted by the Linekar et al - and I was shouting for Carrick. If your going for a holding midfielder, he's got to be able to pass the ball a bit.

Owen showed he is international class, and he is a fantastic backs to the wall defender - but think thats the only time he should be called upon.