Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed May 26, 2010 12:35 pm  

Chris28 wrote: From memory, his scoring record against average teams is fantastic In fact here it is on his Wiki page. Croatia and Mexico the only better than average sides there. What other record does he have that is fantastic? Fantastically poor header of the ball? I've said it before, but he only got into the England side in the first place because he signed for Liverpool Crouch has too many free kicks given against him. He just does. I remember 06. He'd jump for the ball, do nothing wrong......free kick against him. It keps happening again and again. Refs on the world stage don't like him. He's a good scoring record in friendlies and qualifiers but I just don't think he's got the guile or the touch for a world cup. He's also very slow and for his height is relatively poor at headers. Also when crouch plays we fall into the trap of simply hoofing the ball up and it just comes straight back at us. The likes of bent, defoe and whatever other strikers are in the team offer more I think.

Chris28 wrote: From memory, his scoring record against average teams is fantastic In fact here it is on his Wiki page. Croatia and Mexico the only better than average sides there. What other record does he have that is fantastic? Fantastically poor header of the ball? I've said it before, but he only got into the England side in the first place because he signed for Liverpool Crouch has too many free kicks given against him. He just does. I remember 06. He'd jump for the ball, do nothing wrong......free kick against him. It keps happening again and again. Refs on the world stage don't like him. He's a good scoring record in friendlies and qualifiers but I just don't think he's got the guile or the touch for a world cup. He's also very slow and for his height is relatively poor at headers. Also when crouch plays we fall into the trap of simply hoofing the ball up and it just comes straight back at us. The likes of bent, defoe and whatever other strikers are in the team offer more I think.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed May 26, 2010 12:44 pm  

Paddy Evra wrote:

Carrick's had a woeful season and should not be at Old Trafford next season, and should not be in the England team.

If McClaren was still in charge the press would be all over the hoof ball tactics that England seem to employ.

I see the Gerrard-Lampard debate was ended last night - Gerrard is $hit for Ingerland. He was the main man in midfield, it was his to take control and he was invisible. I agree that Milner was very unlucky to be playing out of position in a midfield with as much bottle as the French.

Rooney playing out left, with a right winger incapable of getting the ball to him and a strike partner who can't head for $hit and needs to cheat to score. Although TBF to Crouch, his footwork was very good at times last night.

Adam Johnson and Lennon need to play at least 45 minutes on Sunday, it's pointless giving them 10 minutes when the game is over as they have no chance of proving themselves, and both are better than the alternatives.

Although he took his goal superbly, Johnson was caught out too many times positionally.

If England play like that, they won't get anywhere in South Africa.

I posted some weeks ago, that england now are absolutely no better than they were under Ericksson. Sure we've improved.....because McClaren was in charge before Capello. The difference now is we have a better manager, but the performances are still the same as they were under Ericksson. Whether having capello instead of ericksson, who won't be a soft touch and will make better tactical decision in the crunch, will make a difference, remains to be seen.

It will probably mean a semi final, instead of a quarter. Which is good. We were never that bad under Ericksson, just people got carried away with expecting us to win.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed May 26, 2010 2:23 pm  

back to back to back wrote:

We were never that bad under Ericksson, just people got carried away with expecting us to win.

Which isn't of course happening now

The Scum are just dying to put the extra star above the England badge...

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed May 26, 2010 3:04 pm  

For me after seeing that friendly against Mexico, my team for the first game would be :

1. Green

2. Johnson
5. Ferdinand
6. Terry
3. Cole

7. Lennon (raw pace is what we need to get at defenders)
4. Barry (Milner if Barry doesn't make it)
8. Lampard
11. Gerrard

9. Crouch (international record speaks for itself)
10. Rooney

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed May 26, 2010 4:52 pm  

Rughead wrote:

For me after seeing that friendly against Mexico, my team for the first game would be :

1. Green

2. Johnson
5. Ferdinand
6. Terry
3. Cole

7. Lennon (raw pace is what we need to get at defenders)
4. Barry (Milner if Barry doesn't make it)
8. Lampard
11. Gerrard

9. Crouch (international record speaks for itself)
10. Rooney

So after the fantastic season Milner's had and winning young player of the year he wouldn't even be in your team? you prefer an overrated and unfit midfielder who hasn't played much of the season? Deary me, you'd fit right in at the FA, you should apply to join the other muppets.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed May 26, 2010 8:39 pm  

Carricks preformence on Monday and the fact that Milner isn't a holding midfield player just adds to the importance of Gareth Barry to this England side.

Him being fit would be a huge boost to our chances imo because he allows guys like Gerrard and Lampard do their thing. I thought Carrick looked very sluggish the other night and didn't protect the back 4 or give the attacking players a licence to get forward at all.

Gareth Barry just gets the job done.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Thu May 27, 2010 6:46 am  

Dan_FC wrote:

So after the fantastic season Milner's had and winning young player of the year he wouldn't even be in your team? you prefer an overrated and unfit midfielder who hasn't played much of the season? Deary me, you'd fit right in at the FA, you should apply to join the other muppets.

Thanks. Like I said if Barry isn't fit, then I'd play Milner. England need a holding midfielder, because Lampard isn't the type of player to sit back and protect the back and in my opinion Barry is the right man to do that.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Thu May 27, 2010 9:52 am  

Whilst Crouch and Rooney seems the most likely partnership up front, it has to be said Rooney plays much better with Heskey.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Thu May 27, 2010 9:55 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Whilst Crouch and Rooney seems the most likely partnership up front, it has to be said Rooney plays much better with Heskey.

His performances for Man Utd suggest he plays much better on his own with attacking wide men.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Thu May 27, 2010 11:15 am  

Smiggs wrote:

His performances for Man Utd suggest he plays much better on his own with attacking wide men.

Which is why we should play 4 5 1 as i suggested.

This means all our best players can play to their strengths, and not out of position to fit into the formation.