World Cup 2010

[t8yman]

Why are the press all over Rooneys' reaction? He is one of the most talented players we have, who has just played in one of the most embarrassing displays of any England team in recent memory - he was obviously angry with himself and in the heat of the moment. It was a bit cheeky fo him to say it, and when I saw it live I thought "ooooooh" but its no biggie - he wont have the same feelings or attitude this morning.

I would drop him though.

And kudos to David James, he handled the post match interview perfectly, the interviewer was trying to push him "the manager said you are all struggling with the pressure?" "Did he?" said James in a "yeah right, like I'm going to react to that" way. He went up in my estimations right there.

If they play like that on weds, they will be coming home.

Edited June 19, 2010 by t8yman

[Langdale Wolf]

doesnt this sum up what neils been saying the past month? and everyone told him to shut up!

[beLIEveR]

Everyone is saying 'it doesn't work playing that system', 'Rooney isn't good enough etc' - well they did more than enough in qualifying.

[Snufflebutt]

Everyone is saying 'it doesn't work playing that system', 'Rooney isn't good enough etc' - well they did more than enough in qualifying.

What does need answering is what the hell was wrong with them and why they decided to put in such a horrible performance.

[eFestivals]

You know things are bad when Heskey is twice as good as every other player on the field.

Cashley, Lumpard and Rooney all took the night off.

Lennon has proven that he's more than able to perform ten times worse than Walcott at his flakey worst. What a waste of space.

So how's the belief this morning guys?

[oafc0000]

You know things are bad when Heskey is twice as good as every other player on the field.

Cashley, Lumpard and Rooney all took the night off.

Lennon has proven that he's more than able to perform ten times worse than Walcott at his flakey worst. What a waste of space.

So how's the belief this morning guys?

Edited June 19, 2010 by oafc0000

[brfcstar]

Its still in our own hands but a few need to be dropped after that, Rooney cant be fit worst iv seen him play. God knows what Joe Cole has done wrong hes the only player with have on the bench with some flair and a spark that would of changed the game. On weds my starting team would be

GK James

LB A Cole

Rb G Johnson

Cb Dawson

Cb Terry

Lm J Cole

Rm Milner

Cm Barry

Cm Gerrard

St Defoe

St Crouch

[eFestivals]

Lumping the ball aimlessly up to Heskey dosent work....

well, you say that, and I sort of agree ..... but it was the only thing we had going for us yesterday, so take Heskey away from that team and it REALLY goes to shit, as proven by Defoe's time on the field.

Whatever else might be said of Heskey, he's the only team player we've got. And seeing as it's meant to be a team game, that's rather important.

It would be alright if the individuals were world beaters, but Messi they ain't. They're not even World Cup Ribery, and that's a shit player.

[oafc0000]

well, you say that, and I sort of agree ..... but it was the only thing we had going for us yesterday, so take Heskey away from that team and it REALLY goes to shit, as proven by Defoe's time on the field.

Whatever else might be said of Heskey, he's the only team player we've got. And seeing as it's meant to be a team game, that's rather important.

It would be alright if the individuals were world beaters, but Messi they ain't. They're not even World Cup Ribery, and that's a shit player.

[eFestivals]

God knows what Joe Cole has done wrong hes the only player with have on the bench with some flair and a spark that would of changed the game.

I'm guessing that Pat has viewed him as the least team player in a squad full of non-team players. And he'd be right.

But what you say is mostly right, that his flair and spark might have changed the game - tho Milner has been the one to bring that spark to the team in games of the last year or so.

The player who would have changed last night got left at home. Lennon better than Walcott? Not a frigging chance, for all Walcott's flaws he's never put in a game as bad as Lennon's last night.

But SWP as his replacement? .... who wants to say again that Pat is a top top manager who knows what he's doing?

[Langdale Wolf]

You know things are bad when Heskey is twice as good as every other player on the field.

Cashley, Lumpard and Rooney all took the night off.

Lennon has proven that he's more than able to perform ten times worse than Walcott at his flakey worst. What a waste of space.

So how's the belief this morning guys?

[eFestivals]

I didn't see Heskey play the ball in to the path of Rooney all night... I saw the ball either going sailing over his head or when he did connect it went to waste.

I would agree sticking with that formation and then just swaping Heskey for Defoe would not work... The whole system needs changing as well....

I'm not trying to suggest that Heskey was good (tho it was one of his better games). He still put the rest of the team to shame tho, he was the only England player who was actually competing, putting tackles in, winning the ball, making lay-offs.

The only other player who had a half-reasonable game was Gerrard, tho compared to what we know he can do he was still shit.

[Langdale Wolf]

I'm not trying to suggest that Heskey was good (tho it was one of his better games). He still put the rest of the team to shame tho, he was the only England player who was actually competing, putting tackles in, winning the ball, making lay-offs.

The only other player who had a half-reasonable game was Gerrard, tho compared to what we know he can do he was still shit.

[eFestivals]

Jesus - I actually agree with you about England!!

Despite all you're moaning, I ain't been talking any rubbish at any point.

I've simply said it how it is. Just because that's not how you've wanted it to be doesn't make what I've said rubbish.

The problem was that everyone around me in the pub was talking utter guff all game. If Heskey lost the ball (which he did - merely less often than practically everyone else) it was because he's shit. If Rooney lost the ball, it was Heskey's fault for not supporting him.

Poor choice of pub matey. I didn't hear anything in the pub I was in last night apart from Heskey being the best player by a long way. Because he was.

I did hear some morons singing "there were german bombers in the air and the RAF shot them down for England" or something, but that's another story which involves the word 'morons' an awful lot.

[llcoolphil]

are people claiming that rooney is bigger than england if he's undroppable?

what's the done recently to get that label?

[llcoolphil]

So how's the belief this morning guys?

[Kowalski]

On weds my starting team would be

GK Robinson

LB A Cole

Rb G Johnson

Cb Dawson

Cb Terry

Lm J Cole

Rm Milner

Cm Barry

Cm Gerrard

St Bent

St Defoe

Oh wait...

[Kowalski]

Semi finals at least

[Snufflebutt]

Rooney doesn't look jaded or tired. He didn't do much when he moved to the left side of midfoeld because he had next to no time there. He isn't fully match fit - he's played two games in 8 weeks so of course he's lost some of his sharpness. But the only way to get that sharpness is for Englands only truly world class player to get match fit and you only do that by playing games. He's undroppable in the sense he is the best player to offer something magical

[beLIEveR]

So how's the belief this morning guys?

Edited June 19, 2010 by beLIEveR

[llcoolphil]

Capello has always said that he would pick players on form, not reputation. If thats the case Rooney should be out the team.

[pink_triangle]

There has been a mass overreaction to this performance, many teams have played poorly in a game and still done well. If you are going to perform like that better do it in the group stages than the knockout. IN the first perfomance the media ad a lot of fans underestimated usa who have had a few decent results in the last few years. To me a draw was par for the course and the performance average, this was followed by an unnder par perfomrance yesterday. However one average and one poor perfomrance is hardly a disaster. If England play like they did against USA they will probably qualify. One disadvantage is they will spend a lote mroe physical and mental energy than some of the other contenders. I dont see winning the group as essential and wouldnt be surprised if the runner up ends up on the easier half of the draw. To make massive changes after one poor game would be ridiculous. If England win the world cup it may be a fluke, it may be bad for football but if your english none of that would matter.

[brighteyes]

Its still in our own hands but a few need to be dropped after that, Rooney cant be fit worst iv seen him play. God knows what Joe Cole has done wrong hes the only player with have on the bench with some flair and a spark that would of changed the game. On weds my starting team would be

GK James

LB A Cole

Rb G Johnson

Cb Dawson

Cb Terry

Lm J Cole

Rm Milner

Cm Barry

Cm Gerrard

St Defoe

St Crouch

[pink_triangle]

I would suggest that Rooney supported by Gerrard, J.Cole and Lennon is miles better than anything United could offer him. Add to that the goal threat of Lampard and i just dont get why we are so ineffective. It must be that heavy shirt.

[Langdale Wolf]

I remember Argentina being f**king abysmal during the group stages in 1990. They somehow got to the final.

Don't worry - I don't think we will - and on the basis of last night, I wouldn't feel confident facing the majority of the sides who'd make the last 16, but football's a funny old game (I always hated that cliche).

Pink_triangle - great post, a lot of sensible suggestions there. I don't think I'd change that much on Wednesday to be honest. The thing that needs changing is the mentality and the attitude of the players. 4 days of being bollocked by Fabio is probably what they need.

I certainly wouldn't drop Rooney - I do find it funny that so many people are making him the scapegoat. He was as poor as everyone else - are people suggesting dropping him because he foolishly opened his gob when a camera got in his face immediately after the final whistle? Have a word with yourselves.

The message should be - YOU got us in this situation - YOU get us out.

Do I still believe? Yes, but we need a f**king HUGE change around which, though not impossible, now seems highly unlikely.