World Cup 2010

[eFestivals]

Fabio class isn't in question but I do wonder if he would of still played Heskey & Barry if McClaren hadn't called them up in the first place.

Heskey is Sven's doing. Pat is the new Sven.

And Barry is the result of injuries + some good performances early on. It's nothing adventurous.

[Langdale Wolf]

@ this whole "Pat" thing.

I think you underestimate the man Neil. His track record is incredible, for clubs granted, but hes one of the most respected managers ever. The Italians know how to win a world cup with an average team. And Englands team aint average.

[Langdale Wolf]

(and Stuart Pearce)

[eFestivals]

I think Neil is hugely underrating Capello. Things are very different than they were under the Swede and McClown.

How exactly?

Same players, same tactics, same performances.

Some flattering results mean nothing - Germany 2001.

I think the squad are weaker than 2006,

me too.

but our chances are greater purely because Capello knows exactly how to get the best of the players at his disposal.

yeah, that's why there's been the same flat performances as under Sven in nearly every game (and even Sven had good results). Where's the improvement?

[eFestivals]

Sven dropped him after Rooney & Crouch emerged and when he left Liverpool couldn't even get in the squad from then on, McClaren called him back (think it was due to injuries?) and kept him from then on.

Sthevie called him back on the advice of Owen, so the press stories went at the time.

And him doing so had people discover that England could actually score goals with him on the field, so he's stayed ever since.

When he's been off the field under Pat? Goals are still scarce.

[eFestivals]

he's no psycho, he's a pussycat.

Absolute cobblers. The squad is better than average. Nowhere near the best, but certainly above average.

When you say "squad", do you mean the players as individuals, or when they're put on the field as a team?

What is the 'average' you're on about? England's average? Since when?

They're a lesser squad than 86 & 90.

No - we won't win it, but I really don't know why you appear so keen to play down the positives we have.

what positives? I'm not seeing any.

Yeah, Theo had a good match once. There was another one in Germany in 2001 too. I see very very little difference.

If you haven't seen a significant difference and improvement in performances, I think you're watching a different side.

One game, one game!!!!

[Langdale Wolf]

How exactly?

Same players, same tactics, same performances.

Some flattering results mean nothing - Germany 2001.

me too.

yeah, that's why there's been the same flat performances as under Sven in nearly every game (and even Sven had good results). Where's the improvement?

[Langdale Wolf]

One game, one game!!!!

[eFestivals]

We have played very well and been convincing winners in numerous games recently.

We haven't you know. The same nervy performances, and no idea what to do if the ball's not in the net before 20 minutes is up.

And no, that's not because the opposition were shit.

aside from the Croatia match, all of the good results HAVE been because the opposition were shit.

I give you .... Peter Crouch's scoring record! What can you raise me?

We rarely play poorly under Capello. Unfortunately, two of the occasions where we have were against Spain and Brazil which doesn't bode well for the finals, but we didn't have a full strength side out for eithe game.

We played shit against Andorra. ANDORRA!!!!!

It's very far from the only one.

[Langdale Wolf]

We haven't you know. The same nervy performances, and no idea what to do if the ball's not in the net before 20 minutes is up.

[eFestivals]

Capello's England record

There are some good results AND good performances in amongst that lot. If you disagree that there have been performances to match the results, then I guess you're just very hard to please when it comes to watching footy.

not really - I watch Aldershot, remember?

They're simply not performances or results that'll win us the world cup.

Rooney's vastly improved scoring record?

he's only scored against the shit teams too!!!

34 goals in 10 games in qualiying, conceding a mere 6 times, winning 9 out of those 10 games?

Coming from 2 goals down to draw 2-2 in Amsterdam?

We were shit enough to go two goals down.

Then they were shit enough to let us get two back.

Holland won't get any further than England.

Comfortably beating an Egypt side many people feel are the equals to Algeria - one of our opponents in Group C who you could see upsetting us?

Algeria are better ... and we won't be playing them in a friendly!

[ampersand]

Algeria are better ... and we won't be playing them in a friendly!

[Langdale Wolf]

not really - I watch Aldershot, remember?

They're simply not performances or results that'll win us the world cup.

[Langdale Wolf]

he's gonna get you on one of his mazey runs from centre half. then we'll see who's laughin at scottish football

[ampersand]

I'd love us to sign him. Always rated Bougherra when he played in England. Wasn't he at Charlton?

[Langdale Wolf]

oooh turns out he was. and sheff wed and crewe.

you can buy one of these if you think it might help your case to sign him?

[ampersand]

Nah, you're alright thanks mate. Now - if you change that to a custom made Guedioura shirt, we might have a deal.

Edited May 13, 2010 by ampersand

[Langdale Wolf]

click?

now i know you'll say they're fake, but i bought a fake brazil top off ebay years ago and it's still fine

and the numbers on the fake are fine. i dunno if i trust the names from this site though, and if they come with number. but 19 quid's no bad for a good fake

*edit* just seen he's too shit to have a name option

[beLIEveR]

Last 8?

[ampersand]

FITBAkits? What a reputable website!! Scottish, perchance?

He's an unknown. Uncapped. I didn't have a f**king clue who he was when he signed him on loan in January. But he's awesome.

[Langdale Wolf]

Last 8?

[Tugger2k]

I really can't speak highly enough of the man.

I think the squad are weaker than 2006, but our chances are greater purely because Capello knows exactly how to get the best of the players at his disposal.

[Lithium05]

he's no psycho, he's a pussycat.

[beLIEveR]

It was fun while it lasted...

[ampersand]

It was fun while it lasted...