World Football Thread XII

[BeBMan]

France

Brazil was disappointing, not only in this match.....

[Thedrin]

Allow me to rephrase:

Many English players on the pitch during the time period I quoted above played like players wanting to do well - they pressed for the ball consistently and managed to do some of the simple things (like passing) with a minimum degree of competence. This despite the fact that the entire English team still seemed completely disorganised and had a total lack of understanding of how to make best use of the players and formation at their disposal.

During said period of time they played better than Portugal.

The lack of organisatiopn or understanding which has been apparent in every single match England have played in this World Cup is not the fault of the players. It is the manager's job to make sure the players understand how they are supposed to play in any given situation. I do still think that Ericsson is an appalling manager and have little hope that McClaren will be any better.

A number of English players - Ashley Cole, Terry, Hargreaves, Gerard, Lennon, Crouch, Rooney (again played hopelssly out of position) - tried hard enough and showed themselves in a good enough light that I would have been glad to see them appear in the next round.

Finally, and I acknowledge that I may be a bit hopeful with this last piece, Ericcson's despondency during the second half, Gerard finally making demands of those around him (as he would do at Liverpool), and Beckham's tears (combined with the fact that he seemed very nimble on his "injured" leg when Rooney was sent off and in the run up to penalties - he's faked injury after being substituted for a bad performance before) inclines me to believe that some players in the half time team talk finally expressed anger at just how bad there captain is and wanted him removed from the team.

[alva]

and managed to do some of the simple things (like passing)

:

Beckam did seem to be injured, he looked very tired too. I think he was sick or something but that is was kept quiet.

[Thedrin]

Some good news for the England team: Beckham has resigned as captain.

[duke o' york]

Well hurrah.

What does anyone make of Scolari's credentials now? He had some good players and 11 men against 10, but couldn't manage to get Portugal to break down England's defence. Is that the sort of manager the England fans would want now? How he's going to manage to get one over Domenech I don't know - I'd say the French defence is better organised than the English so far this tournament.

[Spiffor]

Too bad Portugal won against England, as England won't be getting spanked by France like it deserves.

Well, anyway

[Unspeakable Horror]

France

[alva]

Le Maitre

[Hueij]

Great to see the French are back. Zidane

[duke o' york]

Originally posted by Thedrin
Some good news for the England team: Beckham has resigned as captain.

More importantly, Glenn Hoddle has also resigned from Wolves. A coincidence.....?

[alva]

Where are all the rosbievs anyway? The chaps have been awfully quiet today.

# There're going home
There're going
England's going home #

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by alva
Where are all the rosbievs anyway? The chaps have been awfully quiet today.

# There're going home
There're going
England's going home #

[Lawrence of Arabia]

je croyais que j'habite genève mais chaque fois que le vieux chauve marque on dirait que c toute la ville qui fait la fête.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Thedrin
Hope it's now apparent that Beckham holds back the English side

Yeah, the one game he gets subbed early is the one game England doesn't score a goal.

Without Beckham, England probably gets slammed in the 2nd round, if they even make that far. What was he, like 50% of their goal scoring (either through scoring or crossing).

Beckham gets waaaaaay too much grief when without him England goes home much earlier. Put Lennon in for Lampard and slide Becks over if you must, but to slag off Beckham after what he did for the otherwise awful English team is just bull.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
je croyais que j'habite genève mais chaque fois que le vieux chauve marque on dirait que c toute la ville qui fait la fête.

It is.