England last night.............

Originally Posted by Jabba

I wondered who'd be the first to spot that

Of course, it's plainly obvious that they don't compliment each other at all

This would be Rio "Bobby Moore" Ferdinand, the one who kept turning on the ball straight into another Croat player and lost the ball ??

The same Rio who seemed to forget we were playing in white and kept passing to those in blue (maybe he's another Chelski wannabe).

I remember Rodney Marsh once saying "Defenders are stupid, if they had any sense they wouldn't play there. They're not meant to play football, they're meant to win the ball and get rid of it"

If only someone would teach him that.... Should of had young Theo up front

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Originally Posted by Jelster

Should of had young Theo up front

Should have had half the team different and those that he did pick should have been playing in the normal, preferred positions.

In defence of Rio.......actually, I can't. He had a shocker last night, but he wasn't the only one.

Being Irish, waits for the "what have you ever won" or the "you dont even have a fully professional league" remarks. However, that being said it does give me an unbiased opinion, by the way I'm Liverpool fan and watch more England international matches then Ireland ones, Irish matches are poor these days! Anywho for a while now there is a movement growing in England, mostly through the media, that has people saying you have to play your "best" players in a tradition 4-4-2 formation with such and such here and him there and tbh it doesn't work like that anymore. The England squad is picked these days by the media not the manager cause if McClaren doesnt pick Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Rio, Rooney, ect ect he'll get slaughtered if they dont win by three goals against a "lesser" team. How else can you explain Rooney being an automatic every game even if hes not fit or even playing well? England won the world cup in 66 and that cant be taken away, but, and its a big but, that was 40 years ago and it was at home. Since then apart from a couple of nearlys, Italia 90, and Euro 96(which was at home) there has not been much success to justify the lofty position some people in the media keep ramming down the throats of anybody who'll listen. Why SHOULD England be expected to go out and beat every team by 2 goals?
Firstly there are very few "lesser" teams these days, fact!
Secondly Lampard and Rio are two of the most over rated players in Europe, fact! Good players yes, but King is a better defender and there are better centre midfielders in the prem, Parker, Carrick, Nolan then Lamps.
Gerrard should be played centre midfield with the captains armband. Terry is a good professional but inspirational? No.
Robinson isn't a world class keeper either, he was at fault for both goals last night. Lobbed from 3 yards off his line? The divot was of his own doing and if not he should still be aware that at the corner of the six yard box there might be 1. Also he jumped up to punch a ball that was chest high just before the first goal!? England SHOULD be a world beater but until they lose the "we're better then them" mentality, they will always struggle. That attitude does not work at international level.

Anyway rant over and these are just my views, please feel free to have a go........... but deep down ya no I'm right! LoL

Originally Posted by keithd

firstly you say

yet then you say

which is it to be sir?

Keith I dont think I need to explain...but I will. Spitting and snarling and all the rest of the BS is what I am talking about. But then again I largely forget that in general professional footballers are hardly the brightest pin in the box.

I think the error I made with reference to John Terry was to use the word "skills" when I should have merely mention that he has undoubted "competance" as a defender. There are far more subtle and clever ways of putting an opponent off his game rather than the yobbish postering that Mr.Terry gets involved in.

Although Rio can be damned infuriating at times, he is much more the kind of central defender I would have in mind.