Personally I thought Ashley Cole was our best player in Euro2004 (very solid Group games and had Ronaldo in his pocket for 120mins) - Rooney and Campbell did well too but I certainly wouldn't say he was miles ahead.
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Personally I thought Ashley Cole was our best player in Euro2004 (very solid Group games and had Ronaldo in his pocket for 120mins) - Rooney and Campbell did well too but I certainly wouldn't say he was miles ahead.
Don't be so narrow minded, if Gerrard breaks his leg next year ruling him out of the cup would it not be better to be prepared for such eventualities?
We've seen how solid the midfield is with Gerrard playing alongside Barry, now why not see how Lampard can perform given the freedom to go forward? afterall for their respective clubs Lampard is the more prolific scorer.
Lampard has played reguarly as the cm with freedom to attack, surely it would be more useful using those games to allow Hargreaves and Gerrard to build up there partnership as it would seem they are going to be the first-choice pairing. Maybe harsh on Barry but he simply isn't good enough defensively to cope with a Kaka or Messi etc.
Who else would you suggest? The only DM we have who you would bank on handling the top players in the world is Gerrard but playing him there would be a big loss to our attacking force in midfield.
Sol Campbell carried John 'best defender in the world' Terry in Euro 2004, he was average at best while the Arsenal guys had blinders. That Cole vs Ronaldo in Euro 2004 has to go down as one the all time classic duels in football. Ronaldo was like a man possessed and for 120mins did not stop coming at Cole and Cole just would not let him pass.
He is hopeless at handing top attacking players, did you not see what Kaka did to him in the first half in Istanbul and then when Mascherano went off in Athens. Gerrard is a great attacking player but ridiculously over-rated when it comes to his defensive game. There is a reason Rafa wants him on the right wing and that is so he can concentrate on his attacking game and not worry about his defence. The English media and Scousers can't see that though and are obsessed with having him in the middle when he had the best season of his life with most games on the right wing. Keane and Vieira were proper midfielders who could attack and defend, Gerrard on the other hand is superb in attack and he can get back to help but I wouldn't feel very confident having him as a defensive midfield.
England need Hargreaves there, that is why the Mancs have spent so much on him, in actual fact spent much more than he is worth. Kaka went through Scholes+Carrick like a hot knife through butter but had Hargreaves been there he wouldn't of found it so easy.
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Like Weringo says, who else have we got that could do better? He certainly wouldn't be leading us to World Cup glory just like Makelele or Dunga didn't for there respective countries, he would be one of the un-sung hero's.
If/when Rooney is fit, I would bring him back to replace Heskey and partner Owen upfront. I would leave the rest of the team as it is, why change a winning formula. And screw this crap about Barry doing well against 2nd class teams. Englands so called superstar's have played bad against very poor opposition.
So let SWP, Richards and Barry start. If England have a bad first half then make some changes. Robinson made some good saves but that's like 2-3 troublesome shots in 2 games. I would consider introducing Carson into the first team should Robinson make a hash of things again.
So let SWP, Richards and Barry start. If England have a bad first half then make some changes. Robinson made some good saves but that's like 2-3 troublesome shots in 2 games. I would consider introducing Carson into the first team should Robinson make a hash of things again.
With regard to Robinsons "clanger" against Germany if you watch it again theres not a lot he did wrong. He was expecting a cross so was off his line to command his area, but the winger mis-hit his cross which Robbo did well to get back to and pushed it onto the bar. It was sods law that the ball fell for a German. I can't see many keepers doing better than he did in that situation.
Yes his confidence was severly dented with that freak goal last year and has looked weak from long shots on occasion. A lot of it is the luck of the draw, watch his clangers and they are mostly just back luck as opposed to bad judement or wrong doing.
Yes his confidence was severly dented with that freak goal last year and has looked weak from long shots on occasion. A lot of it is the luck of the draw, watch his clangers and they are mostly just back luck as opposed to bad judement or wrong doing.
My problem with Robinson isn't just the odd mistakes because all keepers make them, i just don't think he's that good even at his best.
Even today, towards the end of the game there was a shot straight at him which he fumbled out right in the center of the goal and had Ferdinand not been there to clear it up it would have been a goal.
Leave team as it is, Barry is better than Hargreaves, as he has proved, just cos he is at Man Utd dont make him a better player.
Gerrard made a few blunders tonight, but at least he had a run at then, which no defenders like.
Saw a few little mistakes in defence, sloppy at times.
All in all very impressed nice to see England not being boring for once.
reckon we should win this group now, a draw in russia will be good, reckon we can do Croatia at home as well.
Gerrard made a few blunders tonight, but at least he had a run at then, which no defenders like.
Saw a few little mistakes in defence, sloppy at times.
All in all very impressed nice to see England not being boring for once.
reckon we should win this group now, a draw in russia will be good, reckon we can do Croatia at home as well.
Good performance last night from the lads. I enjoyed the game a lot.
We should keep the same side for the next 2 qualifiers as they seem to be playing really well as a unit, and as said here and by the pundits last night, there is a sense of balance with the team now.
Robinson didn't have a bad game, and those that actually watched this alleged fumble. The ball went through the defenders legs and he was unsighted up until the last minute, so did very well to get down and stop it. Apart from that he had a couple of easy catches to take, that considering what he has had to do in the last 2 games was a difficult catch to make, with his poor form. Also, he had one punch to make, which he did well.
The defence was still a little dodgy at times, and Cole isnt back to his best. There were a couple of moments when he was caught up field and Terry covered well for him. We were fortunate with the handball goal, but at the same time, they were fortunate when Owen fell over, or the initial shot falling to Heskey. Also, Ronaldo's magic must be brushing off on Rio in training, a nicely taken goal, which really should have been stopped. Richards has done enough to prove to me he should keep that right back spot.
The midfield has looked as good as it has done for years. Nice balance, and Barry looks like he has taken to the International game like he has been doing it for years. SWP's pace gave us a different outlet than Beckhams long balls, just a shame he hasnt got a full end product yet.
Owen and Heskey partnership is working well. 14 in 14 between them now, and we finally have a partnership that we havent had since Shearer and Sheringham. However, I still expect Crouch or Rooney to come in before too long.
It would be good to see Rooney, Lampard, Beckham return to the squad on the bench, and made to work their way back into the team, might actually make them pick their games up. Also, what a psychological edge that would give us when others see them sitting on the bench. Our bench at the moment hardly scares people...Downing, Phil Neville.
We should keep the same side for the next 2 qualifiers as they seem to be playing really well as a unit, and as said here and by the pundits last night, there is a sense of balance with the team now.
Robinson didn't have a bad game, and those that actually watched this alleged fumble. The ball went through the defenders legs and he was unsighted up until the last minute, so did very well to get down and stop it. Apart from that he had a couple of easy catches to take, that considering what he has had to do in the last 2 games was a difficult catch to make, with his poor form. Also, he had one punch to make, which he did well.
The defence was still a little dodgy at times, and Cole isnt back to his best. There were a couple of moments when he was caught up field and Terry covered well for him. We were fortunate with the handball goal, but at the same time, they were fortunate when Owen fell over, or the initial shot falling to Heskey. Also, Ronaldo's magic must be brushing off on Rio in training, a nicely taken goal, which really should have been stopped. Richards has done enough to prove to me he should keep that right back spot.
The midfield has looked as good as it has done for years. Nice balance, and Barry looks like he has taken to the International game like he has been doing it for years. SWP's pace gave us a different outlet than Beckhams long balls, just a shame he hasnt got a full end product yet.
Owen and Heskey partnership is working well. 14 in 14 between them now, and we finally have a partnership that we havent had since Shearer and Sheringham. However, I still expect Crouch or Rooney to come in before too long.
It would be good to see Rooney, Lampard, Beckham return to the squad on the bench, and made to work their way back into the team, might actually make them pick their games up. Also, what a psychological edge that would give us when others see them sitting on the bench. Our bench at the moment hardly scares people...Downing, Phil Neville.
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Not sure what everyones problem with Lampard is, it's rife on this board.
Seems to be some sort of scapegoat for England fans. The guy is a great midfielder, one of the best and i'm sorry to say, a better attacker than Gerrard. I'd be curious to see Frank with Barry or something.
Seems to be some sort of scapegoat for England fans. The guy is a great midfielder, one of the best and i'm sorry to say, a better attacker than Gerrard. I'd be curious to see Frank with Barry or something.
Unfortunately McMuppet will destroy this team as when Fat boy Frank and even fatter useless in an england shirt overrated rooney come back he will put them straight in the team and there we go back to square one.
It is about time we had a real man in charge of England and not some FA muppet.
My prediction: The quarter finals Euro 2008. Another dismall performance by fat boy frank and rooney has just got upset and been sent off. England lose 2-1. !
Lets hope I`m wrong.
Unfortunately there's going to be no decision to be made, as soon as Roony's fit he's going to walk straight back into the side.
its simple , he never performs in the big games .. as for being better than Gerrard you couldnt be more wrong ... Frank goes missing against all the top sides and for England he's been awful ... Gerrard inspires the team and fans more and always gives it his all
that was the best england performance ive seen for ages and i'd keep it that way , but i cant see a fit Rooney sitting on the bench
Unfortunately McMuppet will destroy this team as when Fat boy Frank and even fatter useless in an england shirt overrated rooney come back he will put them straight in the team and there we go back to square one.
It is about time we had a real man in charge of England and not some FA muppet.
My prediction: The quarter finals Euro 2008. Another dismall performance by fat boy frank and rooney has just got upset and been sent off. England lose 2-1. !
Lets hope I`m wrong.
agreed.
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Neither does Gerrard in the games you're saying Frank doesn't. I'm not sure what exactly you mean by deliver? Frank seemed to bear the burden of being expected to score because our up front partnership wasn't working.
I could quite as easily say it's Gerrads fault that Lampard isn't performing in games. Just as people have said it's Lampards fault Gerrard isn't performing.