England vs The Netherlands & other International Friendlies ** spoilers ** [29th Feb 2012]
- Thread starter Robbo
- Start date
when the virgin ad was the highlight you know what kind of game you have been watching 
It was actually a reasonable game for the last 30 minutes, but the 1st hour was absolutely dreadful (misplaced passes, back passing galore with a pot shot here and there)
I think people are being incredibly critital on England's defence considering how little international experience they have compared to the Holland's attack. Yeah they made mistakes (and in Smalling's case, paid for it too ), Parker criminally giving the ball away in the centre circle while dallying on the ball, and a few other daft mistakes from around the team
On the plus note, Sturridge came on and immediately put that cross in right across their goal (admittedly quietened down for a while then) and later on woke up and started really doing some dangerous stuff, Welbeck worked hard for the team, but there was little supply to him in the right areas, I thought Smalling read the game brilliantly for the first hour, fair but firm challanges and blocks , Young was practically invisible for majority of the game (a few well taken corners aside) until the goal - made by the excellent pass from his club-mate Jones
Dutch deserved the game, they took their chances (even if they were lucky for the winner) and even though this was a friendly, vs a 1st cap ( or 1 of just a handful) for quite a few England players .....and sometimes the dutch arent as good as the sum of their parts, I think England and Pearce can be quietly chuffed with the performance
It was actually a reasonable game for the last 30 minutes, but the 1st hour was absolutely dreadful (misplaced passes, back passing galore with a pot shot here and there)
I think people are being incredibly critital on England's defence considering how little international experience they have compared to the Holland's attack. Yeah they made mistakes (and in Smalling's case, paid for it too ), Parker criminally giving the ball away in the centre circle while dallying on the ball, and a few other daft mistakes from around the team
On the plus note, Sturridge came on and immediately put that cross in right across their goal (admittedly quietened down for a while then) and later on woke up and started really doing some dangerous stuff, Welbeck worked hard for the team, but there was little supply to him in the right areas, I thought Smalling read the game brilliantly for the first hour, fair but firm challanges and blocks , Young was practically invisible for majority of the game (a few well taken corners aside) until the goal - made by the excellent pass from his club-mate Jones
Dutch deserved the game, they took their chances (even if they were lucky for the winner) and even though this was a friendly, vs a 1st cap ( or 1 of just a handful) for quite a few England players .....and sometimes the dutch arent as good as the sum of their parts, I think England and Pearce can be quietly chuffed with the performance
Really. Wembley Park station isn't underground and I hadn't left when I posted.Really? How have you got a signal down there...
Never leave a game until the final whistle goes!
I know, cheets won't be impressed. I had to though or I'd have missed my last train home.
Caporegime
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So it was a train?
Should bloody walk t'game! Bloody part time fans.
*note if any moderators read this, this was a joke.
I quite enjoyed the game. What was it like in the ground Baz?
Generally it was pretty **** but it always is when I've been there. The very small section of Dutch fans created whatever atmosphere that was there.
I was stuck between a couple of brummies who were constantly arguing over ex-Villa players and father & son chavs that kept screaming 'hit it', 'put ya foot through it', 'get it in the box' and calling everybody ****s. That and the introduction of Frazier Campbell made me feel less guilty about having to leave early.
Views on the game?
It was pretty boring for 83 minutes. Whenever Parker or Barry got the ball they had nobody to pass to; I'm not sure why Welbeck was constantly dropping off or pulling out wide when he was the lone striker. Richards was schooled by Robben; I'm not sure if that's because Richards is incapable against a decent winger or because Robben was particularly good on the night. From what I saw, there wasn't many (any?) positives England could take from that game.
It was interesting to see that Richards move to CB and Jones RB when Smalling came off. As I suspected before the game, I think it's pretty clear that Pearce saw him as a CB in that squad and who knows, he may have started there had Johnson and Walker not pulled out of the squad.
To be fair to Richards, Robben would school most full backs when he's in the mood. There aren't many better.
I'm just concerned that Cahills and Youngs goal will gloss over the fact they weren't good enough. Cahill in particular, I said in the England thread the other day has been awful for most of the season yet he gets in an England team. Baines as well has got in purely because he was decent last year, not this year. He was unfortunate not to go to the work cup as a squad player after a solid couple of seasons but that shouldn't mean he's in now for being average.
I suppose I shouldn't complain, Everton have had the best out of him and I should shut up in case anyone hears before a top 4 club pays £20 odd million for him
If Harry has once once of sense he will take the pay rise at spurs, thank spurs for their loyalty during his case as an excuse to turn down this job. Let some other poor shmuck take 4 million a year trying to motivate players stepping down in quality while their club managers are trying to persuade them to take the game off to be fresh for saturday.
I suppose I shouldn't complain, Everton have had the best out of him and I should shut up in case anyone hears before a top 4 club pays £20 odd million for him
If Harry has once once of sense he will take the pay rise at spurs, thank spurs for their loyalty during his case as an excuse to turn down this job. Let some other poor shmuck take 4 million a year trying to motivate players stepping down in quality while their club managers are trying to persuade them to take the game off to be fresh for saturday.
Soldato
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I was under the impression Pearce's squad selection in places was more about giving people who haven't done much in an England shirt more of a chance to show their wares. I don't think we really learnt much other than the people who usually don't perform well in an England shirt didn't perform well.
I thought the England band created more of an atmosphere then that motley Dutch lot. I suppose it depends on where you were sitting. Where were you?
considering the injuries that pulled out, think we did ok, problem being the lack of experience for the younger players, they should have been getting that in the useless friendlies we play, not ones leading up to a major championship 
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on saying that, if we had a manager in place i'd be happier to start the euro's with the youngsters if the fa were planning for the next world up.
But no manager and previous experience of the FA you know the likes of terry, lampard, ferdinand are going to be back in if there fit.
.on saying that, if we had a manager in place i'd be happier to start the euro's with the youngsters if the fa were planning for the next world up.
But no manager and previous experience of the FA you know the likes of terry, lampard, ferdinand are going to be back in if there fit
.
I actually don't have a problem with Terry and Ferdinand being in there. I have a problem with Barry, Gerrard, Lampard, Milner, and Walcott though. Strikers are OK I suppose, Sturridge, Rooney, Wellbeck, Defoe and Crouch I'd probably take. I know people slate Crouch but he gets goals in an England shirt and he can provide something different/awkward for the opposition to deal with.
Block 103.
The best way I could sum up the atmosphere is to say that I was barely out of the stadium when our first goal went in and I genuinely didn't hear any celebrating.
I was in 123 but managed to stay until the end. What end exciting end to the match it was. It got lively when we equalised.
I can imagine it did. As I said, I wasn't even sure we scored the first one and as I was walking to the station you could hear people saying it was 2-1, then 2-2 and I thought they were just taking the ****. I then got onto the tube and checked on my phone and it was 3-2 
i have given last nights game and have to agree with this. i'm not even sure redknapp can sustain things with spurs but he would be nuts to take the england job. we're simply not competitive enough, don't have the depth in quality, the mix of youth and experience is a mess, team's don't fear us and teams really want to beat us.
redknapp would thrive much more if he continued at spurs rather than managing england. players boast of the pride in putting on the shirt but there's too many ego's on the pitch who want to play and get stroppy if they don't or are subbed (gerrard a prime example last night)
the biggest issue is though, we're simply not exciting to watch. ok last night was a friendly but even in tournament's, it is rarely a case of enjoying an england game rather watching and just knowing we're not good enough and will most likely get beaten if we make the quarters.
ferguson has said the golden age of english players has gone and he's right, look back to the early 90's even through to '98 and the difference in style and quality is big. the likes of baines,milner, barry, cahill? just UGH.