Weekend Football Thread. Internationals. *spoilers* 4-6

[Tummy]

Friday, 4 September 2009

Coca-Cola Football League One
Oldham v Hartlepool, 19:45
Southend v Leyton Orient, 19:45

Coca-Cola Football League Two
Morecambe v Rochdale, 19:45
Northampton v Barnet, 19:45

Saturday, 5 September 2009

FIFA World Cup European Qualifying
Armenia v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gp 5, 17:00
Austria v Faroe Islands, Gp 7, 19:30
Azerbaijan v Finland, Gp 4, 16:00
Bulgaria v Montenegro, Gp 8, 18:30
Croatia v Belarus, Gp 6, 19:30
Cyprus v Rep of Ireland, Gp 8, 19:30
Denmark v Portugal, Gp 1, 19:00
France v Romania, Gp 7, 20:00
Georgia v Italy, Gp 8, 19:00
Hungary v Sweden, Gp 1, 19:00
Iceland v Norway, Gp 9, 19:45
Israel v Latvia, Gp 2, 19:00
Moldova v Luxembourg, Gp 2, 18:00
Poland v Northern Ireland, Gp 3, 19:30
Russia v Liechtenstein, Gp 4, 16:00
Scotland v FYR Macedonia, Gp 9, 15:00
Slovakia v Czech Republic, Gp 3, 19:30
Spain v Belgium, Gp 5, 21:00
Switzerland v Greece, Gp 2, 19:30
Turkey v Estonia, Gp 5, 19:00
Ukraine v Andorra, Gp 6, 15:00


Coca-Cola Football League One
Brighton v Wycombe, 15:00
Bristol Rovers v Millwall, 15:00
Carlisle v Tranmere, 15:00
Charlton v Brentford, 12:15
Gillingham v Exeter, 15:00
Leeds United v Stockport, 15:00
MK Dons v Huddersfield, 15:00
Norwich v Walsall, 15:00
Oldham OFF Hartlepool, 15:00
Southampton v Colchester, 15:00
Southend OFF Leyton Orient, 15:00
Yeovil v Swindon, 15:00

Coca-Cola Football League Two
Aldershot v Hereford, 15:00
Bury v Accrington Stanley, 15:00
Cheltenham v Dag & Red, 15:00
Crewe v Macclesfield, 15:00
Lincoln City v Darlington, 15:00
Morecambe OFF Rochdale, 15:00
Northampton OFF Barnet, 15:00
Notts County v Burton Albion, 15:00
Port Vale v Grimsby, 15:00
Rotherham v Chesterfield, 14:00
Shrewsbury v Bradford, 15:00
Torquay v Bournemouth, 15:00

International Match
England v Slovenia, 17:30
Germany v South Africa, 19:30
Netherlands v Japan, 13:00
South Korea v Australia, 12:00

 

[Tummy]

England Squad *as of 30th Aug*

Goalkeepers: Foster (Manchester United), Green (West Ham), Robinson (Blackburn)

Defenders: Johnson (Liverpool), Brown (Manchester United), Upson (West Ham), Terry (Chelsea, capt), Lescott (Manchester City), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Lennon (Tottenham), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Barry (Manchester City), Lampard (Chelsea), Carrick (Manchester United), Gerrard (Liverpool), A Young (Aston Villa), Milner (Aston Villa)

Strikers: Rooney (Manchester United), Heskey (Aston Villa), Defoe (Tottenham), C Cole (West Ham), Crouch (Tottenham).

 

[Tummy]

I really don't want Heskey to start this game

 

[Tummy]

Oh now, wonder how many Arsenal players are going to be injured this time.

can you hurt yourself falling over

 

[Tummy]

Really strange penalty in the first half, not quite sure why it was given, Rooney seemed to tackle the defender.

Good second goal by Defoe, what more does he have to do to start ?

Heskey is awful, and England have looked very average against such a poor side. England "should" be putting 5 or 6 past these easily.

 

[Tummy]

I fell asleep through parts of the England game (had a headache so the rest was welcomed)

I'm now just sitting down to watch all the South American football Sky Sports have to offer

Looking forward to the Argentina v Brazil game ! Paraguay V Bolivia should be good 'n all

England were pretty "meh". I don't know why Heskey gets near the first team, I don't really understand why a team full of "World Class" footballers look so bloody poor against opposition like that.

Still no clue why we were given a penalty. Few players looked good or half decent, on the whole England as per are massively over rated, and I'm looking forward to the game that matters, with mixed emotions.

 

[Tummy]

I actually kind of agree

I don't think we will "breeze" past the group stage, but I agree when we come up against a good team, and will probably been shown up.

Agree, underperforming, and the squad really hasn't changed much, I still think the manager is trying to keep the "big names" happy and the media. Sven got slaughtered in the media, and as result the FA gave in and he lost his job. England are still over looking talented younger players in selection.

We need to bring in fresh blood, and freshen the team up, too many players are playing without any real competition for their place, Capello isn't all that, he's a good manager but I often don't like his selection. (Beckham, James) I don't really think he's bought anything new to the England team either.

 

[Tummy]

He should get a ban for that to be honest.

I still have no idea what to make of it.

Looks like Rooney was holding the defender back, and then slides in and takes him out, off the ball, and gets a penalty.

I just can't work out why it was a penalty and not a card for Rooney.

 

[Tummy]

It's not just that he got a penalty out of it, as you say he's tugging his shirt and then tackles him without getting the ball. Should be a freekick to the other team, end of the matter.

But to then claim for a penalty shows intent and for that alone he should get a 2 match ban like Eduardo. It's like players fouling someone and then feigning injury to try and get out of a foul/card.

I was completely confused to why it was a penalty, It looked like a card for Rooney and a free kick.

I couldn't understand why he claimed for a penalty, it was cheating to do so, (interesting given the "were too honest to cheat" outburst from Mr Lion heart best defender in the known universe Terry), who would ban him ? I'm not sure it is worthy of a ban, because you'd be giving them out willy nilly, in regards to people asking for corners / free kicks / throw ins every game.

It was just a strange, unexplainable decision.

 

[Tummy]

As for the Rooney 'appeal', I think he was under the impression that the whistle had been blown against him, which I would understand to be fair.

He seemed to put his hands up as if to say 'what did I do wrong?' rather than 'Oi! ****ing penalty you ****'

Thats true, he did look surprised as anyone to get the penalty.
I'm not sure if he thought it was a foul for or against him.

Still can't understand why it was given

 

[Tummy]

Defoe has been scoring whenever he's played for England, and deserves to replace the awful Heskey.

Rooney and Defoe up top, Rooney is one of Englands best players and should be starting.

I don't like seeing Gerrard playing wide left, Capello needs to pick him or Lampard to play with a more defensive midfielder (maybe Barry, although I'm not his biggest fan, probbaly Hargreaves when fit), why are we trying to accommodate Gerrard and Lampard, pick one. Barry could play left wing, but I'd rather see a natural wide man, Young or Cole when he's back fit.

 

[Tummy]

Interested to see what he does with Lennon on Wednesday. He was a huge improvement over SWP when he came on but I do think Beckham still provides a lot. Also, don't want to see Lennon pick up an injury.

Beckham is past it. Nothing really to offer the first team, maybe an option against slower sides in the first half, but shouldn't be first choice.

 

[Tummy]

Because they are arguably the two best English midfielders of this decade (Beckham might have a case, but he's a few years older and perhaps past his best now).

And the team has to suffer because we have to try and accommodate these two ?

 

[Tummy]

You'll need to ask 'Arry about him.

I think Dos Santos is a wonderful player, he's still very young and should only get better.

@ Cas, Beckham shouldn't be near the first team, we have younger, quicker players who are able to play out wide, and many of them are improving the final ball in to the box. Maybe if we are allowed to bring him on for Free kicks maybe, other then that, just keep him in the squad for back up and to help the younger English players.

 

[Tummy]

Maybe too lightweight with him, Defoe, Keane and Lennon all in the team?

I think Beckham can still do a job for England, especially from dead balls and even more so if Crouch is playing.

Might be lightweight, maybe he just feels he's not "ready" yet, or that in order to play he needs to bulk up a bit?

Beckham, I wouldn't consider for a wide place in the England squad, for his passing I'd prefer to play him centrally, but he's up against much better center midfielders there.

 

[Tummy]

If Barry can play in the center, Beckham can play there with his eyes closed, and with one leg. Hes a far better player, even now. He should definitely be in the squad, and in the first team more than he is. But, Capello is the manager and I can't complain at how he is doing.

Barry is hugely over rated.
He's got a good cross on him, so he could play left side (as he started out left wing / back)

Hargreaves should be first choice, but he's dead at the moment.

 

[Tummy]

He is due back at Carrington in 17 days and counting (and Im probably not alone in hoping for a glorious resurrection )

I'll believe it when I see it.

+1