The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
This is taken from the Sunday Mirror's 'Euro 2004' pull-out, from the last Sunday just gone. I am posting it here because it strongly echoes some of my views and, although we are now into the quarter-finals, I still feel there are points here to be considered.
Star-struck Sven should axe Becks
And misfiring Owen
"I'm really worried for Sven-Goran Eriksson, because I fear he's suffering from a virus that is plaguing the European Championship - it's called "Big-Name Playeritis".
"The England manager is certainly strong in his beliefs and very loyal to his players - the fact he took Emile Heskey to Portugal over Alan Smith says it all.
"But will he have the balls to do the decent thing and 'rest' David Beckham and Michael Owen for tommorow's night match against Croatia? I hope so... Because he needs to.
"Beckham has been lacklustre. Everything normally goes through him, but that just hasn't been the case.
"He's looked very ordinary, and the effects of a long, hard season on and off the field have clearly taken their toll on the England captain.
"If Eriksson did give Becks the rest he clearly needs, he should be looking to start with Kieron Dyer or Owen Hargreaves.
"I feel Dyer's electrifying pace and accuracy on crosses would give him the edge over his Bayern Munich rival.
"As for Owen, he has done nothing in the last two games and you have to say Darius Vassel should start tommorow.
"Vassel created Wayne Rooney's second goal against Switzerland out of nothing.
"He looks fast, fit and very sharp. Owen doesn't. He looks like someone who hasn't seen Champions' League football for 2 years (which of course he hasn't).
"Eriksson would do England a big favour by starting with Beckham and Owen on the bench, but I'm afraid he may be another bout of 'BNP'.
"Jacques Santini of France, Spain's Inaki Saez and Luis Felipe Scolari of Portugal have all been hit with the virus.
"Marcel Desailly has been a liabillity, and how much longer France can continue carrying him I don't know. The Chelsea man and French captain has-been just made mistake after mistake... It will cost them!
"As for Spain, why on Earth Saez continues to play Raul I just don't know.
"The Real Madrid marksman has been living off his reputation for far too long, and Spain cannot afford the luxury of having a striker who missed three-or-four sitters per game.
"OK, Saez might get lynched by the Spanish press, but had Raul stuck away half the chances he's missed they wouldn't need a result against Portugal today.
"Portugal were in the same boat as the old BNP fever struck there in the first game with Rui Costa stumbling along and Deco, one of the most outstanding players in Europe this season sitting on the bench.
"The simple fact is that managers not having the courage to drop their "stars" has meant there is no outstanding team in the competition and the title is up for grabs.
"England are in with as good a chance as any, but Eriksson must stop trying to play Paul Scholes on the left. It just doesn't work.
"What would suit them better is to bring in Wayne Bridge at left-back and move Ashley Cole up to left-midfield.
"Come on Sven, you know it makes sense!"
~Gerry Armstrong
----------
So, what do you make of all this?
I know this was written days ago and that things have changed a fair bit since then, but he does make some valuable points - I mean, just look at what did happen to Spain, after all.
Could the same fate come to England tommorow night if Eriksson doesn't find a cure?
Or, are you sitting on the other side of the fence as one of minority in favour of Beckham and Owen starting every game, no matter what (...all THREE of you!)?
Whether tommorw night's starting-eleven remains exactly the same as it has been for time now or not, one of Eriksson's biggest problems is still rushing players back into his team after injury when they've barely had 5 minutes to recover and only 75% fit.
He did it with John Terry the other night and our defence was a mess.
He did it with Beckham a couple of years ago, and look what happened there.
It doesn't matter who they are, so long as they're fit-enough to last 90 minutes.
That's one, there's two... Three strikes, and we're out?
Star-struck Sven should axe Becks
And misfiring Owen
"I'm really worried for Sven-Goran Eriksson, because I fear he's suffering from a virus that is plaguing the European Championship - it's called "Big-Name Playeritis".
"The England manager is certainly strong in his beliefs and very loyal to his players - the fact he took Emile Heskey to Portugal over Alan Smith says it all.
"But will he have the balls to do the decent thing and 'rest' David Beckham and Michael Owen for tommorow's night match against Croatia? I hope so... Because he needs to.
"Beckham has been lacklustre. Everything normally goes through him, but that just hasn't been the case.
"He's looked very ordinary, and the effects of a long, hard season on and off the field have clearly taken their toll on the England captain.
"If Eriksson did give Becks the rest he clearly needs, he should be looking to start with Kieron Dyer or Owen Hargreaves.
"I feel Dyer's electrifying pace and accuracy on crosses would give him the edge over his Bayern Munich rival.
"As for Owen, he has done nothing in the last two games and you have to say Darius Vassel should start tommorow.
"Vassel created Wayne Rooney's second goal against Switzerland out of nothing.
"He looks fast, fit and very sharp. Owen doesn't. He looks like someone who hasn't seen Champions' League football for 2 years (which of course he hasn't).
"Eriksson would do England a big favour by starting with Beckham and Owen on the bench, but I'm afraid he may be another bout of 'BNP'.
"Jacques Santini of France, Spain's Inaki Saez and Luis Felipe Scolari of Portugal have all been hit with the virus.
"Marcel Desailly has been a liabillity, and how much longer France can continue carrying him I don't know. The Chelsea man and French captain has-been just made mistake after mistake... It will cost them!
"As for Spain, why on Earth Saez continues to play Raul I just don't know.
"The Real Madrid marksman has been living off his reputation for far too long, and Spain cannot afford the luxury of having a striker who missed three-or-four sitters per game.
"OK, Saez might get lynched by the Spanish press, but had Raul stuck away half the chances he's missed they wouldn't need a result against Portugal today.
"Portugal were in the same boat as the old BNP fever struck there in the first game with Rui Costa stumbling along and Deco, one of the most outstanding players in Europe this season sitting on the bench.
"The simple fact is that managers not having the courage to drop their "stars" has meant there is no outstanding team in the competition and the title is up for grabs.
"England are in with as good a chance as any, but Eriksson must stop trying to play Paul Scholes on the left. It just doesn't work.
"What would suit them better is to bring in Wayne Bridge at left-back and move Ashley Cole up to left-midfield.
"Come on Sven, you know it makes sense!"
~Gerry Armstrong
----------
So, what do you make of all this?
I know this was written days ago and that things have changed a fair bit since then, but he does make some valuable points - I mean, just look at what did happen to Spain, after all.
Could the same fate come to England tommorow night if Eriksson doesn't find a cure?
Or, are you sitting on the other side of the fence as one of minority in favour of Beckham and Owen starting every game, no matter what (...all THREE of you!)?
Whether tommorw night's starting-eleven remains exactly the same as it has been for time now or not, one of Eriksson's biggest problems is still rushing players back into his team after injury when they've barely had 5 minutes to recover and only 75% fit.
He did it with John Terry the other night and our defence was a mess.
He did it with Beckham a couple of years ago, and look what happened there.
It doesn't matter who they are, so long as they're fit-enough to last 90 minutes.
That's one, there's two... Three strikes, and we're out?
Page:
Colourless wrote:
"Without Rooney we'd be nothing up front."
-----
I think you need to do a little editing of your own - take-away those last-two words there! :P
"Without Rooney we'd be nothing up front."
-----
I think you need to do a little editing of your own - take-away those last-two words there! :P
Ah well. Tis edited now.
I agree though. I would have said after the Switzerland game that Owen should be dropped. He played alright against Croatia but I think we should have brought Smith, Beattie and Defoe to Portugal. Without Rooney we'd be nothing up front.
Beckham wont be rested simply because he's captain, and obviously because Sven is his real mistress. I think Kieron Dyer and Joe Cole deserve starts or at least substitue appearances. Bridge must play sooner or later in the left midfield slot. Even though Scholes scored he was still poor on the left hand side, and we need a left footed player who can take people on and cross the ball. And who better for England than Wayne Bridge?
I agree though. I would have said after the Switzerland game that Owen should be dropped. He played alright against Croatia but I think we should have brought Smith, Beattie and Defoe to Portugal. Without Rooney we'd be nothing up front.
Beckham wont be rested simply because he's captain, and obviously because Sven is his real mistress. I think Kieron Dyer and Joe Cole deserve starts or at least substitue appearances. Bridge must play sooner or later in the left midfield slot. Even though Scholes scored he was still poor on the left hand side, and we need a left footed player who can take people on and cross the ball. And who better for England than Wayne Bridge?
WHO. Not what. :)
Solskjær wrote:
> I am posting it here because it stronglyechoes some of my fews
And what are your fews?
:P
> I am posting it here because it stronglyechoes some of my fews
And what are your fews?
:P
Yes, I'd quite like to see how Eriksson would "sweat" if both Beckham and Owen were to become unavailable for the same game...
(Then again, the fool would probably stick 'em in the starting line-up broken-foot or no broken foot! :P )
No captain, no vice-captain (could someone please explain to me why no-one else has been found to cover Beckham yet?!).
I agree with you on the Ashley Cole thing too. I mean, Wayne Bridge has actually proven himself on the left-wing in the Premiership for the past season. Whereas, Cole's been left-back all-the-time. It's not like there's anything wrong with Ashley Cole in the defence either - from what I can see, he's becoming a valuable player to our defence, and has put in some strong (CLEAN!) performances of late that have gone un-noticed due to Wayne Rooney's efforts.
I still feel this midfield problem comes from the same sort of disease; one in which Eriksson feels he 'has' to play England's four finest midfielders at one-time. :P
IT DOESN'T FRICKING WORK!!!!
(Then again, the fool would probably stick 'em in the starting line-up broken-foot or no broken foot! :P )
No captain, no vice-captain (could someone please explain to me why no-one else has been found to cover Beckham yet?!).
I agree with you on the Ashley Cole thing too. I mean, Wayne Bridge has actually proven himself on the left-wing in the Premiership for the past season. Whereas, Cole's been left-back all-the-time. It's not like there's anything wrong with Ashley Cole in the defence either - from what I can see, he's becoming a valuable player to our defence, and has put in some strong (CLEAN!) performances of late that have gone un-noticed due to Wayne Rooney's efforts.
I still feel this midfield problem comes from the same sort of disease; one in which Eriksson feels he 'has' to play England's four finest midfielders at one-time. :P
IT DOESN'T FRICKING WORK!!!!
Solskjær wrote:
>> He did it with John Terry the other night and our defence was a
> mess.
> He did it with Beckham a couple of years ago, and look what happened
> there.
In fairness i noticed all the you lot go quiet aabout King when he just stood their and watched the ball go towards the croat for the second goal. Something you'd never get from terry. He wasn't even tired he'd been on the pitch 5 minutes and it was the second man he had lost.
Whilst i agree that a bad left footer is in many case preferable to a decent right footer shoved on the left of midfield, The ashley cole argument is pretty weird, consindering he can't cross and he can't score. What he does do well however is link up well as he scampers down the wing so at least pace and passing would improve. Rather play bridge in midfield and leave cole back if we chose this option, just because Bridge is a far superior crosser and has an odd habit of popping up with important goals!
KEeping the big player in is most annoying, especially when they are not particularly big. Owen's value to ENGLAND is severely over exagerated as is beckhams. If owen got injured i would be fairly pleased i must admit. He never looks sharp and really has to go.
>> He did it with John Terry the other night and our defence was a
> mess.
> He did it with Beckham a couple of years ago, and look what happened
> there.
In fairness i noticed all the you lot go quiet aabout King when he just stood their and watched the ball go towards the croat for the second goal. Something you'd never get from terry. He wasn't even tired he'd been on the pitch 5 minutes and it was the second man he had lost.
Whilst i agree that a bad left footer is in many case preferable to a decent right footer shoved on the left of midfield, The ashley cole argument is pretty weird, consindering he can't cross and he can't score. What he does do well however is link up well as he scampers down the wing so at least pace and passing would improve. Rather play bridge in midfield and leave cole back if we chose this option, just because Bridge is a far superior crosser and has an odd habit of popping up with important goals!
KEeping the big player in is most annoying, especially when they are not particularly big. Owen's value to ENGLAND is severely over exagerated as is beckhams. If owen got injured i would be fairly pleased i must admit. He never looks sharp and really has to go.
This is taken from the Sunday Mirror's 'Euro 2004' pull-out, from the last Sunday just gone. I am posting it here because it strongly echoes some of my views and, although we are now into the quarter-finals, I still feel there are points here to be considered.
Star-struck Sven should axe Becks
And misfiring Owen
"I'm really worried for Sven-Goran Eriksson, because I fear he's suffering from a virus that is plaguing the European Championship - it's called "Big-Name Playeritis".
"The England manager is certainly strong in his beliefs and very loyal to his players - the fact he took Emile Heskey to Portugal over Alan Smith says it all.
"But will he have the balls to do the decent thing and 'rest' David Beckham and Michael Owen for tommorow's night match against Croatia? I hope so... Because he needs to.
"Beckham has been lacklustre. Everything normally goes through him, but that just hasn't been the case.
"He's looked very ordinary, and the effects of a long, hard season on and off the field have clearly taken their toll on the England captain.
"If Eriksson did give Becks the rest he clearly needs, he should be looking to start with Kieron Dyer or Owen Hargreaves.
"I feel Dyer's electrifying pace and accuracy on crosses would give him the edge over his Bayern Munich rival.
"As for Owen, he has done nothing in the last two games and you have to say Darius Vassel should start tommorow.
"Vassel created Wayne Rooney's second goal against Switzerland out of nothing.
"He looks fast, fit and very sharp. Owen doesn't. He looks like someone who hasn't seen Champions' League football for 2 years (which of course he hasn't).
"Eriksson would do England a big favour by starting with Beckham and Owen on the bench, but I'm afraid he may be another bout of 'BNP'.
"Jacques Santini of France, Spain's Inaki Saez and Luis Felipe Scolari of Portugal have all been hit with the virus.
"Marcel Desailly has been a liabillity, and how much longer France can continue carrying him I don't know. The Chelsea man and French captain has-been just made mistake after mistake... It will cost them!
"As for Spain, why on Earth Saez continues to play Raul I just don't know.
"The Real Madrid marksman has been living off his reputation for far too long, and Spain cannot afford the luxury of having a striker who missed three-or-four sitters per game.
"OK, Saez might get lynched by the Spanish press, but had Raul stuck away half the chances he's missed they wouldn't need a result against Portugal today.
"Portugal were in the same boat as the old BNP fever struck there in the first game with Rui Costa stumbling along and Deco, one of the most outstanding players in Europe this season sitting on the bench.
"The simple fact is that managers not having the courage to drop their "stars" has meant there is no outstanding team in the competition and the title is up for grabs.
"England are in with as good a chance as any, but Eriksson must stop trying to play Paul Scholes on the left. It just doesn't work.
"What would suit them better is to bring in Wayne Bridge at left-back and move Ashley Cole up to left-midfield.
"Come on Sven, you know it makes sense!"
~Gerry Armstrong
----------
So, what do you make of all this?
I know this was written days ago and that things have changed a fair bit since then, but he does make some valuable points - I mean, just look at what did happen to Spain, after all.
Could the same fate come to England tommorow night if Eriksson doesn't find a cure?
Or, are you sitting on the other side of the fence as one of minority in favour of Beckham and Owen starting every game, no matter what (...all THREE of you!)?
Whether tommorw night's starting-eleven remains exactly the same as it has been for time now or not, one of Eriksson's biggest problems is still rushing players back into his team after injury when they've barely had 5 minutes to recover and only 75% fit.
He did it with John Terry the other night and our defence was a mess.
He did it with Beckham a couple of years ago, and look what happened there.
It doesn't matter who they are, so long as they're fit-enough to last 90 minutes.
That's one, there's two... Three strikes, and we're out?
Star-struck Sven should axe Becks
And misfiring Owen
"I'm really worried for Sven-Goran Eriksson, because I fear he's suffering from a virus that is plaguing the European Championship - it's called "Big-Name Playeritis".
"The England manager is certainly strong in his beliefs and very loyal to his players - the fact he took Emile Heskey to Portugal over Alan Smith says it all.
"But will he have the balls to do the decent thing and 'rest' David Beckham and Michael Owen for tommorow's night match against Croatia? I hope so... Because he needs to.
"Beckham has been lacklustre. Everything normally goes through him, but that just hasn't been the case.
"He's looked very ordinary, and the effects of a long, hard season on and off the field have clearly taken their toll on the England captain.
"If Eriksson did give Becks the rest he clearly needs, he should be looking to start with Kieron Dyer or Owen Hargreaves.
"I feel Dyer's electrifying pace and accuracy on crosses would give him the edge over his Bayern Munich rival.
"As for Owen, he has done nothing in the last two games and you have to say Darius Vassel should start tommorow.
"Vassel created Wayne Rooney's second goal against Switzerland out of nothing.
"He looks fast, fit and very sharp. Owen doesn't. He looks like someone who hasn't seen Champions' League football for 2 years (which of course he hasn't).
"Eriksson would do England a big favour by starting with Beckham and Owen on the bench, but I'm afraid he may be another bout of 'BNP'.
"Jacques Santini of France, Spain's Inaki Saez and Luis Felipe Scolari of Portugal have all been hit with the virus.
"Marcel Desailly has been a liabillity, and how much longer France can continue carrying him I don't know. The Chelsea man and French captain has-been just made mistake after mistake... It will cost them!
"As for Spain, why on Earth Saez continues to play Raul I just don't know.
"The Real Madrid marksman has been living off his reputation for far too long, and Spain cannot afford the luxury of having a striker who missed three-or-four sitters per game.
"OK, Saez might get lynched by the Spanish press, but had Raul stuck away half the chances he's missed they wouldn't need a result against Portugal today.
"Portugal were in the same boat as the old BNP fever struck there in the first game with Rui Costa stumbling along and Deco, one of the most outstanding players in Europe this season sitting on the bench.
"The simple fact is that managers not having the courage to drop their "stars" has meant there is no outstanding team in the competition and the title is up for grabs.
"England are in with as good a chance as any, but Eriksson must stop trying to play Paul Scholes on the left. It just doesn't work.
"What would suit them better is to bring in Wayne Bridge at left-back and move Ashley Cole up to left-midfield.
"Come on Sven, you know it makes sense!"
~Gerry Armstrong
----------
So, what do you make of all this?
I know this was written days ago and that things have changed a fair bit since then, but he does make some valuable points - I mean, just look at what did happen to Spain, after all.
Could the same fate come to England tommorow night if Eriksson doesn't find a cure?
Or, are you sitting on the other side of the fence as one of minority in favour of Beckham and Owen starting every game, no matter what (...all THREE of you!)?
Whether tommorw night's starting-eleven remains exactly the same as it has been for time now or not, one of Eriksson's biggest problems is still rushing players back into his team after injury when they've barely had 5 minutes to recover and only 75% fit.
He did it with John Terry the other night and our defence was a mess.
He did it with Beckham a couple of years ago, and look what happened there.
It doesn't matter who they are, so long as they're fit-enough to last 90 minutes.
That's one, there's two... Three strikes, and we're out?
Page: