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"You've got to really take your hat off to the tactical approach of Northern Ireland coming in this game" says Graham Le Saux. Yeah, what a genius move it was to lob everybody behind the ball for the first half and hope in the second. Note: I'm not knocking the NI performance, but the tactics really were exactly what you would have predicted.
But Sven, one of that game's well-respected managers, can do worse, oh yes. Not only did we have to continue with the nonsensical 4-5-1 rubbish (we're playing Northern Ireland ffs, a team we should be attacking for 90% of the match, on an extremely narrow pitch. whywhywhwyhwy?) but then, at the end of the first half when bloody Shrek-fase decides to act like a retarded monkey why on earth didn't Sven pull him off straight away? Rooney may be almost completely devoid of common sense, but A) he was playing greedily, and poorly, and B) he's never going to learn that he can't act like an idiot when he wants to unless you show him a lesson.
And then, after NI score and you start to think things couldn't get any worse, that complete buffoon of a manger takes off the player with the best long range shot on the pitch and replaces him with a holding midfielder. There's 15 minutes on the clock, you're 1 - 0 down to a team you shouldn't be, and you bring on bloody Owen Hargreaves. An out and out midfield scrapper. Absolutely illogical.
Nice one, you passion-less Swedish hove.
But Sven, one of that game's well-respected managers, can do worse, oh yes. Not only did we have to continue with the nonsensical 4-5-1 rubbish (we're playing Northern Ireland ffs, a team we should be attacking for 90% of the match, on an extremely narrow pitch. whywhywhwyhwy?) but then, at the end of the first half when bloody Shrek-fase decides to act like a retarded monkey why on earth didn't Sven pull him off straight away? Rooney may be almost completely devoid of common sense, but A) he was playing greedily, and poorly, and B) he's never going to learn that he can't act like an idiot when he wants to unless you show him a lesson.
And then, after NI score and you start to think things couldn't get any worse, that complete buffoon of a manger takes off the player with the best long range shot on the pitch and replaces him with a holding midfielder. There's 15 minutes on the clock, you're 1 - 0 down to a team you shouldn't be, and you bring on bloody Owen Hargreaves. An out and out midfield scrapper. Absolutely illogical.
Nice one, you passion-less Swedish hove.
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No. But I think they should give Carlton Cole a go....
Carlton can go play poosticks.
The damn bas said he wanted to join Pompey then thought that he could get into the chelsea first team.
Why do Chelsea do this to us?
Damn bas Chelsea and their fanbase established 2 years ago.
The damn bas said he wanted to join Pompey then thought that he could get into the chelsea first team.
Why do Chelsea do this to us?
Damn bas Chelsea and their fanbase established 2 years ago.
I still can't understand why SWP was taken off. In both games he was the only England player on the pitch who looked threatening and he got taken off both times?! Wuh?
Why did we finish the game with no left sided midfielders on the pitch? Why does Hargreaves ALWAYS get brought on, no matter what the situation?
Why did we finish the game with no left sided midfielders on the pitch? Why does Hargreaves ALWAYS get brought on, no matter what the situation?
There's no point knocking his substitutes. He was just trying to salvage a bad position, which he created by sticking out a 4-5-1 formation without having any decent players for the positions.
To play a 4-5-1 you need to be like Scotland were tonight and Saturday.
When they have the ball it's a 4-5-1, when you have the ball it's a 4-3-3 with your two wide players getting out wide and having two of your midfielders attacking and overlapping the main striker.
England don't have wingers though, they don't even have a left-sided midfielder. Although I gather Alan Thompson would have been sitting on his backside doing nothing tonight, pity, seeing as he's the best left footed England midfielder still playing at the moment.
Enlgand should be playing a straight forward 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield. Gerard left, but inside with Cole overlapping. Lampard forward, Beckham right and anyone you please holding and moving left or right to cover full backs while they are attacking.
Owen as far forward as he pleases and Rooney to do whatever he likes, because that's what he's naturally gifted at, the arrogence of youth ;-).
To play a 4-5-1 you need to be like Scotland were tonight and Saturday.
When they have the ball it's a 4-5-1, when you have the ball it's a 4-3-3 with your two wide players getting out wide and having two of your midfielders attacking and overlapping the main striker.
England don't have wingers though, they don't even have a left-sided midfielder. Although I gather Alan Thompson would have been sitting on his backside doing nothing tonight, pity, seeing as he's the best left footed England midfielder still playing at the moment.
Enlgand should be playing a straight forward 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield. Gerard left, but inside with Cole overlapping. Lampard forward, Beckham right and anyone you please holding and moving left or right to cover full backs while they are attacking.
Owen as far forward as he pleases and Rooney to do whatever he likes, because that's what he's naturally gifted at, the arrogence of youth ;-).
RastaBillySkank wrote:
> I still can't understand why SWP was taken off. In both games he was
> the only England player on the pitch who looked threatening and he
> got taken off both times?! Wuh?
Because he's younger and newer to the squad than the superstars who have egos needing massaged. Lampard coming off was much more controversial for a defensive midfielder who almost left two golden chances open for NI.
> I still can't understand why SWP was taken off. In both games he was
> the only England player on the pitch who looked threatening and he
> got taken off both times?! Wuh?
Because he's younger and newer to the squad than the superstars who have egos needing massaged. Lampard coming off was much more controversial for a defensive midfielder who almost left two golden chances open for NI.
SWP should have stayed on.
Lampard shouldn't even have started in my opinion. He's been average this season. Totally average. Give someone a chance who will have to fight for their place, someone with something to prove, who sees playing for their country as a privilege rather than as a right. Parker or Carrick spring instantly to mind.
Dringo wrote:
> SWP should have stayed on.
He wasn't using the ball intelligently.
> SWP should have stayed on.
He wasn't using the ball intelligently.
Mav wrote:
> Dringo wrote:
> SWP should have stayed on.
>
> He wasn't using the ball intelligently.
Who was? Beckham just about. That's more or less it.
> Dringo wrote:
> SWP should have stayed on.
>
> He wasn't using the ball intelligently.
Who was? Beckham just about. That's more or less it.
No one in an England shirt did anything intelligent.
What taking SWP did was make England play the whole game in the last third, making NI drop all their players into the last third.
SWP gave them an option of playing midfield just over the halfway line and let beckham pick out SWPs run past the defence. Joe Cole drops off picks the ball up and runs with it taking player on as he goes, but every player taken on is 5 yards of a drop-back for the rest of the team and all that extra time allowed NI to squeeze England out of goal scoring opportunities.
What taking SWP did was make England play the whole game in the last third, making NI drop all their players into the last third.
SWP gave them an option of playing midfield just over the halfway line and let beckham pick out SWPs run past the defence. Joe Cole drops off picks the ball up and runs with it taking player on as he goes, but every player taken on is 5 yards of a drop-back for the rest of the team and all that extra time allowed NI to squeeze England out of goal scoring opportunities.
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