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"Englands Performence"

England...Today, i witnessed terrible play. Missing Rooney? Maybe, but it's not a one man team. The 'team' effort was abismal. We couldn't string a pass together, let alone a shot. Our one goal came from a penalty!

I don't know what is wrong and certainly cannot pin-point it, but if we hope to qualify for the world cup and get in the finals, we need to improve. And fast.

Bad news update:

Sol cambell is out on wednesday (doesn't matter too much)
Beckham is out wednesday
Gerarrd is out wednesday... A shin injury...

God help us on Wednesday then..

Crouch is alright. He brings other players into the game, wins most of the long balls... he does knock downs and ball shielding and we saw him do that very well against Chelsea and Real Betis. He's not agile, nor is he powerful or quick, and when given the go-ahead to finish a goal the last thing you're feeling is confidence.

But he's got a good touch (and a good touch full stop, not just for a big fella), good control and good vision. He's definitely not First XI quality, not at all, but he gives you a different option, a different dynamic in the frontline.

I can't see how anyone can blame him for yesterday's dross. He was erratic, but if Austria had been closed down quicker and our lines were pushed further forward, not only would he have seen more of the ball but he'd have had far more options.

I have hope the team can perform come the world cup. Some well placed friendlies are vital.

Indeed, the genius one is the missing link.

England are missing his overlapping runs and crosses into the box as while i like Luke Young he doesn't do that much on the attacking end, although he improved that side of his game a bit yesterday

What like last time when a combination of lethary and apathy lead to one of the most pathetic whimperings out of a tournament, ever? I mean, yes it was to the eventual winners of the contest, but did we even manage a shot on target after going 2-1 down?

Needed a bit of bite, and a bit of drive again that day, and if it's not coming from the bench, then the players need it all around them.

Once more, I point you in the direction of a missing Gray Neville. ;o)

But we've been doing that for years...

Heh, keep trying to convince yourself of that.

Kawada wrote:

> Yea, hope all the other teams drop out.

We raise our game against the harder teams. Austria isn't Brazil. When/if we come up against Brazil I can guarentee England will be playing good football and every player will be playing well.

Kawada wrote:
> Dringo wrote:
> England's performance was competant just didn't have an attacking
> bite. I hope we get it for the big games.
>
> Still lot to hope for in the world cup.
>
> Yea, hope all the other teams drop out.

Bet we'd still have trouble playing against one person! We'd get landed with Henry or Ronaldo (Brazilian one)

Dringo wrote:
> England's performance was competant just didn't have an attacking
> bite. I hope we get it for the big games.
>
> Still lot to hope for in the world cup.

Yea, hope all the other teams drop out.