The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only.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.
Ever since the Swede first arrived in the hot-seat of the England manager's job, many-a England fan has been ranting and raving about how "great" former-Lazio gaffer Sven-Goran Eriksson is - especially after the superb 5-0 demolition of Germany.
And I have to agree - despite what I may think about foreigners; at the time, he looked like, possibly, the best descision the FA could ever make (well, by their standards, it can't be that tough!), and like he really could take our team all-the-way, into replication of the triumphant 1966 World Cup.
And then came the 2002 one in Japan and South Korea...
Sure, we did well to get as far as we did, and to come so-close to holding-off the eventual winners, Brazil. But our performances, overall, were not as "world-class" as those of the Brazilian and Dutch sides we are often being compared to (with Eriksson in-charge) - despite how great it was to finally get 'revenge' on the "old enemy", Argentina.
And even since then, things appear to have gone slightly further "downhill" for our team - no matter how many new and exciting players Eriksson calls-up - just look at the majority of the recent Croatia friendly, for example.
And if you ask me, Sven-Goran Eriksson is, really, no better at the job than the unsuccesful likes of Kevin Keegan and Glen Hoddle, before him!
Honestly - what has he really done for us that makes him any better than all the rest?!
He's just a big-name, with a big-face, on a big, bald head.
It all seemed to start-off very well. Yes. But I believe that was simply down to the fact that he is a very well-known and respected figure across the whole of world football, and that his arrival inspired the entire England team; giving them something ('someone') to really work-for.
And since then, they've all gotten to know each-other better, and get used to the idea of a big-name foreigner bossing them around in badly-spoken English.
And as for his own tactics and "ideas", I think the guy really is turning into a Swedish Meatball, and that he may well have been better-off accepting Roman Abramovich's offer to coach ``Chelski´´!
God knows how many youngsters he's bought into the numorous different squads he's selected! It's a very different list of players each time - how can we be expected to find 'consistency' with players moving in-and-out and all-over-the-place?!?
And it seems to me like earning your first England cap has become as well-earned and "meaningful" as that extra can of coke you get from hitting the machine on the side when it's playing-up!
Just look at players like SEVENTEEN-year-old Wayne Rooney and Paul Konchesky for examples of this.
If you're Under-21, and you play for a Premiership team, you're inline for inclusion in one of Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squads - that's the way I see it!
And then there's this 'diamond-midfield' formation...
I'm all for the idea of playing Paul Scholes just-behind the strikers - like he's been doing for Man United - but putting someone like Nicky Butt, Steven Gerrard or even Frank Lampard on the left-hand-side when you have players like Owen Hargreaves, Wayne Bridge and Kieron Dyer on the bench... It really doesn't make any sense at all!!
Yes, Beckham gets to play more centrally, but we need width coming from out midfield - with "proper" wide-players - so our full-backs don't keep having to push-forward and provide it, leaving us dangerously vulnerable to the counter-attack -- and that happened several times in the Croatia game, also!
He doesn't really appear to have much more of a clue that old Keegan, if you ask me. If he wants to be a 'hero' and send our team back on the track of winning-ways, he needs to solve the one main-problem that no manager appears to have properly "sorted" for years - and that is to find a 'proper' left-sided midfielder, with a left-foot, who can do the job down that left-hand-side better than any other Englishman in the country.
Until SOMEONE finally gets this whole thing sorted, I do not expect to see our England team anywhere near the final of any European competition; no matter how big or how small.
We just do not have a proper "team" without one.
Emile Heskey, Kieron Dyer, Owen Hargreaves, Nick Barmby, Darren Anderton, Joe Cole... (the list goes on...!) - All players who have played in that vacant position during the last couple of years, and impressed, at some point.
The trouble with Eriksson here is, again, down to the fact that he's too busy chopping-and-changing things around to actually stick with just ONE player for a couple of games, to give him the time he needs to adjust to the role and do his job well.
If given enough time and chances, I believe any-one of those names could make it as England's `No.11´. But Eriksson just isn't taking the right approach to solving this problem.
-----
So... Don't expect to see Football "coming home" again anytime soon!
And with the way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised to see us drop-out in the early-stages of Euro 2004 - if even we manage to qualify!
(Phew! I haven't 'ranted' like that in ages!)
And I have to agree - despite what I may think about foreigners; at the time, he looked like, possibly, the best descision the FA could ever make (well, by their standards, it can't be that tough!), and like he really could take our team all-the-way, into replication of the triumphant 1966 World Cup.
And then came the 2002 one in Japan and South Korea...
Sure, we did well to get as far as we did, and to come so-close to holding-off the eventual winners, Brazil. But our performances, overall, were not as "world-class" as those of the Brazilian and Dutch sides we are often being compared to (with Eriksson in-charge) - despite how great it was to finally get 'revenge' on the "old enemy", Argentina.
And even since then, things appear to have gone slightly further "downhill" for our team - no matter how many new and exciting players Eriksson calls-up - just look at the majority of the recent Croatia friendly, for example.
And if you ask me, Sven-Goran Eriksson is, really, no better at the job than the unsuccesful likes of Kevin Keegan and Glen Hoddle, before him!
Honestly - what has he really done for us that makes him any better than all the rest?!
He's just a big-name, with a big-face, on a big, bald head.
It all seemed to start-off very well. Yes. But I believe that was simply down to the fact that he is a very well-known and respected figure across the whole of world football, and that his arrival inspired the entire England team; giving them something ('someone') to really work-for.
And since then, they've all gotten to know each-other better, and get used to the idea of a big-name foreigner bossing them around in badly-spoken English.
And as for his own tactics and "ideas", I think the guy really is turning into a Swedish Meatball, and that he may well have been better-off accepting Roman Abramovich's offer to coach ``Chelski´´!
God knows how many youngsters he's bought into the numorous different squads he's selected! It's a very different list of players each time - how can we be expected to find 'consistency' with players moving in-and-out and all-over-the-place?!?
And it seems to me like earning your first England cap has become as well-earned and "meaningful" as that extra can of coke you get from hitting the machine on the side when it's playing-up!
Just look at players like SEVENTEEN-year-old Wayne Rooney and Paul Konchesky for examples of this.
If you're Under-21, and you play for a Premiership team, you're inline for inclusion in one of Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squads - that's the way I see it!
And then there's this 'diamond-midfield' formation...
I'm all for the idea of playing Paul Scholes just-behind the strikers - like he's been doing for Man United - but putting someone like Nicky Butt, Steven Gerrard or even Frank Lampard on the left-hand-side when you have players like Owen Hargreaves, Wayne Bridge and Kieron Dyer on the bench... It really doesn't make any sense at all!!
Yes, Beckham gets to play more centrally, but we need width coming from out midfield - with "proper" wide-players - so our full-backs don't keep having to push-forward and provide it, leaving us dangerously vulnerable to the counter-attack -- and that happened several times in the Croatia game, also!
He doesn't really appear to have much more of a clue that old Keegan, if you ask me. If he wants to be a 'hero' and send our team back on the track of winning-ways, he needs to solve the one main-problem that no manager appears to have properly "sorted" for years - and that is to find a 'proper' left-sided midfielder, with a left-foot, who can do the job down that left-hand-side better than any other Englishman in the country.
Until SOMEONE finally gets this whole thing sorted, I do not expect to see our England team anywhere near the final of any European competition; no matter how big or how small.
We just do not have a proper "team" without one.
Emile Heskey, Kieron Dyer, Owen Hargreaves, Nick Barmby, Darren Anderton, Joe Cole... (the list goes on...!) - All players who have played in that vacant position during the last couple of years, and impressed, at some point.
The trouble with Eriksson here is, again, down to the fact that he's too busy chopping-and-changing things around to actually stick with just ONE player for a couple of games, to give him the time he needs to adjust to the role and do his job well.
If given enough time and chances, I believe any-one of those names could make it as England's `No.11´. But Eriksson just isn't taking the right approach to solving this problem.
-----
So... Don't expect to see Football "coming home" again anytime soon!
And with the way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised to see us drop-out in the early-stages of Euro 2004 - if even we manage to qualify!
(Phew! I haven't 'ranted' like that in ages!)
Page:
Graeme Le Saux should play on the Left of midfield. Everyone moans about his temperament but tell me when the last time he got sent off was? People moan at him when he doesnt get sent off for being dirty and then hail campbell, Vieira, Roy Keane when these players get sent off 3 times a season. Le saux has a left foot and can be used in both attacking and defensive positions, he gives 100% every game and I was gutted when he left the bridge.
Again I have to quickly point out, 4 chelsea players were on the field playing for England, at one time.
Again I have to quickly point out, 4 chelsea players were on the field playing for England, at one time.
Which English manager could do a better job at the moment,England have only lost one competetive game since Eriksson took over.
Keegan, tried and could not handle it.
Hoddle, tried and wasn't good enough.
Venebles, did alright but wasn't the F.A's cup of tea.
That leaves a crop of young English manager's, Curbishley, McClaren, Bruce, Peter Taylor ?
Keegan, tried and could not handle it.
Hoddle, tried and wasn't good enough.
Venebles, did alright but wasn't the F.A's cup of tea.
That leaves a crop of young English manager's, Curbishley, McClaren, Bruce, Peter Taylor ?
First thing first, Sven should never of been appointed England manager in the first place, due to him not being English. I don't care if he's the best manager in the world, every country should be 100% of their own country.
Sven hasn't done a very bad job overall, even though we have had a few dissapointing results. Beating Germany 5-1 and Argentina 1-0 were the main results for England under Sven.
I think Sven is right in choosing young players such as Rooney. Rooney was playing very well for his club Everton, and then put in a superb performance on his England debut. Don't forget that Pele was ONLY 17 when he played for Brazil in the World Cup.
If we play Rooney and co now, it will bring them experience which will be more useful in years to come.
As for the left of midfield; why not put Gareth Barry in. He has played very well for Villa bagging a few goals and earning himself player of the season for his club. He has also proved himself in the England under 21's, where he captained England on numerous occasions.
Sven hasn't done a very bad job overall, even though we have had a few dissapointing results. Beating Germany 5-1 and Argentina 1-0 were the main results for England under Sven.
I think Sven is right in choosing young players such as Rooney. Rooney was playing very well for his club Everton, and then put in a superb performance on his England debut. Don't forget that Pele was ONLY 17 when he played for Brazil in the World Cup.
If we play Rooney and co now, it will bring them experience which will be more useful in years to come.
As for the left of midfield; why not put Gareth Barry in. He has played very well for Villa bagging a few goals and earning himself player of the season for his club. He has also proved himself in the England under 21's, where he captained England on numerous occasions.
Ever since the Swede first arrived in the hot-seat of the England manager's job, many-a England fan has been ranting and raving about how "great" former-Lazio gaffer Sven-Goran Eriksson is - especially after the superb 5-0 demolition of Germany.
And I have to agree - despite what I may think about foreigners; at the time, he looked like, possibly, the best descision the FA could ever make (well, by their standards, it can't be that tough!), and like he really could take our team all-the-way, into replication of the triumphant 1966 World Cup.
And then came the 2002 one in Japan and South Korea...
Sure, we did well to get as far as we did, and to come so-close to holding-off the eventual winners, Brazil. But our performances, overall, were not as "world-class" as those of the Brazilian and Dutch sides we are often being compared to (with Eriksson in-charge) - despite how great it was to finally get 'revenge' on the "old enemy", Argentina.
And even since then, things appear to have gone slightly further "downhill" for our team - no matter how many new and exciting players Eriksson calls-up - just look at the majority of the recent Croatia friendly, for example.
And if you ask me, Sven-Goran Eriksson is, really, no better at the job than the unsuccesful likes of Kevin Keegan and Glen Hoddle, before him!
Honestly - what has he really done for us that makes him any better than all the rest?!
He's just a big-name, with a big-face, on a big, bald head.
It all seemed to start-off very well. Yes. But I believe that was simply down to the fact that he is a very well-known and respected figure across the whole of world football, and that his arrival inspired the entire England team; giving them something ('someone') to really work-for.
And since then, they've all gotten to know each-other better, and get used to the idea of a big-name foreigner bossing them around in badly-spoken English.
And as for his own tactics and "ideas", I think the guy really is turning into a Swedish Meatball, and that he may well have been better-off accepting Roman Abramovich's offer to coach ``Chelski´´!
God knows how many youngsters he's bought into the numorous different squads he's selected! It's a very different list of players each time - how can we be expected to find 'consistency' with players moving in-and-out and all-over-the-place?!?
And it seems to me like earning your first England cap has become as well-earned and "meaningful" as that extra can of coke you get from hitting the machine on the side when it's playing-up!
Just look at players like SEVENTEEN-year-old Wayne Rooney and Paul Konchesky for examples of this.
If you're Under-21, and you play for a Premiership team, you're inline for inclusion in one of Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squads - that's the way I see it!
And then there's this 'diamond-midfield' formation...
I'm all for the idea of playing Paul Scholes just-behind the strikers - like he's been doing for Man United - but putting someone like Nicky Butt, Steven Gerrard or even Frank Lampard on the left-hand-side when you have players like Owen Hargreaves, Wayne Bridge and Kieron Dyer on the bench... It really doesn't make any sense at all!!
Yes, Beckham gets to play more centrally, but we need width coming from out midfield - with "proper" wide-players - so our full-backs don't keep having to push-forward and provide it, leaving us dangerously vulnerable to the counter-attack -- and that happened several times in the Croatia game, also!
He doesn't really appear to have much more of a clue that old Keegan, if you ask me. If he wants to be a 'hero' and send our team back on the track of winning-ways, he needs to solve the one main-problem that no manager appears to have properly "sorted" for years - and that is to find a 'proper' left-sided midfielder, with a left-foot, who can do the job down that left-hand-side better than any other Englishman in the country.
Until SOMEONE finally gets this whole thing sorted, I do not expect to see our England team anywhere near the final of any European competition; no matter how big or how small.
We just do not have a proper "team" without one.
Emile Heskey, Kieron Dyer, Owen Hargreaves, Nick Barmby, Darren Anderton, Joe Cole... (the list goes on...!) - All players who have played in that vacant position during the last couple of years, and impressed, at some point.
The trouble with Eriksson here is, again, down to the fact that he's too busy chopping-and-changing things around to actually stick with just ONE player for a couple of games, to give him the time he needs to adjust to the role and do his job well.
If given enough time and chances, I believe any-one of those names could make it as England's `No.11´. But Eriksson just isn't taking the right approach to solving this problem.
-----
So... Don't expect to see Football "coming home" again anytime soon!
And with the way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised to see us drop-out in the early-stages of Euro 2004 - if even we manage to qualify!
(Phew! I haven't 'ranted' like that in ages!)
And I have to agree - despite what I may think about foreigners; at the time, he looked like, possibly, the best descision the FA could ever make (well, by their standards, it can't be that tough!), and like he really could take our team all-the-way, into replication of the triumphant 1966 World Cup.
And then came the 2002 one in Japan and South Korea...
Sure, we did well to get as far as we did, and to come so-close to holding-off the eventual winners, Brazil. But our performances, overall, were not as "world-class" as those of the Brazilian and Dutch sides we are often being compared to (with Eriksson in-charge) - despite how great it was to finally get 'revenge' on the "old enemy", Argentina.
And even since then, things appear to have gone slightly further "downhill" for our team - no matter how many new and exciting players Eriksson calls-up - just look at the majority of the recent Croatia friendly, for example.
And if you ask me, Sven-Goran Eriksson is, really, no better at the job than the unsuccesful likes of Kevin Keegan and Glen Hoddle, before him!
Honestly - what has he really done for us that makes him any better than all the rest?!
He's just a big-name, with a big-face, on a big, bald head.
It all seemed to start-off very well. Yes. But I believe that was simply down to the fact that he is a very well-known and respected figure across the whole of world football, and that his arrival inspired the entire England team; giving them something ('someone') to really work-for.
And since then, they've all gotten to know each-other better, and get used to the idea of a big-name foreigner bossing them around in badly-spoken English.
And as for his own tactics and "ideas", I think the guy really is turning into a Swedish Meatball, and that he may well have been better-off accepting Roman Abramovich's offer to coach ``Chelski´´!
God knows how many youngsters he's bought into the numorous different squads he's selected! It's a very different list of players each time - how can we be expected to find 'consistency' with players moving in-and-out and all-over-the-place?!?
And it seems to me like earning your first England cap has become as well-earned and "meaningful" as that extra can of coke you get from hitting the machine on the side when it's playing-up!
Just look at players like SEVENTEEN-year-old Wayne Rooney and Paul Konchesky for examples of this.
If you're Under-21, and you play for a Premiership team, you're inline for inclusion in one of Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squads - that's the way I see it!
And then there's this 'diamond-midfield' formation...
I'm all for the idea of playing Paul Scholes just-behind the strikers - like he's been doing for Man United - but putting someone like Nicky Butt, Steven Gerrard or even Frank Lampard on the left-hand-side when you have players like Owen Hargreaves, Wayne Bridge and Kieron Dyer on the bench... It really doesn't make any sense at all!!
Yes, Beckham gets to play more centrally, but we need width coming from out midfield - with "proper" wide-players - so our full-backs don't keep having to push-forward and provide it, leaving us dangerously vulnerable to the counter-attack -- and that happened several times in the Croatia game, also!
He doesn't really appear to have much more of a clue that old Keegan, if you ask me. If he wants to be a 'hero' and send our team back on the track of winning-ways, he needs to solve the one main-problem that no manager appears to have properly "sorted" for years - and that is to find a 'proper' left-sided midfielder, with a left-foot, who can do the job down that left-hand-side better than any other Englishman in the country.
Until SOMEONE finally gets this whole thing sorted, I do not expect to see our England team anywhere near the final of any European competition; no matter how big or how small.
We just do not have a proper "team" without one.
Emile Heskey, Kieron Dyer, Owen Hargreaves, Nick Barmby, Darren Anderton, Joe Cole... (the list goes on...!) - All players who have played in that vacant position during the last couple of years, and impressed, at some point.
The trouble with Eriksson here is, again, down to the fact that he's too busy chopping-and-changing things around to actually stick with just ONE player for a couple of games, to give him the time he needs to adjust to the role and do his job well.
If given enough time and chances, I believe any-one of those names could make it as England's `No.11´. But Eriksson just isn't taking the right approach to solving this problem.
-----
So... Don't expect to see Football "coming home" again anytime soon!
And with the way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised to see us drop-out in the early-stages of Euro 2004 - if even we manage to qualify!
(Phew! I haven't 'ranted' like that in ages!)
Page: