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There isn't an England fan alive who could've come away from last night's game at Old Trafford with feelings of satisfaction after the 3-2 defeat to Denmark.
Sure, it was only a friendly. But when you take the lead so early on, and in such style, too, you cannot be expected to then go on to throw-away the lead - twice - and end up losing what could prove to be a crucial warm-up match in preparation for Euro 2004.
If we're going to lose like that against Denmark then, we might aswell just wave that white-flag before a game against a team likelike France or Gemany has even started!
Now, you can blame whoever you want to blame, but, as always, it's going to be the manager's fault for such a result, given the quality of player's on the pitch.
It may have been a fixture for 'experimenting' and trying new ideas but, once again, Sven-Goran Eriksson had, for me, taken things a little too far...
Remember that humiliating defeat to Australia when Harry Kewell single-handedly destroyed our backline? Yes, the "second-half; second-eleven" game.
For the first 45 minutes, things were not so bad. We had the majority of our `better´ players on the pitch, and looked capable of claiming victory against our once-in-a-lifetime rivals. But then came half-time, and we were - literally - a totally-different team for the second-half! Gone were the Owen's and Beckham's of our German-thumping world; and on came the likes of Jermaine Jenas and others straight out of the Under-21 setup.
If not for such a drastic change-of-pace, things would surely not have ended so badly.
It was ``only´´ a friendly, but a humiliating defeat a team of our reputation and stature could've done without (no disrespect to the hard-working "Socceroos", of course).
`Inconsitency´. The one thing that defines `Sven-Goran Eriksson´, to me.
"If it's not broken, why fix it?"
"Why change a winning formula?"
These are well-known quotations I suggest the Swede looks into if he really wants to make the most of his Swedish-to-English dictionary, and do his job well.
The one thing that bugs me, time and time again (aside from the fact that he's a foreigner!), is with his squad selections - every-single-time his latest listings are announced.
For the bigger, more important fixtures, it will always resolve around the same, much-loved `star´-players. David Beckham, Michael Owen, Steven Gerard and now Wayne Rooney. No matter how badly they're playing for their respected clubs or, how poorly they performed in last month's fixture against... Azerbaijan(!), you will always, ALWAYS see these names go top-of-the-list.
And as for the other 19-or-so spaces left, nine-times-out-of-ten, it seems like it's a case of simply 'filling-the-blanks' with possibly the only other names of English footballers he can remember!
Why else would we see 'average' players like Darius Vassell and Emile Heskey selected in favour or true, hard-working players with a real passion and talent for the game, like Leeds' Alan Smith, for example.
It seems like one, big "Popularity Contest" for him, or something.
Whichever players the fans love most, and want to see playing at every-chance - they're in the squad. He will never drop or replace him at the sake of becoming 'unpopular' for 5-or-10-minutes, and swarmed by the media for matters ON the pitch.
But if England are to stand any chance of getting somewhere in Portugal next summer, we must do what the bigger teams around us have already done; and get the 'blend' of players exactly right.
But this isn't happening right now. Sure, he seems willing to give plenty of youngsters a chance in the friendlies but, they barely last even half a match - and then we may never see them in an England shirt for months (if, even, ever again!).
And it is this "disposible camera" system that has made a mockery of our national team several times and made a once-cherishable First England Cap almost meaningless to anyone who "earns" it.
Why he never changes things when the team clearly don't perform, though, is beyond anyone...!
It is true that Michael Owen, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Steven Gerard can be a dream-combination that strikes fear into the heart of any opposing team; but they cannot win you every game.
Who is David Beckham to lead any team to a final?! Again, he's just the fan's-favourite!
What we really need is a new `Alan Shearer´. Someone with a natural predatory instinct for the back of the net. Someone who can single-handedly lead a team forwards without the need of an armband. Somebody who isn't afraid to give up all that he's got in order to see his side succeed.
And, for me, Alan Smith is the man. The only have to have seen him play the full-90-minutes ONCE this season for his struggling Leeds United to see he is ``The One´´.
The side may be down (bottom of the league, infact), but he NEVER gives up. If ever there's even the slightest glimmer of hope for a goal, he will try his hardest to force his way through and find the back of the net - just like he did against Arsenal and Portsmouth, quite recently. He's a Leeds fan with a rare, 'never-say-die' attitude.
Watch him play for Leeds next weekend and you will see just how much he could benefit his country so-much!
But by playing for a team in Leeds' current state, you're hardly going to get the recognition you deserve from a blind-eyed manager like Eriksson. But moving, for Alan Smith, is not the answer. Would he really share that same desire for another team as he does for the club and country he loves?? If anything, I think it a move to Old Trafford, Highbury or Anfield would give him the bad kind of publicity that has, in time, turned David Beckham into nonced-up `Pop-Star´ with Barbie-doll hair!
And so, I shared a small amount of sympathy (for once!) with Mr.Eriksson for finally giving Smith the second-chance he deserves after a year-long exile following an outstanding debut performance for England (...and a red-card). ....Until the FA went and ruined things, yet again!!
But why was Alan Smith only part of the Sven-Goran Eriksson's "back-up" plan?
Why were "donkey's" like Vassell and Heskey, yet again, in before him??
That's the part I really don't understand...
Both he and Tord Grip have said they are looking at new players (including Celtic's Chris Sutton and Alan Thompson - both of whom could be the answers to our Alan Shearer and left-sided problems). ...But where are they now, eh??
And no matter how well a player like Joe Cole or even Alan Smith has performed in the past, he won't get a look-in ahead of Paul Scholes or Rooney.
It's like the goalkeeper situation; why is "butterfingers" David James our country's No.1? That, quite possibly, is the biggest joke of them all.
Anyone can see that Paul Robinson should clearly have the job. Anyone except "Sven", of course! What will it take for him to see that James is the bad-accident just waiting to happen? A hat-trick of blunders as Thierry Henry and co. wave, "Au revoir!"?? He has been 'quite' consistent for England; although, it's usually in the bigger games where he mucks-up the most. I've lost-count of the number of times he flapped at Man United's crosses during numorous encounters over the years! You could even go as far as to say that we beat the likes of Arsenal to the Title because of him! He did alright yesterday, yes. But if it wasn't Paul Robinson in-goal during that second-half the Dane's could've scored twice-as-many!!
But, we already know who will be in-goal next time, anyway....
I read something in the 'papers quite regularly, now, about how he is ready-to-quit over yet another mistake from our good old, unreliable Football Association, and I begin to get excited; dreaming of what I could be reading tommorow...
But he's an annoying moth or fly, to me. No matter how hard you try, or how bad things appear to get, he'll just stick-around to annoy you further!
I really wish he would just "buzz-off" and, instead, let someone with a real care for their own country come and do this job, instead of just trying to rebuild their own sliding reputation, the easy way!
Sure, it was only a friendly. But when you take the lead so early on, and in such style, too, you cannot be expected to then go on to throw-away the lead - twice - and end up losing what could prove to be a crucial warm-up match in preparation for Euro 2004.
If we're going to lose like that against Denmark then, we might aswell just wave that white-flag before a game against a team likelike France or Gemany has even started!
Now, you can blame whoever you want to blame, but, as always, it's going to be the manager's fault for such a result, given the quality of player's on the pitch.
It may have been a fixture for 'experimenting' and trying new ideas but, once again, Sven-Goran Eriksson had, for me, taken things a little too far...
Remember that humiliating defeat to Australia when Harry Kewell single-handedly destroyed our backline? Yes, the "second-half; second-eleven" game.
For the first 45 minutes, things were not so bad. We had the majority of our `better´ players on the pitch, and looked capable of claiming victory against our once-in-a-lifetime rivals. But then came half-time, and we were - literally - a totally-different team for the second-half! Gone were the Owen's and Beckham's of our German-thumping world; and on came the likes of Jermaine Jenas and others straight out of the Under-21 setup.
If not for such a drastic change-of-pace, things would surely not have ended so badly.
It was ``only´´ a friendly, but a humiliating defeat a team of our reputation and stature could've done without (no disrespect to the hard-working "Socceroos", of course).
`Inconsitency´. The one thing that defines `Sven-Goran Eriksson´, to me.
"If it's not broken, why fix it?"
"Why change a winning formula?"
These are well-known quotations I suggest the Swede looks into if he really wants to make the most of his Swedish-to-English dictionary, and do his job well.
The one thing that bugs me, time and time again (aside from the fact that he's a foreigner!), is with his squad selections - every-single-time his latest listings are announced.
For the bigger, more important fixtures, it will always resolve around the same, much-loved `star´-players. David Beckham, Michael Owen, Steven Gerard and now Wayne Rooney. No matter how badly they're playing for their respected clubs or, how poorly they performed in last month's fixture against... Azerbaijan(!), you will always, ALWAYS see these names go top-of-the-list.
And as for the other 19-or-so spaces left, nine-times-out-of-ten, it seems like it's a case of simply 'filling-the-blanks' with possibly the only other names of English footballers he can remember!
Why else would we see 'average' players like Darius Vassell and Emile Heskey selected in favour or true, hard-working players with a real passion and talent for the game, like Leeds' Alan Smith, for example.
It seems like one, big "Popularity Contest" for him, or something.
Whichever players the fans love most, and want to see playing at every-chance - they're in the squad. He will never drop or replace him at the sake of becoming 'unpopular' for 5-or-10-minutes, and swarmed by the media for matters ON the pitch.
But if England are to stand any chance of getting somewhere in Portugal next summer, we must do what the bigger teams around us have already done; and get the 'blend' of players exactly right.
But this isn't happening right now. Sure, he seems willing to give plenty of youngsters a chance in the friendlies but, they barely last even half a match - and then we may never see them in an England shirt for months (if, even, ever again!).
And it is this "disposible camera" system that has made a mockery of our national team several times and made a once-cherishable First England Cap almost meaningless to anyone who "earns" it.
Why he never changes things when the team clearly don't perform, though, is beyond anyone...!
It is true that Michael Owen, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Steven Gerard can be a dream-combination that strikes fear into the heart of any opposing team; but they cannot win you every game.
Who is David Beckham to lead any team to a final?! Again, he's just the fan's-favourite!
What we really need is a new `Alan Shearer´. Someone with a natural predatory instinct for the back of the net. Someone who can single-handedly lead a team forwards without the need of an armband. Somebody who isn't afraid to give up all that he's got in order to see his side succeed.
And, for me, Alan Smith is the man. The only have to have seen him play the full-90-minutes ONCE this season for his struggling Leeds United to see he is ``The One´´.
The side may be down (bottom of the league, infact), but he NEVER gives up. If ever there's even the slightest glimmer of hope for a goal, he will try his hardest to force his way through and find the back of the net - just like he did against Arsenal and Portsmouth, quite recently. He's a Leeds fan with a rare, 'never-say-die' attitude.
Watch him play for Leeds next weekend and you will see just how much he could benefit his country so-much!
But by playing for a team in Leeds' current state, you're hardly going to get the recognition you deserve from a blind-eyed manager like Eriksson. But moving, for Alan Smith, is not the answer. Would he really share that same desire for another team as he does for the club and country he loves?? If anything, I think it a move to Old Trafford, Highbury or Anfield would give him the bad kind of publicity that has, in time, turned David Beckham into nonced-up `Pop-Star´ with Barbie-doll hair!
And so, I shared a small amount of sympathy (for once!) with Mr.Eriksson for finally giving Smith the second-chance he deserves after a year-long exile following an outstanding debut performance for England (...and a red-card). ....Until the FA went and ruined things, yet again!!
But why was Alan Smith only part of the Sven-Goran Eriksson's "back-up" plan?
Why were "donkey's" like Vassell and Heskey, yet again, in before him??
That's the part I really don't understand...
Both he and Tord Grip have said they are looking at new players (including Celtic's Chris Sutton and Alan Thompson - both of whom could be the answers to our Alan Shearer and left-sided problems). ...But where are they now, eh??
And no matter how well a player like Joe Cole or even Alan Smith has performed in the past, he won't get a look-in ahead of Paul Scholes or Rooney.
It's like the goalkeeper situation; why is "butterfingers" David James our country's No.1? That, quite possibly, is the biggest joke of them all.
Anyone can see that Paul Robinson should clearly have the job. Anyone except "Sven", of course! What will it take for him to see that James is the bad-accident just waiting to happen? A hat-trick of blunders as Thierry Henry and co. wave, "Au revoir!"?? He has been 'quite' consistent for England; although, it's usually in the bigger games where he mucks-up the most. I've lost-count of the number of times he flapped at Man United's crosses during numorous encounters over the years! You could even go as far as to say that we beat the likes of Arsenal to the Title because of him! He did alright yesterday, yes. But if it wasn't Paul Robinson in-goal during that second-half the Dane's could've scored twice-as-many!!
But, we already know who will be in-goal next time, anyway....
I read something in the 'papers quite regularly, now, about how he is ready-to-quit over yet another mistake from our good old, unreliable Football Association, and I begin to get excited; dreaming of what I could be reading tommorow...
But he's an annoying moth or fly, to me. No matter how hard you try, or how bad things appear to get, he'll just stick-around to annoy you further!
I really wish he would just "buzz-off" and, instead, let someone with a real care for their own country come and do this job, instead of just trying to rebuild their own sliding reputation, the easy way!
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Heskey may be improved, but he's still failing to score. But he's good enough on the left wing, so he still deserves inclusion.
However, England need another regular goalscorer. Smith is a good player, but his disciplinary record is terrible. In my opinon, Beattie should be given a proper chance to shine in the England team. He hasn't had many chances, but he's got a pretty damn good scoring record for Southampton.
Jeffers also warrants mention, but he's played so infrequently at Arsenal, his chances of superstardom seem almost over unless he clinches a transfer to a team where he can score regularly, supported by a good team who can help his style of play in general. And if Zamora and Defoe can get their acts together, there may still be hope...
However, England need another regular goalscorer. Smith is a good player, but his disciplinary record is terrible. In my opinon, Beattie should be given a proper chance to shine in the England team. He hasn't had many chances, but he's got a pretty damn good scoring record for Southampton.
Jeffers also warrants mention, but he's played so infrequently at Arsenal, his chances of superstardom seem almost over unless he clinches a transfer to a team where he can score regularly, supported by a good team who can help his style of play in general. And if Zamora and Defoe can get their acts together, there may still be hope...
Solskjær wrote:
> And as for Eriksson and time, he's had plenty of it, but what he
> isn't doing is giving players the time they both deserve and NEED, in
> order to find and reach their potential.
> Again, I must relate back to Alan Smith - a player who can be seen
> making all the headlines one minute, only to be shut-out from it all
> for over a year in place of Muppets like Heskey and Vassell; no
> matter what.
Yeah, I also think Alan Smith deserves a chance, but who's place will he take?
Vassell has yet to play the full 90 minutes for England, as he always comes on as sub, but still manages to be Englands joint 3rd leading goalscorer (same as Rooney) for England inside the last two years. The only people to have scored more are Owen and Beckham.
We also need to KEEP Heskey in the squad at all times. Yes he HAS BEEN a donkey, but that is all over with now. You don't see him getting knocked off the ball easily like two years ago.
He may not be scoring goals, but he seems to be in the build up play with most opf the goals in the matches he plays in. His movememnt is goo and he's not a selfish player.
Alan Smith might be able to take Heskey or Vassells place, but I can't see him getting ahead of the on from Rooney and Owen.
> And as for Eriksson and time, he's had plenty of it, but what he
> isn't doing is giving players the time they both deserve and NEED, in
> order to find and reach their potential.
> Again, I must relate back to Alan Smith - a player who can be seen
> making all the headlines one minute, only to be shut-out from it all
> for over a year in place of Muppets like Heskey and Vassell; no
> matter what.
Yeah, I also think Alan Smith deserves a chance, but who's place will he take?
Vassell has yet to play the full 90 minutes for England, as he always comes on as sub, but still manages to be Englands joint 3rd leading goalscorer (same as Rooney) for England inside the last two years. The only people to have scored more are Owen and Beckham.
We also need to KEEP Heskey in the squad at all times. Yes he HAS BEEN a donkey, but that is all over with now. You don't see him getting knocked off the ball easily like two years ago.
He may not be scoring goals, but he seems to be in the build up play with most opf the goals in the matches he plays in. His movememnt is goo and he's not a selfish player.
Alan Smith might be able to take Heskey or Vassells place, but I can't see him getting ahead of the on from Rooney and Owen.
I that think, with Jonthan Woodgate's move to Newcastle, the same kind of thing has happened to him as what would happen to striker Alan Smith, should he decide to one-day leave his struggling Leeds United for a "bigger and better" time at the top, with United, Arsénal or Liverpool.
In short: Woodgate shares none of that passion for Newcastle of which he once had at Elland Road. Newcastle aren't the boyhood team he always dreamt of playing for - they're just a stepping-stone towards guarrenteed success (...well, they were at the time when he signed for them!).
What does he really care if they win or lose? He still has a big place in his heart for Leeds - the club he's been through so-much with, already.
And as for Eriksson and time, he's had plenty of it, but what he isn't doing is giving players the time they both deserve and NEED, in order to find and reach their potential.
Again, I must relate back to Alan Smith - a player who can be seen making all the headlines one minute, only to be shut-out from it all for over a year in place of Muppets like Heskey and Vassell; no matter what.
God only knows how many defenders have earnt their first-Caps since he was appointed... Chris Powell, Matt Upson, John Terry, Glen Johnson, Jon Woodgate.... The list goes on!
And while it is good to see him willing to give "new blood" a chance, the fact is, he isn't doing that! They'll be in for one game, but then it'll be Paul Konchesky in his place the next, and Wes Brown playing there.
For some reason, he seems to think 45 minutes is enough, when all it's really gonna to is start to "break" the young players with such high-hopes, who soon come to realisation that they haven't been in "Sven's" plans for the past 12-months and aren't likely to be considered anytime-soon, either.
In short: Woodgate shares none of that passion for Newcastle of which he once had at Elland Road. Newcastle aren't the boyhood team he always dreamt of playing for - they're just a stepping-stone towards guarrenteed success (...well, they were at the time when he signed for them!).
What does he really care if they win or lose? He still has a big place in his heart for Leeds - the club he's been through so-much with, already.
And as for Eriksson and time, he's had plenty of it, but what he isn't doing is giving players the time they both deserve and NEED, in order to find and reach their potential.
Again, I must relate back to Alan Smith - a player who can be seen making all the headlines one minute, only to be shut-out from it all for over a year in place of Muppets like Heskey and Vassell; no matter what.
God only knows how many defenders have earnt their first-Caps since he was appointed... Chris Powell, Matt Upson, John Terry, Glen Johnson, Jon Woodgate.... The list goes on!
And while it is good to see him willing to give "new blood" a chance, the fact is, he isn't doing that! They'll be in for one game, but then it'll be Paul Konchesky in his place the next, and Wes Brown playing there.
For some reason, he seems to think 45 minutes is enough, when all it's really gonna to is start to "break" the young players with such high-hopes, who soon come to realisation that they haven't been in "Sven's" plans for the past 12-months and aren't likely to be considered anytime-soon, either.
Insane Bartender wrote:
> Foreman, 3 at the back is gay, and isn't that what Hoddle was using,
> and making Spurs play crap with?
>
> And you'd pick Woodgate over Ferdinand?
>
> HAHAHAHAHAHAA!
Ferdinand seems to have lost it. He looked quality at the World Cup and made me think he was going to be one of the best defenders England has seen in years.
Since then he performances have been below average, and when announced he failed to show up for a drugs test made me think he was guilty.
Hoddle didn't have the right players to play 3 at the back. The only defender good enough was Dean Richards. It would be better than the dodgy defence we play now, which makes you worried when the other team attacks.
> Foreman, 3 at the back is gay, and isn't that what Hoddle was using,
> and making Spurs play crap with?
>
> And you'd pick Woodgate over Ferdinand?
>
> HAHAHAHAHAHAA!
Ferdinand seems to have lost it. He looked quality at the World Cup and made me think he was going to be one of the best defenders England has seen in years.
Since then he performances have been below average, and when announced he failed to show up for a drugs test made me think he was guilty.
Hoddle didn't have the right players to play 3 at the back. The only defender good enough was Dean Richards. It would be better than the dodgy defence we play now, which makes you worried when the other team attacks.
Don or†ega wrote:
> Denmark were probably more pumped up for this game on a revenge
> mission after England dumped them out of the world cup.
True. Revenge is a dish best served cold.
> Denmark were probably more pumped up for this game on a revenge
> mission after England dumped them out of the world cup.
True. Revenge is a dish best served cold.
I think Woodgate has become quite average.
He was decent at Leeds but whilst at Newcastle and for England - he has rarely shown the qualities to suggest he qualifies for a place in the the England Back four and has been prone to errors at times.
I would go with the tried and tested Sol and Rio with Terry a more than capable replacement for either.
He was decent at Leeds but whilst at Newcastle and for England - he has rarely shown the qualities to suggest he qualifies for a place in the the England Back four and has been prone to errors at times.
I would go with the tried and tested Sol and Rio with Terry a more than capable replacement for either.
Denmark were probably more pumped up for this game on a revenge mission after England dumped them out of the world cup.
Foreman, 3 at the back is gay, and isn't that what Hoddle was using, and making Spurs play crap with?
And you'd pick Woodgate over Ferdinand?
HAHAHAHAHAHAA!
And you'd pick Woodgate over Ferdinand?
HAHAHAHAHAHAA!
It was a friendly, so people shouldn't have given a monkey's about the result. It would have been 3-3 if Rooney had been 2 feet further back when he decided to shoot (But unfortunately, the woodwork was there).
However, advice to Sven: Heskey is rubbish. Don't play him. He's probably a champion at the sport of falling on his backside.
However, advice to Sven: Heskey is rubbish. Don't play him. He's probably a champion at the sport of falling on his backside.
SUBS
Robinson
Ferdinand
Scholes
A. Smith
Heskey
Robinson
Ferdinand
Scholes
A. Smith
Heskey
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