[Archived] England

[thenodrog]

Bloody awful performance up to now from all but Barry and the Boy Wonder (who is currently getting increasingly frustrated btw).

How many times are we going to have to see the one trick Lampard and hopelessly overrated Gerrard even playing.... never mind playing together? They are good club players but less than average international players.

Wes Brown would be the 3rd worse full back at BRFC ffs!

Walcott is powder puff.

And worse still we still have Beckham on the scene ffs!!!

Capello hard man? He's just another media puppet.

[Tom]

2-1 now lucky goal, I've only watched bits of it.

In honesty I have no interest in the England national team as I dislike most of the players but I'll enjoy the World cup obviously

[Amo]

Crouch is underrated at international level.

[Grabbi Graeme]

20 goals in 37 Internationals for Crouch

[Majiball]

Should try watching Scotland, we're doing well.

[adopted scouser]

Better second half Gord. Watching Walcott bounce off their defenders SWP was a revelation.

Funny looking bugger Crouchy but he scores goals.

[Ozz]

I normally don't give a feck, but Gerrard was absolutely garbage tonight. Lucky for him he's skipper now as that's the only way he gets in the team.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Bloody awful performance up to now from all but Barry and the Boy Wonder (who is currently getting increasingly frustrated btw).

How many times are we going to have to see the one trick Lampard and hopelessly overrated Gerrard even playing.... never mind playing together? They are good club players but less than average international players.

Wes Brown would be the 3rd worse full back at BRFC ffs!

Walcott is powder puff.

And worse still we still have Beckham on the scene ffs!!!

Capello hard man? He's just another media puppet.

Who would you play? Glen Johnson is injured at RB and both Lampard and Gerrard are clearly rubbish so give me a midfield and an alternative defence, and i guaruntee i will find a multitude of faults with both.

Media muppet? Its a FRIENDLY. How can fans overreact so much. Allardyce and now Capello.

[broadsword]

Had totlly forgotten that it was on.

[thenodrog]

Subs won the match once the has-beens and never will be's that I named earlier were hauled off.

After that we finished up looking a different team altogether. If I were England manager the team that finished would start next match with the players that I mentioned watching it on the tele at home.

[Grabbi Graeme]

First half wasn't good, their goal was down to a slip from Upson, we had chance's but failed to convert them, I thought the second half was much better, the substitutions were the key, Crouch must have certainly got his place on the plane to South Africa.

This was a test that Cappello wanted by choosing a African team he even insisted in a South American ref as England will get one in one of their group games, Cappello could have chosen a lesser African team but I suppose if you want a test you need to be playing the team who has won the last 3 ACN, some players missing through injury, but I think it will give Cappello a few thoughts on players form.

[thenodrog]

Who would you play? Glen Johnson is injured at RB and both Lampard and Gerrard are clearly rubbish so give me a midfield and an alternative defence, and i guaruntee i will find a multitude of faults with both.

Media muppet? Its a FRIENDLY. How can fans overreact so much. Allardyce and now Capello.

Barry is a definite now whilst Milner and Joe Cole are far better candidates for attacking midfield than Lampard and Gerrard. Lennon's a speed merchant for sure but he's injured so in his absence SWP and Bentley are miles in front of Walcott. Ashley Young too must be in front of Walcott.

If Cappello was not playing under sponsor influence Beckham would still be in Italy and the lessons we learned under SGE and Wally that Lampard and Gerrard are overated, don't play well together and are living in a media fuelled comfort zone.

After every major tournament that we spew we off-load the players who have been proved to be 'past it' but who were played out of a mix of loyalty and sponsorship money. Ramsey off loaded em before!

[jim mk2]

Bloody awful performance up to now from all but Barry and the Boy Wonder (who is currently getting increasingly frustrated btw).

How many times are we going to have to see the one trick Lampard and hopelessly overrated Gerrard even playing.... never mind playing together? They are good club players but less than average international players.

Wes Brown would be the 3rd worse full back at BRFC ffs!

Walcott is powder puff.

And worse still we still have Beckham on the scene ffs!!!

Capello hard man? He's just another media puppet.

Over-wrought, overexcited, overbearing and over the top.

Gordon needs to calm down methinks.

England still on course for World Cup glory under fab Fabio.

[Exiled_Rover]

Lampard and Gerrard can't play together. They play the same position (Gerrard plays it much better) and end up getting under each other's feet. Carrick game on and took control of the midfield with his passing freeing up Gerrard to play a more natural (and dangerous) game for him.

I don't know why Walcott started the game, he's done nothing all season. Wright-Phillips looked three times the player. Milner has got to be on the plane - I'd start him on the left in games we don't use a DM in (i.e. against the weaker teams).

[thenodrog]

Over-wrought, overexcited, overbearing and over the top.

Listen numpty. If you want to look a complete fool again then attempt to criticise the timing and accuracy of my post and not my perceived mood.... if you dare.

[Amo]

Capello doesn't practice what he preaches. If he did, there's no way Theo Walcott would earn a starting place over Young, SWP, Bentley etc.

I also believe Milner and Barry should be picked over Gerrard and Lampard. The latter two might have worked in the Qualifiers against average opposition, but they always fall short on the big stage.

[jim mk2]

Listen numpty. If you want to look a complete fool again then attempt to criticise the timing and accuracy of my post and not my perceived mood.... if you dare.

Um, it's you who made yourself look a fool with your original post.

As I said, overbearing and over-wrought.

Good performance by England. We have so many good players at present it reminds me of the late 1960s under Ramsey when England could put out three different teams and expect to beat anyone.

Roll on South Africa.

[Miker]

How did Leighton Baines do? I was disappointed to see that Warnock didn't start or play at all, I think he deserves to be on the plane to SA. I've always considered him one of the best tacklers in the league, his crunching slide tackles were awesome to watch.

[Seggie]

How did Leighton Baines do? I was disappointed to see that Warnock didn't start or play at all, I think he deserves to be on the plane to SA. I've always considered him one of the best tacklers in the league, his crunching slide tackles were awesome to watch.

Personally I felt Baines did ok. He was in a position were eyes would be on him considering the issues other England left backs have been having the last few weeks.

[tcj_jones]

What I don't get is Walcott starting. He's done next to nothing over the last two years, whereas Young and Milner have both been consistently excellent and Beckham and SWP have been playing regularly for top clubs. Even Bentley would be a better option that Walcott. I find it unbelievable that he's starting.

I'll also guarantee you a high profile mistake in the World Cup if Green starts in goal. Why was James on the bench?

With Crouch's international record and considering the fact that Capello seems to like a big man up top, I'd be tempted to play him alongside Rooney.

I don't know what I'd do with the midfield, but I like the idea of having Carrick play deep with one of Lampard or Gerrard in front of him.

[joey_big_nose]

Crouch has to start I think. ANother brilliant performance - a man who comes alive on the international stage.

Also - interesting position Gerrard and Lampard are in, both have not really performed for England in ages and Carrick looks like he will sit in with Barry much better than those two. Creates a massive predicament.

It is easily possible to argue that Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney are all playing for one spot behind the main striker. All of them if they play there are world class, but if moved elsewhere are diminished to above average. It is hard to argue that Gerrard wide left is any (if at all)better than Milner or Young or (certainly) Joe Cole. And Carrcik made a much better fist of the deeper role than Lampard today....

On form this suggests Gerrard and Lampard could be dropped as Rooney is performing much better atm. It woul be a bold decision, but looks more likely after tonight, and it is hard to dispute the logic.

[roversfan99]

Id probably go for:

Hart

Johnson Terry Ferdinand Cole

Milner Gerrard Carrick Ash Young

Rooney Crouch

And take: Robinson, Kirkland, C Cole, Defoe, Beckham, Lennon, Barry, Lampard, Lescott, G Cahill/Dawson, Warnock, Downing/Adam Johnson(unless Capello insists on taking another RB sub, but id personally count Milner as cover)

[roversnick]

I can't believe green started in goal he wouldn't even be in my top 3 picks nevermind 1st choice, why not give joe hart the chance he deserves before SA is upon us and it's too late

[Hughesy]

Who would you play? Glen Johnson is injured at RB and both Lampard and Gerrard are clearly rubbish so give me a midfield and an alternative defence, and i guaruntee i will find a multitude of faults with both. Media muppet?

RB Options far better than Brown - Neville, Richards, Milner..

Capello doesn't practice what he preaches. If he did, there's no way Theo Walcott would earn a starting place over Young, SWP, Bentley etc.

True & it annoys me.

1. James in the sqaud but Robbo not, yet James hasnt been playing
   
2. Walcott starting ahead of SWP & Milner & Young
   
3. 2nd top English scorer - Bent, doesnt get a look in!
   
4. Upson who has been average at best and playing for a relegation club - yet starts
   
5. Joe Cole in the squad yet again he hasnt been playing
   

[tcj_jones]

What I find truly baffling is that Downing was in the squad over Young! If there's one Villa player that has to be a dead cert for the squad, then it's Young!

Also, I'd much rather have Brown over Neville, Richards, and Milner, and maybe even Johnson (when he's fit).

It's such a shame, because we have a squad with incredible depth, yet the likes of Green and Walcott are being played and Gerrard and Lampard are perservered with together year after year, despite not really working together.