ohmelads

To be honest though when I see kids playing these days in the park they're far more focused on technique and skill than they ever used to be, trying tricks all the time and getting egged on by their mates to 'do the elastico' or whatever. When I was younger it was a case of charging everyone down and fighting it out and I'm only 23, so I think the culture is changing here. I put it down to the foreign influence on the Premiership more than anything else, people idolise the likes of Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo these days rather than people like Ian Wright or Gary Lineker. I don't think English football is suffering, the youth coaching isn't aimed at dribbling skill but then English players generally haven't had the quick feet and agility of the Brazilians. It's natural for coaches to work on the strengths of a youngster, and if that's a deft touch and an eye for a pass they'll work on that rather than trying to get them to skin people all day. We're not an unsuccessful footballing nation, we're one of the only 7 countries ever to have lifted the world cup and everybody, English or otherwise, nearly always predicts us to make the last 8. We haven't made that extra step to the final too often because of a combination of luck, penalties, poor tactics or simply being beaten by a better team. Truth is we are a very good footballing nation who regularly make the last 8 in the world cup but there are better nations out there. This idea that we're rubbish because we can't get to the final is silly, we were knocked out of the quarters by a famous handball in 86 against an Argentina team with arguably the greatest player who ever lived, four years later we missed a place in the final on penalties. In 98 we lost on penalties to Argentina, in 2002 we lost 2-1 to the eventual winners Brazil and last year we were knocked out on penalties. We're one of the top ten sides in the world but there's better out there. If we're getting anything wrong it's the tactics/performances on the big occasion against those teams better than us. To cut a long story short I think there's way too much finger pointing goes on with regard to the England team. Football reflects culture, the Italians will always be organised and solid defensively, the Brazilians will always have their samba football and the English will always be a team of passion and width. The culture of our football is changing slightly but trying to get English kids playing samba football would be a disaster to be honest.

Owen 2-1, Troisi cross 6-yard box finish.

1-1 Ameobi, Dyer set it up with a through ball Ameobi beat the offside trap

Hartlepool lead. 4 mins into the second half

Good double save there from Carroll and then Barton with the follow up. Sounds like we're taking a bit of a hold of the game now.

Martins tries to chip the keeper, great save from the keeper, deflects it over the bar. Best chance of the game. 36 mins gone. "...to Andy Carroll, huge lad 6 foot 4 I think, bonny lad as well..." Is he ever gonna shut up about Carroll, sounds like he fancies him

Boro drew 1-1 with Hertha Berlin, Rochemback sent off.

This commentator is a joke. The game sounds absolutely dreadful mind, not just cos of the commentary but the fans have had very little to respond to.

It sounds like a robot.

Radio just saying Sunderland "could be close to the signings of Kewell and Gravesen".

It's an excellent article which raises some valid points but I can't help but think it's grossly dramatised for effect. If you look at the players who have come through in recent years there are some technically gifted and cultured footballers willing to try things out - Joe Cole, Rooney, Carrick. In many cases it's at an older age that these players are turned into more formulaic machines/robots, Rooney in particular doesn't take the risks he used to, nor does Joe Cole, it's all about possession football these days.

I don't think it's so much underestimating the MLS sides (though that's probably a factor) as it is going through the motions. Notice that when we played small teams from countries like Malaysia under Bobby Robson we still came away with draws/defeats. These teams often see this as a very big game, their only chance to play against the elite of football, and will obviously play with pride and run their socks off, while someone like Chelsea sees this as a practice game, to try things out, gain fitness and above all avoid injuries - it's essentially a pre-season kickabout for Chelsea. PS. Some pics would be cool

Beckham's still a bloody good player. But there's a good chance Chelsea will win, perhaps even batter them. Large sections of the media would instantly pick up on this, regardless of Beckham's performance. I don't think "Beckham makes debut as Galaxy crash 4-0" would be a nice way to start his career over there, he's there to make an impression on people and first impressions count for a hell of a lot when you're dealing with an audience many of whom may be sceptical about football.

Wasn't Robert basically loaned out for the final year of his contract by Souness?

Big Sam speaking to the Journal about Barzagli: “He’s a very good player but it’s whether that money could be spent better on someone with Premiership experience,” he said. “Barzagli’s a top player but a top player with Premiership experience is more important to us. “We’ve already got David (Rozehnal) in and if I put him in with someone else from another country, plus Steven Taylor and Stephen Carr, if he stays fit, there isn’t a lot of Premiership experience there. You could have difficulties in the early part of the season.” I don't think we'll have any option but to go shopping abroad at this rate. As people are saying there are very few options in the Prem which meet his criteria.

Juventus's young left back Chiellini is talking about leaving because he doesn't think he'll get enough games this season. He's 22, Liverpool have been linked by Sky Sports. Anyone know if he's any good?

It'll have to be someone like Barzagli then. He did say we'll look abroad if we can't find them in the Prem.

Sam's latest comments are basically a plea to the board via the media, for money and fast. “By the day now you can pick up the newspaper or put the TV on and somebody’s gone. Fulham have spent about £19m, Wigan have maybe gone past £10m, Tottenham are well into the twenties, Man United and Liverpool are well into the forties and everybody else is still spending as well. There is a lot of money getting spent and Newcastle United does not want to get left behind because this is a very good squad which needs strengthening." Not what any of us wanted to hear I'd imagine. Let's hope things get sorted out in good time or we'll be starting the season poorly prepared again.

Was wondering this myself when he was unveiled, not surprised he's getting out of it.

More comments from the interview, courtesy of The Journal. I notice he's now talking about three defenders instead of four. It does read like a thinly veiled "hurry up" to the new owners and it's interesting he's used the media to vent these comments. If someone on here said the things Sam is saying they'd be told to relax and that everything is in order. To hear it from Sam himself is a bit more disconcerting.

I agree. It may be measured criticism but it's pretty unambiguous - he's a bit frustrated about the way the new owners are handling things and has chosen to go out and tell the media. I'm generally pretty content with the way things are going, but like Allardyce says there is a need to act quickly because we're potentially trying to integrate 8 new signings into the squad/team and that's quite a tall order with the Bolton game 4 weeks away. The quicker we get them in the better prepared we'll be for the season ahead and that's clearly the source of Sam's frustration. The fact that Ramage would be lining up in our best first XI now shows there is a lot of work still to be done. I'm confident we'll get it sorted, but Allardyce's concerns are very valid. There are bound to be teething problems in the first few games of the season with players who barely know each other's names turning out for us.

Glad the Queudrue rumour has been dismissed, he'd do as a last resort but I think we can do better. Quite an honest interview that, it doesn't matter if it's mid July or mid-August, the targets are running out all the time and you do have to act quickly. A lot of players renew contracts at this time of year while many others move clubs, which is why I'm glad we got in there when we did in June. It's a case of keep up the good work, really. As he says, it's not about galacticos but we do need very good players - there is a difference!

Well Willie McKay seems to be the only thing to link these three clubs. The BBC's site is particularly vague in their reporting, makes it look as if the club is under investigation. That's journalism for you I suppose.

Looks like we won't be seeing Viduka for the Bolton game then. If Australia make it to the final we won't be seeing him for the first few games of the season I'd imagine, including the trip to Boro.

If Australia win are they definitely through? Or are they dependant on the other result going their way? Haven't bothered to look at the table.