Shak

Just reading back over some of the thread in game time... Mike seems to ignore the US goal completely.

Thought a draw was a fair result, all in all. Couldn't believe it when I saw England's starting lineup. There are so many reasons why playing that quartet of players in midfield was a shocking decision from Capello it's not even worth going into. Real cause for concern for you guys that Capello, who should be one of your best assets in this tournament, made such a hash of things tonight. Thought the Americans looked pretty decent in possession, played some tidy stuff at times and looked capable of creating a chance or two. They look awful at the back though, if they come across a really good attacking outfit at any point they could get absolutely stuffed. Was surprised they came out and basically played for a draw the second half, didn't think they'd hold on but they did so credit to them. Got to be some sort of 4-3-3 formation from here on in though, surely? Barry/Carrick, Gerrard and Lampard in midfield and then Heskey/Crouch leading the line with Rooney playing from the left and Lennon on the right to provide some width?

Off out and will probably not be back in time for the England-USA game. Bit gutted. Good luck folks.

What if I hadn't read this post? What would have been the point of it, other than to let any newcomers to the forum know you were American?

That's the perfect way to put it. Even when he was nervous during the anthem, I wanted to just hug the guy. It's called a crush, man. I've had goddamn crushes, this is some paternal shit. Incest is wrong. I can't even do this right now. I'm too fucking sick on the inside. Too nervous. Too scared. You win, man. You shameless fuck, what a cheap victory.

I expect your lot will give it a decent run Mike, probably lose 1-0 or something though. Group hug for the Argies, be class if Maradona went on a massive rant again.

No worries. I'm expecting Baba to be quite philosophical about the loss if it stays this way though.

He's the defensive midfielder for the team that has just won the Champions League, I don't think he's overrated at all. And even if he is, it's moot because he's still way better, and more effective than Veron. But Veron doesn't play defensive midfielder for Argentina. Macherano does, so it'd be his spot that Cambiasso would take surely? Obviously it's ridiculous he's not in the squad, mind. To me it looks like Mascherano and Veron are both DMs, with Veron sometimes getting forward, but I don't see what he does other than look past it. Looks to me like he's supposed to be the one who drops deep and takes it from the defense and dictates the play from deep. Not sure Cambiasso is suited to that role tbh, as has been said he doesn't do much from an attacking perspective.

I was all psyched about posting the Adebisi picture, fucking Mike the thieving cunt.

He's the defensive midfielder for the team that has just won the Champions League, I don't think he's overrated at all. And even if he is, it's moot because he's still way better, and more effective than Veron. But Veron doesn't play defensive midfielder for Argentina. Macherano does, so it'd be his spot that Cambiasso would take surely? Obviously it's ridiculous he's not in the squad, mind.

Got money on him to be top scorer, so I'll disagree there. Should have had a goal or two today, but then again he's one of those players.

Didn't think Veron was that bad like, certainly wasn't his greatest game but he was dropping deep and getting on the ball plenty. Couple of moments of nice quality too I thought. Still waiting for Di Maria to do anything at all that could be considered even the slightest bit useful on the other hand.

Same shitty promo video twice in the halftime coverage. Well done BBC.

JUSTICE!! For the 96!! JUSTICE!! For the 96!!

Real composure from Diaby there.

Anelka you twat.

Good effort. Think there'll be some goals in this.

It wasn't even subtle, man.

Bad miss.

It's more the lack of ability to play possession football, we don't have to play attacking football, but we will struggle to keep the ball against the likes of Argentina, Brazil, Spain or Holland. The plan against those teams will be to defend like fuck and play on the counter attack though, surely? If you get behind against a team like Spain then things could get ugly, I'd agree, but I think you'll be very hard to beat for anyone. You would think so, although we have looked shaky at the back recently. I don't even think we're the greatest at counter attacking either, we're not blessed with bags of pace barring Lennon and Rooney. We do have midfielders who have the knack of being popping up when you need them though. Aye, you're pretty much a typical Italian team really.

It's more the lack of ability to play possession football, we don't have to play attacking football, but we will struggle to keep the ball against the likes of Argentina, Brazil, Spain or Holland. The plan against those teams will be to defend like fuck and play on the counter attack though, surely? If you get behind against a team like Spain then things could get ugly, I'd agree, but I think you'll be very hard to beat for anyone.

I'm not sure why people are so down about England's chances. Is it because they don't play attractive football? They're basically set up like a good Italian side, and have one of the great managers of his time leading them. They'll be hard beaten, quite frankly.

Yeah, because if they played during the day they would possibly die due to the heat. In the winter. Their winter is nowt like our winter. Aye temperatures are soaring into the high teens during the day out there at the moment. Like playing in an oven, that.

To be fair to Stifler, he spelled all the words in his post correctly.

Just need the frog gobblers to nick it this evening now and I'm off to a nice start.