Yorkie

Charlton/Fulham weren't the Souness levels. Birmingham, aye, i'd give you that - and worse. And besides, Souness ALSO drew at home to Charlton and he ALSO lost at home to Fulham, 4-1.

I'd rather have Ameobi in the side than Sibierski, which is why i'd probably agree with Lloydie. I'm not Shola's biggest fan, but he'd be a big bonus to our squad considering the amount of games we're having to play. For the European campaign especially, he'd be a big bonus. Unfortunately, there's a good argument for someone who'd suggest that the team would score less goals if Shola was in of the team, in spite of how many goals he would be scoring. I like Shola, i think he's a decent player overall, with good technical ability and the brain of a predatory striker. I also think that he could have forged a good partnership with Martins. However, and i'm about to exacerbate one of Roeder's weaknesses here (so i'm not drifting that far off-topic), whenever Shola or Sibierski is in the team, the manager feels it necassary to pump long balls forward simply because there's a big man in the side. This is probably the best explanation for why we score less goals as a team with Ameobi in the side. It's cos we're shit at long ball and it doesn't work, not because Shola is this abysmal player. Ameobi's got good footwork once he's navigated his way around his first touch, so if we were to play the ball on the floor as we do with Dyer, there's no reason why Shola and Martins shouldn't have made a decent partnership. All goes back to Roeder's starting line-up problems and/or initial tactics at the start of a game. The Ventspils away game springs to mind instantly, even though there are other and probably better examples, Ameobi was a lone striker and he got no joy. He's not good at holding the ball up and he's not brilliant with his head. But he's got strength and he's a good finisher in the box, including when having his back to goal. He got absolutely no joy that game and we were hopeless from an attacking point of view. Finally though, Shola's missed his big chance at becoming the week-in week-out, main striker at this club, because he's got a season-long injury. Something else that is arguably not his fault, because he should have been operated on far earlier. And when he comes back, so will Owen, and another(s) striker will come in. But he definitely could have done it, with the correct tactician. The tactics were different under Bobby and Souness, yes, but he was only playing with Shearer then, which just didn't work.

Don't stress, i was just kidding. TECHNICALLY, and very very technically, and with perfect grammar, it's 'England was'. Only in sports language would you saw 'England were'. Which is why i put a comical '[/pedant]' at the end of my post. Wish i hadn't said anything.

were Grammatically, England was poor yesterday, is actually the correct version. 'England' is not a plural. To say, England were poor yesterday, you would have to say 'the England players'. [/pedant] England (national team) is plural. England (as a country) is singular. England were struggling to hit the ball off the square... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6287095.stm The disappointing thing was that England were absolutely cruising until Holland... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6152906.stm England were booed off at full-time... ....etc etc etc Put 'England was' into Word.

Aye, and the Sheffield United game was one match. Under Souness, it was match after match.

were Grammatically, England was poor yesterday, is actually the correct version. 'England' is not a plural. To say, England were poor yesterday, you would have to say 'the England players'. [/pedant]

Has anyone got a youtube clip of that? I still ain't seen it and can't seem to search effectively on the site...

Dances and prances and poncey little things like that on celebrations can be pulled off if it's quick and subtle. Like Martins against Spurs at home. God i love that guy.

Would be great! Although, it's supposed to be a home game for Milan, and if it takes place at St James' Park, it probably swings Celtic's way.

Youy fucking joking? NO ONE in the midfield had a clue what they were doing or where they were playing.

That won't get rid of McClaren. Wish Spain had scored a LOT more.

Steve McClaren - worse than Mike Bassett.

'Play' for Chelsea.

This is just awful.

This team has absolutely no formation, and no one has a clue where they are supposed to be. Something that appears to be the case with every single game since McClaren's become coach. There's simply EVERYTHING going on in midfield - everybody is everwhere. Not a clue. Lampard? Where the hell is he supposed to be? He's been crap but i can sympathise with him because, well, he simply has not been given a position. And if he has, its a stupid decision - a la Scholes in Euro 2004 - you're putting a centre-midfielder on the left wing. All this simply to accomodate Steven Gerrard, who is just as disappointing, regularly, in an England shirt. It's all about fitting those two in. McClaren has never played a game with two wingers, simply because one of Gerrard or Lampard has been out there. What the hell is Michael Carrick actually doing? What is he actually there for? Gerrard - erratic as usual. As is Shaun Wright-Phillips, whose international career is simply diminished unless he moves. Dyer's playing well though - but he's playing in midfield, rendering Crouch's role inferior. Crap game, crap set-up, crap manager.

Chelsea.

Absolutely no idea. Five midfielders on the pitch, including Dyer who is playing well but no way playing upfront, and only one of them is a winger.

Wey! Morientes never did it in England.

Phil Neville is left with the entire left hand side to deal with at the moment. Where is Lampard playing?

England started very well. Lamaprd/Gerrard erratic as usual though in the early stages.

Dyer number 9.

Is that dance/French music supposed to get the pulses racing or something?

I love the way the C5 commentators love Peter Ramage, they think he's a good player! Shattap.

It'll finish: 1. Henry's absolutely amazing goal cos it's Henry vs Blackburn 2. Rooney's "best goal ever in FA Cup history *wank*" vs Pompey 3. Pennant's decent chip against the faltering Champions Chelsea Nailed on.