Parky

Too busy having a leisurely jog to the general area of the action. They've just looked tired all tournament. The old too many games cliche will no doubt raise its head again. Fergie said something last week along the lines that the Germans look fresh because of the winter break. Should deffo have the winter break, but clubs and Tv don't like it cause they make a lot of cash at Xmas holiday period.

He is.............just a rubbish one. And remarkably slow. I was saying to my mate at the start if we could really play against Germany without a proper DM, seeing as our MF has no engine either. This is why I was pushing for Carrick to start. I don't know how fit he was etc. But at least he can read a game defensively. He's not super quick but he's clever enough for that to not be a factor. Plus he has an inch perfect pass on him. Would have liked to see it. Wouldn't have cost us much trying in retrospect If there had been an Alonso or Mascherano out there playing for Eng it would have been a different game. What happens is with the influx of foreign talent, it curtails the development of even the good England players. Having Wenger at Arsenal all these years and how many players has he produced for Eng - Cole. He's been there 10 years or so. The other thing is there aren't enough Eng players who continue there tactical development by playing abroad. Platt, Gazza and Lineker were all better players for going abroad.

...is correct. It's partly due to being in dominating sides in the PL where the routinely roll over 70-80% of the competition and don't have to work or think really hard in most matches. The other thing is the hell for leather which comprises most of the PL games is terrible preperation for the posession and tempo play of international matches. In international games sides prepare positionally while moving the ball around before they break or go for goal, to most England players all this is still a mystery it seems... Nail on the head parky... you need pace play & quick thinking forward in international game. England CB is so slow none of them have pace & agility... they just big IMO. England midfield cant spread the passes quickly. Route one lump the ball to strikers seems only choice... no play on deck. And what the hell Rooney doing.. he is a striker.. why always on deep position but not trying to outrun opponent defender. Gerard defo not winger he should behind Rooney & push Rooney as main striker. Milner is not winger cause cant beat a man for s***. Crosses for Defoe (at Slovenia game) is just lucky cross anyway. Classic England... Why do we have so many foreign managers in England but still manage to play this way? pahs Because the Eng players aren't really IMO the THINKERS for their club sides. The club side usually has a foreign coached player as the tempo setter and pass giver. Chelsea - Deco, Ballack, Essien etc...Not Lampard. Lampard also has has the luxury of getting a lot more possesion when Chelsea play compared to Eng. Gerrard had Alonso who was the tempo setter and it's now Mascherano - a world class DM...etc

Too busy having a leisurely jog to the general area of the action. They've just looked tired all tournament. The old too many games cliche will no doubt raise its head again.

Forgetting there was 40 minutes before that goal where we were run ragged and could have conceded 4/5. Could but didn't. In some respects Jayson is right, 2-2 potentially changes the complexion of the game. He does, cause the Germans I was watching with went very quiet when that one went past the keeper. Infact they didn't even feel confident enough to start cheering and squeaking till the third went in.

...is correct. It's partly due to being in dominating sides in the PL where the routinely roll over 70-80% of the competition and don't have to work or think really hard in most matches. The other thing is the hell for leather which comprises most of the PL games is terrible preperation for the posession and tempo play of international matches. In international games sides prepare positionally while moving the ball around before they break or go for goal, to most England players all this is still a mystery it seems... Nail on the head parky... you need pace play & quick thinking forward in international game. England CB is so slow none of them have pace & agility... they just big IMO. England midfield cant spread the passes quickly. Route one lump the ball to strikers seems only choice... no play on deck. And what the hell Rooney doing.. he is a striker.. why always on deep position but not trying to outrun opponent defender. Gerard defo not winger he should behind Rooney & push Rooney as main striker. Milner is not winger cause cant beat a man for shit. Crosses for Defoe (at Slovenia game) is just lucky cross anyway. Classic England...

He is.............just a rubbish one. And remarkably slow. I was saying to my mate at the start if we could really play against Germany without a proper DM, seeing as our MF has no engine either.

Aye, the argument about England having more experience was irrelevant. These fuckers come out of the womb with experience. Their ability to pick out the right pass every time and be so clinical when it really counts is scary. It's coached into them and they don't mind (and can) hold the ball when things don't look right. But yeah they have an uncanny eye for seeing when things are on.

Thought Muller was their star player personally with Ozil a close second. Muller's off the ball movement was superb. He carved England open time after time down the right (albeit in the absence of an English left midfielder). Muller is rated the best of the new generation here. Think he's only 20. Anyway Germany have been preparing for a decade now on bringing through youth and have had great results in the U-17, U-19 and U-21, that is where this current crop of players is coming from. Bascically the technique and tactical coaching in Germany is now on a par with France and Italy and perhaps they are slightly ahead of those two in bringing through youth quickly. Eng look fucked for a decade now.

...is correct. It's partly due to being in dominating sides in the PL where the routinely roll over 70-80% of the competition and don't have to work or think really hard in most matches. The other thing is the hell for leather which comprises most of the PL games is terrible preperation for the posession and tempo play of international matches. In international games sides prepare positionally while moving the ball around before they break or go for goal, to most England players all this is still a mystery it seems...

See you all on the other side. Once more to the breach my friends!! Destiny awaits..........

Podolski has very good ball strike with the Jubulani. One to watch. Rooney is the only one I've seen strike it right a couple of times.

The attitute here has been unreal, nearly all the Germans I know just start first with a patronising smile and then go onto explain how they will win cause they are mentally stronger etc...Really looking forward to this. Most of the Germans I know are merely nervous, like I am. Yes mate, but this is Hamburg.

The ref is card happy btw and sent players off in 70% of his games!!11

The attitute here has been unreal, nearly all the Germans I know just start first with a patronising smile and then go onto explain how they will win cause they are mentally stronger etc...Really looking forward to this.

There has to be that breakthrough player I agree and not gay looking Donovan with his chubby arse cheeks bubbling away as he runs.

Yes, all of them. If not fat then really thin.

Irrelevant. Even in rich countries the best players grow up poor. Rich people are fat. ..and the fattest are americans. ps You think we'll see more of Appiah? Plenty of poor people in America and every other Western nations. The key s to get them in rich people's facilities when they are in their teens so they can polish their games. It's something we definitely don't do enough of in Africa. Let's not forget Ghana are going about it without Essien.

Point of fact, IMO the Japanese side has come on in leaps and bounds and seems to be developing much faster than the U.S. Not really sure of the reasons behind it.

The fact is the intricacies of football and all the effort that goes into draws and the beautiful subtelties of the game will always be lost on a mass american audience growing in the vacum otherwise known as American culture. It's basically a wasteland apart from NY and LA.

Irrelevant. Even in rich countries the best players grow up poor. Rich people are fat. ..and the fattest are americans. ps You think we'll see more of Appiah?

The fact is the intricacies of football and all the effort that goes into draws and the beautiful subtelties of the game will always be lost on a mass american audience growing in the vacum otherwise known as American culture. It's basically a wasteland apart from NY and LA.

Even with his plastic knee he calmed it all the fuck down.

ha ha