ponsaelius

Pelanties apparently being a lottery. Really don't think they are, at all.

Cringeworthy comment that one. You can tell he realised after he said it anarl.

Still think the one in the 5-1 was the best. Side fucking netting. I watched the shootout against Partizan the other day, he's the only one who nailed his penno.

Spurs have spent more in recent years than they ever have.

The other thing I hate is apart from the lack of composure and technique in terms of keeping the ball, but the total lack of flair players we produce. The closest we have to flair players are some of the wide players but most are just predictable speed merchants. Massively disappointed with Young in this tournament, has looked absolutely abysmal at international level. There's tiny nations like Eastern European countries that manage to produce skillful, technical players. Even if they don't have the depth or quality we do they at least produce the odd footballer you'd PAY to watch. Our players are just so fucking dull man.

The class and intelligence in midfield really shone through for me, not just with Pirlo but the others too.

For me - if they're good enough they'll play. Look at Wilshere. What a fucking pisser btw that the one player we produce that seems made for international football ends up like he is at the moment.

There's so many foreigners in the league at the minute because the youngsters that are coming through aren't good enough, not the other way round. Untill there is a limit of 3 foreign players in a side (the EU has fucked that up anyway) this mire will continue. You really think that will benefit the league? It's not about the league is it? It's about Eng players getting more games and taking more responsability. However it's dressed up there aren't enough Eng players coming through to make a difference (never mind quality one's). The players making it into the teams and playing every week isn't going to help. They are still fundamentally not very good. Only changing the way they are coached and developed from the very start will help.

There's so many foreigners in the league at the minute because the youngsters that are coming through aren't good enough, not the other way round. Untill there is a limit of 3 foreign players in a side (the EU has fucked that up anyway) this mire will continue. Parky, is your thinking if that there is limitations then the clubs and FA will be forced to restructure at youth level? Because limiting the number of foreign players in the short term will just mean loads of rubbish players playing instead of ending up in the lower leagues like they would do.

Save this post for WC 2014 and beyond. I know it's doomsday stuff and comes out after every major tournament but it's largely true.

That is outstanding.

It does if young English players can't get near PL club youth schemes because they're full of foreign kids. Don't get me wrong, I'm no Little Englander, I understand why it is like this, I'm just saying you can't expect waves of talented English kids to come through if the best places for them to earn their trade are too busy poaching 15 year old French kids. Aye but I don't think the players are coming into the clubs at 14/15 at the right level, which encourages them to take the easy route. I'd love OCK's input on this since I know it's close to his heart.

Make the other players feel like worldbeaters?

I don't think the number of foreign players makes a heap of difference btw. The only thing it does is cover these players weaknesses every week and allow them to build up their reputations. If the players were being developed right they'd make it regardless of how many foreign players there are.

All of our players have attributes that make them effective in the confines of the rough and tumble, kick and rush Premier League but they all have glaring weaknesses and limitations as footballers, both technically and tactically. Parker looks good at club level doing the donkey work for a talent like Modric. Barry sits and does the basic stuff alongside a rolls royce of a player like Yaya Toure. Milner does the grafting that allows the likes of Silva and Aguero to shine. Even somebody like Gerrard has had his back covered consistently at club level. When he had his best season at Liverpool he was playing off the striker with freedom to get forward, while he was covered by two intelligent and disciplined FOREIGN players behind him in Alonso and Mascherano. They gave him the platform to perform and cover up his horrendous lack of positional and tactical awareness on the pitch. None of the players we produce are complete or well rounded. The wingers we produce are athletes with no skill or guile, the defenders are fundamentally good defenders but find themselves completely found out at international level when composure on the ball and distribution from the back is the order of the day. Terry's best club form came alongside Carvalho when he was at his very best, Lescott has Vincent Kompany alongside him who is arguably the best all round defender in Europe at the moment. You could go on all day long, all of them are good club performers but have glaring weaknesses which get shown up when they are put together into a team and asked to play a different style of football. It's excruciating and nothing will change until we tear it up and start again at a coaching level. No more focussing on physical strength and power, no more selecting players on size and athleticism, more coaching into the absolute basics from the young age - that's passing, ball retention, control, feeling comfotable with the fooking round thing at your feet! No more playing in straight lines either, players need to be playing in flexible formations from a young age so they can play all over the pitch. Their natural position will come to them at a later age. It's frustrating but it is clear as day. The players simply aren't good enough and won't be until something fundamentally changes at grass roots level.

Shame we can't be boring and keep the ball like Spain ey guyz.

It's no surprise the defenders did well really.

English players are technically poor and as much as people go on about composure/mental side of it you are ultimately striking the ball which is a skill that needs technique. I think it's a combination of bottling it and poor technique when taking them personally.

Italy had 36 shots tonight and 68% possession.

I can't remember him ever taking many. Missed one for Liverpool last season, nearly missed for us in the pre-season game against Depor. So he scored it? Aye spose, but he scuffed it and the keeper fluffed it.

That's harsh. Thought he tried what he could but the pens were too good. Didn't look like getting near any of them. They were good though spose.

I can't remember him ever taking many. Missed one for Liverpool last season, nearly missed for us in the pre-season game against Depor.

Hart was poor in the shootout btw