Segun Oluwaniyi Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 France were absolutely terrible. They looked like a team that has failed to win a match in a major tournament for six years. Why did Blanc not change anything for 80 minutes? Why is Malouda anywhere near a team that is gifted with several athletic wide players. Do not forget that his form was so poor in the season that Chelsea preferred to start a leftback with no continental experience to playing Malouda in the final. I also question why Giroud could not get on the pitch. The numerous crosses did nothing unless Alou Diarra happened to be in the box. England aren't bad, but they are not a good side, either. They have to hope they can survive against Sweden, because Rooney is the central point of the team. Couldn't agree more. Thought France were awful. Not being talked about much in the media either. Honestly not sure they will get out of the group if Blanc persists with this team through the remaining games. As you say it is astonishing that the likes of Menez and Ben Arfa are on the bench and Malouda starts. Can't imagine what the hell Blanc is thinking. I think they will make it through because of the sheer amount of quality they have in the team, but they had similar issues in 2008 and 2010 that proved fatal. The defence is an issue as well, imo. I have no faith in Mexes or Evra. Alou Diarra was rather poor all season as well. Quite a weapon in the air, but he is not what he was some years ago. Btw, Kaka, what do you make of this madness Keshi is pulling? It clearly isn't working I am happy for some players based in Nigeria to get some much needed exposure and experience, but I really would prefer we didn't try this in actual World Cup Qualifiers. I hope he brings the real players back sooner than later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BooBoo Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Malouda ahead of HBA is crazier than Obertan ahead of HBA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicago_shearer Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Hope Parker's achilles holds up for 3+ games. Not that he was sensational today, but we lost our shape when he went off and we'll be fucked if Henderson is forced to play that role. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 France were absolutely terrible. They looked like a team that has failed to win a match in a major tournament for six years. Why did Blanc not change anything for 80 minutes? Why is Malouda anywhere near a team that is gifted with several athletic wide players. Do not forget that his form was so poor in the season that Chelsea preferred to start a leftback with no continental experience to playing Malouda in the final. I also question why Giroud could not get on the pitch. The numerous crosses did nothing unless Alou Diarra happened to be in the box. England aren't bad, but they are not a good side, either. They have to hope they can survive against Sweden, because Rooney is the central point of the team. Couldn't agree more. Thought France were awful. Not being talked about much in the media either. Honestly not sure they will get out of the group if Blanc persists with this team through the remaining games. As you say it is astonishing that the likes of Menez and Ben Arfa are on the bench and Malouda starts. Can't imagine what the hell Blanc is thinking. I think they will make it through because of the sheer amount of quality they have in the team, but they had similar issues in 2008 and 2010 that proved fatal. The defence is an issue as well, imo. I have no faith in Mexes or Evra. Alou Diarra was rather poor all season as well. Quite a weapon in the air, but he is not what he was some years ago. Btw, Kaka, what do you make of this madness Keshi is pulling? It clearly isn't working I am happy for some players based in Nigeria to get some much needed exposure and experience, but I really would prefer we didn't try this in actual World Cup Qualifiers. I hope he brings the real players back sooner than later. Nigeria are so depressing right now ... Once the majority of our players started getting more success in Europe early on it was all over. Bigmanship has taken over, and they all can't really be that bothered to give their all. Ringleader being Yakubu. So no surprise Keshi is trying to use the local boys in order to get some hunger and desire out there. He just has to get the balance right, and select more of the experienced guys that really want to be there, like Victor Moses. Sad state of affairs really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 The answer for bigmanism is to actually take control of the team, properly discipline it, and institute a true team ethic. Look at a team like Zambia that has actually built a team instead of discarding players. This is a symptom of the chaos, disorganisation, and corruption of the people around our football. The answer to bigmanism is not to get rid of all the "big" players because you need talent to win. The shame of it for me is that we were actually playing good, entertaining football under Siasia and were building something positive. Instead of building on this and supporting a decent manager, we've promoted more chaos and eliminated all the players, replacing with locals who are not likely to materialise into anything. Brilliant. More change and more failure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Despite what I've said about Jones, I'd rather play him in Parkers position than Horrendouson. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Very surprised at how poor Evra looked last night. Really appears to be on the decline, unfortunately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Thought it was a drab affair, neither team looked that arsed and ran out of ideas after an hour, not that there were that many ideas in the first place. England were a bit like Chelsea with everyone behind the ball, rarely threatened, but we were well organised and defended well. France seemed keen on trying to walk it into the box, then when they did eventually get it wide, nobody made a run to get into the area!? Said in another thread, barely seen Giroud, but surprised he didn't get on. Also found it strange that they waited until the 80th-85th minute to make a change If both go through, neither team would fare well against Spain or Italy. Think we look really lacking in the creativity department and against better teams I can see us getting soundly beaten. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 I thought France were lackluster, kind of as expected. Good players but they never seem fully up for international games. Benzema roamed too much and they were always going to struggle to find intricate little passes through the England defence. Sadly football doesn't always reward the best passer, sometimes you need to find another way to goal. Like other people have said they needed to change it earlier, but maybe there was an element of them being happy with a draw as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpolic Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 There were no split loyalties for me yesterday btw, as much as I love Cabaye and HBA you support the country you're from at the end of the day. Helped that we put in a canny performance that was about as good as could be expected in the circumstances. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Didn't cheer either goals tbh, wanted to enjoy it as a football match but it was one of the worst games of the tournament so far imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Swedish journalist regarding the game yesterday: "It seems like a bit of a waste to go to Ukraine to watch Stoke - Sunderland" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Keys & Gray are speaking with the leader of the England Band, to ask why they were (thankfully) kicked out last night. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Swedish journalist regarding the game yesterday: "It seems like a bit of a waste to go to Ukraine to watch Stoke - Sunderland" Heh, was more Chelsea-Arsenal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil K Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Personally, watching Holland and Germany, I'd say France would beat either. Spain look the best side so far, just laden down with the arrogant assumption they're going to walk this tourney. I don't think they will. Russia look capable, but they'll get a tougher test later. England are just muddling by OK with about the weakest squad we've ever put out. But good that we've got a tactically respectable coach at the helm, and a few decent kids Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 If I were to rank the teams in terms of likelihood of winning the tournament after the first round of games it would be: Spain-Germany Italy Holland-France Russia-England-Portugal Denmark Greece-Croatia Poland-Czech Rep Ireland-Ukraine-Sweden Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil K Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Portugal are falling away faster than our annual cup hopes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Keys & Gray are speaking with the leader of the England Band, to ask why they were (thankfully) kicked out last night. Don't think they were kicked out, they had their instruments confiscated on entry. Blessing IMO, they annoy the fook out of me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Keys & Gray are speaking with the leader of the England Band, to ask why they were (thankfully) kicked out last night. Security wouldnt let them in. Should get an honorary knighthood tbh. But we're getting running updates on his negotiations with UEFA. Hopefully they hold firm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenBartonCentrePartin Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 http://open.spotify.com/album/5wJ89V9aWgIpVSXIofK3ue Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpolic Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Keys & Gray are speaking with the leader of the England Band, to ask why they were (thankfully) kicked out last night. Security wouldnt let them in. Should get an honorary knighthood tbh. But we're getting running updates on his negotiations with UEFA. Hopefully they hold firm. I'm listening as well, the FA usually pull the strings to get this bloody band into grounds? FFS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Snrub Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 What fucking jerk off wants to play a trumpet at a football match? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Keys & Gray are speaking with the leader of the England Band, to ask why they were (thankfully) kicked out last night. Security wouldnt let them in. Should get an honorary knighthood tbh. But we're getting running updates on his negotiations with UEFA. Hopefully they hold firm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Keys & Gray are speaking with the leader of the England Band, to ask why they were (thankfully) kicked out last night. Security wouldnt let them in. Should get an honorary knighthood tbh. But we're getting running updates on his negotiations with UEFA. Hopefully they hold firm. Thought it was strange I didn't hear them last night. They really are a fucking embarassment. Bet the FA pay for their travel expenses and tickets an'all. Why on earth they think that incessant drone of the great escape is good for the supporters and the team is beyond comprehension. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrenchWilliam Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 You'd be fucking gutted if you turned up for the match and you were sat anywhere within a radius of about 50 seats of them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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