08-09-2005 18:21									#211
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well stuart pearce wouldn't be my first choice either, but then again, how much experience does jurgen klinsmann have? being an international manager isn't the same as being a club manager.

and you're right about being stuck with sven, the FA won't sack him and it's not as if he's going to walk away from his fat contract. which is a crying shame, because we have such a good group of players at the moment, and won't win a damn thing with them if eriksson stays in charge

	08-09-2005 18:25									#212
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Marco van Basten didn't have much experience either (couple of seasons with the Ajax youth), and he's still undefeated with the Dutch national side (10 wins and four draws).

	08-09-2005 18:29									#213
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There was a good piece in the Daily Star by that 'Wooly' bloke (who I normally disagree with out of principle) saying that it will be a crying shame if this lot of players fails to make an impact at the World Cup because of bad management.

	08-09-2005 18:32									#214
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quote: Originally posted by Zopperoni Marco van Basten didn't have much experience either (couple of seasons with the Ajax youth), and he's still undefeated with the Dutch national side (10 wins and four draws).

That settles it! Alan Shearer for England manager!

	08-09-2005 18:56									#215
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We'll see how good he is when they play a decent side in a competative match, until then the jury is still out...

	08-09-2005 19:06									#216
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I watched the Republic of Ireland lose 0-1 to France. You think England have problems? France were awful. Apart from one free kick by Zidane saved by Given and Henry's goal (excellent strike) they never looked like scoring. Their defence was shaky and they didn't seem to have any real ideas.

The Republic didn't play that well either. Roy Keane had a good game but Robbie Keane and Clinton Morrison haven't had enough first team football and it showed.

The French coach will probably keep his job a bit longer but they may yet fail to qualify and even if they do then on this form a team that can pressure them and score will take France apart next summer.

	08-09-2005 19:26									#217
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France still have the best defensive record in the Euro-qual groups, alongside Serbia & Montenegro.

	08-09-2005 19:42									#218
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France will probably get their asses in gear for the World Cup though. They'll qualify and then they'll really start to play. England, however, may still have Sven and that leaves them at a disadvantage .

	08-09-2005 21:58									#219
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Northern Ireland

England

Ian Wright

Congrats to Scotland as well, an excellent couple of results for them.

	08-09-2005 22:08									#220
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quote: "What we needed was Churchill. What we got was Ian Duncan-Smith"

Well done to NI, and Sven needs to be shot.

And to Sam Allardyce

	08-09-2005 23:50									#221
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well done Poland still i wonder if the bitter welsh/english thing made the result predictable? or maybe wales just havew a bad footie team

and well done NI its good to put the prima-doners in their place sometimes(speaking of some of the english superstars).

i didn't see the england match, but from what i've read it was the players that mostly let england down - so calling for sven to go is a bit harsh no?

	09-09-2005 00:25									#222
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Yes, but when you play the best players out of position, and then the players play badly, it is fairer to blame Sven (more) than the players, although I agree the players ought to be blamed as well.

	09-09-2005 00:39									#223
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true - still i can see you have to experiment sometimes, and when were talking about great players(which they all are), well i dunno i would just expect more from them? It sounded like a very disapointing match to watch - maybe NI had the right spoiling tactics? Its just after the freindly loss against denmark and now NI, i wonder if the players(that should be) are really giving it 100%? Maybe try a few different players from the norm to keep people on their toes more ref their place in the team?
I feel the same about Wales half the time - lots of talent, but sometimes the performances dont add up to certain players price tags and reputations. Its a funny old game

Last edited by child of Thor on 09-09-2005 at 03:08

	09-09-2005 00:52									#224
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Just switch back to 4-4-2, and dump Beckham from the squad for a couple of games. Promote SWP to the Right Wing, and go back to Joe Cole on the Left (not perfect, but it works). Rooney and Owen up front. Same old system, new improved players, ready for the meat grinder.

Plan B could always be to put a holding midfield player on instead of the J. Cole or SWP, 4-1-3-2

	09-09-2005 01:05									#225
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As long as Sven's managing, Beckham will never be dumped from the first team. I think he'd rather play SWP and Beckham (and no Gerrard), rather than Gerrard and SWP (and no Beckham)

	09-09-2005 01:22									#226
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Beckham and Sven seem to have this mutual fan-club going. There is a subtext swirling around that Becks is behind the 4-5-1, because it suits himself.

4-4-2, as Krill described.

	09-09-2005 01:23									#227
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- though I worry about Joe Cole. Too many stepovers, not enough product.

	09-09-2005 01:26									#228
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And that is (one of the reasons) why England will not have a chance to win the WC.

Beckham is great at one thing, and one thing alone.

Crossing from the right field.

And he doesn't want to do that.

So either Sven is blind and thinks that Beckham can play a central midfield role, which he blatantly can't, compared to Gerrard and Lampard, or Sven is supremely overestimating Beckhams abilty as Captain. And as he is doing that, he is showing his inabilty to be a good manager.

So if Beckham does not go, Sven has to go too so that Beckham can be shoved out as well.


It would cost alot, but £4,000,000 is not a a bad price for a good shot at the World Cup.

	09-09-2005 01:29									#229
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CH, Compare the product J.Cole gives, in addition to the improved midfield to that given by the the team yesterday.

We don't have a lot to lose, to be frank.

	09-09-2005 01:41									#230
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It's more than £4M, I thought. £5M a year for another few years yet to buy him out.

	09-09-2005 01:48									#231
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Really? I had no idea that it was that much more.

Who the hell does the negoitiations for the FA? Biggest bunch of W*nkers I have ever heard of...

	09-09-2005 03:08									#232
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quote: Originally posted by Cort Haus That formation sucks. Bring back 4-4-2.

You are playing Northern-Ireland and you want to play 4-4-2?? I didn't see the game so I don't know what they played but I would go for 3-4-3 with a forward playing midfielder. It's not like you were playing Italy or Argentina. Or Holland

	09-09-2005 03:16									#233
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It shouldn't matter what formation England played against NI, we should still beat them.

	09-09-2005 03:17									#234
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from the bbc site:

Said Toshack after the 1-0 defeat: "The England game on Saturday took a lot out of my players physically and mentally.

"Then to have to come to Poland and play the best team in the group on such a difficult occasion was a bit too much for some of my lads."

stiring up the anglo-welsh love

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foo...als/4224594.stm

Well its good to see the very muted tones coming fom the other england players - i think they all must know its not good enough.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foo...als/4226190.stm

	09-09-2005 03:21									#235
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Its bad enough playing people out of position, but none of the players thought about what they were doing, they just played it any way forward, no matter who the players were, the only thoughtful passing was long to SWP feet, but a decent defence wouldve learnt and dealt with that quickly.

England seemed obsessed with high crosses even when all they had as a target was Owen/Defoe and Rooney, its insane.

Seems to be real experience and football intelligence lacking all over.

There was one moment when Gerrard took a throw-in and someone immediately tapped it back to him (could be A. Cole or Young) in a clearly offside position and Gerrard just shook his head in disgust, and so did i.

	09-09-2005 03:22									#236
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Toshacks full of sh1t (and Welsh) need I say more?

	09-09-2005 03:26									#237
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quote: Originally posted by Maquiladora England seemed obsessed with high crosses even when all they had as a target was Owen/Defoe and Rooney, its insane. Seems to be real experience and football intelligence lacking all over.

Sounds like the England we all know and learned to love

	09-09-2005 03:27									#238
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@reds4ever

well Poland are top of the group.....

But yeah i dont think he is much loved in wales either, which is pretty bad(like as bad as it gets) for a welshman.

	09-09-2005 03:31									#239
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Toshack is very bitter man, just ask him about Robbie Savage (hes a dickhead too).

quote: Originally posted by Hueij Sounds like the England we all know and learned to love

Well, there used to be intelligent England players around that would speak up when things werent right, now its all "sticking together" bollox.

	09-09-2005 18:47									#240
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I just love this story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foo...ted/4229092.stm

quote: Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has told manager Graeme Souness that he expects him to deliver a top-six finish in the Premiership this season. Newcastle are 19th in the table with one point from four games, and they have yet to score a goal. When asked about his target, Shepherd told BBC Five Live: "Top six. "We've spent £50m since January. We couldn't back the manager any more. Graeme has got his own team now - 10 men in and 10 men out."

Yet just last Sunday Fat Freddie was reported in another BBC story.

quote: Shepherd sees the arrival of Owen as the final piece of the transfer jigsaw for Newcastle, but maintained there was no extra pressure on boss manager Graeme Souness to deliver results.

I wonder what odds the bookies are giving on Souness being gone by Christmas?