Football Focus

[Loz]

ianr Wrote:

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> Is there _any_ word for which you can't find a salacious, possibly spurious, entry in Urban

> Dictionary? Even Loz and Lozenge. Nul points and own goal.

I'm always up for a challenge.

Gooooooooooooooooooaaaalll!

[Atticus]

BR wrote 'Cheers for that- we can now stand proud and say to ManUre, Chelski, Liverpool and Arsenal- see we can copy you and buy silverware too ! '

Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.

Chelsea is the only team out of that lot you should be comparing your-self to.

What utter bullshit

[RosieH]

AlexC Wrote:

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> I'm a single guy who's 30, but as this gathering

> seems to involve ladies in their 30s and 40s, it's

> sounding too much like cougar town for me :))

>

> I'll gatecrash the under 30's event...>:D<

Ahh, cradle snatcher.

[Undisputedtruth]

I hear what you're saying DJ and it's what I've been hearing for the past 25 years. But England have always been crying out for ball playing centre halves for decades and over the last ten years there have been a shortage of naturally left footed midfielders. So over the horizon I can see Bartley and Rodwell as centre halves who are comfortable on the ball and in distribution. Also Mceachran (17) and Wilshire (19) are both naturally left footed players and have played well in Champions League games already.

It must be remembered that Spain were underachievers for the amount of talented players they had. And it's only recently that they began to win trophies. Germany had been in the doldrums since 2000 and were not expected to get far in World Cup 2010. However, no one accounted for the number of youngsters promoted from the U21 team and they became stars overnight.

I see England playing possession football once Mceachran & Wilshire are first choice midfielders with two footballing centre halves behind them.

[DJKillaQueen]

I genuinely hope you are right about these youngsters and the impact they'll have on the England team. We'll have to wait and see. Can't really cite Germany as a comparison though. They have consistently done well in international tournaments and it's a record of achievement that England could only ever dream of. And yes Spain were the perpetual underachievers, but they do have the right coaching system and NINE of the players in that first team in the last world club play for Barcelona, week in and week out. What team at the top of the permiership can boast anything like nine English players playing first team football? That Spanish team could be at the top for the next eight years. We can forget winning anything until we can match them.

[Bluerevolution]

@Atticus-hook, line, sinker and copy of the Angling Times !

Bloody rags out did us yet again, Laddy Muck if you think I will EVER get you theatre tickets again, think again sweetie.

[Laddy Muck]

It must be like a recurring bad dream BR. United trumping City AGAIN! United at the top of the League AGAIN! United scuppering City's hopes AGAIN!

TIME TO WAKE UP THOUGH...COZ IT AINT NO DREAM...HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA.......

*sings*

Heaven,

I'm in Heaven,

la la la la la la la la...

*chuckles*

[Laddy Muck]

Bluerevolution Wrote:

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> Laddy Muck if you think I will EVER get you theatre tickets

> again, think again sweetie.

Seriously (for one second only), thanks very much (from me and Mister-Muck) for those tickets: fabulous seats. Once over the initial shock of being seated next to a flippin Blue and a bloomin Gooner, twas a wonderful evening with said Blue and Missus-BlueR.

Come on Napoli...and Fulham!

[Undisputedtruth]

@DJKQ,

I think the success of Barcelona is down to their players' work ethics and style of playing football. I very much doubt Iniesta and Xavi would be as effective if they played for different teams. I remember my coach telling me you're only as good as your weakest link.

When I first saw Wilshire 2.5 years ago I thought he was one for the future but the speed of his progression had startled me. I think Mceachran is an even better player so let's hope he'll be in the England set up within the next 18 months.

[DJKillaQueen]

Playing style and work ethic are a major thing. But their playing style (possession footy) depends entirely on their ability to keep the ball and that is down to individual talent and skill. That Spain has produced so many world class players is entirely down to their cosching system.

I think it's too early to tell regarding Mceachran. Mceachran has only had one premiership start in the past three years which illustrates my point really (and Capello won't pick him with so little first team experience). He should be playing first team football every week but is struggling to get a look in amongst the megastars at Chelsea and his request to be sent out on loan this season has been turned down. Wilshere of course massively benefitted from a season on loan to Bolton.

[Alan Medic]

We were decimated. Let's not make excuses. It could have been 12.

"Fair play to Morecambe. I thought they played exceptionally well. They're going to be up there.

"If you've got a young centre-back who can't defend, you're going to leak goals. But it's not about naming individuals. We were all a part of that.

"It was not acceptable."

Thanks guv. A young centre half who can't defend. Why is he playing there, Crawley manager? You may as well have named an individual. How did this guy ever get a job as a 'manager'?

[Undisputedtruth]

DJKillaQueen Wrote:

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> But their playing style (possession footy) depends

> entirely on their ability to keep the ball and

> that is down to individual talent and skill.

Mceachran has that and plenty more in his locker. That's what makes him such an exciting talent.

> I think it's too early to tell regarding

> Mceachran. Mceachran has only had one premiership

> start in the past three years which illustrates my

> point really (and Capello won't pick him with so

> little first team experience).

Not for me and it's a matter of when not if. Mceachran has played an handful of games. Making his historic Chelsea debut at the age of 17 by becoming the first player to be born and play in the Champions League era. He also made his league cup debut against Newcastle at a time when Chelsea was losing 3-1 and down to 10 men. Mceachran shined throughout his appearance in the centre of midfield. Chelsea fought back to 3-3 and was chasing for a win before losing the game in the final stages.

Edited: typo error in more

[red devil]

Are you his fooking agent?! :)

[Undisputedtruth]

I'm more of goal keeping agent, RD!!! Man U definitely needs a good keeper don't you think?

[DJKillaQueen]

If he's that good why isn't he at the heart of the Chelsea Midfield week in week out? Until his skills are tested at the highest level, then it's wise to reserve judgement perhaps (although his chance will come one he does start playing first team footy).

Adult football is an entirely different kettle of fish to junior football as you know, and many players that shine in the U21's fail to make an impact later on, because the overall standard is that much higher. Don't get me wrong, it would be great for England to have a great midfielder again (we haven't really had one of those since Gascoigne perhaps) but who will be the 10 great players around him to make it count?

[Undisputedtruth]

I think Anceloti's job was at risk so it's hardly surprising youngsters like Mceachran and Sturridge were not featured in the team.

I think we'll see more of Josh this season since Chelsea have refused his loan to another club.

I've no idea what the press thinks of him but have you seen him play yet, DJKQ?

[red devil]

I think we've already got one UDT, like all goalies he'll make mistakes, only his will be amplified by the press.

Fergie has always said all young players, whatever their position, are prone to inconsistency, and he'll be given time.

I was more worried whether he would settle in to Mcr life and the climate, especially not speaking da lingo, but apparently he's loving it, attending English lessons, and there's a few Spanish speakers in the squad to help him along until he's more fluent. A lot has been made of his relatively slight build for a goalie, but you have to remember Edwin VDS was an identical build. I genuinely think he'll be a great goalie for us.

[DJKillaQueen]

No I haven't seen him play yet (because he hardly plays) but his girlfriend is trying to do a twitcam on twitter as we speak lol....

[Undisputedtruth]

@R-D , I see Fergie has already calling for protection for his keeper.

@DJKQ, I don't really watch Coronation Street but you should really need to watch Mceachran play before commenting. I know good players when I see one through their physique, first touches, composure on the ball and decision making.

[DJKillaQueen]

I look forward to seeing him play but whether he's a good player or a great player, it won't matter unless we find 10 other world class platyers to join him....and that is the problem really.

[red devil]

Classic Fergie mind games UDT...sow a seed of doubt in the referees' mindset.

If he was genuinely worried about de Gea getting bullied by the more 'robust' teams, he wouldn't have played him against Bolton.

[Undisputedtruth]

@DJKQ - England have great players. The problems really are lack of self-belief, playing style and the team's balance.

@RD - Well at least Fergie can rely on goal cushions to counteract his goalie's mistakes.

[DJKillaQueen]

Who are the world class players in the England outfit apart from Rooney/ Gerard and Ashley Cole perhaps? Name me just 6 players that Real Madrid or Man Utd even would vie to buy.

And I don't buy the lack of self belief nonsense. They all think they are great players and can win trophies....they do so at their clubs.

Gerard and Lampard have NEVER been effective in a team together and sucessive recent managers have found themselves having to play players out of position (that's the balance problem) - because they don't have the depth of players to fill the positions. When you see teams like france, italy, spain - they don't just have internationally known names on the pitch...they have a subs bench full of them too.

England can't play through the best and creative midfields and often resort to the long ball because they can't keep possession and there aren't actually that many football brains on the pitch. It's been a long time since we've had the likes of Sherringham and Adams and Scholes, players that were able to read the game as well as playing it. But it sounds as though your lad Mceachren might offer some hope in that respect.

[Undisputedtruth]

Both Lampard and Gerrard lack discipline to play in the centre of midfield together. Personally I would opt for a 4:5:1 with a holding midfielder just behind Lamps & Gerrard. Then give Lamps and Gerrard the freedom to attack and score goals. Also England needs to play with more tempo because that's what the English game is all about. For some unknown reason they won't play it in international football.

I think you're a bit harsh on the England players and I can't believe you've missed out Rio Ferdinand, local boy, from the list of world class players. I also like players who can read the game and I hear Phil Jones is a defender who can read the game well. Not sure Donkey Adams was a world class player and Sheringham always lacked pace to be one. Scholes was a superb player but couldn't tackle for love nor money.

As for France, Italy and Spain, well France was one the first teams to be knocked out of WC tournament, Italy had an ageing squad and Spain were lacking in strikers.

[DJKillaQueen]

It's nothing to do with discipline. They just can't play together whatever the formation (and I do believe they played 4 5 1 under Erikson a few times). To persist trying to make them work is foolish - something Capello seems to now agree with. Lampard looks ordinary at international level because he is ordinary, unless flanked by world class players, as he is at Chelsea. Gerard does better but you are right, he needs something good behind him so that he can get forward and run at defenders.

The tempo thing has more to do with the difference in style of international football. You can't dominate a game with tempo (all other things being equal) - you can dominate a game with posession and movement though. The premiership is all about kick and rush....internationally football is all about posession. A great display of that was the last Champions League final when Barcelona ripped Man Utd apart (I'd predicted that would be the case). Once Barcelona have the ball, it is very difficult to get it off them. Even the Women's World Cup was won by a team that played posession football.

How can you criticise Spain for lack of strikers....they hold both the World and European cups currently! It's true that Italy's squad are ageing and their home league is starting to see some of the problems we have here, with not enough Italian players coming through. France though do have players in abundance......and it's hard to work out what's going on there.

It's characteristic of England to believe it has a great footballing team but the truth is we have an average team. And the results at international level for the last 20 years demonstrate that perfectly. Apart from Italia 90 and Euro 96, we haven't made a single semi-final or better since the advent of the Premiership......now there's something to discuss.