[quote author=Ryan link=topic=40574.msg1120022#msg1120022 date=1276573990]
Sooo, England.
Firstly; Heskey. So, he started and played well? What a suprise that was to everyone. Except me of course.
A few things stood out:
England are nowhere near as good as I'd imagined, or worried about. Could just be 'first-game nerves' or something, or maybe too early to judge but I doubt it. They've got simply far too many weaknesses and deficiencies to properly challenge at this World Cup.
Being consistently unable to keep the ball is going to fucking kill them. They're so fucking flat. Flat back four, flat midfield four. No deviation or movement out of those positions. Passing sidways, sideways, sideways, then lump it forward. Only Rooney, and occassionally Gerrard provided anything different. Watching the Dutch, Germans, Argentinians, fuck even the Mexicans and the way they all interchange, move into differing positions, play neat triangles, angles passes, keep the ball and comparing that to England's systematic plodding is incredible. It's not something they're going to change overnight either, they're just going to end up with large periods of not having the ball.
The possessions stats the other night were 50/50 with the USA. That's embarassing.
Gerrard and Lampard as a midfield two is no good. No news there. England need a crux, a starting point, a ball player, a midfielder capable of starting moves. For all their talents, neither Gerrard or Lampard are brilliant at that. They both prefer to be on the end of a move, to play either the final ball or to score, not to generate moves. It's just not what they're great at. I'm not sure if Barry's going to totally provide that either. I'd almost hear an argument for Carrick, regardless of how patchy his club form's been.
Width? Well, two mistakes there. firstly, starting Milner who was clearly not ready. Secondly, bringing on SWP compounded the situation. He was fucking useless, and is clearly not ready for this level of football. I guess Capello got scared of the pace with which the right-back went past Milner, and thought SWP would be able to cope better with that than say Joe Cole. He's just not good enough though. Shit touch, shit awareness, didn't retain possession, and went down blind alleys time and time again. Cole's a far better player, but figured in zero of Capello's qualifiers due to injury, so Capello opted for the better the devil he knew.
Green? Well, he fucked up. The alternatives (James and Hart) are much of a muchness, so whatchagonnado.
I thought England tired badly. That's an old squad, with slow legs (Terry, Carra), and now they're being slowly decimated by injuries. To go through a month of football against quality sides that will keep the ball better than you, whilst you're already on your last, tired, legs is going to be impossible. Getting all your drive out of Glenjo and Rooney will be negated soon enough once opposing sides learn how to shut them down. I'd make drastic changes to that team, cos as it is - England are going nowhere fast.
[/quote]No they werent.
It was 58% to 42%
Youve made some valid points, dont spoil it by making shit up.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_05/default.stm
