Scott Parker!

[Sittingduck]

****

 

[Doseone]

FFS

 

[Glow worm]

LLobocks! (as they say in Wales)

 

[potsy]

now that was fantastic

Robben's a lot better now he's not carrying the Chelsea team

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Not a bad team perfomance, particularly as those players have little experience playing together. I'd leave Lampard, Rooney, Gerrard and Terry behind for the Euros, particularly Rooney. I suspect they have far too much clout in the dressing room and their presence is intimidating for the younger players who just get on and do the job when they are not there. Rooney has become far too much of a talisman figure for England and when he does not perform or gets himself sent off moral in the side drops because the rest of the team have become convinced they can't play without him.

They can and they do.

 

[dellzeqq]

and.........Rooney gets himself sent off. Which is dumb.

 

[Doseone]

I've had that one. "Oi I was watching that" "But your not even in the room" "no, I'm in the kitchen cooking your dinner# but I'm listening to the game and I know when to run in to watch"





#yes, it was my dinner as well.

It's ok, I got my own back, I brewed her tea for about 15 seconds longer than she likes. MWAAAHAAAHAAA

 

[dellzeqq]

looking at the highlights and I've decided I'd rather watch Pearce's team lose in the quarter finals than Capello's. There were times when they were all at sea, but there's hope there, whereas with Lampard, Rooney, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Terry and Lescot there's none. I don't think Richards is good enough, and Young is a lightweight, but I'd love to see Oxlade-C and Wilshere (when fit) in the squad.

 

[Manonabike]

I don't really read it like that - he's got to pick someone. Parker is a quiet guy, of unempeachable character (to my knowledge), likely to be there or there abouts when it comes to the Euros and not have any baggage lurking around.
You can count on him not being put out if he doesn't retain the captaincy for long, so serves as a good short term appointment. Given the chance he might help bring a bit of dignity back to the England team.

I would disagree that Terry's sacking was ridiculous. It came too late but it's right for English football that it came at last.

Spot on. It's a shame that Capello didn't see the problem or maybe he did not understand the problem.... very likely that in Italy Terry would not be facing charges if he was accused of racially abusing another player......

I think it was the correct decision to take the Capitan arm band away - the "innocent till proven guilty" is a risk that this country cannot take. Can you imagine if Terry was allowed to lead the team at the world cup and then found guilty? The world's headlights would read "England led by a racist at the World Cup!!!"

 

[mangaman]

Not a bad team perfomance, particularly as those players have little experience playing together. I'd leave Lampard, Rooney, Gerrard and Terry behind for the Euros, particularly Rooney. I suspect they have far too much clout in the dressing room and their presence is intimidating for the younger players who just get on and do the job when they are not there. Rooney has become far too much of a talisman figure for England and when he does not perform or gets himself sent off moral in the side drops because the rest of the team have become convinced they can't play without him.

They can and they do.

I agree SJ

They were a young team, with a manager with little experience, and they played well I thought.

With Rooney - who is the only player that does need to return - it has the makings of a good team.

I don't agree with Dell about Young - I think he's a class act.

Wilshere is a thug on and off the pitch (just 2 unrelated arrests so far, aged 20 - what a charmer) and his shocking tackle on Zicig seems to have been erased from public view - I can't find it on you tube. The closest is

http://11x2.com/news/627840/video-jack-wilsheres-shocking-tackle-on-nikola-zigic-arsenal-birmingham

Arsenal fans appear to love dirty players - Wenger's appalling disciplinary record is clear- but as an England fan I would prefer honest hard working and fair players like Parker and Young to Wilshere et al

I think Downing is underrarted - an old fashioned team with Young and Downing providing fantastic service for Rooney and Sturridge would be my pick.

I still think you could then pick Gerard and Lampard as the holding midfielders with a licence to go forward.

 

[thom]

Spot on. It's a shame that Capello didn't see the problem or maybe he did not understand the problem.... very likely that in Italy Terry would not be facing charges if he was accused of racially abusing another player......

I think it was the correct decision to take the Capitan arm band away - the "innocent till proven guilty" is a risk that this country cannot take. Can you imagine if Terry was allowed to lead the team at the world cup and then found guilty? The world's headlights would read "England led by a racist at the World Cup!!!"

I guess it is due to the legal proceedings that have prevented any kind of discussion but whether or not Terry prefixed his comments with " I didn't call you a ", uttering what came next alone ought to be enough for him to lose the captaincy in my opinion. It mostly is a symbolic role, or perhaps one that sets a public tone rather than being core to the way the team plays.
I can't understand tolerating such inarticulate abusive language in that role.

Aside from that.... I tend to agree with SJ's point too for Lamps and Terry but not on Gerrard and Rooney. This team was nothing like the best team or that which Pearce would field competitively. It was though curious that they improved when Gerard was not there at the end of the first half.
Also James Milner was not a good holding midfield substitute for Gareth Barry. Actually Scotty Parker's game was not great but above average and much better than Barry's but the second half midfield was not as balanced as the first when Barry was there. I suspect Lampard's time is up but Gerard will be back but not as a holding midfielder. Who knows how Harry would see it though ?

On Micah Richards I would not judge him so badly - he played OK in 2 positions against Arjen Robben, who's not that bad you know... Richards will be useful (if fit) but Walker is likely to be the first choice right back now.

 

[ianrauk]

It's ok, I got my own back, I brewed her tea for about 15 seconds longer than she likes. MWAAAHAAAHAAA

Now that is just plain nasty...

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The problem with Terry and the captaincy is not whether he is innocent or guilty of racial abuse, but there were reports that the squad was divided with some players not talking to him. You cannot be captain under those circumstances.

 

[Archie_tect]

With all the toys, prams and dummies being thrown around in the 'old' England squad I'm amazed they were able to get them to play together at all- far too many self-centred egos.... completely new blood badly needed.

 

[Fab Foodie]

looking at the highlights and I've decided I'd rather watch Pearce's team lose in the quarter finals than Capello's. There were times when they were all at sea, but there's hope there, whereas with Lampard, Rooney, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Terry and Lescot there's none.

Absolutely, and they rose to a massive challenge time and again. I thought it a truly spunky performance and quite the kind of England team performance I could get excited enough about to watch again.