Liverpool FC Forum

[Kharhaz]

We need Mike Bassett !

[LFC2007]

The technical level of the side isn't the reason England failed to beat Algeria or the USA. More or less the same team thumped better sides than them in qualifying. The players just aren't performing to standard, for whatever reason, and based on what I'm seeing it's a problem with the mentality. They're making shedloads of basic errors that they don't normally make (except for Heskey ) and in my capacity as an amateur Freud I'd say they aren't much enjoying it.

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

Exactly.

What makes it worse is the fact that the media in this country picks the team. We get one player who can do the basics and his price shoots through the roof. He instantly commands a huge transfer fee and wages to go with it. Look at how Beckham is adored. He can pass a ball and take a free kick. And yet, he is revered.

When it comes to international matches, the managers always pick the big names. The names that the media pressure the manager into picking. As long as the media do this, we wont have another english manager for a long time.

I think if Capello had of included Adam Johnson in his 23 then he may of provided an element of surprise I think Walcott should have also been accommodated in the final pick whereas Ledley King and Heskey and the infeasibly wasteful Lennon  shouldn't have left England ...it also totally escapes me how a player like Ashley young couldn't have been included   

[Kharhaz]

I think if Capello had of included Adam Johnson in his 23 then he may of provided an element of surprise I think Walcott should have also been accommodated in the final pick whereas Ledley King and Heskey and the infeasibly wasteful Lennon  shouldn't have left England ...it also totally escapes me how a player like Ashley young couldn't have been included   

Not so much an element of surprise, more a justification of his scouting the players during the premier league season only to stick with the tried (and failed) players that are big names.

This in itself is sending out a message for the top performers in the premier league that were left behind, dont get your hopes up. In fact if I were in Adam Johnsons shoes, or Bents or any others who have had a good season, I would sod england off altogether and concentrate on club football. Retire early.

[Big Niall]

Last time england drew their first two games in the the world cup was 1990..........they went on to get to the semi finals

Dont think that will happen this time!

that england team drew the first two games and barely beat egypt to get out of the group. Only a last minute david platt goal beat belgium (they'd probably have lost on penalties), they were 8 minutes from losing to the mighty cameroon before a dodgy penalty saved them, and then another penalty too.

However, they played brilliantly against Germany and lost.

There is a fine line in sport between hero and zero. This poor bunch of players are capable of stumbling past poor teams and riding their luck and making the semis which people will say is a great campaign for England. These 2 games will be forgotton.

[Number 9]

You'se are just fuc'kin and totally over rate yourselves every time...bunch of overpaid arrogant idiots!£150k a week to kick a ball about and fail....reality check for example,the USA players play for the flag with passion,N Korea play for the country and earn virtually nothing........England play for themselves and not to be in the press....they deserve to win fuc'k all...wasters!!

[rocky29]

Absolutely shocking performance. While there is merit in the criticism of Capello's tactics and team selection, there was more than enough there to beat Algeria. To me it's down to the mentality of the players because they looked fecking uncomfortable; too much expectation-pressure and not enough leeway from press and public. The booing was shameful. It can only be a hindrance to the players and it certainly doesn't make the fan-experience any more enjoyable - and when you've gone to such an effort to get there, why not try to enjoy it come what may instead of being a miserable git? There's a time and a place to give an honest opinion but open expressions of anger and disdain do nobody any good.

totally agree ihmo anyone who blames capello for that disgrace wants fecking shooting. The players are an absolute disgrace all of them.

[Number 9]

England just suck!!

[Bad Bob]

Well, England are deep in it now.  They clearly don't have the proper mentality at the moment and it seems hard to imagine that they're going to find the necessary self-belief and cohesiveness required to see off a tricky Slovenian side.  Still, stranger things have happened in World Cups but these lads seriously need to get their heads right and pull their fingers out.  I think it's time to dispense with the Lennon/SWP folly and get Joe Cole on the pitch.  Also, Heskey's got to be sat down as well.  Shocking.

[The Good Yank]

Does this mean then, according to the press in america, that they not only beat us 1-1 but THRASHED slovenia 2-2?

Edited.

[Number 9]

Gonna have to listen till them talking about '66 for another lifetime....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Useless kunts!!

[J*o*n*D*o*e]

what a pile of horse dung that was lastnight, sorry but any manager who persists with Heskey upfront deserves all the the stick thats about to come his way in the press this morning.

i know one thing ill not be losing out on any money next wednesday by leaving work early to watch that cr@p again.


as for Rooney, if your going to give stick to the fans after the game maybe  best to do it after you`ve played a blinder instead of like a potato.

[fivecups]

The technical level of the side isn't the reason England failed to beat Algeria or the USA. More or less the same team thumped better sides than them in qualifying. The players just aren't performing to standard, for whatever reason, and based on what I'm seeing it's a problem with the mentality. They're making shedloads of basic errors that they don't normally make (except for Heskey ) and in my capacity as an amateur Freud I'd say they aren't much enjoying it.

I suppose the questions are:

1. Why are England so bad at the minute?
2. What do they do to sort it out?

There will inevitably be a lot of rubbish in the papers about England today so lets state a few things first:

1. Capello has an excellent track record as a manager and has done very well with England to date.
2. England have a good first 11 and a good squad. Not at the level of Spain or Argentina but good enough to beat Algeria playing 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 4-3-3 or I dare say 3-4-3. Good enough to WIN the WC IF all fit, playing their best and playing as a fluid team. They are far, far better than last nights performance.
3. England have some world class players. Gerrard although below par last year, looked very good on the left for England in qualifying. Lampard, the best midfielder in the Premiership last season who again returned over 20 goals. Rooney, by far the best striker in the Prem. last season. Terry, worse season than usual but good enough to co-ordinate a tight Chelsea defense to the title. A. Cole - excellent defender, runs all day, adds frequently to the attack.
4. The players were trying to win. There was no lack of effort.

So why were they so bad? - (and they were unbelievably bad)

For me it was psychological. Too much pressure, unable to relax, unable to enjoy it, no camaraderie, not on the same level, no true belief or confidence in themselves or each other. It was a mind-set that seems to have settled within the whole group. They seem to need a Gazza type character who'd be unaffected by it to re-instill their self belief. But who is it whose going to do that? Can Capello do it - it is surely his job to set the atmosphere in the group as a whole and at the minute he's got that badly wrong? Joe Cole? A sports psychologist? A change to 4-5-1 with Gerrard behind Rooney? A young starlet - should Walcott and Adam Johnston have travelled? Or do they just need a bit of luck at the start of the Slovenia to rediscover their form? Do they just need to have a few beers and be told how good they actually are and that from on they are to enjoy themselves?

How do they fix it?

[Owzat]

Im glad USA lost

They laughed at us when they got their lucky 1 - 1 "Win", now Slovenia get a lucky 2 - 2 win

Exactly

[Ciggy]

Also, Heskey's got to be sat down as well.  Shocking.

Heskey is shocking its a joke that he even gets picked, was baffled why Capello didnt take him off put gerrard behind Rooney and Joe Cole on the left the game was screaming out for it.
The players seem very static and lack technical ability and they have the cheek to demand a 30 million pound fee for themselves to join clubs  , its something mental with the whole team because them players can play better than that, they reminded me of Liverpool last season. Rooney is clearly not fit and he reminded me of Dirk Kuyt last night running round like a headless chicken.