[metropolis]

crouch eh, who would have thunk it ?

if only he produced this for liverpool

FIVE GOALS IN TWO GAMES The guy is brilliant! Come on England.

Today's match has been exhibition football. Rooney or not we have a very good chance.

[FruitBat]

But that robot dance must go...

[Mylo]

I think the lanky one has been replaced by another clone

seriously he played a cracking game and will be very interesting to watch during next weeks match

[Steven]

Originally Posted by jakal

Rooney

Thank you very much

I was just thinking Wayne who?

[metropolis]

if it helps him score then i dont care

[Marc]

Originally Posted by FruitBat

But that robot dance must go...

no way! the robot is class! it's good to see someone bringing some fun back into football

well done mr roboto!

[Steven]

I don't care if he decides to add a ballad to his celebration routine...it'll mean England and Crouch are doing well

[overkill]

Originally Posted by jakal

FIVE GOALS IN TWO GAMES The guy is brilliant! Come on England.

Today's match has been exhibition football. Rooney or not we have a very good chance.

Oh give over. Jamaicas defence looked like they'd smoked half a pound of quality weed before the game!

Neither this game nor Hungary told us anything about Englands attack as neither side could defend under any sort of pressure.

Todays game was wasted opportunity. England could have picked someone testing to play but as in 2004 opted not too. All we learnt was that Owen is almost back to fitness (good news) and that crouch can score against teams who can't defend. But we knew that already.

Ericssons been after that lineup all along, and cynicaly chose games to prove himself right. I just hope we don't pay the penalty for his smug self confidence.

When Crouch bangs in a few against the likes of Germany, or even crashes them in against Sweden I'll be convinced. Until then the juries still firmly out. Sorry but it takes more than a few meaningless friendlies and carefully laid spin to convince me.

[Holowlegs]

Hi there

He has really come on these last couple off games and has played very well for England, not just with his goals but also Has a nice touch.

Cheers Holo

[overkill]

Already another thread on this. As in that thread, Crouch has scored against two dire defences in two games. So what? When he scores against real opposition then call me back.

[Steven]

Overkill, you sound like one of the doubters come every tournament England are in

Even if England had just beat Italy, you'd have said "Yeah, but it wasn't Brazil"

They can only beat who's in front of them. At least if some minnow get's through the groups and plays England, we can be more confident, especially as I still remember Northern Ireland

And why not play a small side? Brazil are playing amateurs and under 18s! Good enough for the favourites, good enough for Inger-land! Would you prefer we played Spain in a friendly and go in all doom and gloom after a draw? I'd much prefer this morale boosting victory

Originally Posted by overkill

AWhen he scores against real opposition then call me back

No offence (hate this saying), then go join LGS in one of his threads. The rest of us prefer to enjoy the moment

[Mylo]

threads merged, thanks Overkill

sorry if it's a bit messy at the start

[metropolis]

ive never been merged before

[Marc]

Originally Posted by metropolis

ive never been merged before

did it hurt?

[metropolis]

Originally Posted by Marc

did it hurt?

it could have been worse ,perhaps a bit of lube next time

[overkill]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Overkill, you sound like one of the doubters come every tournament England are in

Even if England had just beat Italy, you'd have said "Yeah, but it wasn't Brazil"

They can only beat who's in front of them. At least if some minnow get's through the groups and plays England, we can be more confident, especially as I still remember Northern Ireland

And why not play a small side? Brazil are playing amateurs and under 18s! Good enough for the favourites, good enough for Inger-land! Would you prefer we played Spain in a friendly and go in all doom and gloom after a draw? I'd much prefer this morale boosting victory

LFC_ come back to me when you've watched England through as many tournaments (and mess up big style) as I have. No, I can assure you if England beat any of the big three nations in the World cup I will be over the moon. Why? Because we haven't since 1966!

I am happy for England to play anyone, but let's get this straight, whats the point in playing teams to get match practise, like against the minnows, if the manager is going to replace half of them? Or if the press are going to start going ballistic about certain players who do well in them?

I want England to win the World cup - period. What worries me is that they are doing exactly what they have done so many times before (and failed as result) which is picking players that the media want to see wearing an England Jersey.

If the starting lineup today wins next Sunday and looks comfortable in doing so, great. However, the first real test will come against Sweden. Then, quite possibly Germany. That will show if Sven has got it right this time. Unlike 2002, 2004 etc. And then, and only then, we can start thinking about going all the way.

Originally Posted by overkill

Oh give over. Jamaicas defence looked like they'd smoked half a pound of quality weed before the game!

Neither this game nor Hungary told us anything about Englands attack as neither side could defend under any sort of pressure.

Todays game was wasted opportunity. England could have picked someone testing to play but as in 2004 opted not too. All we learnt was that Owen is almost back to fitness (good news) and that crouch can score against teams who can't defend. But we knew that already.

Ericssons been after that lineup all along, and cynicaly chose games to prove himself right. I just hope we don't pay the penalty for his smug self confidence.

When Crouch bangs in a few against the likes of Germany, or even crashes them in against Sweden I'll be convinced. Until then the juries still firmly out. Sorry but it takes more than a few meaningless friendlies and carefully laid spin to convince me.

You're not related to Jimmy Hill are you?

Come on whatever happened to optimism? Don't underestimate the confidence boost that game like this can give to a team. Weak opposition? Yes. But look what happened to Scholes in 2004 when he scored and cleared his "duck".

We Are going to have a good chance with this one - the key players are fit and the mentality is there. Stop being Job's comforter and get behind the lads

[overkill]

Originally Posted by metropolis

it could have been worse ,perhaps a bit of lube next time

That usually works for me.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by jakal

You're not related to Jimmy Hill are you?

Come on whatever happened to optimism? Don't underestimate the confidence boost that game like this can give to a team. Weak opposition? Yes. But look what happened to Scholes in 2004 when he scored and cleared his "duck".

We Are going to have a good chance with this one - the key players are fit and the mentality is there. Stop being Job's comforter and get behind the lads

This is what worries me more than anything. Anyone who says, 'yes well' is 'knocking the team'. I am behind the team. I am not however, going to get carried away on the basis of two friendlies against frankly poor, to absolutely terrible opposition.

If they stick six past Paraguay then you can start getting carried away.

[Steven]

He's gonna start against Paraguay
And he's gonna make them cry

Small reference for Man Utd fans there

[overkill]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

He's gonna start against Paraguay
And he's gonna make them cry

Small reference for Man Utd fans there

What a surprise! The replacement for Heskey (first name on my teamsheet said Sven - until he left Liverpool) is going to start. Well bless my soul! Even had he not scored and been lame (which I fully admit he wasn't) he would still be starting. Svens mind is way too easy to read.

I'm just praying Rooney gets fit now.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by overkill

What a surprise! The replacement for Heskey (first name on my teamsheet said Sven - until he left Liverpool) is going to start

Now, let's be fair. Beckham, then Owen and then Heskey, at the least

Currently it's Beckham, Owen, Rooney, and then everyone else

And Rooney ain't gonna be fit. Owen's doesn't look quite there yet, but he's close. What chance Rooney? You need to be match fit, you can't be aiming to be match fit in a World Cup Quarter Final! At least Crouch is fit, full of confidence and shown he can finish.

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

shown he can finish.

A lot more than can be said for Heskey

Originally Posted by overkill

What a surprise! The replacement for Heskey (first name on my teamsheet said Sven - until he left Liverpool) is going to start. Well bless my soul! Even had he not scored and been lame (which I fully admit he wasn't) he would still be starting. Svens mind is way too easy to read.

I'm just praying Rooney gets fit now.

Do you know, it is people like you that always damage the chances that our team have in major tournaments. You sound just like the press, always clamouring for 'could have beens' rather than having faith in what we have. It is an amazingly British attitude that we want to assume the worst before a single ball has been kicked. Why don't you try to have some national pride? If we win we win, if we lose we lose. We are going there with what we have, and I am sure that all the players will give it their best.

Sure it would be nice to have Rooney, but he will not take part in the group games. As I said before have some faith will you

[Steven]

No one can honestly say Crouch has had a bad game in an England shirt yet. And with each international performance, he's getting better. At this rate he'll be the golden boot winner!

Last reposte from me to Overkill. It's a good job Crouch doesn't listen to doubters like you, otherwise he may actually play like you say he does.

I still love all my brothers though, so don't take it personally

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by jakal

Do you know, it is people like you that always damage the chances that our team have in major tournaments. You sound just like the press, always clamouring for 'could have beens' rather than having faith in what we have. It is an amazingly British attitude that we want to assume the worst before a single ball has been kicked. Why don't you try to have some national pride? If we win we win, if we lose we lose. We are going there with what we have, and I am sure that all the players will give it their best.

Sure it would be nice to have Rooney, but he will not take part in the group games. As I said before have some faith will you

I never see much of this pessimism coming into WC's to be honest. Every paper I read or TV programme I watch you think you are going to win it. Its been like that all my life from what I can remember. Its only after you fail that the knockers come out in force.

But I do agree that spanking rubbish opposition provides only a few positives. It allows the likes of Michael Owen to get a couple of games under his belt without being tested by hard defenders, allows the team to get a morale boast by banging in 3 then 6, allows the manager to try out different tactics so that he can then go back to the one he was always going to play anyway (!), allows all the team a couple of matches rather than messing around on the training ground, allows the FA to lift a few million.

Another thing for England fans is that they always play better against better teams, so will probably be better when the WC kicks off.

I think this is probably Englands best chance since 66, without a doubt. Its now up to the 'stars' to show what they're worth.

On a final note, and I hope I don't offend anybody by this, but just at the start of the game I always dread the anthems (as Englands is very boring - which you will probably admit yourselves) but we have a new winner, Jamaica's. What was that? It sounded like something you'd hear a drunk guy singing in a corner of a pub at 4am.

[Woodywizz]

Was at Old Trafford this afternoon and - as much as I hate to admit it - Crouch was very good. I have always been a strong and vehement opponent of Crouch's inclusion in the starting line-up. Today he was very good, apart from that penalty. The others that stood out for me were Lampard, Beckham, and Campbell.

Don't get me wrong I would much rather have Rooney/Owen than Crouch/Owen - but, as Rooney is going to be out for the first few matches, then we need to get behind the team.

Come on England

I also agree about Jamaica's anthem - that was the longest 3 minutes of my life.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by jakal

Do you know, it is people like you that always damage the chances that our team have in major tournaments. You sound just like the press, always clamouring for 'could have beens' rather than having faith in what we have. It is an amazingly British attitude that we want to assume the worst before a single ball has been kicked. Why don't you try to have some national pride? If we win we win, if we lose we lose. We are going there with what we have, and I am sure that all the players will give it their best.

Sure it would be nice to have Rooney, but he will not take part in the group games. As I said before have some faith will you

Since SOK has answered the first part accurately, let me answer the rest.

Have faith in what exactly? It's a football team not God. Now that's in prespective, why should I get into 'mindless Sun reading England fan mode'? If that suits you then fine, get on with it. Me, I prefer to to see the evidence nowadays before spouting about how great the team or individuals in it are.

If and when England do well, then I will add praise with the rest, until they do I reserve my right to assess what has really happened on the pitch. Which, in my adult lifetime hasn't been that much.

I used to (until after the 1980 EC) get into all the hype, but now I prefer to keep both feet on the ground. If being pragmatic is now 'being defeatist' then God help us.

As for National pride, keep your own counsel. My National pride is my own business NOT yours.

LFC, too many Liverpool fans say that's the way he plays never mind me, for it to be 'my view'. Did Heskey care what people said about him? Does any footballer? Really?

Oh, and Heskey did score in England games, and in the WC. People were saying exactly the same things about him to start with as they are now about Crouch - until his weaknesses were cruelly exposed in Asia. Which is why I worry.

As before if he scores a hatful and leads a winning line, I am, as I repeat, only too willing to eat humble pie, however, as again I repeat, I will wait until he does the business in Germany before being convinced.

My ideal scenario as an England fan, is for England to win the group with max points, progress, and Crouch win the Golden boot. Humble pie will then be happily eaten.

As a realist I expect to be pieless.

[M-C-P-M]

Originally Posted by woodywizz

Don't get me wrong I would much rather have Rooney/Owen than Crouch/Owen - but, as Rooney is going to be out for the first few matches, then we need to get behind the team.

Come on England

I completely agree with your statement Woody

It to late to moan now we must get behind them all the way!!

[neilios]

Tell you what was funny though, john terry trying to clear that awkard ball and looking like a pub player for a couple of seconds.lol

Crouch seems to have settled in quite well ,the funny thing about international football is that certain players just freeze and dont play there natural game ,crouch has taken to it like a duck to water .Ive got to admit i was a doubter .

Beckham is on fire at the moment though, the accuracy of his balls into the box is spot on .I agree a more competent defence may deal with them differently,but at the mo he putting defenders under pressure with his pin point crosses into the danger zones.

Lampard and gerrard both played well together today aswell ,joe cole is a pain in the arse for the opposition ,and quite likely to get freekicks in dangerous area's.

Other than that, roll on sat .