red devil

Painful indeed, but get used to it, as that's all we are capable of against the better teams...getting out of the group was an achievement in itself. Look at the 4 semi-finalists, all of them playing on a much, much higher technical level than England. People bang on about the Premier League being the best in the world, it might be entertainment wise, just as a pantomime is far more entertaining than a Chekhov play. How many of the 4 semi-finalists first 11's actually play in the PL? It's no coincidence England's best performance was against Sweden, a PL quality nation. We still haven't learnt how to keep hold of the ball. Interesting stat, the most number of successful pass completions between two England plyers was Hart and Carroll...sums it all up really. Hodgson always plays this rigid 4-4-1-1 system, the opposition have worked us out before we even step onto the pitch. There wil be calls to get rid of the 'old guard', but isn't Pirlo part of Italy's old guard? He bossed the show. All we would be doing is replacing one donkey with another. We need creative quality in the midfield...maybe Wilshire and Cleverley will come good, but they are already looking injury prone. Rooney was shit, but he also wasn't match fit. But he is still on paper England's best player. A team needs to be built around him, rather than him fitting into a rigid, non-fluid formation. Anyway, Wimbledon starts today...C'mon on Tim!

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Strangely nervous about this one as we are as far > as I'd thought we'd go...but.....COME ON > INGERLAND:)) StraferJack Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Nervous. But in a good way > > Haven't been this excited about an England game > for a loooooong time Nervous excitement here in RD mansion, just like back in the day :) ''We're playing for England (In-ger-land)...''

Frankel was the stand out performance of the week...the punter's friend :) Agree about the Beeb losing Ascot, Derby and Grand National, C4 is ok but not in same league, and it won't be the same without Claire and her Willie, especially when he balances on her box...

Portugal - 90 Germany - 90 Spain - 90 England - 90

Michael Frayn's play, Democracy, at the Old Vic, ?10 ticket offer...

UDT's Line Dancin' Manager loses the plot... http://talentonline.co.nz/images/line-dancing-demonstrations.jpg ''FFS, I said two lines of four, not one line of eight!

Blimey Mick, considering you don't know much about football, you know a lot about football. Infact if it wasn't for the fact that you know a lot about football, anyone would think you didn't know a lot about football...

At last, a world class performance from Gerrard in an England shirt, he was immense last night. Rooney obviously needed last night's game, and hopefully he'll be a lot sharper for the Italy game. I'm wondering as we lack creativity in midfield whether Rooney should drop back and play in 'the hole' against the Italians. Playing them instead of Spain gives us a better chance of reaching the semis, but they are still a step up in class and pedigree, and if we show some of the sloppiness of last night's performance, they'll punish us...

Good call, he's just released a 'warts and all' book...Telling Stories

Next season's fixtures announced...Liverpool's first 3 home games look easy ;-)

They could combine it with the Eurovision Song Contest...songs sung by the players and/or fans

Sainsbury's car park has a skip for clothes/textiles. From memory they request that you stick them in a poly bag...

Alan Medic Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Excuse me Ms.B but would mind telling the > uneducated like myself, what's 'functional women's > underwear'? Dungarees with a couple of strategically placed flaps...

Racecourse, greyhound track and casino...in no particular order

Looks like Germany v Greece v The Euro Part II...

The second fridge would only get filled up with SlimFast...we're talking wartime tactical operational manoeuvres here...

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Agree Rooney, Welbeck and Young should start next > match, with Carroll to come on if we need a > change. I expected some 'criticism' picking a Man Utd front 3, but I genuinely think because we have a new manager who is trying to implement new systems, it's important we have players who already know each other's games inside out. Last night's match was always going to be a bit of a Premiership slugfest, so Carroll was a good call by Hodgson. Still, I couldn't help sniggering when Terry got swatted like a fly a couple of times by Ibrahimovic :-)

Quids, Ots, SJ, get yerself a Man Shed, and stock up for these eventualities....amateurs!

Undisputedtruth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I thought Gerrard had a mixed game. No surprise > about Guy Mobray selecting a big name. It's often > the case when journalists or commentators panders > to non-footballing experts. Mowbray picked Welbeck as his MOTM for the France game. Quite right too, along with Johnson they have been our best players over the two games.

After the shambles of the last World Cup, it was great just to see In-ger-land win a game in a competetive competition again. So the big questions for the Ukraine match are...will Hodgson revert back to the more defensive minded system he employed against France, or last night's more offensive approach? And who will drop out to accommodate Rooney? Personally, I would like us to attack Ukraine, who cares if it's another nailbiting 3-2 win, let's try and win the group and avoid Spain. I thought Carroll played as well as he could, but he didn't really get the service because we don't have out and out wingers, his goal came from a deep midfield pass from Gerrard. So I'd start with Rooney and Welbeck because of their familiarity at club level. Young had a good first half against France, but has disappointed since. Again it might be better to start with him because he will know Rooney's and Welbeck's game better. Although Walcott changed the game last night, can he do that from the off, not frequently enough IMO, I think he would make for a better impact sub like last night. Other than that I think the team picks itself, but Hodgson might decide that 3 games in 9 days will catch up with some of the players, and fresh legs will be needed, especially as we will be playing back in the heat of Donetsk.

Too early for shame Quids, wait 'til you start necking the Dubonnet...

*Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's the eyes. Something about the eyes. And the > neck is suspect too. I think you could be on to something there *Bob*... http://www.wramrobinson.demon.nl/scar/SCARLET3.JPG Rumour has it Shearer has been employed as a pundit specifically for his unfeasibly shiny pate to act as an anti-Mysteron Twin Ring defence shield...

MrBen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > England tonight - a reminder that Scotland beat > France twice (home and away) in the Euro 2008 > qualifiers. If we can do it against the odds > you'll find it a walk over right? That's the sprit MrBen, England will have no problem replicating Scotland's performances...cue 80F heat and running around aimlessly with very red faces

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There was palpable fear amongst forumites on > Facebook! You think that's bad, some of us had to resort to going on the N*n*e*d Forum to try and find out wha'ppen...that place should be renamed Spamalot

Here you go Mr Ben, if Polska win...Powr?t z sieci! But if they lose...Wypatroszone! Controversial refereeing decision...Czy jeste? ?lepy ref?!