Football Focus

[red devil]

The result was nothing to do with Parker being captain, infact he played very well, I thought it was more down to the inexperience of the back four.

Come the Euros either Terry or Rio will have to partner one of the inexperienced centre halves, probably Cahill.

Nothing wrong with Baines at left back, but Cole always gets the vote with his international/Champs League experience.

Despite having a good season I'm not convinced by Richards at right back, it just doesn't look like his natural position, I think Walker/Jones will run him close.

Hopefully there won't be the big build-up and over expectation come the Euros, instead they should be seen as a stepping stone for the younger players and the new manager to gain international big match experience leading up to 2014...which of course we'll win with our eyes closed ;-)

[Undisputedtruth]

Robben was given far too much time and space in last night's game. England looked uncertain in their performance. The Dutch defence wasn't particularly good either.

[Jah Lush]

I thought Gerrard sulked his way though the game until he was taken off after half an hour. Probably because he hadn't got the captaincy he thought was his by right. He played far too many long balls to no one in particular. "Slight calf strain" or not it was certainly another mediocre performance from him in an England shirt.

[El Pibe]

I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he wa pooped, but part of me is inclined to agree with you Jah.

Either way he's never done it in an England shirt the way he does time and again in a Liverpool one.

[Undisputedtruth]

Scholes had previously cricised his former England colleagues for being glory hunters rather than playing a simple pass.

[El Pibe]

Parkdrive, I think you're missing the point.

That Dutch side was always going to be a class apart, these are players who have not only the skill, but the experience and have genuinely achieved at all the top levels of the game.

All we could hope for was a learning experience.

RD is spot on in saying that we should also use the Euros as a learning process and not hype up the competition or our hopes.

Also lets ditch the grandees unless their performances are compelling enough for selection.

Lets look to the future.

If that team get a collective 300 caps under their belts (not that that's where you normally keep a cap, but hey) like that Dutch side had then it could be a side to strike fear in 5 years time.

The key word here is team, something the last three managers have miserable failed to build.

Compare that with Spain.....

Admittedly the real work needs to be done in restructuring the clubs, building teams from nurtured talent, changing the emphases in training and skills from a very young age.

Something the FA has failed to persuade the short termism obsessed premier league to do, and (though we'll argue about this for ever more) something that filling in the gaps with cheaper talent from abroad will always serve to stifle in blooding home grown talent.

[Undisputedtruth]

EP, I don't think you recognise the progress made by the FA and the English clubs in developing young players. The points you've made probably dated back five to ten years ago.

[El Pibe]

You can never resist a good patronisation can you ;-/

Admittedly I don't wander around the academies and boardrooms myself and am not talking from first hand experience, so I'll happily defer to your persoanl knowledge if my sources of info are mistaken; I was merely echoing the thoughts of those in and around the game that I read in the press, and all are recently expressed.

[Undisputedtruth]

Watch out for Raheem Sterling of Liverpool and then tell me there are no talented youngster in this this country.

[maxxi]

It's about the new England squad playing together as often as they can.

And about getting Gerrard to grow up or retire - that ridiculous faffing about for 20 minutes before putting up his hand "Sir? Sir my leg hurts!" and going off can't be put up with any more.

Yes he's great for Liverpool but maybe that's the problem, he's treated as a God 24/7 so when he comes to an England game and receives less than godlike treatment he sulks.

I think these new young players with one or two older heads to guide and a further influx from the U21s should be the way forward.

[Undisputedtruth]

maxxi Wrote:

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>

> I think these new young players with one or two

> older heads to guide and a further influx from the

> U21s should be the way forward.

This is what the Germans did during the last world cup and the same young players caused a lot of problems for England. It's also worth noting that the Engalnd u21s had beaten the German u21s in the year before world cup 2010.

[bon3yard]

Wow, looks like all that oil money can even buy you a place in the World Cup finals...Cushty.

[????]

...well nearly, Quatar got a draw so although they managed (ahem) their part of the equation it was to no avail.

[maxxi]

well... that's Peter Taylor for you... that 'surprising' FA Cup quarter final defeat by Wycombe still rankles in Leicester...

Though there is subtle cheating... and there's sending off the goalie after 2 minutes...

[Undisputedtruth]

Reminded me of the time when Argentina needed to beat Peru by four clear goals to qualify for the final during World Cup 1978.

[maxxi]

... and the good old schnitzelgruber alliance when W.Germany beat Austria 1-0 in 1982 to shaft the Algerians... led to the new rule of playing final group games at same time

[Otta]

Okay, having defended Charlie Adam the other day, I'm now eating my words.

And as I typed that, Arsenal have scored what will probably be the winner. Liverpool SHOULD have won the match, and why the hell did Bellamy spend 20 minutes warming up?!?

[Undisputedtruth]

:))

[Annette Curtain]

UDT a Gooner?

[Otta]

Can't decide if he's a Gooner, or if he just dislikes Liverpool.

[Alan Medic]

Well ask him. UDT, who do you support? With your name you have to tell the truth.

P.S. As you see it

[Annette Curtain]

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Well ask him. UDT, who do you support? With your

> name you have to tell the truth.

> P.S. As you see it

Be prepared for: I'm not a team player, I am a one-man-team-and-cover-all-positions-brilliantly

I am UDT-UTD, type answer

:-S

[Parkdrive]

Great win for the lads!!! Step up Suarez and join Bale as a diving Fcuk. Liverpool are ahead of Woy Hodgsons WBA by 4 points. The man was absolutely slaughtered when he managed Liverpool, and for all the millions Liverpool have spent, Woy is right behind them. Do you reckon he's feeling a bit smug about it?

[Mick Mac]

Remember Anders Limpar? introduced a new level of diving to England.

[Otta]

I don't like to see diving, and I'll admit that some LFC players are guilty, and I'd rather they didn't do it. Where do you draw the line though between going down under pressure, and taking a blatant dive? Many managers wopuld have a go at their players for staying on their feet, iof they could have won a penalty by going down when touched.

Be fair though PD, you can't honestly claim that no one in an Arsenal shirt has ever taken a dive! Every team has players who do it, so it's a bit much going on about it, particularly when you've won the 2 matches, and no specific dive has really done you any damage.