Euro 2012

[Mick Mac]

Undisputedtruth Wrote:

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> Regardless of whether the ball crossed over the

> line or not, the referee should have blown for

> offside earlier on. While Ukraine had a strong

> case for a goal, England had an equally strong

> case for offside. The two poor decisions together

> cancelled themselves out.

Illogical nonsense.

[Mick Mac]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> Looking forward : Quarters and out, plus ?a change

I personally am quite excited. And I'm not English.

[Otta]

Happiest with last night's results is El Pibe, who's loyalties can now remain nicely split.

An enviable position.

[El Pibe]

For the time being. I can't see England beating Italy to be fair, but I'd certainly love them to, I can't stand bloody Italy (the football team, for tis a fine place).

[maxxi]

I would rather England were beaten by Italy after trying to be creative and imaginative (Oxlade-C, Walcott) than predictable and clunky (Milner, Young) and would even be tempted to play Rooney and Carroll together.

The tournament so far has shown that none of the teams is happy with an attacker running at them and while we may not have an abundance of Ronaldos etc. we at least have a couple of young men who are willing to try it on.

[Otta]

Milner has worked hard, but none nothing since a great run, and a miss early on against France. Young is starting to look like his confidence is slipping. Might be worth starting with The Ox, and bringing Young on later...

Just so long as we don't see anything of Downing!

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

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> Happiest with last night's results is El Pibe,

> who's loyalties can now remain nicely split.

>

Ah - now I know who he is, at last.

[Jah Lush]

Milner looks knackered and needs a rest. I'd rather the Ox started ahead of Walcott as his replacement. Walcott will still be a good impact sub as well as Defoe if we need a goal. I'd be very wary of starting Carroll up front against the Italians, they'd wind him up and try and get him sent off and I think he'd fall for it. I thought Young once again put in another poor performance but Gerrard, Terry, Johnson and Parker (who covered more ground than anyone else on the pitch 7.23 miles) were excellent though looking at Parker he doesn't look 100-per-cent fit.

I'd like to be more optimistic about our chances but I think we've done well (with a slice of luck) to get where we are so far. I think we're capable of beating the Italians but whatever happens on Sunday it'll be very close.

[Otta]

Gerrard, Terry, Johnson and Parker were excellent

Agreed. I was thinking last night that much as I think he's a scum bag, Terry is looking very solid, and is making up for his lack of pace with good positioning.

[Undisputedtruth]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Undisputedtruth Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Regardless of whether the ball crossed over the

> > line or not, the referee should have blown for

> > offside earlier on. While Ukraine had a strong

> > case for a goal, England had an equally strong

> > case for offside. The two poor decisions

> together

> > cancelled themselves out.

>

> Illogical nonsense.

When the ball was kicked at 17 secs, you can clearly see the Ukraine forward in an offside position.

[Undisputedtruth]

El Pibe Wrote:

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> For the time being. I can't see England beating

> Italy to be fair, but I'd certainly love them to,

> I can't stand bloody Italy (the football team, for

> tis a fine place).

I can see England beating the Italians. Italy struggled against a really piss poor Irish side.

[Otta]

UDT, did you not think much of Ireland then?

[Jah Lush]

The Italians always struggle at first in most competitions but get stronger as a tournament progresses. Hopefully, they'll continue to struggle and get knocked out on Sunday.

England latest: Wayne Rooney has tested positive for a performance enhancing rug.

[Chippy Minton]

It's not illogical at all. UDT is right - it is irrelevant whether it went over the line if the bloke was offside in the lead up. The ref should have blown up for that.

[Undisputedtruth]

I'd like to see Milner retain his position for his battling and workrate qualities. The Italians have an abundance of guile and England needs to be on their guard. I don't think Ox and Walcott are able to maintain defensive duties concentration but I'll put them on once the game has opened up.

As for John Terry, he never had pace in the first place and so I'm a little surprise to suddenly talking about his ability to read the game. John Terry's lack of pace means that England really can't play with a defensive line up further up the field. This in itself creates problems for their midfield in terms of positioning and the ability to dominate games.

Personally, I'll keep the same side that started against Ukraine.

[*Bob*]

To be honest,the Ukrainians deserved to lose for being a miserable bunch of gits throughout.

Who wants to watch a match of any sorts when all you can hear is booing? I get the point of it, but it just brings a air of shitness to the whole proceedings.

[Undisputedtruth]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> To be honest,the Ukrainians deserved to lose for

> being a miserable bunch of gits throughout.

>

> Who wants to watch a match of any sorts when all

> you can hear is booing? I get the point of it, but

> it just brings a air of shitness to the whole

> proceedings.

It'll be a sad day for football if fans behaviour decided the outcome of football matches, *Bob*.

I thought Ukraine played some great attacking flowing football but lacked that extra bit of quality to score goals.

[*Bob*]

"Boooooooooooooooooooooooooo... oooooooooooooo.... "

Ha! Enjoy your disallowed goal (even though it was offside), you miserable bunch of booing Johnny Foreigners.

[Mick Mac]

Chippy Minton Wrote:

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> It's not illogical at all. UDT is right - it is

> irrelevant whether it went over the line if the

> bloke was offside in the lead up. The ref should

> have blown up for that.

The fact is that at the point it crossed the line there were no prior stoppages and it would therefore be a goal, assuming we had the technology.

A goal should be a defintive thing, other decisions are judgement calls. As well as the offside, which was a close call, there were no doubt a number of challenges that could potentially have been given as fouls. You could confuse matters further by throwing those into the mix.

[Undisputedtruth]

England hater! ;-)

[Chippy Minton]

I'm not confused at all.

There was an offside in the build up - therefore the "goal" should not have been awarded.

Simple and logical.

[maxxi]

Undisputedtruth Wrote:

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> I'd like to see Milner retain his position for his

> battling and workrate qualities. The Italians have

> an abundance of guile and England needs to be on

> their guard. I don't think Ox and Walcott are able

> to maintain defensive duties concentration but

> I'll put them on once the game has opened up.

>

His 'battling and workrate' were to no effect and sod the defensive duties - Young and Milner were baled out by Cole and Johnson all night - England have to attack early.

If the Italians score they are well practised at bringing down the shutters and England's 'plan B' will spend itself in frustration and yellow cards.

A faint hope may be if Balotelli plays - get Lescott and Carroll to rub him up a little and hope he explodes.

[Undisputedtruth]

@maxxi

Milner's workrate and battling qualities led to Carroll's goal. Milner and Young are both capable players so I'll keep them. I was the first to say Young didn't have a great opening game but in the last game there were good signs of him linking up well with Rooney and Welbeck. Young's defensive qualities does leave a lot to be desired though.

Balotelli is Italy's best striker according to Mancini. A player well capable of scoring from tight positions and unlocking England's defensive barrier. I just hope Italy's manager keeps this fine talent on the bench for his petulent behaviour.

[Otta]

Let Terry whisper in his ear, and he'll walk off the pitch.

[maxxi]

Undisputedtruth Wrote:

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> @maxxi

>

> Milner's workrate and battling qualities led to

> Carroll's goal. Milner and Young are both capable

> players so I'll keep them.

I was really referring to his performance against Ukraine - he may be just knackered or have shot his bolt for this tournament but whatever the reason he is a spent force and, I think, a potential liability.

> I was the first to say

> Young didn't have a great opening game but in the

> last game there were good signs of him linking up

> well with Rooney and Welbeck. Young's defensive

> qualities does leave a lot to be desired though.

I think Young does work well playing behind the striker in a central position but not as a winger in this set-up so if included he would be better used behind Rooney instead of Wellbeck or Carroll.