1) I'm not going to watch this game obviously; however I have watched the build-up with a detatched amusement.
2) Capello has made a valiant attempt to bring in some fresh blood to the squad and freshen it up. However, the selection is quite strange. Exactly how did Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe play themselves out of the squad? Defoe scored one goal in two starts at the World Cup. Crouch didn't get a sniff. What has Carlton Cole done to come back into the set-up at Crouch's expense? Likewise Bent and Defoe?
The real selection area that I would question is in central midfield. 4-2-3-1 was THE formation at the World Cup, with almost every team setting up approximately like this. England's formation was supposed to be 4-2-3-1, but they switched to something more approximate to a diamond against Slovenia and Germany. Watching Barry get overrun by Ozil, Muller, Schweinsteiger and Khedira surely shows that the defensive midfield area is the one that England need to develop. Yet the squad is completely devoid of players capable of playing in the "double pivot", excluding Barry.
3) Capello's comment to the press that he doesn't know how he is going to motivate the players after the WC debacle was bizarre. Surely this is the man's job? Part of the reason England were so feted in the first place was Capello's ability to rebuild the confidence of players that had been shattered by their failures under McClaren. Now he himself admits he is unable to motivate them?
4) England will win of course. I imagine that Rooney will score. Wiltshire may even make a sparkling cameo (although has there ever been a more transparent attempt to look progressive? Wiltshire has done absolutely nothing to earn his place in the squad; surely Matthew Taylor or Fabrice Muamba are more deserving based on evidence). But there is a real sense that the England team at this stage is made up of fantastic club players who have not cut it internationally, and now never will due to the mental scars of repeated failure, journeymen who will never quite reach the top level, and callow youth who have done very little to back up the claims made on their behalf. Basically, England stink.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
You know you'll watch this, really, since there's fuck all else to do/on tv on wednesday evenings, and the oppurtunity to hurl abuse at Chiles plus witness the spectacle of a shit England team on possibly the worst pitch in any major stadium will be too much to resist.
But, yeah, England to win. Not placed my bet on what score England will win by yet. I'm thinking 2-1 as I can't see them keeping a clean sheet.
I didn't watch it. The boycott's in full effect.
Good work on the score.
Thanks. Slightly soured by who scored the goals but I'll take the cash, and the second half was pretty exciting since I had loot on it.
Chiles, you'll be pleased to hear, was as nails-on-blackboards matey as ever.
Post a Comment