England vs. Australia Match Thread

[Mac_Howard]

I don't like his tactics either. But we must recognise that England is short of three players to fill crucial positions.

The left midfield is now legendary and this does produce a very unbalanced team.

There's no dominating player in midfield, no one to make the ball winning tackle or protect the defence from opposition midfielders running at the central defence.

There's no second striker to work with Owen.

It doesn't help at the moment either with Owen being hopelessly out of form.

So I'm not convinced that he has a great team to work with. But I'm also not convinced of the job he does with what he has :D

[lanman]

Originally posted by machoward
But we must recognise that England is short of three players to fill crucial positions.

This, to me, is the problem. You don't make the players fit the formation, you make the formation suit the players you have. In other words play to your strengths.
If England have no quality left sided midfielders, why try playing centre forwards (Heskey) or right footed midfielders (Dyer) there. Change the formation to 5-3-2 and use Ashley Cole's strengths in going forward to your advantage, whilst reducing his defensive responsibilities. Unfortunately, Eriksson's obsession with 4-4-2 (with an occasional switch to 4-3-3) gets in the way of this. He is not flexible enough for international management. It's not like being in charge of Lazio, where if he needed a left midfielder he could go out and buy one. He should have been replaced in the summer, when Scolari was available. If England has any chance of success at Euro 2004 it will be in spite of the manager, not because of him.

[Qdog]

Originally posted by *Leeds 4 LiFe*
Kasai isn't an Aussie so that isn't relative to him.

http://sport.scmp.com/usr4/Mac/gspt/MATCH6b.jpg

Yes, it is.

[Bizzo]

Cries for Sven to go are both naive and stupid. Naive because they scream that he has to go without considering who would take his place. That is how you end up with Keegan in charge. Did Keegan's England team have one single performance that was better than yesterdays game. I don't think so.
The fire the manger mentality is partly responsible for England's current standing. The press (who lead the public opinion) turn managers into saviours and then into incompetents in order to sell papers. This happens with ever England manager (and many of the players). While this happens in other countries, the English FA fall victim to it much more than other countries. Look at the record of Roger Lemarre (sp) prior to France 98. When you hire a manager at any level you must do so with the confidence that he can do the job. That job isn't to win friendlies. He got England to the World Cup as group winners despite the horrible start he was given and I still have confidence he will get England to Euro04.
I agree that Sven, with the FAs support, has to take a stronger stand with club managers. Unfortunately we've seen in the past that pulled hamstrings and twisted ankles can spread rapidly if club managers want to hold back their players. Perhaps in this case the FA was partly to blame. It is FA Cup fixtures that are coming up this weekend.
Obviously yesterdays performance was poor and I think it shows that England (like Liverpool) is extremely reliant on dynamic performances from Gerrard to do well. While it is unfair to put the blame on one player I don't think Lampard is international quality and in the future that role should be filled by Butt, Hargreaves or Jenas if Gerrard is unavailable.

[GOALden Hawk]

How about giving the Aussies a bit of credit? I know England were garbage, but the fact remains Australia is the first team to win in England since Italy did it.

Incidentially, when was the last time a side put 3 past the Poms?

Anyway, as a long suffering Aussie (I doubt there has been a more frustrating team to follow in world football) yesterday was very sweet. I was at the city square in Melbourne and the place erupted - it's all over the papers here, very rare indeed.

Yes, we have beaten Brazil and France in the past 2 years, but both were 1-0 and perhaps a bit lucky. Yesterday, there was no luck involved - we played them off the park.

It seems certain we will now be based in Europe and play our friendlies there - a great result. The majority of this squad will be there in 2006, and I see no reason why we can't at least make the 2nd round.

And I hope it put to rest any doubts people had about Oceania getting direct qualification.

[lanman]

Originally posted by GOALden Hawk
And I hope it put to rest any doubts people had about Oceania getting direct qualification.

I don't think anyone has any serious doubts about Australia's merits as a team in the World Cup - what concerns most people is that they are basically given a free ticket. I know New Zealand won the recent Oceania Cup, but a full strength Australia side (as seen at Upton Park) would barely have to break sweat to qualify. Any time recently they have had to play a half decent time in a competetive game they have failed badly. They should earn their place rather than be given it.

[GOALden Hawk]

Originally posted by lanman
I don't think anyone has any serious doubts about Australia's merits as a team in the World Cup - what concerns most people is that they are basically given a free ticket. I know New Zealand won the recent Oceania Cup, but a full strength Australia side (as seen at Upton Park) would barely have to break sweat to qualify. Any time recently they have had to play a half decent time in a competetive game they have failed badly. They should earn their place rather than be given it.

I see your point - but it's mostly FIFA's fault for refusing to budge on their stance of keeping the OFC separate.

The ideal solution would have been winning OFC then playing the final group stage in Asia, but they wouldn't allow. The previous system of forcing us to play 2 proper competative matches every 4 years was incredibly unfair.

FIFA is keen to promote the game, hence the spot for the OFC - the likes of New Zealand and Fiji have to start somewhere, and the WCQ will be the boost the game needs in this country.

[jumhed]

I don't think anyone has said that Australia were lucky, just that England were crap. If England had been trying then there is no way that bunch of first division players (with the odd exception) would've scored one goal, let alone three.

Australia deserved to win because they played better football and showed a bit of passion. The English in the first half didn't try, and the second half was essentially the 'b/u21' side.

If england still played at Wembley I can guarantee you that the next friendly would be attended by between 15-25,000 people. The crowd aren't mugs, and SGE is a cocksmoker if he thinks we're going to put up with that cack. Because the next game will be somewhere yokel there'll always be bumpkins who don't make it to London wanting to watch this dross.


And as for David James in goal, Christ, if I could think of someone to replace SGE I'd want him fired now. Our last 3-4 performances have been utter balls. Someone needs to stick a firework up SGE's arse.

[Goa^uld]

Originally posted by jumhed
I don't think anyone has said that Australia were lucky, just that England were crap. If England had been trying then there is no way that bunch of first division players (with the odd exception) would've scored one goal, let alone three.

Australia deserved to win because they played better football and showed a bit of passion. The English in the first half didn't try, and the second half was essentially the 'b/u21' side.

If england still played at Wembley I can guarantee you that the next friendly would be attended by between 15-25,000 people. The crowd aren't mugs, and SGE is a cocksmoker if he thinks we're going to put up with that cack. Because the next game will be somewhere yokel there'll always be bumpkins who don't make it to London wanting to watch this dross.


And as for David James in goal, Christ, if I could think of someone to replace SGE I'd want him fired now. Our last 3-4 performances have been utter balls. Someone needs to stick a firework up SGE's arse.
One word: Excuses.
Actually, Australia is more than 'a bunch of first division players'
The majority of our players play in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.
The men who play in Division 1 and get a start for Australia are a vast minority

[jumhed]

Originally posted by Goa^uld
One word: Excuses.
Actually, Australia is more than 'a bunch of first division players'
The majority of our players play in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.
The men who play in Division 1 and get a start for Australia are a vast minority

Excuses? You dumb ************, I said the Aussies played better. although on our current run of form I think that Leichenstein will have a chance against us....

Oz only have two good players, Kewell and Emerton. Which was enough to beat us.

[jumhed]

Originally posted by Goa^uld
One word: Excuses.
Actually, Australia is more than 'a bunch of first division players'
The majority of our players play in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.
The men who play in Division 1 and get a start for Australia are a vast minority

'Vast minority'? Fu(king speng.

[Goa^uld]

OK then, name me all of the Div 1 players that start for Australia.

[jumhed]

Originally posted by Goa^uld
OK then, name me all of the Div 1 players that start for Australia.

No, you misunderstand me. I'm marvelling at your fantastic grasp of the English language.

[Goa^uld]

Oh, then please, demonstrate for me your wonderful use of the language.
And please also, pick my usage of it to absolute pieces.
These ARE the forums for correct use of the English language, arent they?

As a side note, you seem to have issues with me, going on two recent posts of yours. Reason? I have no clue, but congratulations anyway, I hope you can find happiness in not liking me.

[Matt Clark]

Actually, Australia is more than 'a bunch of first division players' The majority of our players play in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga. The men who play in Division 1 and get a start for Australia are a vast minority

ALOISI John, Athletico Osasuna (Spain)
BRESCIANO Marco, Parma (Italy)
CHIPPERFIELD Scott, FC Basel (Switzerland)
EMERTON Brett, Feyenoord (Netherlands)
GRELLA Vince, Empoli (Italy)
KALAC Zeljko, Perugia (Italy)
KEWELL Harry, Leeds United (England)
LAZARIDIS Stan, Birmingham City (England)
MOORE Craig, Rangers (Scotland)
MUSCAT Kevin, Rangers (Scotland)
NEILL Lucas, Blackburn Rovers (England)
OKON Paul, Leeds United (England)
POPOVIC Tony, Crystal Palace (England)
SCHWARZER Mark, Middlesbrough (England)
SKOKO Josip, Racing Genk (Belgium)
STERJOVSKI Mile, Lille (France)
VIDMAR Tony, Middlesbrough (England)
VIDUKA Mark, Leeds United (England)

Seven Premiership players, of whom 3 (Viduka, Kewell and Schwarzer) are regular starters for their club sides and of whom 3 (Kewell, Okon and Viduka) have as yet not spent time in Division One.

Three players currently plying their trade in Serie A, none as regulars (Grella, 17 appearances this season, Bresciano, O appearances, Kalac 8 appearances).

One player - John Aloisi, released by First Division Portsmouth last year after five years with Coventry City - plays in Spain, although his playing time is restricted by the presence of 'Chengue' Morales and Rosado.

One player plays in Division One.

Two play in the Scottish Premier league, including Kevin Muscat, fresh from perennial Division One nearly men Wolves.

One player plays in the Eredivisie, although it is only a matter of time before Brett Emerton is signed by one of the larger Premiership clubs.

The other three play in Switzerland, Belgium, and France.

So technically, you are correct - one player out of 19 is indeed a 'vast minority'.

[Goa^uld]

Thank you very much for taking the time to illustrate those facts to those who did not know them :)
Personally I did not have the time to do so (or the will, frankly) so I am glad someone else did

[Clan]

Hey Jumhed, how many Aussies are on the pub teams in town ;)

[jumhed]

Originally posted by Clanblue
Hey Jumhed, how many Aussies are on the pub teams in town ;)

Er......who gives a toss? They're all a bunch of refugee/immigrants anyway. Not true convict descendants as they ought to be.........

[Goa^uld]

jumhed, you are a racist, out and out. It doesn't offend me personally - unsubstantiated and mindless comments such as those never do. But, I just need to make it clear, that, in my eyes anyway, you are a racist.
I can not think of another way to put it

[jumhed]

Jumhed reflects on the Aussie government's policy of eradication of aborigine culture, people, and land.