Getting the Excuses in Early

[Stretch Armstrong]

I was disappointed to see the Sven, the Captain Beckham and numerous other players repeating the same mantra and blaming the heat for their poor second half performance. It is not the mentality of a ‘winner’ to have already started reeling out the excuses and blame ‘la force majeur’ after the first game. Its a worrying insight into the post match interviews which may lie ahead.

England should look to the positives that can be gleaned form the match. A record of only one win in the last 9 openers is ample evidence of how often England struggle in tournament openers regardless of the opposition. It could be argued that in Paraguay they beat a second rate team but this is a side that managed to qualify from a tough qualifying group, recording a very impressive 1-0 victory against Argentina along the way. Their recent tournament record would suggest they are no mugs either, beaten in 1998 by a golden goal against the Hosts and eventual winners France and by a single goal in extra time against the eventual finalists Germany in 2002.

My major gripe with the England side and formation is the central midfield combination Sven chooses to field.

I distinctly remember Sven dismissing the notion of playing Beckham centrally on the basis that he thought players should be played in their club positions at International al level.

This begs the question Sven-Why oh why do you continue to persist playing with two players in central midfield, neither of whom play there regularly in such a formation for their clubs? Its almost embarrassing how little football is played progressively through the middle and other players could be potentially much more effective and comfortable with a change of shape or personnel.

But to be honest I’m tired of getting frustrated over Sven’s decisions, time to simply get behind the team

[sinner78]

jeez ,stop crying you aussie muppet.
Sven used your tactical plan for the last 30 minutes of the game.
and it was useless like everyone else said it would be.
Crouch up front on his own !!! worthless!!


I agree about the heat thing being a lame excuse .
as Ive already started a thread about it.
Now ,how long before you get your 'sidekick' cockend to come in and back you up ?

[sendorange]

This thread is unnecessary, just more attention seeking from Stretch. There is already a thread about the midfield, a match thread and a thread about the conditions.

[mixmastermatt]

jeez ,stop crying you aussie muppet.
Sven used your tactical plan for the last 30 minutes of the game.
and it was useless like everyone else said it would be.
Crouch up front on his own !!! worthless!!


I agree about the heat thing being a lame excuse .
as Ive already started a thread about it.
Now ,how long before you get your 'sidekick' cockend to come in and back you up ?

I, agree.

Stop the poxy whinging allready. English players play in temps from -5 to +15 and not +30 and we were not allowed water breaks. Did you not see the state of the players after the game? They were all but dead. Terry couldn't feel his feet because they were so covered in blisters.

Have you ever tried pl;aying world class international level in 30+ celcius for an hour and a half with out much water breaks? Probably not and don't give me that "they are trained professinals" BS because they are human beings and it isn't possible to adapt to that climate propaly for several years.

Stop whinging!

[mixmastermatt]

time to simply get behind the team

YES!!!!

Learn from your own quotes!

[Stretch Armstrong]

jeez ,stop crying you aussie muppet.
Sven used your tactical plan for the last 30 minutes of the game.
and it was useless like everyone else said it would be.
Crouch up front on his own !!! worthless!!


I agree about the heat thing being a lame excuse .
as Ive already started a thread about it.
Now ,how long before you get your 'sidekick' cockend to come in and back you up ?

Can you actually read?

They didnt try my tactics at all. Not that I need any further confirmation of your inability to comprehend what I was trying to say to you.

[Stretch Armstrong]

This thread is unnecessary, just more attention seeking from Stretch. There is already a thread about the midfield, a match thread and a thread about the conditions.


I have neither the time nor the will to trawl through every post and thread there is.

If you are not interested - don't respond

Simple enough for you?

[Stretch Armstrong]

I, agree.

Stop the poxy whinging allready. English players play in temps from -5 to +15 and not +30 and we were not allowed water breaks. Did you not see the state of the players after the game? They were all but dead. Terry couldn't feel his feet because they were so covered in blisters.

Have you ever tried pl;aying world class international level in 30+ celcius for an hour and a half with out much water breaks? Probably not and don't give me that "they are trained professinals" BS because they are human beings and it isn't possible to adapt to that climate propaly for several years.

Stop whinging!

Where did I deny the heat was a problem?

You would appear to misinterpret my thread. But hey- You ll fit right in on the Big Soccer England Forum

[The Jitty Slitter]

dear oh dear

Lampard plays on the left of a flat 3 or CM in a 442 for chelsea. Either way, very centrally.

Gerrard frequently plays CM for liverpool.

[Stretch Armstrong]

dear oh dear

Lampard plays on the left of a flat 3 or CM in a 442 for chelsea. Either way, very centrally.

Gerrard frequently plays CM for liverpool.


For the vast majority of the time and in games with the most at stake, Chlesea play with 3. He played deeper against Barca at the Nou CAmp to accomodate Robben centrally and was woeful

Playing in a three alongside Makalele and Essien is COMPLETLEY different to playing alongside a Gerrard who struggles in the defensive midfield posiiton.


Gerrard only really plays as part of 2 in a central midfield in HOME GAMES aginst WEAKER premiership sides and he ll have either Alonso,Sissoko, or Hamann alongside him. This is in stark contrast to playing in a defensive position you arent used behind a player used to playing in a different role ahead of different types of players week in week out.

Look to see where Gerrard plays against the top sides in the toughest matches for Liverpool. It ll be on the right or as an attacking mid with TWO holding players behind him.

These positions suit Gerrard much more as he can play his cut thrust game without worrying about losing possession in dangerous areas. He is WASTED in defensive midfield for England

[The Jitty Slitter]

For the vast majority of the time and in games with the most at stake, Chlesea play with 3. He played deeper against Barca at the Nou CAmp to accomodate Robben centrally and was woeful

Playing in a three alongside Makalele and Essien is COMPLETLEY different to playing alongside a Gerrard who struggles in the defensive midfield posiiton.


Gerrard only really plays as part of 2 in a central midfield in HOME GAMES aginst WEAKER premiership sides and he ll have either Alonso,Sissoko, or Hamann alongside him. This is in stark contrast to playing in a defensive position you arent used behind a player used to playing in a different role ahead of different types of players week in week out.

Look to see where Gerrard plays against the top sides in the toughest matches for Liverpool. It ll be on the right or as an attacking mid with TWO holding players behind him.

These positions suit Gerrard much more as he can play his cut thrust game without worrying about losing possession in dangerous areas. He is WASTED in defensive midfield for England


I'm aware of who they play with for their club sides.

you claimed they don't play CM. Both do.

[Stretch Armstrong]

I'm aware of who they play with for their club sides.

you claimed they don't play CM. Both do.


In a 2!

Very different

[Chewmylegoff]

I have neither the time nor the will to trawl through every post and thread there is.

If you are not interested - don't respond

Simple enough for you?

we're not interested in your crappy posts - please don't clog our forum up with them, given that you're not english, and not an england fan, why not jump off a cliff instead of wasting everyone's time.

and also sven did play the formation which you said should be used - crouch up front, central midfield of hargreaves, lampard, gerrard. the only difference was that downing was on the left. you said that it would mean that we could hold the ball much more effectively and play higher up the pitch. can you now admit that you were wrong and that you have no idea what you're talking about, and perhaps apologise for being such a clueless, feckless twat.

[Stretch Armstrong]

we're not interested in your crappy posts - please don't clog our forum up with them, given that you're not english, and not an england fan, why not jump off a cliff instead of wasting everyone's time.

and also sven did play the formation which you said should be used - crouch up front, central midfield of hargreaves, lampard, gerrard. the only difference was that downing was on the left. you said that it would mean that we could hold the ball much more effectively and play higher up the pitch. can you now admit that you were wrong and that you have no idea what you're talking about, and perhaps apologise for being such a clueless, feckless twat.


hahaahaha!!! Apologise??!!! How precious...

How am I wrong exactly? I would never play Hargreaves on his OWN as a holding player. And how can you judge a tactical solution on the basis of the last 10 mins of a heat sapped encounter with England most inventive attacking player(Cole) off the pitch?

Im glad Sven tried what he did, shows he is capable of some critical reasoning. However by introducing Downing he yet again proved how impossible to fathom he is when making tactical substitutions.

England had already adopted their submissive style of play, essentially lining up on thire own box waiting to get raped.

Fresh legs and mind were more imortant than tactics during the second half of the game.

[Chewmylegoff]

hahaahaha!!! Apologise??!!! How precious...

How am I wrong exactly? I would never play Hargreaves on his OWN as a holding player. And how can you judge a tactical solution on the basis of the last 10 mins of a heat sapped encounter with England most inventive attacking player(Cole) off the pitch?

Im glad Sven tried what he did, shows he is capable of some critical reasoning. However by introducing Downing he yet again proved how impossible to fathom he is when making tactical substitutions.

England had already adopted their submissive style of play, essentially lining up on thire own box waiting to get raped.

Fresh legs and mind were more imortant than tactics during the second half of the game.

owen was withdrawn after 55 minutes and joe cole was only withdrawn with 8 minutes to go. you got half an hour of what you were whining for, and it was awful.

[The Jitty Slitter]

In a 2!

Very different

you said they don't play there and they do. frequently.

[The Jitty Slitter]

owen was withdrawn after 55 minutes and joe cole was only withdrawn with 8 minutes to go. you got half an hour of what you were whining for, and it was awful.

not quite - stretch wanted to pair huggies and becks as dm's with becks operating on the left side :D

[Chewmylegoff]

not quite - stretch wanted to pair huggies and becks as dm's with becks operating on the left side :D

why settle for two defensive midfielders when we could play nine, ten, even eleven! the only restriction in the rules is that one player has to wear a goalkeepers kit and gloves, but he doesn't have to stay in the penalty area.

[sinner78]

owen was withdrawn after 55 minutes and joe cole was only withdrawn with 8 minutes to go. you got half an hour of what you were whining for, and it was awful.


that was our worst phase of the game too.
it was all too easy before sven had that brainstorm.
the laughable decision to have crouch alone up front which effectively freed up 2 of their defenders to badger our midfield .

thank god stretch is just a aussie spaz and not a football manager.

[Stretch Armstrong]

owen was withdrawn after 55 minutes and joe cole was only withdrawn with 8 minutes to go. you got half an hour of what you were whining for, and it was awful.

You mean crouch playing upfront on his own?

Or Owen been taken off? hahah I bet that really riled you didnt it

To be honest he looked fit oe me...if he'd played the same game but scored a tap in everyone would be saying how wonderful he is.

England were not playing the formation I was 'whining' for.

However the performance didnt get any worse, the opening 10 mins of the second half were appalling. Paraguay had got to grips with England

As I ve already pointed out England were sitting too deep but thats what we do when we are winning under Sven. And they were f ing knackered