What kind of player was David Platt?

[Andy Bennett]

Originally posted by maczebus
Odd, but then there were loads of players that never properly fitted in - it's just these stick out a bit further.

1 and 2 certainly, for whatever reason. But from a personal point of view I've not fully understood why so many think Barnes didn't really fit in. True he wasn't an ever present but in my memory, when he was there, I never had the feeling of dread I get whenever Heskey's name is mentioned. He had more good moments than his England reputation would suggest. IMO.
The problem with John Barnes, (like his namesake, Peter), was that he never reproduced his club form at international level.

Well, that's not strictly true - he scored a fantastic goal against Brazil in Brazil, dribbling through their entire mid-field and defense before putting the ball in the net.

[Matt Clark]

Originally posted by rymannryan
Thanks for the info.

I've read many places that people agree that these players never fit in with England.

1. Steve McManaman
2. Robbie Fowler
3. John Barnes

True? Strange that they were all Liverpool players.

Only partially true. Digger was one of the first black players to play for England and, as such, suffered quite a bit of abuse from our "support" at that time. Whilst his place in the squad was not thus affected, he has confessed to never feeling properly at home in the England set-up. The fact that his best performances came in the Liverpool Red is presumably a consequence. (There's that mad story of the flight home from Brazil after he scored that wonder goal at the Maracana. The players shared a plane with a bunch of fans, who began singing "We only won 1-0!" at him, in reference to the fact that they refused to acknowledge an England goal scored by a black player).

Fowler was just unlucky - at his peak, he was the finest striker in the country except for one man. Alan Shearer. With the England side built around Shearer for nigh-on a decade, the secondary role was never likely to be bestowed long-term onto a similarly predatory player. Sheringham was for long periods the preferred foil for Shearer (and rightly so, it has to be said). Once Shearer began to wane, Fowler ran head-first into a seriously rank sequence of injuries from which he has still not fully recovered. Barring a very strong performance next season, it could well be that WC2002 was Fowler's last competitive involvement with England (and even then he only got 45 minutes against Denmark with the game won).

McManaman had his best spell in an England shirt before, during and immediately subsequent to Euro 96. He then began a long period of decline at Liverpool which was mirrored in his England profile. The move to Real Madrid should have revived his fortunes, but it would appear that his demeanour did not appeal to SGE. Again though, I don't think it's a case of him "not fitting", per se. He has played for his country 37 times, after all. Not a vast amount for a player of his profile, but then history is littered with players who never made the impact on their national side that their talent and profile would seem to demand.

[Real Ray]

http://www.geocities.com/castmind/platt.html

I've added the Barnes goal for those interested.

[Mobile]

Originally posted by Andy Bennett
Anderton was on the right wing with Macca on the left.

They swapped around a fair bit as well. One of the best things about Venables' teams was they always seemed tactically aware - like when he brought Redknapp on against Scotland to completely change the game.

Real Ray - any chance of adding Gazza's goal against Scotland? Cheers.

[Father Ted]

1990 Squad:
Peter Shilton
Chris Woods
Stuart Pearce
Des Walker
Terry Butcher
Paul Parker
Mark Wright
Tony Dorigo
Neil Webb
Bryan Robson
Chris Waddle
Steve McMahon
David Platt
Steve Hodge
Paul Gascoigne
Trevor Steven
Peter Beardsley
Gary Lineker
John Barnes
Steve Bull

[Real Ray]

Originally posted by Mobile
Real Ray - any chance of adding Gazza's goal against Scotland? Cheers.

I'll have to look through my tapes, but I don't have in mpg at the moment.

[MyHouse!]

Originally posted by rymannryan
WHAT!!!???? These games were on ESPN!!!!??? Why oh why did I wait til WC98 to get into soccer?????? I have the All The Goals of Euro 96 video so from what I've seen, it looked like a better England team than the one right now.

I took off work to watch the semifinal against Germany

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

Originally posted by Father Ted
1990 Squad:
Peter Shilton
Chris Woods
Stuart Pearce
Des Walker
Terry Butcher
Paul Parker
Mark Wright
Tony Dorigo
Neil Webb
Bryan Robson
Chris Waddle
Steve McMahon
David Platt
Steve Hodge
Paul Gascoigne
Trevor Steven
Peter Beardsley
Gary Lineker
John Barnes
Steve Bull

Wow! Tony Dorigo! Trevor Steven! Brings back memories.

[jumhed]

Whatever happened to Neil Webb?

[skipshady]

Originally posted by jumhed
Whatever happened to Neil Webb? He had a serious achilles injury (is achilles injury ever not serious) before the World Cup and I don't think he was the same player after that. That's how I remember it.

Speaking of injuries, it's weird seeing Darren Anderton's name in both Euro 96 and WC 98 squads. I can't believe he stayed healthy for two whole tournaments.

[Real Ray]

http://www.geocities.com/castmind/platt90.html

More David Platt from 1990. Goals vs Italy and Cameroon

[skipshady]

Did someone say "Gascoigne's goal against Scotland"?

It's here (http://homepage.mac.com/shorty247/.Public/Gascoigne_Euro96.mpg). Connection can be dodgy, so be patient.

EDIT: if the video doesn't play at first, try hitting refresh. That should do the trick.

[Mobile]

Originally posted by skipshady
Did someone say "Gascoigne's goal against Scotland"?

It's here (http://homepage.mac.com/shorty247/.Public/Gascoigne_Euro96.mpg). Connection can be dodgy, so be patient.

EDIT: if the video doesn't play at first, try hitting refresh. That should do the trick.

Thanks.

Regarding Anderton, I think he spent the whole time from 1996 until 1998 basically sitting on the treatment table, then miraculously recovered in time for the WC.

[sinner78]

Originally posted by Mobile
Thanks.

Regarding Anderton, I think he spent the whole time from 1996 until 1998 basically sitting on the treatment table, then miraculously recovered in time for the WC.

No ,he was injured from 92 till about 94...
Before euro 96 he was playing well for Rangers in the jock league.

[Matt Clark]

Eh? Darren Anderton began his career at Portsmouth and moved to Spurs for in 1992. He has never played in Scotland. You're thinking of Gazza, not Dazza. ;)

[Matt Clark]

Eh? Darren Anderton began his career at Portsmouth and moved to Spurs for in 1992. He has never played in Scotland.

[sinner78]

Aye ,I read skipshadys post about gazza..
mobile quoted his post and I mis-read mobile's post.
these things happen from time to time.

[Mobile]

Originally posted by sinner_ronald_monk
Aye ,I read skipshadys post about gazza..
mobile quoted his post and I mis-read mobile's post.
these things happen from time to time.

You're losing it s_r_m.........

I remember watching that Gascoigne documentary which showed him training with Rangers after the Euro 96 draw was made - he was basically jogging round the pitch shouting out "Jocks...... piss on 'em....summer. Jocks.......shit on 'em.....summer." Class :D

[rymannryan]

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/en/pf/h/cg/index.html


You can see the England vs. Cameroon match from Italia '90 in its entirety there along with a whole host of other classic matches. Also has little videos of the greatest players of all time. I stumbled accross this in another thread.

[352gialloblu]

That is a ridiculously cool link! I ordered a few of those games on video in order to see them (which is better way to watch--never realized what it would be like without commentary!) but it's great they have them archived!

My first football memories are of watching Italia 90 at my Grandmother's house on holiday. Pavarotti's anthem still brings tears to my eyes. I don't remember much about the actual play, except that I was sad when England went out, and very upset that the final was so bad, and happy that Argentina lost. And I remember playing the cup over again in her garden one-on-one with my brother and a tiny promotional football...ah, happy times...