England-Germany Friendly Match Thread [R]

Er... what does AFAIK mean. (i dont speak fluent cyber )

 

One common theme I notice whenever England put in a shyte performance (which is every game these days) is the first thing people seem to do is come on to boards like these and defend the players who play for their respective clubs, rather than look at the bigger picture and what might be best for the team. It's pathetic. In turn, you get people slagging off the players who play for rival clubs.

I think it's safe to say that the back four looked pretty solid for most of tonight. The first goal was a gaffe by the keeper, the second an unstoppable rocket from 20+ yards. The only person to blame is Robinson for the first. Other than that, Rio and Terry looked pretty comfortable and there is no reason to suggest otherwise I don't think.

Richards proved he can play against the best on Wednesday. Maybe it's premature to take thr RB slot off Neville, but I'd be open minded to it because Richards does not look out of his depth and, if anything, offers a significant threat going forward. More than most.

Chelsea supporters are going to hate me for this but if most people had to make a choice between Gerrard and Lampard then I'd say 60-70% of people would take Gerrard. As Gerrard and Lampard cannot play in the same midfield, then Lampard has to be dropped and Gerrard needs to be played with a holding player such as Hargreaves. It's tough luck, but having a winning side isn't about packing your side out with galacticos. It's about having a mix that works.

Up front Owen clearly wasn't match fit and you can tell that a mile off. Smith did what he does but at the top level it can be found wanting. Personally I'd include him in an England squad but does he really offer the goal threat that Defoe, Bent and even Crouch offer? I'm not sure he does, in which case you have to ask yourself, why is he occupying a slot? Unless injury calls for it, he needn't be included I don't think.

 

I thought Richards was outstanding....to have that much confidence to go at one of the best teams in the world in only his second start was very refreshing. An English defender that has more forward gears than reverse ones is quite rare! All i can say to Neville is dont let the door hit you in the arse on the way out!

 

Germany fielded an experimental side against Denmark following a fairly convincing away victory at the Czechs. Only the left back Jansen was first choice.

Against Cyprus nearly half the team was first choice. Germany didn't play well but should have won regardless if not for wasteful finishing and a keeper error by Hildebrand. Since they have won all their other competitive matches, this was arguably the only meaningful setback for Germany since the WC.

Germany recently scored 4 and 2 goals against Slovakia. Perhaps you're thinking of France who managed just one goal recently?

In any case, I don't think it would be exaggerated to argue that Germany's qualification campaign for the next Euro goes well, for what it's worth. They have more points (per game) than anybody else in Europe and they are even playing fairly well. So well in fact that even the English bookies have Germany as the favorite to win the Euro.

Whatever can be said about England, Germany isn't crap at the moment. So it's no shame to lose to them.

 

Its typical England. We will just scrape through to the finals. Play very well in the group stages. Win the first knock out game convincingly and go out on penalties in the quaters. Probably to Germany Its what we do.

 

Rather a boring post IMO

 

extranjero already answered your question, but still.. This was the lineup against Denmark:

Enke
Fritz, Madlung, M. Friedrich, Jansen
Hilbert (58. Freier), Rolfes (71. Castro), Hitzlsperger, Trochowski
Kuranyi (46. S. Kießling), Schlaudraff (78. Helmes)
http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500001&no_cache=1&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat879&lang=D&cHash=b6d0b81acb

 

agreed and a great post.

Personally I would have no issue with Lampard being dropped, but it would be nice for the "we hate Lampard" bandwagon to slow down and actually watch a game every once in a while. By no means was he the best player on the pitch against zee Germans, but by no means was he "crap, etc, etc" as claimed by some in this thread. My question would be- if Gerrard has a run of 5-8 games and things clearly have not improved then would the bandwagon fans and the typical unbaised, non fickle English media call for Lampard to come back?

The backline looked okay, with the exception of dodgy Robinson- who appears to have lost all confidence since the infamous Gary Neville back pass. I like Richards and no disrespect to Neville- who has been a great and loyal servant, but it may be time to look towards the future in that position.

The midfield is clearly the problem, their is not creativity or movement- McSven and his wondeful tactics. The team looks so disjointed and unorganised at times its not even funny, and this is the same team that has been playing together for quite a while now.

As for the fowards- yes Alan Smith works hard, but he is not international class (see Andy Cole for reference). He should not be given a spot as he has been given ample opportunity to prove himself. I would really like to see Dean Ashton given a run out when he returns to fitness. Dyer, Defoe, Crouch- we all know what they produce. Perhaps Bent and AJ deserve a second chance, but I would really like to see some new players brought into the mix to play along with Owen and Rooney.

 

i can see why you lost then

 

I would rather have him in the team than not though

 

mcClown fails as a manager.
He failed at club level so why the hell should we expect him to do any better at international level.

he will fail and that is 100% guaranteed. Whether it be in qualifying or in the tournie. His football IQ is zero.

sven was boring but organised. He got the results in qualifying.
But mcClown isnt even organised. he is a complete duffer.

 

I can't defend Germany's lackluster performance against Cyprus but Germany fielded a complete B team against Denmark. The names where so new that the Danish FA actually stated publically that they felt insulted by Loew's lack of seriousness with the friendly.

Soccer-Germany look to future in Denmark friendly

BERLIN, March 26 (Reuters) - Germany coach Joachim Loew has no need to worry about the outcome when he sends out an experimental team to face Denmark in a friendly international in Duisburg on Wednesday.

 

Well exactly. It was more of a calculated loss though...

 

I wonder how many times the players have asked themselves that.

 

1. Play with a higher tempo.
2. Play fit strikers (even if inexperienced)
3. Balanced midfield (players playing in their best positions, and knowing their jobs)
4. Mixing attacks: Through the middle, wing play (crosses), running at defenders.
5. Goalkeepers....errr.....cross our fingers.

 

comme i really cant be bothered to quote your monotonous post and reply to everything cus we are clogging up this thread

you dont really make any sort of point anyway, probably senile

 

Really does not matter who plays as long as McSven coaches

Except perhaps in goal, Robingson is not doing it, James can be brilliant for his club sometimes, and have some spectacular saves on occasion, but that he will make massive blunders for the NT it is as unassailable a fact as exists on Earth. Time to give Carson a shot, rather have an inexperianced but potentially exceptional or just not hapless goalkeeper for the qualifying rounds than two experianced blunderers

Defensivly fairly solid regardless of who he chooses. First goal was down to Robingson, second Rio gave him a bit too much room but it was a great shot, those happpen sometimes.

Midfield, personally I hope Lampard sits so he is not associated with the impending car crash, but with McSven's scheme and habit of playing players away from natural positions not going to matter who plays that much. I mean Joey Cole, is the one McSven has singled out for a bad performence Wednesday

Strikers, after Owen and Rooney, the most that could hoped for at this point is Dyer does not start and perhaps someone that actually is a striker plays....

Basically for England to advance they have to go through the tough 4 matches hoping that the Goalkeeper does not drop too many into his own net, the defense is solid which is likely and you get enough individuall brillance from J. Cole, Rooney, a posh free kick, etc to get by, as teamplay and tactics does not look likely

And it is no use looking for a silver lineing because the FA can be counted on to likely find an even worse, well equally as bad hard to imagine worse, replacement.

Fabio Capello, is in town unemployed, I'd be all for a boring run to a Final.

 

Considering Ashley Cole wasn't playing on Wednesday, not passing to him was probably a good idea.

That aside, certainly on Wednesday and against Brazil in the previous match, he did ignore every single overlapping run Shorey made after he'd passed to him, preferring to try and do it all on his own instead.

People often knock the England players for not trying. I don't think that's the case. I just think they try and do it individually rather than as a team sometimes.

 

Germany actually had tons of chances but it was just one of those nights where nothing wanted to go in.