Can we PLEASE stop blaming the bloody WEATHER ?

[Easy 10]

The thing with your anti-England and in particular ant-Sven rants, Easy, is that we've heard it all before and they aren't objective. If we play well, Sven is lucky and it's the players. If we play badly, it's all Sven's fault. You can't have it both ways.

You're fully entitled to your view, but it's difficult to take it seriously any more.

Do you not see a recurring, predictable pattern though ? Grab an early goal, then hope its enough and defend, defend, defend. Its happened time and time again - we NEVER try to force home our advantage. Its how we lost in 2002 and 2004, and yesterday was yet ANOTHER echo of it. That team should be better than that - Paraguay looked like a pub team in the first half. They could barely string 3 passes together. The 2nd half we sat back and let them have all the possession. Fortunately for us, Paraguay are a fairly witless team without guile or invention - but make no mistake, had we been playing someone like the Ivory Coast yesterday, we'd have come instuck BIG time putting in a 2nd half like that.

Until that team learns how to play for 90 minutes and not 45, we're going to be nothing more than also-rans. Whether the sun is out or not.

 

[Giraffe]

I wish people would stop moaning about this. It was very hot and pretty humid. You watch the games that have played at that temperature at the same time of the day (like Holland) and they struggled.

Fact is we dominated the game in terms of goal scoring chances despite not performing as well as we know we can. And we won the game. Thats all you can hope for in the opening game.

And it really was incredibly hot, and certainly worth noting by all the players. What is wrong with that. Its not an excuse, its a fact. But depsite that we were still the better team by a long way.

Come on England.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

Our strong point is the defence though - how many times in the past were we bombing forward only to get caught out on the counter attack? Think of the Keegan reign, Portugal at Euro 2000 springs to mind.

I'd like to see us play some sexy football too but if we win the World Cup by 1-0 every game and backs to the wall stuff well, it goes without saying we'd all take that?

It WAS very hot out there yesterday, they are only human after all. I don't see no harm in sitting back a bit in the second half because we did defend well - did Paraguay actually have one shot on target? Did they ever look like scoring?

 

[Lammy]

The thing about the heat isue that annoys me is it's the same at EVERY world cup. You can't tell me it wasn't hotter in Mexico for 86.

I'm happy to accept that it will impact on a game and we're not going to see the usual Premiership 100mph stuff for 90mins. However, what do we do to deal with the heat?

Why wasn't the team out training in Spain or somewhere to condition themselves a bit. It won't make you immune but it must help them to understand what they can and can't do in that sort of heat. Also how about changing some tactics so that we don't burn out so fast. The English game is high tempo but we will always come unstuck on major tournaments which are ALL held in the SUMMER if we try this when it is hot.

How about not going at it full tilt in the first half so that there is something left in the tank for the second half?

How about making a triple sub at 65mins to add some freash legs. All or none of these ideas may or may not work but whilst I believe the heat is a factor is shoul dnot be a suprise and we should have PLANNED better to deal with it.

 

[Lokki 7]

I would have agreed with you Easy had I not experienced just how tough it was sitting in the full glare of the sun watching a big screen in Frankfurt. At least spectators in the stadium had shade, I didn't and neither did the players most of the time and it was f***ing hot with no breeze. I was drained after the match, alright I'd had a few beers which didn't help but I also sat on my arse as opposed to running 11km as Lampard does in an average game. Give them a break, they are not supermen. They did a job in tough conditions and got a result, this is how you win world cups.

 

[Easy 10]

The thing about the heat isue that annoys me is it's the same at EVERY world cup. You can't tell me it wasn't hotter in Mexico for 86.

I'm happy to accept that it will impact on a game and we're not going to see the usual Premiership 100mph stuff for 90mins. However, what do we do to deal with the heat?

Why wasn't the team out training in Spain or somewhere to condition themselves a bit. It won't make you immune but it must help them to understand what they can and can't do in that sort of heat. Also how about changing some tactics so that we don't burn out so fast. The English game is high tempo but we will always come unstuck on major tournaments which are ALL held in the SUMMER if we try this when it is hot.

How about not going at it full tilt in the first half so that there is something left in the tank for the second half?

How about making a triple sub at 65mins to add some freash legs. All or none of these ideas may or may not work but whilst I believe the heat is a factor is shoul dnot be a suprise and we should have PLANNED better to deal with it.

I couldn't agree more, Lammy.
I think ther heat was a FACTOR in the poor 2nd half display, but it wasn't the sole reason for it. In the first half, England were passing the ball well, forcing Paraguay back, playing it in their half, keeping them on the back foot, and by half time Paraguay were slightly fortunate not to be a couple of goals down. But right from the very start of the 2nd half, once Sven had endowed the team with his 'pearls of wisdom', we saw a totally different England team.

Now what does Sven tell them to do at half time ? Going by the performance, it sure as hell wasn't "more of the same lads", was it ? Instead, England sat deep to protect the lead, lost their shape (specially after Owen was taken off), the passing went to shit and as a result it was England chasing around after the ball instead of Paraguay. The heat wasn't the biggest problem - its the mentality Sven sends them out with. Instead of pressing on for that second killer goal (as we did in the 1st half), I think he's telling that team to "Protect what you have, sit on the lead". England arn't Italy. We're not particularly good at sitting on leads, and whilst you'll usually just about get away with it against the Paraguays (they WERE rubbish, I don't care what anyone says about the "third best team in South America"), we are going to come unstuck when we try to do that against the bestter teams.

Again.

 

[Marshy]

They had to blame something and the weather is very convenient.

They could hardly say yet again the managers tactics and team talk f***ed us beyond belief as usual could they.....

 

[Simon Morgan]

i can't believe how wrong people's priorities are at the moment. yes, we played shit in the second half but we won the bloody game and we are in a terrific position to win the group! sitting on a lead against paraguay is not exactly the most risky thing to do in world football. it's not about showing ourselves off, its about winning bloody games.

to me, some people almost wish failure on england, so they can have a few more digs at sven and we get this same old over-emotional thread here after every single england game. sven is pretty stupid sometimes, but people just go way over the top, slagging him off for everything, when sometimes the players clearly look half-cock themselves sometimes.

god knows what people would say if we did win the world cup "give him a KNIGHTHOOD"

 

[Simon Morgan]

the passing went to shit and as a result it was England chasing around after the ball instead of Paraguay. The heat wasn't the biggest problem - its the mentality Sven sends them out with.

so sven does the passing on the pitch, does he they're all big lads, they all know what its like to win a major trophy! for f***'s sake, i think they can possibly help themselves out with that "wrong mentality".

 

[Hannibal smith]

Do you not see a recurring, predictable pattern though ? Grab an early goal, then hope its enough and defend, defend, defend. Its happened time and time again - we NEVER try to force home our advantage. Its how we lost in 2002 and 2004, and yesterday was yet ANOTHER echo of it. That team should be better than that - Paraguay looked like a pub team in the first half. They could barely string 3 passes together. The 2nd half we sat back and let them have all the possession. Fortunately for us, Paraguay are a fairly witless team without guile or invention - but make no mistake, had we been playing someone like the Ivory Coast yesterday, we'd have come instuck BIG time putting in a 2nd half like that.

Until that team learns how to play for 90 minutes and not 45, we're going to be nothing more than also-rans. Whether the sun is out or not.

What about the friendly against Argentina when we scored 2 in the last 10 minutes, Uruguay in the last 5? Not tournament play I'll grant but still enough to suggest every games not the same. Your view on this is so polarised you sound like Morris moaning about Leon Knight, ESPECIALLY with your use of CAPITALS.

We were good enough Saturday. We did enough and always looked conformtable. 3 points, top of the group and need to beat Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the last 16 with a probable draw against Ecudoar. I'd of bitten your hand off if that was offered before.

We can peak later as I can't believe we would turn a performance like that against the Dutch for instance. Also, all the kick offs are now later, so, we won't be listening to those excuses about the heat again (which I agree are a bit tiresome but as predictable as the whining about the new World Cup ball).

I'm encouraged. Only Portugal and Argentina have looked anything like fluent so far. We will get better and there is nothing to fear so far.

 

[Easy 10]

I would have agreed with you Easy had I not experienced just how tough it was sitting in the full glare of the sun watching a big screen in Frankfurt. At least spectators in the stadium had shade, I didn't and neither did the players most of the time and it was f***ing hot with no breeze. I was drained after the match, alright I'd had a few beers which didn't help but I also sat on my arse as opposed to running 11km as Lampard does in an average game. Give them a break, they are not supermen. They did a job in tough conditions and got a result, this is how you win world cups.

Fair enough Lokki, and as I said to Lammy, the heat was going to be a factor. But we didn't see a gradual decline in Englands performance during the 2nd half, as would be the case as the heat took its toll. From the 46th minute onwards, England were bloody poor. They came out to sit back, and then hung their hats squarely on the the time-honoured "it was too hot" excuse for the poor quality of the performance in that 2nd half. England are the only team in this tourmanent who I ever hear complaining about the conditions - everyone else just seems to get on with it.

 

[Simon Morgan]

What about the friendly against Argentina when we scored 2 in the last 10 minutes, Uruguay in the last 5? Not tournament play I'll grant but still enough to suggest every games not the same. Your view on this is so polarised you sound like Morris moaning about Leon Knight, ESPECIALLY with your use of CAPITALS.

We were good enough Saturday. We did enough and always looked conformtable. 3 points, top of the group and need to beat Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the last 16 with a probable draw against Ecudoar. I'd of bitten your hand off if that was offered before.

We can later as I can't believe we would turn a performance like that against the Dutch for instance. Also, all the kick offs are now later, so, we won't be listening to those excuses about the heat again (which I agree are a bit tiresome but as predictable as the whining about the new World Cup ball).

I'm encouraged. Only Portugal and Argentina have looked anything like fluent so far. We will get better and there is nothing to fear so far.

agreed 100%. best team we've had for ages, in a prime position to top the group after only 2 games in the group. again, priorities need to be revised, i think.

 

[Uncle Buck]

The thing about the heat isue that annoys me is it's the same at EVERY world cup. You can't tell me it wasn't hotter in Mexico for 86.

I'm happy to accept that it will impact on a game and we're not going to see the usual Premiership 100mph stuff for 90mins. However, what do we do to deal with the heat?

Why wasn't the team out training in Spain or somewhere to condition themselves a bit. It won't make you immune but it must help them to understand what they can and can't do in that sort of heat. Also how about changing some tactics so that we don't burn out so fast. The English game is high tempo but we will always come unstuck on major tournaments which are ALL held in the SUMMER if we try this when it is hot.

How about not going at it full tilt in the first half so that there is something left in the tank for the second half?

How about making a triple sub at 65mins to add some freash legs. All or none of these ideas may or may not work but whilst I believe the heat is a factor is shoul dnot be a suprise and we should have PLANNED better to deal with it.

Err they did have a training camp in Spain.

 

[Parson Henry]

I am here to support Easy's comments. Leave the guy alone he KNOWS his footie. If you doubt me see who is Top of the NSC World Cup Predictor league!!!



PS He is well placed in the competeion overall...

All heil Easy!!

 

[CHAPPERS]

I'm encouraged. Only Portugal and Argentina have looked anything like fluent so far. We will get better and there is nothing to fear so far.

Is that the same Portugese that limped to victory against ANGOLA? I agree with the sentiment though, nobody has looked impressive yet and I'd much rather be in our position than the Swedes.

 

[Hannibal smith]

One other thing. Michael Owen was shit on Saturday. I'm glad Sven has subbed a big name player (something everyone criticises him that he does not do) but we did look light on strikers when the options were Walcott, Gerrard or Cole behind Crouch.

Perhaps we might miss Defoe or Bent after all. They would surely have been a better option than Downing.

 

[Uncle Buck]

What about the friendly against Argentina when we scored 2 in the last 10 minutes, Uruguay in the last 5? Not tournament play I'll grant but still enough to suggest every games not the same. Your view on this is so polarised you sound like Morris moaning about Leon Knight, ESPECIALLY with your use of CAPITALS.

We were good enough Saturday. We did enough and always looked conformtable. 3 points, top of the group and need to beat Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the last 16 with a probable draw against Ecudoar. I'd of bitten your hand off if that was offered before.

We can peak later as I can't believe we would turn a performance like that against the Dutch for instance. Also, all the kick offs are now later, so, we won't be listening to those excuses about the heat again (which I agree are a bit tiresome but as predictable as the whining about the new World Cup ball).

I'm encouraged. Only Portugal and Argentina have looked anything like fluent so far. We will get better and there is nothing to fear so far.

Pretty much spot on.

Surely it is better to start slowly and find form as we go, than come out all guns blazing and run out of steam during the tournament.

 

[Hannibal smith]

Is that the same Portugese that limped to victory against ANGOLA? I agree with the sentiment though, nobody has looked impressive yet and I'd much rather be in our position than the Swedes.

I was impressed with thier movement and pace but I agree that Ronaldhino probably didn't have a sleepless night worrying about them.

 

[Uncle Buck]

One other thing. Michael Owen was shit on Saturday. I'm glad Sven has subbed a big name player (something everyone criticises him that he does not do) but we did look light on strikers when the options were Walcott, Gerrard or Cole behind Crouch.

Perhaps we might miss Defoe or Bent after all. They would surely have been a better option than Downing.

Owen did not look fit and taking him off was in theory the correct thing to do, we were carrying him.

 

[Easy 10]

What about the friendly against Argentina when we scored 2 in the last 10 minutes, Uruguay in the last 5? Not tournament play I'll grant but still enough to suggest every games not the same. Your view on this is so polarised you sound like Morris moaning about Leon Knight, ESPECIALLY with your use of CAPITALS.

The difference in those games you mention are that England were behind in both and NEEDED to score. Our problems seem to start when we take the lead !

France 1-0...turned into a 1-2 defeat
Brazil 1-0...turned into a 1-2 defeat
Portugal 1-0...scraped a 2-2 draw

Fear of defeat rather than will to win. The team certainly TRIED to press home that advantage during the 1st half on Saturday, played some really decent stuff, and with a bit of luck we could've got that second goal. But we died a death from the very first minute of that 2nd half, and it turned into a right old scrap when it didn't NEED to. We were clearly superior to Paraguay, but instead chose just to sit deep and protect the lead. Another 45 minute performance. Its EXACTLY how we've gone out of the last 2 tournaments !

As for the CAPITALS, I feel they provide EMPHASIS and help to REINFORCE the POINT, and I will NEVER stop using them. EVER.