ENGLAND and BRAZIL - spot the difference...

[Easy 10]

Eriksson, on the news that FIFA may limit the number of subsitutions in friendlies to no more than 5 per match:

"I don't know what is going to happen at the Fifa meeting but I hope the substitutes rule will not be changed," said Eriksson. "In the friendlies it is important that we are allowed to make substitutions so that we can see new players. If you think about 1 June and 5 June, when we play our final warm-up games, all the European teams going to Portugal are going to use those games in that way. I am sure I won't be able to find one colleague who will be in favour of saying it will be good we can only use five substitutes on those two days. I think it is a big, big mistake if we change that rule."

The Brazilian coach Carlos Parreira prior to the match with Ireland:

"I will stick with my best line-up because we have so little time before next month's 2006 World Cup qualifier against Paraguay. I like to play the same team in every game because the games are our only time together. We came in on Monday and have only had one training session so we have to keep the same team."


Sven, these fella's arn't the WORLD CHAMPIONS for nothing, and they royally pissed all over England in the last World Cup. I think Brazil may actually have things right by playing their strongest line-up possible in every match, and therefore actually building a TEAM that way. Listen to the Champions, you dithering swedish slaphead.

 

[chips and gravy]

I totally agree Easy - I think that this is Sven's biggest mistake. He only does it to appease Wenger/ Fergie/ Houlier

 

[fatboy]

Half our best team are suspended or "injured".

The Brazilians play all over the world, so you won't have Ferguson moaning when 5 of his players get pulled out and come back knackered and injured.

 

[Marc]

I've been saying since Sven started the whole 11 sub change thing that we MUST get these players to play together as much as possible to gel them into a decent side. Otherwise they wont know who to fully play with each other come important match times and we end up loosing like against Brazil.
He CAN see what the players are like when they play for their respected clubs, why the reason to see them in an England shirt I'll never know unless he wants them in a different position....which seems stupid to me!
Limit the subs, the only way.

 

[Easy 10]

Even if nobody had pulled out of the squad, you can still guarantee that Eriksson would make wholesale changes to the team at halftime. Its pathetic. How much can he possibly learn from watching Alan Smith in an England shirt for 45 minutes once every 6 months ? The players get f***-all from it, and Eriksson gets f***-all from it.

I would NEVER pay money to watch an England friendly under this bloke. He's turned every friendly into a joke, and it just takes the piss. I'm amazed the friendlies sell out to be honest.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

... Ferguson moaning when 5 of his players get pulled out and come back knackered and injured.

Oh I get it. The main issue is keeping a millionaire Scotsman happy.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Eerrrrmmm, Brazil hardly ever play their full strength side in friendlies.

 

[REDLAND]

I've been saying since Sven started the whole 11 sub change thing that we MUST get these players to play together as much as possible to gel them into a decent side. Otherwise they wont know who to fully play with each other come important match times and we end up loosing like against Brazil.

Crabbers I disagree, these players are supposed to be the highest caibre professionals, and to some extent we do have a few players that can be deemed some of the best in the world.

They don't need to play with each other week in or week out, they sould be able to do it at the drop of a hat....

Look at Parkers first game for Chelsea it kinda proves what I'm saying, I think

 

[jmc]

Why not just play the second 11 in a "B" international......

 

[Highfields Seagull]

I could be wrong, but I'm sure the world cup winning rugby team played with each other pretty much in most games for the last 2 years.

 

[Simster]

They don't need to play with each other week in or week out, they sould be able to do it at the drop of a hat....

Look at Parkers first game for Chelsea it kinda proves what I'm saying, I think

I see. And how many Premiership titles have Chelsea won then?

 

[JJ McClure]

How much can he possibly learn from watching Alan Smith in an England shirt for 45 minutes once every 6 months ?

What he should've learned by now is that Alan Smith is a stroppy little gobshite who should be nowhere near an England shirt.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Eriksson has delivered all that has been asked of him.

 

[Marc]

Crabbers I disagree, these players are supposed to be the highest caibre professionals, and to some extent we do have a few players that can be deemed some of the best in the world.

They don't need to play with each other week in or week out, they sould be able to do it at the drop of a hat....

Look at Parkers first game for Chelsea it kinda proves what I'm saying, I think

yeah but when you play alongside teammates week in week out you start to learn their movements/passes etc and you antisipate (sp?) alot more, with the England set-up they need time to learn the anticipation from their teammates because they wont know each other inside out even if they are the best in the world.

OK Parker has got off to a good start but he still needs to learn what kind of pass his teammates will play, where their runs will take them etc etc. All that comes with time on the training field and on the playing pitch, with England we need our players to play together as much as possible and 45mins in a match just is'nt enough.

A solid team needs to be built and the only way is to have them playing together at every given oppertunity and then we can start to look at Euro wins/WC wins etc.

 

[Turkey]

What's our best team then?

I don't think Parker or Lampard should get a look in.

They didn't play for us in 1998.

Who the f*** dropped Hurst?

 

[Easy 10]

Eerrrrmmm, Brazil hardly ever play their full strength side in friendlies.

I'd have to beg to differ, Chappers.
I can't access the relevent sports websites from here to check up on Brazilian lineups in friendlies compared to competetive games...but I'm SURE someone can. They certainly don't take the piss like Eriksson.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I'd have to beg to differ, Chappers.
I can't access the relevent sports websites from here to check up on Brazilian lineups in friendlies compared to competetive games...but I'm SURE someone can. They certainly don't take the piss like Eriksson.

Well differ then but a lot of the games they field weakened sides.

 

[Marc]

maybe in pointless friendlies using a few subs is alright, but when your in the run up to a major competition you need to field your best sides. Maybe limit subs 6months before Euro/WC or something.

 

[Simster]

I do think too many friendlies are played anyway, it's no surprise that SGE faffs around with his team given the pressure applied by club managers.

That said, I got bloody CROSS when he hauled off the entire team against Australia. We were losing! To Australia! In the FOOTBALL!!!!!!

He must have been the only bloke in England who didn't give a toss. Rule number 1 Sven, The English don't like losing to Australia, but we can stomach it in most supports because we've got used to it. But we won't stand for it in the football, so play your best team.

 

[Sonic The Hedgehog]

Why not just play the second 11 in a "B" international......

Either a B international against the same country that the 'first' team are playing, or against the first choice team of one of the weaker nations - possibly on a Nationwide ground?