England/Wales -will they ??

[The Laughing Bluebird]

You got to admit that Wales are pretty poo.

We're not the greatest, but then when you consider the size of our population and the players we have at our disposal I reckon we are doing OK at the moment.

Icy Gull believes we have no quality. Can anyone honestly say that the current England side has any?

 

[CHAPPERS]

We're not the greatest, but then when you consider the size of our population and the players we have at our disposal I reckon we are doing OK at the moment.

Icy Gull believes we have no quality. Can anyone honestly say that the curtrent England side has any?

Apart from Wayne Bridge, Glen Johnsen, John Terry, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole,
Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney?

I was only having a josh there, i think Hughes has done a great job with the Welsh side and Bellamy, Giggs and Hartson are class players but strngth in depth is not Wales' strong point.
You certanily would do more than make up the numbers in Portugal if you get through (and i hope you do) but can't see you challenging as the England side will.

Don't get me started on the Scots, they rubbish!

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

I honestly don't believe the current England side is any great shakes. Hope I'm wrong, because I like to see England doing well, but I think the current side is too young and the defence is rubbish.

Qualifying ahead of Turkey was seen as a major achievement, but we saw just how good the Turks actually are in Latvia on Saturday.

I reckon these championships are wide open. The Italians aren't that good, the Spanish didn't look up to much on Saturday, the Germans are rubbish, the Dutch got beaten by the Jocks, etc.

I don't think any team who qualifies will be making up the numbers as the traditionally stronger sides are all considerably weaker than they have been at past tournaments.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I think when Eriksson finally works out who exactly he wants to play then England will be a major force in World Football.

You have to remember that at no time has Eriksson been able to put out his strongest team apart from Germany (arguable) when we won 5-1.

My team that i would play wityh everyone fit is...

James

Johnsen
Campbell
Terry
Bridge

Beckham
Gerrard
Scholes
Lampard

Rooney
Owen

No quality?

 

[Barnet Seagull]

I believe England do have the quality necessary, however, I'd certainly question the passion of the England team.

Without Beckham, no one appears to be "up for it" There is no Pearce or Adams, no Robson or Ince, no Shearer.

The England team appears to lack any controlled aggression and will find it difficult to boss teams in the way that the French do.

The Scots have got a few aggressive players and the Welsh certainly have. It's not all about technical ability.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

James

Johnsen
Campbell
Terry
Bridge

Beckham
Gerrard
Scholes
Lampard

Rooney
Owen

No quality?

Quality yes, World Class? no.

The only two who I'd put in that bracket are Beckham & Scholes.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I would say that Lampard, Bridge, Gerrard, Beckham, Schoes, Owen and Terry are World Class.

What is world class anyway?

How many members of the Dutch side are world class? Bearing in mind that they weren't even at the World Cup Finals last time round.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

A player that has proven himself as one of the best in his position at the highest levels of club football (the Champions League and domestic competition) and International level i would say is World Class.

Only Beckham & Scholes have done this.

As for the Dutch the following have at one time been wolrd class; Davids, F.De Boer, Stam, Kluivert & Van Nistleroy.

 

[Simster]

I would say that Lampard, Bridge, Gerrard, Beckham, Schoes, Owen and Terry are World Class.

What is world class anyway?

How many members of the Dutch side are world class? Bearing in mind that they weren't even at the World Cup Finals last time round.

My own yardstick of world class is that they should be good enough to get into a world 22 at some point in time. In my view, Beckham is the only world class player we've got. Owen isn't far off and nor is Paul Scholes, though I am scepticle of the ginger fella's ability, given his piss poor performance against 10 man Brazil in last year's world cup.

The bluetit is right about our defence - it's rubbish. We're lacking a decent goalkeeper, Rio's status is up in the air, Sol Campbell is dodgy and our full backs aren't good enough.