In my eyes, we're never going to get a better opportunity to win the world cup. The average age of the team is 26 - perfect, they're in a good state of fitness, and there is outstanding ability in each area, with quality cover on the bench. God only knows how we've managed to put a team of this quality together when the top flight is full of foreign players. If we don't win this time, I fear another forty years will pass before we might get this opportunity again. The only thing is, the manager is not nearly good enough. We've got a world cup final team, managed by a world cup quarter final manager. I fear that Sven is getting in wrong because: - He's too scared to put pressure on Beckham. - He won't choose between Gerrard and Lampard, when they're too similiar, trying to do the same job. - He won't pick a genuine holding midfield player. - He's brought a player in Walcott he's too scared to play. - His best out and out striker is going through a crisis, and Sven is making it worse by subbing him off instead of showing the faith and putting his arm round him. Owen looks totally isolated now, and looked completely gutted in his last interview. - The entire team looks like they need to relax and enjoy their football, when instead they look rusty and apprehensive. In 1970 we should have made the World Cup Final. Poor management (Alf Ramsey subbing Charlton against Germany) meant we came home early. in 2006 we should top our group and make the final. I think we'll struggle to make the Semis if Sven doesn't have the courage to do what is needed. 2002 - Half time team talk against Brasil 'We needed Winston Churchill, we got Iain Duncan-Smith'.
Can't agree with much of what you said "they're in a good state of fitness" - Didn't look that way against Paraguay. Owen and Rooney would be 2 for starters. "quality cover on the bench" - Is that why when Neville was injured we had to put a centre back in his position? Not sure where all these "World Class" players are - 2 or 3 at most. "His best out and out striker is going through a crisis, and Sven is making it worse by subbing him off instead of showing the faith and putting his arm round him." - I'm wondering here just what you expect....he's not playing well so therefore you sub him. I've never been so ambivalent towards an England team prior to the World Cup as I have this year.
re Owen i completely agree. In his interview after the Trinidad and Tobago game owen looked completely de-flated. I think too many long balls are being belted up the field aimed at Crouch rather than played through from mid field for owen to run onto which is what he does best. I thought he made one or two v good runs and lampard should have scored one of them. If that had gone in and he'd put that header away we would all be praising him.
RE: Can't agree with much of what you said Against Paraguay they were playing in an oven, any northern European team is going to struggle for stamina there. If the manager had been shrewd he'd have played Gerrard in the first half and Lampard in the second, keeping a holding midfielder throughout. He has the luxury of being able to do that. The team is fit enough for the tournament - every team is carrying an injury worry. When Neville was injured we put a world class utility player in who can play as a full back, a centre back or a holding midfielder. He's a champions league winner. Which country wouldn't want that luxury? World Class players (could play for any league side in the world) - Beckham Owen Rooney Lampard Gerrard Joe Cole Terry Ferdinand In regard to Owen, I expect the manager to make it clear to Owen that he's world class and that we have faith in his ability to regain his edge, by giving him ninety minutes game in game out. Owen has still been getting into positions, he hasn't been giving the ball away, he's still an excellent finisher - he just needs time on the pitch. The added pressure of thinking 'if I don't stick this chance away, I'm off' is enough to make a Mike Sheron out of anyone. The pressure's on Owen and it should be on Beckham who genuinely isn't working hard enough. Owen is working his socks off, but he needs chances. I think this has the makings of the best England team since 66. I know it's a cliche now, but I genuinely believe it. I just don't think we've got the right manager for the job. Personally, I think it's the managers job to make the side greater than the sum of it's parts - if that was the case England would win the world cup. I actually think Sven makes us the opposite - and we don't play to our potential.
RE: Can't agree with much of what you said I think 'World Class' has achieved such low standards that some of the players you mention would quite easily fall into that category. Of those you mention, though, I'd suggest only Rooney and Gerrard would walk into any team in the world. Cole - of who I'm a big fan - still has competition at Chelsea, Owen couldn't get in the Real Madrid team and ended up at Newcastle (hardly among the world's elite), Beckham and Terry are okay so long as pace isn't involved, Ferdinand is too hit and miss, and Lampard has been cringeworthy this tournament so far.
RE: Can't agree with much of what you said So we play Owen for 90 minutes for every game then even when he's not fully fit and he's not playing well? He should be no different to any player....if he's not performing he comes off. The manager did that, made the substitutions on Thursday and we got the goals and the win as a result of his substitutions.
RE: Can't agree with much of what you said Owen scored goals for Madrid, but let's face it, there's more than football to getting picked at corporate Madrid, and Raul will always sell more shirts in Spain than Owen.
RE: re Owen last time owen scored in a group stage match at a major international tournament was france '98 still think once we get to the knockout stages we will raise our game and get better-always seem to do. Germany have won 3 world cups without ever playing superb. you only have to look at the holland sides of the 70's-played total footballl but won nothing!
RE: Can't agree with much of what you said 'He should be no different to any player....if he's not performing he comes off. The manager did that, made the substitutions on Thursday and we got the goals and the win as a result of his substitutions.' He is different to every other player. He's the best striker/goalscorer in the team and we need him to be at his best. This 'treat everyone equally' rubbish is like cutting off your nose to spite your face - you've got to put your faith in your best players. We need to give him the time to settle back in and find his feet, then we'll get the benefits in the knock out stages (and we'll need them - Crouch might score against Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, but is he going to do it against Brazil, Germany, France, Holland, Argentina etc etc ?). What you said was true - on the face of it - but it wasn't Rooney who either scored or created the chances which we scored from. If anything, I thought putting Lennon made the difference, and when the supply improved, ironically, it was Owen in and around the six yard box that we needed - but he was sat on the bench. This is exactly what I mean about Sven not being top quality manager - where is the logic of putting on an extra wide man for more supply, and then taking your sniffer off in favour of an attacker who plays deeper??
