Jun 17
Man Utd 2010/11 Season Fixtures Announced
United kick off their new season by welcoming Newcastle United back to the Premiership at Old Trafford. Oh, and the Premiership also opens with Liverpool v Arsenal and Spurs v Man City.
We’re also going to be having back-to-back clashes with Arsenal and Chelsea twice — in December and late April/early May.
The title run-in seems a bit tough with a whole bunch of away trips. Anyway, here are some of the fixtures, and for obvious legal reasons we can’t post all of them. So head over to the site to read the rest. Of course, get back and discuss them here.
Early Phase:
Sat Aug 14 Newcastle United H
Sat Aug 21 Fulham A
Sat Aug 28 West Ham United H
Sat Sep 11 Everton A
Sat Sep 18 Liverpool H
- Manchester United start title defence with Birmingham, Burnley, Arsenal and Tottenham
- Manchester United Fixtures for the 07/08 Season
- 08/09 Fixtures Announced
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Man Utd Blog 2007/2008 Home Kit
Tags: Manchester United Fixtures
June 17th, 2010 at 9:41
United need to do a better job against Chelski at OT in May next year than they did fluffing their lines at OT this year
. Also Blackburn away – that’s where we lost the PL in my opinion last season – so hope they don’t let us down again! I don’t expect us to be contenders anyway IF Fergie is not for strengthening, and bringing in a top class striker to help the Rooney burden.
Someone on here mentioned that us fans who are boycotting OT games, can support the team away, as Man United and the Glazer’s will not receive the benefit of the monies from away games. Is this really true – anybody? I wouldn’t mind Man Utd getting the benefit, but not the Glazers. I would follow the lads away from home, if the Glazers don’t profit. So can anyone tell me IF United share the gate money away from home, I know they used too!
June 17th, 2010 at 10:23
@CraigMc: I would never support any sided bar United
Who ever said that needs to be burnt at the stake.
Also Chelsea at home to West Brom on the first day, what are the odds?
June 17th, 2010 at 12:05
Not bad, playing a bunch of lower to mid table teams in our first five games
Todays transfer ‘news’:
The Telegraph says Citeh have bid £30mil for David Silva, but he’d rather come to us.
Rio posted this on twitter “Physio’s saying I won’t be on the sidelines for as long as I 1st thought . . . thumbs up!”.
Algeria goalkeeper Rais M’Bohli had a trial with United at the end of the season, and Newcastle are interested in him. He starts tomorrow against England.
Welbeck, Diouf, De Laet and Cleverly look likely to head out on loan next season.
June 17th, 2010 at 12:25
@Stephen: I’m not quite sure you understood my post Stephen – they weren’t saying to support teams other than United
, what they were saying was IF I wanted to support Man United in AWAY games, then the Glazers wouldn’t see any of that entrance money, and United team would get the support away from hom! I was asking IF in supporting United away from home, the Glazers would get a share of ticket sales??? Do you follow me now Stephen? 
June 17th, 2010 at 12:42
@CraigMc: Er yes mate a little slow there, I will watch United away next season definalty!!
June 17th, 2010 at 12:46
@Stephen: Has Nani’s penny which supposedly dropped, dropped also for you then Stephen?
. Gosh that Penny must be contagious!
June 17th, 2010 at 13:04
@CraigMc: Sorry mate now i have lost you bro???
June 17th, 2010 at 13:43
@Stephen: You said you were a bit slow this morning, and I was saying perhaps you had the same disease as Nani, who United backroom staff were saying that the lad Nani was slow on the uptake, but the penny had finally dropped – you will get the point of my meaning now I am sure
. I am jesting of course!
June 17th, 2010 at 13:50
@CraigMc: Of course I do!!
June 17th, 2010 at 14:48
Messi >>>>>>> Ronaldo.
June 17th, 2010 at 15:00
@Owen: I have always said that…….
June 17th, 2010 at 15:04
@Stephen: There should not be any comparison between Messi and Ronaldo.This is just unfair.Messi is from different planet.
June 17th, 2010 at 15:08
@Owen: I thought you were Ronaldo’s biggest fan???? and were backing him against Messi in the great Messi V Ronaldo debate?
June 17th, 2010 at 15:13
@Stephen: I will still support him in any debate with Messi because he has played for us.But i will be just giving wrong facts to justify him.As a neutral(now i have accepted that Ronaldo plays for Madrid),Messi is better than Ronaldo at present.
June 17th, 2010 at 15:16
@Stephen: But Stephen,i still think Scholes is better than Messi.
June 17th, 2010 at 15:19
@Owen: I agree, but I am awfully biased!
June 17th, 2010 at 16:22
@CraigMc: Back to your first point mate, im not sure. Are you talking about going to an away game (lets say blackburn) paying at the stadium and going to watch in the united end or the home end.
Because in the home end im pretty positive all the money they make goes to the home club. So if for example you went to ewood park, bought your ticket and sat in the blackburn supporters end i am pretty positive the money you pay for your ticket will go entirely to blackburn. None to united and to the glazers.
If though your talking about paying at the ground and watching in the away end then im not sure mate. I think they will give a small percentage of the ticket sales made from the away end to united but im not sure.
How much allocation do we get at ewood anyway, i think its quite alot. Say maybe 5/6k. That will probably on the whole go to blackburn but i think say 10% will go uniteds way although dont hold me to that mate.
But anyway its not alot united will get but its the principle isnt it. Im really not sure though mate. Its a bit of a tough one but i just buy my ticket and sit with the home end, that way i know not a penny of my money goes into the glazers pockets.
But it isnt half weird sitting at stamford bridge and the emirates with the arsenal and chelsea fans around you. I remember in the 3-1 at the emirates this year when nani tore them apart and i was cheering like a madman, thought i was gonna get killed or chucked out. Was a great day though and tbh theres always a couple of other united lads around.
June 17th, 2010 at 16:38
Nice opening day:
Liverpool vs. Arsenal
Tottenham vs. City
United vs. Newcastle
Our last 5 games will require 4 great performances against Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea, and away at Blackburn.
We finish against Blackpool while Chelsea finish away at Everton.
Who’s ready for the season to begin. NOT yet. World Cup is finally getting better in the 2nd round and then we have the mad dash transfer market after the world cup.
Then we start with the Charity Shield (friendly) against Chelsea to gauge our strength.
This is indeed a great football summer.
June 17th, 2010 at 17:38
I’m most concerned about the end of the schedule. We are packed in with four very tough games before we get a freebie on the last day of the season vs Blackpool.
Sat Apr 23 Everton H
Sat Apr 30 Arsenal A
Sat May 7 Chelsea H
Sat May 14 Blackburn Rovers A
Sun May 22 Blackpool H
Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea back to back to back at a time when we will be hopefully fighting for the championship is tough but it also will be at a time when fatigue seems to get the best of Rooney every season. Then Blackburn away always causes us problems to boot. Not to happy with that. I like a schedule that separates Chelsea and Arsenal games apart more as well as Liverpool. if it comes down to the last day of the season between us and Chelsea, I like our chances as we have Blackpool at home and they face Everton away. But that second to last game vs Blackburn I feel will tell the tale.
June 17th, 2010 at 18:37
@Grognard: The Arsenal-Chelsea combo also occurs earlier in the season.
June 17th, 2010 at 20:32
Check this out. Groundhog day for Rob Green!!
June 17th, 2010 at 20:56
@Grognard: If we don’t get some new players, none of that will matter.
All over for us by March!!
June 17th, 2010 at 21:10
Hernandes scores he is looking to be a great bit of business getting him before the wc.
oooooo penalty… the french are cooked and served with a side of refried beans.
June 17th, 2010 at 21:11
Ah Christ, get ready for all the mob to jump on the Chicharito bandwagon and be claimed as our saviour. He just scored for Mexico. Big Whoopie!
June 17th, 2010 at 21:25
@Grognard: Chicharito is the best player in the world and Fergie is the best in finding talents
June 17th, 2010 at 21:29
Manchester United and Le Harve have reached agreement over the controversial transfer of starlet Paul Pogba.
The Premier League runners-up were accused of ‘thievery’ by the French clubs’ board after they swooped for the under-17 international last year. After they previously threatened to report United to FIFA in a situation that echoed Chelsea’s rescinded transfer ban about Gael Kakuta, any such action has been averted.
A statement on Manchester United’s website read: “Le Havre AC and Manchester United FC are pleased to announce that following discussions between the two clubs, an agreement has been reached in relation to the registration of Paul Pogba with Manchester United in July 2009.
“The terms of the agreement will remain confidential.
“Paul is an exciting young talent who Manchester United hope can prove to be a great success at Old Trafford. Le Havre would like to wish the player well in his future career.”
June 17th, 2010 at 21:29
June 17th, 2010 at 21:35
Ribery is the Worst Player playing in the World cup.
He can not even take free kicks and some one demanded 60 millions for him.
June 17th, 2010 at 21:46
Great to see France dumped out of the world cup. This finals so far is being dominated by South American teams. Mexico, Uruguay, maybe Chile, Argentina and Brazil all look like going through to the next round.
Obviously Hernandez has to do a lot more to convince people than score a few World Cup goals. But we should get behind our players. Of course Id love us to buy a proven striker and get rid of Berbatov. But Hernandez deserves a chance to make it at Old Trafford.
June 17th, 2010 at 21:48
@colver: Tosic also deserved a chance,Colver.
June 17th, 2010 at 21:58
Owen, I agree with you. I dont see the point of buying these players if we never play them.
Chicharito made a great run and scored a one-on-one in front of a huge crowd in a World Cup. How many times have we seen Rooney and Berbatov fluff a one on one? The lad looks like he has good instinct and composure for a striker and has a bit of pace about him so he could be quite useful for us.
June 17th, 2010 at 22:05
@colver: If he will score 2 more goals in this WC,then in this window only he will be sold to Arsenal or some other club for a profit of 1 million.This has become the truth of our great Club.
June 17th, 2010 at 22:42
@colver: One thing he showed with his goal today in such a pressure filled setting was composure. I’ll give him that. Too many strikers have shown a lack of composure so far. When you get one chance in a game, you have to make it and he did. I sincerely hope that he is not saddled in the reserves or on the bench because if he’s good enough to play in the World Cup and to score against france and a keeper as good as lloris, he should be getting plenty of playing time for United.
June 17th, 2010 at 22:46
@Owen: No he will be promoted to 4th string striker for us which means he will start 2 out of every 3 reserve games. After all, Fergie needs to find playing time for Berba and Rooney never sits down.
June 17th, 2010 at 22:52
@Grognard: And what will happen to me?I am feared that i will be sold .
June 17th, 2010 at 22:52
I pray Chicharito scores no more in the World Cup because if he is to get even two more goals he will shoot to the top of Real Madrid’s wanted list and you know what that means. After all, he speaks Spanish and there is no doubt that growing up he was Madrid fan and not a United fan. Next month look for Madrid to offer 35 million for Chicharito and watch the Glazer’s say yes.
June 17th, 2010 at 22:54
@Grognard: By the way Grog,are you busy?Your posts are coming very less and after long period of time.
June 17th, 2010 at 23:24
Agreed Grognard. Composure is a huge thing in a striker and Mr Berbatov for all his silky skill doesn’t have it when it counts. In the past Manchester United could get away with having wasteful strikers because we created so many chances. But these days we don’t create as many chances, so having a striker who can actually takea his chances would be invaluable.
Of course the next game he could end up fluffing every chance he gets. So until we’ve seen more of him we can’t really say with certainty that he is all that. But for the sake of the club I hope he is a success at Old Trafford.
More likely though Fergie with his Benzema fetish will buy Benzema. Chico won’t get a look in and will get carted off without even been given a chance to prove himself.
June 17th, 2010 at 23:31
@Grognard: You would hope that we’ll have rapped the league up by then what with Rooney and Benzema upfront scorign for fun, Joe Cole pulling the strings, Neuer letting nothing past him and Hargreaves bossing our midfield
June 17th, 2010 at 23:35
@Grognard: If we get Higuain in swap then it’s a deal.
June 17th, 2010 at 23:55
@Owen: Yes I am busy these days mate. I’m in the process of developing a new business that will be situated inside a major resort casino here in Vancouver. my partner and I are pretty assured of investment and of the location thanks to his great contacts and some of mine but we are in the process of developing a business plan and proposal as well as a 3D CGI rendering of the business and Powerpoint presentation, not to mention shopping and pricing out all the equipment, fixtures and furnishings we will be needing. It’s taking up a lot of my time now but look for me to be invisible on this blog come late August until probably October when we are up and running (knock on wood). It beats sitting around home all day dwelling on my back pain.
June 18th, 2010 at 0:02
@colver: You know I wouldn’t be surprised if this Benzema fetish Fergie has hasn’t been embellished more by the media into being something far greater than it is. I think if he really wanted him bad enough he would have bid more than what Madrid did last year. Christ, he paid more for Berbatov for crying out loud. I think the media wants him more than Fergie does.
As for Berbatov, there are different degrees of composure. When Berba was playing for Leverkusen and then Spurs I don’t think anyone on the planet would have said he had no composure. He was silky smooth and a pretty capable finisher. But like so many others like Forlan, he comes to a big club like ours and the choke collar goes on. The pressure to perform for us is so much greater than it is for him on many other clubs or even for his country. It’s because we used to Manchester United, best of the best. He really should relax this upcoming season because now we are Manchester United, jest form the rest.
June 18th, 2010 at 0:03
@Traverse: What ever you are smoking mate, please send me some because i too need that escape from reality.
June 18th, 2010 at 0:05
@Traverse: After todays game Higuain’s price just doubled. Why would Madrid give away La Liga’s second top scorer and keep the bench warmer Benzema knowing that Fergie has a hard on for the guy? If we get anyone in a swap it will be Benzema. But here is what I would do. I’d offer them Vidic and Anderson and some money in return for Benzema and van der Vaart.
June 18th, 2010 at 0:29
@Grognard: Why does not Fergie offer Anderson and Obertan for Messi?That will be a good deal.
June 18th, 2010 at 1:17
Grognard I think Chico has it easier than Berbatov because he cost peanuts while Berbatov came on the back of a £30 million transfer fee and was expected therefore to be an instant star.
No-one is expecting anything from Chico. In fact everyone is expecting he will go the same way as Tosic, Diouf, Manucho and all the other useless foreign imports we’ve brought in over the years.
I also think it is easier coming to Old Trafford as a young player than as an established player.
I think the main obstacle to Chico making it at Old Trafford is not been given enough chances by Fergie and not being good enough.
As we’ve seen with players like Nani the only hope a youngster has these days of breaking into the first team at Old Trafford is to have consecutive man of the match performances.
While players like Carrick, Scholes, Berbatov and Giggs are allowed to play like shit and keep their place….all it requires is an average performance from a youngster and they will be dropped for a month.
With Fergie’s advancing age we have developed a system of seniority which seems at odds with our history.
Certainly there is an element of our youngsters not being good enough…and what do you expect when we buy them for peanuts eschewing the hotter prospects because they are too expensive. But as we’ve seen with players like Pique and Rossi, if you don’t play them enough they aren’t able to fully develop and if they had been played more they could have developed into great players and saved us a lot of money.
I never understand how we let Pique go for £6 million. Maybe he wasn’t that well suited for the Premiership. But he has been a constant in the Barca team, shut us out in the Champions League final and is a fully fledged Spanish International now. And I certainly rate him above Evans.
With our debt situation now more than ever is the time to be trying to bring through youngsters. We no longer have the luxury of buying players who are close to the finished article. Instead we have to have faith in our youngsters and pray they develop into good players thus saving us some cash.
And yeah the youngsters who turn into good players will inevitably be sold by the Glazers.
But then we are a selling club now and that is the only way we are going to survive. If we fight it and continue to play Scholes and Giggs into the grave and let our youngsters rot in the reserves, then we will decline very fast.
June 18th, 2010 at 2:00
Grognard, you could be right about the Benzema thing. But we all know Fergie has a striker fetish and likes strikers who have scored against his team. The fact he admits to making a bid last season means he was interested. Also the Glazers are the reason we let Madrid outbid us so easily. With our obsession with “value” we were never going to gamble £30 million plus on a fairly unproven striker and rightly so. But at the right price I think Fergie would go for Benzema. Even tho we all know a midfielder should be our priority.
Still exchanges arent something we do and the Glazers would prefer hard cash to a player exchange. And I think the most plausible rumour is Real Madrid buying Vidic and us buying the Juventus guy whose name escapes me.
June 18th, 2010 at 2:18
@colver: It’s not just our expectations, the player, himself, needs to contribute to the team and score goals.
If Hernandez does that he’ll be golden. Nobody expected much from Tosic, Diouf, Manucho, etc. – where are they now in our estimations? They did nothing and gained no respect in return!!
June 18th, 2010 at 4:29
Boy, is it ever hard to hook up with a decent rational thought here any more!
Seems like I’m in a giant playpen, trying to shake my rattle harder than anyone else – just doesn’t seem real to me now!!
Good luck to you all – maybe I’ll talk to you later.
June 18th, 2010 at 7:12
Fergie lets the Voyeur have it on Special 1 TV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o68uilMBfPo&playnext_from=TL&videos=MhseQAFe8dk&feature=sub
June 18th, 2010 at 7:13
@Owen: Messi’s overrated. I’d only offer him Anderson.
June 18th, 2010 at 7:19
@Redrich: “Rational thought” Are those thoughts that have been rationed?
It gets frustrating on here mate because so much of the conversations one here amount to nothing more than pub banter. I too get very frustrated that not too many want to talk serious footy.
June 18th, 2010 at 9:00
@colver: Very good points Colver, and I couldn’t agree with you more.
June 18th, 2010 at 9:17
I think it’s going to be very interesting to see what our actual team is that starts in the first few weeks of the upcoming season. The further any of our players get in the WC will provoke their absence from the club because they are all to get a months rest. Fergie says that the aim of the club is to start the first several games of the season without them. I guess we will get to see a little from the pre season USA tour who is available and what players will compose our team for the start of the season.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:06
You know what, we have to hand it to Fergie over the Hernandez signing. We got him for what, £8mil? £9mil? The French press are calling him a ‘visionary’ for finding this kid and getting him on the cheap.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:28
@Traverse: I know that Fergie gets a lot of criticism, but with young players it is always unpredictable whether they will come good or not. Ronaldo whom he also got for an excellent price, Nani and Evra all have or are doing justice to the price paid for them. A lot of young players bought have potential, but do they apply themselves enough, with real work and DESIRE to make it or die in the trying. We say all the failures were useless shit etc, but were they? Couldn’t it just be that many with potential don’t make it because they just don’t have the steel to get to the top. More than a good few I suspect have the potential first seen by scouts, but never fulfil it for some reason known only to them. I am not saying that Fergie and the backroom staff have no responsibility at all for kids not making it, because we know that isn’t true. Yet I still feel that IF a young player really wants it, they can fulfil that talent which was seen in them. Though I know sometimes the scouts can just make the few lousy assessments in judgement when trying to determine if a player has what United are looking for in them.
The galling thing is, that the Knobbins at EUFA have now decided that the ruling they were going to bring in this year regarding all teams having to field 6 homegrown players, has now been scrapped. So Fergie’s idea in bringing in young talent instead of established stars because of this ruling, has now been to no avail!
June 18th, 2010 at 13:24
This referee in the Serbia/Germany game is a total JOKE! There has to be some physical contact in a game of football. The ref is a tart, he has ruined this game sending Klose off. I don’t think it is the end of the sending off’s either, I mean this is lunatic refereeing. I will be praying for divine help that England don’t get this ref
. He must be the worst ref at the tournament – where do they get these guys from. There is no love for Germany from me, but I cannot stand injustice. The serbian players are a lot responsible too – down at every opportunity, and rolling around like the bunch of women they are!
June 18th, 2010 at 13:59
Ooooh Germany are in trouble! I never understand why players allow themselves to get sent off so unneccessarily. There is absolutely no reason for a striker to foul in the opposition half especially when you are on a yellow. Exactly the same as there was no reason for Rafael to foul Ribery when we were in no real danger.
Ooo just as Im typing this Vidic gives away a stupid penalty and Germany MISS a penalty!!!!
CraigMc, you do have a good point. We don’t get to see what goes on behind the scenes. How often are these youngsters staying late after training? What is their attitude like? How hungry are they? How much self-belief do they have? What do they do outside of football-are they getting early nights, eating right etc….or are they getting drunk, going to parties, womanising etc?
The problem these days is that youngsters get rich too quick. There is so much money in football that even as an 18 year old once you get a contract you are rolling in cash. Take Macheda. He has done fuck all for us since those substitute goals. But now he is already earning around £20,000 a week, has the model girlfriend(s), goes to parties etc. Take Anderson. He has been with us for three years now and there has been no improvement in his game despite the privilege he has had of training with world beaters like Scholes and Giggs and Fletcher and ample first team chances.
Compare this to Fletcher who no-one could have ever imagined would become one of the first names on our team sheet. But through sheer perseverance and desire, refusing transfers to other clubs, and determined to make it at Old Trafford he achieved his dream.
Look at Beckham. Of all the Fergie fledglings he looked the least talented. While Scholes and Giggs walked into the first team. Beckham got carted out on loan. But he worked obsessively hard and turned into a world class player (until he got distracted by the trappings of fame, celebrity etc).
One of the problems is that Ronaldo was a really bad example for the other players. He is one of the few players in the world who can get away with partying and womanising without letting it affect his game. The reason being he has incredible discipline and desire to be the best, doesnt drink alcohol, and knows how much partying he can get away with without it affecting his game.
Unfortunately other players see Ronaldo and want to emulate his lifestyle but don’t know how to strike the balance and aren’t as singleminded as Ronaldo so let the off field perks distract them.
Look at the durability of Scholes and Giggs. Their longevity is no accident. From an early age Fergie stamped out Giggs’ partying. And Scholes never had that desire in the first place. Both of them are obsessive about football and look after themselves.
Compare that to Ronaldinho. He was way more talented than Scholes and Giggs. But because he didn’t share their attitude and discipline he fell from grace after just a few years on top of the world.
June 18th, 2010 at 14:58
@colver: Beckham is an excellent example of ‘the never say die work ethic’ to success I was referring to. Every day after training Beckham worked on his crossing and free kicks. He had two rings or tyres hung at each corner just below the crossbar, and he practiced until he was exhausted taking free kicks from every angle until he consistently found the centre hollow space of those rings/tyres. Booby Charlton always tells the tale how as a young lad, he had crosses marked in chalk onto a brick wall with the crosses surrounded by a goal post and uprights the same size as the ones on a pitch. He worked every single day on hittinf those crosses from all different areas and lengths, until he never missed the particulat cross he was aimng for at any one time. He seldom missed and his shots on goal became so accurate, and we all know what that meant for United and England. I see your point about discipline and lifestyle too. Beckham, Giggs, Scholes and Red Nev lived like monks so the tale goes. Ronaldinho, Brazillian Ronaldo, and so many other great players lost it because of their out of control lifestyles, and IF drug testing had been in during Maradona’s time – he would have be out on his arse long ago. Anderson according to Rio is the laziest GIT among all our players in training and discipline – so if he is pushed out by Fergie, it will be his own fault!
June 18th, 2010 at 15:42
Wow Slovenia look a really good team. 2-0 up against USA. They look very good on the counter attack and I think they could cause England problems!
June 18th, 2010 at 15:43
Well I think most of you would expect rage and and a complete meltdown from me today regarding the German loss. I am upset but I always expected Serbia to give Germany a very tough game. Germany were incredibly unlucky not to get at least a point from the game. When was the last time a German missed a penalty? I think it was in the shootout in 1982 vs France but they still ended up winning the game. Anyway, we had our chances but our finishing was poor today. In fact I think Germany ran Serbia off the park after they went down to 10 men, which in itself is strange.
I could go on and on about the muppet who reffed the game but that really seems pointless. I’ll just say that the Klose red card is a disgrace because he didn’t deserve either yellow card that led to the red. A clean game that wasn’t physical in the least and yet yellow cards were being dispensed like toilet paper after a visit to a Mexican restaurant (I speak from experience here).
The loss was always in my equation for Germany as they do seem to have problems with all of the Balkan or Baltic countries. Those countries usually have so many players playing in the Bundesliga that there is a familiarity. Kudos to Krasic for a very good game. Consider him the one that got away from Fergie because our pissing pot was nowhere to be found. Now Germany have Ghana to worry about without Klose. Well I’m nervous as Ghana is no pushover but I expect the germans to get the job done and actually be faster in their play because I expect Cacau to start up front. Could they end up getting knocked out of the World Cup after winning their first game? Possibly but seriously, I don’;t think so. You never know, maybe they took the press about their impressive start too seriously.
June 18th, 2010 at 15:47
@colver: I never rated the US as being much of a team. That is why I roasted England as much as I did after the first game. Being a Germany supporter many thought I was just being a jerk but the fact is England is a team I like and I was bitterly disappointed in the effort and the style in which they played. They should have pummelled the US who I wouldn’t personally rate as high as the Aussies. Slovenia is a good team but the scoreline is a surprise. I thought they could win or draw today but leading 2-0, well that’s impressive.
June 18th, 2010 at 15:57
Grognard, I really like Slovenia as a team. They play fast, direct, counter attacking football and USA couldn’t cope with their movement. Compare that to England who were sluggish and wasteful in possession.
Germany were unfortunate with the red card. But good teams should be able to win even with 10 men. The fact is Germany’s defence was all over the place and their strikers were wasteful.
June 18th, 2010 at 16:31
Wow the ref in the germany game really was absolute cack. Where the hell do they find these refs from ffs. Totally ruined the game, every second stopping play for nothing. Also way way way over card happy, how many yellows did he give.
That group is looking interesting now though. Germany will still go through, its between ghana and serbia now for second, setting up a meeting with england who i expect to top the group.
Also am i only one who thinks the serbia boss looks a little like billy batts off the goodfellas film
June 18th, 2010 at 17:08
Mmmmmm I think you have to say that the USA were robbed in the end. I couldn’t see where the ref got his decision from. Admittedly there was so many players rugby tackling each other in the penalty area, but the lad Edu who scored the goal was not involved in the fracas, broke clear through and scored and deserved a great goal. How the referee could decide which of the melee of players to penalise, and cancel out Edu’s goal – I really don’t know! The ref’s in the last few games of this tournament have been more than a bit rubbish, they have been bloody awful! To see the USA Altidore and Bradley losing it Drogba style as they left the pitch and on into the tunnel, well there could be an aftermath problem to that silliness!
June 18th, 2010 at 17:37
@colver: Germany had an off game but credit to Serbia as they are no minnow. They are a good team that put a lot of pressure on the Germans and never allowed them time on the ball. Still, it seems Germany have one hiccup in every World Cup and yet they seem to get to the final. 74 they lost to East Germany, 82 they lost to Algeria, 86 they lost to Denmark and they have numerous opening group draws vs far weaker teams over the years. But they still find ways to get to finals or semi finals more often than not. If I were Ghana, I’d be very afraid. Then again, if I were Germany I’d be kicking myself for having put myself in this position. Now they have to show what they are made of and as they are German, I expect them to come up trumps.
June 18th, 2010 at 17:39
Kudos to the US for fighting their way back. They really showed me something as just an hour ago I was writing them off. It takes a lot to come back from 2-0 down. Something we know the French don’t have.
June 18th, 2010 at 18:00
@Grognard: bandwagon jumper
June 18th, 2010 at 18:10
@colver: I think Slovenia couldn’t cope with the USA team movement in the 2nd half – and this game truly was a game of two halves! Interesting to watch though.
June 18th, 2010 at 18:15
@colver: I know right
6m is peanuts for what pique is 2 seasons later.
June 18th, 2010 at 18:20
Only change I would have BOLDLY dared to bring to our team if I was manager instead of Capello – well in the team just named tonight, would be Lampard OUT and Joe Cole in. For two reasons really – Lampards cannot do anything from the wings, and has always lacked that creative streak for us. Joe Cole can make things happen better than Lampard, and would be better interacting wirh Gerrard on the left side of MF than Lampard will. Because we need Gerrard to move inside just behind Rooney. If Gerrard does this and leaves the left side empty, then Ashley Cole will NOT cope – end of. But then that’s why Capello gets 6 million and I don’t! I could do a better job than him though, but then we all no doubt think we can
June 18th, 2010 at 18:22
Oh m God – sorry, I just saw the slower than a slug Carragher is at centre back – much trouble will ensue!
June 18th, 2010 at 18:37
Totally predictable team lineup from Capello. I don’t understand why he doesn’t play Joe Cole. I hope later on in the competition we revert to a 4-5-1 with Cole on the left and Gerrard supporting Rooney.
June 18th, 2010 at 18:50
@CraigMc: there was no call.
he never told the players what the call was just that it was not a goal 
how the fek can you do that to players in a world cup? take away a goal and give no call. Should have been a penalty or a goal. that is just a nightmare.
He also blew the final whistle immediately after an injury to a Slovenia player who was stretchered off and then substituted. no additional fergi time
This just set football in the US back ten years. All the casual fans that would have been won over by that comeback win just said wtf was that, fuck that sport and go back to watching baseballzzzzzzsnore.
Way to go fifa.
Is it not time to make the changes necessary for the integrity of the sport to be upheld? I think that having the tradition of the ref having a role to play in the match to be good. You as a team have to be good enough on the day to beat the ref and your opponent, that is part of the game that shouldn’t go away. But i think goal line technology should be used and it could also be implemented on the touchline as well so that linesmen and refs can concentrate on fairplay and offside. I think that this was not as big a problem when fans weren’t watching in 1080p HD or 3D. but now they are and can see it in angles that make a difference in how someone sees a play. I dont have a problem with having a official in a booth to review certain plays and confer with the on field officials.
June 18th, 2010 at 18:52
I haven’t seen the germany match or the red card but i did see a replay of vidic flopping into the ball
wtf man serbia are cursed with handballs
this makes the next round interesting now. germany could end up with england anyway now
June 18th, 2010 at 19:11
@CraigMc: Have they? Got a link to anywhere saying this?
June 18th, 2010 at 19:12
@CraigMc: The first yellow card was a bit unlucky, but being on a yellow card, the second ‘tackle’ was beyond stupid. He got nowhere near the ball, chopped the guy from behind, and had to go. He might have been going for the ball, but he got nowhere near it.
June 18th, 2010 at 19:53
Praising fergie for signing hernandez after 1 world cup goal is just as ludicrous as people dismissing diouf and tosic as flops. We simply haven’t seen enough of them yet.
@Grognard:
” No he will be promoted to 4th string striker for us which means he will start 2 out of every 3 reserve games”
my thoughts exactly. I wouldn’t be against this youth movement if we actually committed to it. Don’t waste 30m on unproven talent and then don’t play them. Eventually fergie has to give them a chance to prove wether or not they are good enough. How much did Macheda play this year? If fergie didn’t think he was good enough to contribute this season then why not send him out on loan? Same goes for obertan, he should be playing every week in the epl out on loan.
In the past fergie has done a good job integrating the youth with expeirence. Now he has a core of over the hill players mixed with a group of unproven youngsters. Based on the current trend we are seeing, the only difference in our policy and arsenals is that Wenger isn’t scared to sit a aging legend.
If we are going to go young then let’s fucking do it, no more of this half assed shit.
June 18th, 2010 at 20:06
England are really useless. They have no idea how to keep possession and no final product whatsoever.
June 18th, 2010 at 20:08
We play with no real width, so it is so easy for opposition teams to just crowd the middle of the pitch so our midfielders have no room to operate.
The Algerians seem to be able to get two players on every England man.
June 18th, 2010 at 20:23
I’ve got a solution to the Gerrard and Lampard problem. Bench both of them because they are both rubbish. And while Capello is doing that, he should bench Aaron Lennon for being a sloppy little bastard who cannot make the simplest of plays. As for Rooney, what I am seeing is simple, it’s called exhaustion He’s wiped out and he’ll be feeling that way for us all next season. I’m sorry but up to now England has been total rubbish. Germany may have lost today but they were far superior with ten men against a very good Serbian team than England has been with eleven men against either Algeria or the US. Christ, they cannot string three passes in a row together. And Emile Heskey is a colossal waste of time. Put a player on the pitch with some actual skill, not a lunch bucket nickel and dimer I wouldn’t sign for free if I was running Doncaster Rovers.
June 18th, 2010 at 20:23
June 18th, 2010 at 20:24
@Grognard: I disagree with the US not being better than the Aussies. The ‘06 Aussie team? No question better than the US. But since then the US has been the better team.
I think our biggest problem is self belief, and that prolly stems from our players lack of success abroad. Generally our players are either great in a weak MLS or bench players in england. I think that’s why we are such slow starters. We were a joke in ‘98, then got hot in ‘02(where we came up against the Berlin wall aka Kahn) then we got a reality check in ‘06 even though everyone outside my country knew we were the weakest team in our group. I shit you not, our “pundits” were claiming we had the best keeper in the group… For those of you who don’t remember that group included Peter cech before the helmet and some Italian guy name Gigi Buffon.
But since ‘06 we slowly started to get better and build confidence but we still suffered from that infioroty complex against the elite teams. The confed cup seemed like the turning point. We beat Spain and went toe-to-toe with brazil.
But what ever momentum or confidence we had following that tournament has been undermined by injuries to key players(davies, Dempsey, onyewu). The worse of those being davies as he was definately a player on the rise.
We were fortunate that England doesn’t have a decent GK, but we were royally fucked against Slovenia. But that’s what happens when you spot the other team 2 goals.
June 18th, 2010 at 20:28
@Traverse: I heard it on sky sports news just as the WC started!
June 18th, 2010 at 20:29
So now i am Putting Rooney also along with Ribery and Kaka as the worst players of the WC so far.
June 18th, 2010 at 20:49
It is absolutely hilarious. This game is like watching a Conference game. Neither team can string more than two passes together.
Fergie screwed up by rushing Rooney back from injury. He needed at least a few months to recover, instead of being fielded against Bayern second leg and in the remaining Premiership games. Unless he gets a proper rest (i.e. England get knocked out soon) he is not going to be much use next season for us and that means we will struggle to finish in the top four.
His touch is not there, his movement is sluggish, he looks exhausted and depressed on the pitch. It is really sad to watch.
June 18th, 2010 at 20:53
I never thought Id say this. But we should bring on Carrick. He can’t be much worse than Gerrard or Lampard.
Also why the hell aren’t we playing Joe Cole. With Rooney out of form, Joe Cole is easily our best player.
June 18th, 2010 at 21:21
This World Cup has got to be one of the most boring experiences of my life.
June 18th, 2010 at 21:23
@Johnsom33: Alright I’ll admit I was being a little rash there about the US but in my opinion they are woefully overrated in the world rankings and truthfully, as bad as the Aussies looked against Germany, they are not that bad a team. I’ve watched several games of theirs in the past year and they are decent.
June 18th, 2010 at 21:25
How brave is Capello? If I was Capello I would play this team in the next match:
James-Johnson, Terry, Upson, Ashley Cole-Milner, Carrick, Gerrard, Barry, Joe Cole, Rooney
June 18th, 2010 at 21:25
@Owen: I’d include Gerrard, Lampard, Glen Johnson and Aaron Lennon in that group.
June 18th, 2010 at 21:25
Has Capello got some personal problems with J.Cole or is he going to marry his daughter with SWP?
June 18th, 2010 at 21:30
Okay I am dead serious about this – Rooney should be dropped. He is nothing but a passenger, falling over, can’t control a ball, can’t pass the ball, and definately can’t shoot. He is embarrasing himself in the eyes of the whole world, and he pulls out of every tackle and needs a rest. His body language, his head is down and his spirit gone, it is sad to see. Having said that has Capello got no fucking idea? Lennon and Wright Phillips cannot perform on the big stage, and Capello keeps Joe Cole on the bench. Also Carragher can’t play in the next game, so he should have been brought off and let Dawson get the last half hour. Heskey should not play, Peter Crouch scored in all the games to qualify and he should be on before Heskey. I just wish we were out of the tournament because it is torture watching this English team in the WC.
June 18th, 2010 at 21:31
@colver: Fergie’s not the problem, it’s Rooney. He needs to learn not to be so selfish and he also needs to know how not to gas himself prematurely by going all out for every useless ball during the season. I also have to say I have never in all my life watching five major team sports ever seen a player who can lose his form so easily just because he sits out a game or misses a few weeks to injury.
I have had many battles on this blog with a few people who continually pick on Rooney but i have to say in all honesty, his form and performace so far for England is an absolute joke. He is rubbish. If not for his reputation he would be subbed off at halftime of both games. Either wake up or shut up Wayne. He didn’t particularly like what Beckenbauer said about England and he bad mouthed Algeria before the game and all I see is egg on his face because he can talk the talk but he seems to have a problem walking the walk. And really, if we are being honest here, when has he ever really delivered in a big must win game or final for United? I love the guy but i cannot help but think that he truly is overrated and that he isn’t the be all that I and other shave thought him to be. A great player is consistent and isn’t streaky like he is. But then again, he’s not the only star to go missing at this World Cup, so maybe the conditions, the ball and general fatigue are the reasons for all this rubbish football.
June 18th, 2010 at 21:35
I am waiting to see who among the world’s top ten stars is actually going to come up clutch and perform in this World Cup. So far I’m just not seeing much from any of the big name stars. Messi has been ok and very lucky and yet hasn’t scored, Ronaldo has played well in his game but had little support and nothing to show for himself, Kaka, is just Shit, Xavi, Villa and the whole Spanish team is a joke, Rooney is a misery to watch and the list goes on and on. Just pathetic.
June 18th, 2010 at 21:39
@colver: I wouldn’t play Rooney mate – he is showing I think he has no form in big tournaments, and his temperament is bloody awful when things are going bad for him. He was shouting and complaining about the fans booing the team after yet another sub par effort from them! Get over yourself Wayne, if you deserve criticism you will get it.
June 18th, 2010 at 21:41
@Grognard: us over ranked? as opposed to england
June 18th, 2010 at 21:42
Stephen Gerrard comments post game – “This was Algeria’s cup final, and getting a draw against us they can hold their heads up, or something to that effect. WTF Algeria outplayed England for nearly all the match, and if they had anybody who could shoot they would have deserved a win. I am so tired of this same England team faltering when it matters most. NO BOTTLE!
June 18th, 2010 at 21:43
@Grognard: so would you then be in favor of letting real have him for benz+60m?
June 18th, 2010 at 21:47
That was one fucking depressing match…
Rooney, what the fuck has happend to you mate?!
June 18th, 2010 at 21:50
@Grognard: Rooney is not overrated.
June 18th, 2010 at 21:51
The England fans are a disgrace! Booing your own team off the pitch, i know they had nothing to shout about, but after the usual Rule Britania, all they’ve got to offer is abuse! A fucking disgrace! They dont deserve to be at the world cup after Wed. Rooney said as he walked off the pitch “Nice to see your own fans boo ya! Thats what you call supporters, for fucks sake!” Obviously the pressure is getting to Wayne but he’s got a point. Did those fans just realise that England aren’t gonna win the world Cup? Unbelievable
June 18th, 2010 at 21:54
@CraigMc: He didn’t mean what he said. He’s lashing out at the boo-boys (who are always fat bald knobs) because he knows he can’t lash out at the manager, the real thing he’s angry at.
Capello has had Aaron Lennon, SWP, Theo Walcott, Joe Cole, Adam Johnson and Ashley Young to pick 2 wingers from. He picks one. It’s stupid. You’d get fired for doing that on football manager!
James
Johnson Dawson Terry A.Cole
Carrick Gerrard Barry
Lennon Rooney J.Cole
for the love of god, do it.
June 18th, 2010 at 22:00
@CraigMc: So you reckon it would be alright if the Old Trafford faithful gave our team abuse every time we put in a shit performance? This is proactive behaviour from fans????
Oh Yeah, thats got to be really encouraging your team on!!!!!!
Same Old England ……..
June 18th, 2010 at 22:06
How the fuck can you leave out Adam Johnson and Joe Cole when your team is getting tetty fucked by some Algerian guys?! England need width, pace and creativity, and those two guys have got bags of it. But what happens, you but on Crouch and Defoe, and Shaun Wright-Fucking-Phillips. Fucks sake…
Seriously, Capello is shite. Why not Rafa?!
June 18th, 2010 at 22:10
@EduardoDaVinci4: Adam Johnson isn’t out there with the squad!
June 18th, 2010 at 22:11
Grognard, Im one of Rooney’s biggest fans. But I agree with you. He loses form so easily. You can guarantee if he gets injured he will go on a goal drought and take a few months to get back to top form. And as a player who is quite injury prone that is a bad thing.
All Rooney’s problems are psychological. He has a low frustration tolerance and when things aren’t going his way he loses it. He tries too hard and it just makes things worse. He also doesn’t listen to his body and always tries to rush back from injury. He also doesn’t know how to conserve energy and pace himself.
The truly great players are all mature. Rooney isn’t mature and until he gains that maturity he will never be a true great.
We all know that when Rooney is in form he is one of the best players in the world. I don’t think anyone can seriously disagree with this. But as Schmeichel said once, you judge a player by their bottom performance. When Rooney is off his game he is no use to anyone.
He needs to learn to go easy on himself when things aren’t going his way. Focus on the simple aspects of the game. Conserve energy.
Rooney we can understand.
But I have no idea why Gerrard and Lampard are so consistently awful for England.
Rooney to his credit got us into these finals as during qualifying he was very impressive. And his poor performances are partly explained by injury/burnout etc.
But what the hell is Gerrard and Lampard’s excuses?
And why isn’t Capello playing Joe Cole. Hell why didn’t he bring Walcott along for the ride? He cant have been much worse than Lennon and SWP
June 18th, 2010 at 22:12
@CraigMc: I rest my case…
Capellooo is duuf
June 18th, 2010 at 22:17
@Phoenix Red: The fans have paid phenominal amounts of money travelling to world cup tournaments, and England have continually put up continual shit performances in return. You should remember mate when Ireland play in WC tournaments they always at least put on performances and make you proud – right! We English have a team who never seem to turn up! I don’t give a fuck if they don’t win, as long as they at least put on a performance.
June 18th, 2010 at 22:26
@Phoenix Red: Like I said, I think most England fans know England will not win the world cup, they are not stupid mate, but paying good money, lots of it, they are right to expect at least some kind of decent performances at the very least! So we have to agree to disagree there!
June 18th, 2010 at 22:44
@CraigMc: I realise the whole english nation is pissed off, but that is hardly the way to support your team, is it? I can tell you this Bro, if it was Ireland with the same performance, our fans wouldn’t boo off our team. Is this not more of a case of Some fans believing the “Hype” that always surrounds England, and being disappointed? And surely the important thing is that its still game on, win your last match and you’re through.
Did you see how clueless Capello was? When things obviously werent going Englands way, his reaction was too slow to change things and then his substitutions????
Oh yeah,get ready for the ABU press backlash, its gonna be fierce!
June 18th, 2010 at 22:54
Please someone tell me why we aren’t playing Joe Cole?
June 18th, 2010 at 23:21
@Phoenix Red: I know Ireland probably wouldn’t, but you haven’t suffered 3 WC tournaments where most of these same players have been droned out, and failed to put on any sort of decent performance at all. I know that England fans BOO not due to any disappointment or believing any hype, but because it has cost them a lot in sacrifice to follow these lads to several world cups, and although unlike the media we didn’t expect to win, we did want to see some kind of effort and performance. Big difference between expecting to win, and expecting as we English fans do to at least play games that have some sort of life. I mean the same robotic corpse like dead body performances every time the tournament proper comes around.
The ABU media have only one player to criticise this time and that is the Rooney failure to perform. That would not be without foundation so far this tournament would it Phoenix? His game has gone to pieces. You say we may win the next game, well I really hope not, because I don’t think I could bear a continuance of this shit mate.
June 18th, 2010 at 23:22
@colver: One word mate – Capello!
June 18th, 2010 at 23:33
There is little or no spirit in the England camp. This is most probably because Capello is running it like a ‘boot’ camp. All meals taken together, no wags and in bed by eleven each night. These pampered millionaires are not going to like such an ‘old-school’ approach and probably can’t wait to come home and enjoy the close-season.
It never really mattered in qualifying games when the team are together for just a few days but imagine being cooked up with a fascistic Tommy Cooper figure for six weeks and having NO FUN at all.
I personally don’t give a toss how England do because I hate nationalism and all the jingoistic tabloid journalism that occurs whenever England play. Fans are to blame if they fall for all this ‘bread and circuses’ hysteria if you ask me. If one’s happiness is predicated upon 11 men kicking a football around the its one’s own fault. What a ludicrous state of affairs!! I’m glad Rooney gave these saddoes a reality check. I mean get a fucking LIFE!!
P.S. It might sound stupid but I’ve had a go of that new ball and it really is a fucking joke. It’s too big and extremely light and very difficult to control – so unlike the usual ball that I really do think that it is playing it’s own part in making this world cup so relentlessly DIRE. Way to go Adidas. Thanks for that.
Brazil are going to win it by the way. The boring Dunga Brazil that is.
June 18th, 2010 at 23:44
The most exciting thing about that match, by the way, was seeing that strange African bird perched on top of the net England were supposed to be attacking. I’m not in to Ornithology but by the way it seemed to be challenging the England players to shoot and shift it I think it must have been a ‘Mocking Bird’.
Sorry.
June 19th, 2010 at 0:10
Again, England fans (and media) hype their own team beyond anything reasonable.
England will still qualify because Slovenia will struggle against England and England will win 1-0 or 2-1.
USA will qualify too as they can outrun ALgeria.
England is sluggish and lack real pace. Gerrard is the main problem I think and with him as the captain, Cappello cannot drop him. Such a joke.
Plus, SWP should not be in the squad let alone play.
June 19th, 2010 at 0:20
@themec: I think the fans have a life but Football is a very big part of it – nothing wrong with that. You are obviously a sports fan yourself, and United part of your life, otherwise why the visit to the blog mate?
June 19th, 2010 at 0:23
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Errrr I don’t know of any England fans who hype the team up Opti – certainly not as much as United fans hype up the United team
. It’s a myth propogated by NON English fans that English fans believe the media hype. Tell me any English fan on this board who believes England had a chance of winning the WC – nobody mate!
June 19th, 2010 at 0:25
@themec: Are you that bird then?
June 19th, 2010 at 1:35
@CraigMc: I guess, I will retract the fan statement. I was leaning toward saying media only but the media had me convinced that their stories were the product of English (read: fans) own beliefs.
I think the British/English media does a great job at ruining national teams (England at every tournament have enormous expectations) and players (all that rumors / hype of “scandals” that appear daily in every medium).
Do English football fans hate the media for doing this to their own team and players?
In Euro 2004 the amount of pressure placed on 18 year old Rooney was immense and did not help him. Again, at world cup in 2006, they repeated themselves. Now, this time, after Rooney performs well, they hype him as The Savior.
And then they have no problem tearing down the players they hype with harsh criticism when these over-hyped (Gerrard and Rooney impacts and Terry’s captaincy)…
At least in Denmark, we are so happy just to be here in WC2010 and exstatic to get out of our group. For example, on the National Jersey of Denmark we have 13 columns representing the greatest moments in Danish football history. One of those moments is our 3-2 loss to Brazil in World Cup 1998 Quarter finals.
I think (and many surely agree) that expectations are too great for England that they are truly doomed to fail even if they did end up in the Final and lost. Poor lads! I feel bad for you english fans!
June 19th, 2010 at 2:51
While I am not the biggest fan of Alexi Lalas opinion, I couldn’t help but laugh when he said “maybe, the English players just aren’t that good” “they are lavishly paid and hugely popular, but maybe they just aren’t that good”
June 19th, 2010 at 3:42
England are only an average team. But they are not the only European team who are playing poorly this World Cup.
I was reading that it is 24 years since a World Cup was played this high above sea level. And altitude can really make a difference. Looking at the players they all looked really sluggish and altitude sickness definitely does that to you. It might also explain why South American teams are doing so well. They play a lot of their qualifying games at high altitude so are used to the conditions.
We all know England are awful at keeping the ball. But this was another level and I am convinced external factors are having an impact.
This World Cup is throwing up too many upsets and I believe it is because the altitude makes it a lot harder for teams to attack effectively and slows teams down so they are easier to defend against. So it levels the playing field in a sense.
As the Confederation Cup was also hosted in South Africa, the teams who participated in that also have an advantage in adapting to the conditions. Take USA’s second wind against Slovenia for example.
Im not trying to excuse England’s shit performance. We have the same problems as always-shit tactics, inability to keep possession, no creativity etc etc. But I think the altitude just magnifies all our flaws and makes the players look a lot worse than they really are.
June 19th, 2010 at 3:52
@[OPTI]Madschester United: I have been saying that exact same thing for years mate, there simply is too much pressure on england which imo is simply unrealistic.
Lets put it this way, england are a very good team, but are they really good enough to be expected to realistically challeneg every WC and euro tournament.
To me, no. They simply do not compare to the likes of argentina, brazil, germany, spain and france (i know their in the shits but talent wise they are better). I say all that as an englishman myself.
Now i know i have withdrawn my support for the england team but that was down to years and years of shit being chucked at us because of englands own failings. People can call me disloyal all they want but there is a massive number of fans in england who are simply united men, and thats it. They care not for england and tbh i dont blame them.
I have nothing against england, i am english at the end of the day and would like to see them win the WC but i find all the expectations put upon them ridiculous.
I will point out though mate, these expectations are 90% down to the press, i dont think alot of the fans really expect us to win. The press though to me put unnecessary pressure on the team instead of letting them get there, no stressing and see how they do. I think long term without all these stupid expectations of “if you dont win it your a bunch of losers”, we would do a lot better out there.
I mean the press really do have alot to answer for. 1 world cup in over 40 years isnt something to shout home about. Why then do they expect us every year to win the bloody thing.
Everton won the premier league years ago, do they have expectations they will win the league. No because they are not good enough, there are too many teams better than them to consider them title contenders.
Now whilst i know the gap between the best in the WC and england is not as large as everton and the top dogs, it is still quite a large gap.
We should just be allowed to go there, do our stuff, and see how we do.
Oh and btw this is the england team i would play if i was manager. Im including some players who were ignored by capello too.
HART
??? FERDINAND TERRY A.COLE
BARRY ?????/RODWELL?
JOHNSON (ADAM) GERRARD J.COLE
ROONEY
As for the ??? well they are positions that need filling where i see no obvious players who can step in and make the position their own. Enough og lampard and gerrard in the same team, they cant play together.
Shame someone on £6m a year cant see that eh. And who said football fans were clueless Football Manager idiots. We could run the team alot better than some of the bosses out there
June 19th, 2010 at 4:01
So much for that theory. Just discovered Cape Town where the game was played is only 40 metres. While our first game where we looked much better as a team was played at 1500 metres altitude.
Still it must be fairly confusing playing different games at different altitudes. And as the ball travels differently at different altitudes it could explain why our passing was more woeful than usual. Also as a lot of our training was done at altitude the players could be suffering the delayed effects of altitude sickness.
Im all for including different countries by giving them the chance to host World Cups. But it seems stupid to let the quality of football suffer from an arbitrary factor like altitude which has nothing to do with football.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:33
@gator: If I knew that all the money from a Rooney sale would go to team building i’d sell him because he is overvalued and because I feel it’s time United changed it’s look and makeup. A lot of United’s problem has to do with the players inability to play or conform to Rooney. And Fergie has never tried to get Rooney to conform to the other players because he isn’t capable of it.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Roon but his style and his quirks and inconsistencies have begun to bother me and grate on my nerves. Nothing bugs me more than when he is play high up like DMF when we need a man farther up trying to score goals. I’m just craving a new look and feel for United because frankly I am bored to tears of the Rooney, Scholes, Giggs, Neville, Carrick look the team has had for several years now. Not knocking the players, I’m just sick of them is all. They rarely bring anything new to a game and united have become very predictable. A fresh approach with fresh player styles and tactics would be a breath of fresh air for all United fans. Point I’m making is Rooney and the whole gang have gotten stale. As for England, I could lambast them all night long if I honestly gave a damn. Like I said last week, it’s hard to give damn about a club that has John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole on it. I hate those mother fuckers.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:34
@EduardoDaVinci4: Rooney is tired and he is also showing that he is streaky and one dimensional in his approach to the game. When things aren’t working there is no Plan B within him.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:37
@Phoenix Red: Mate if I paid the thousands of pounds to fly to South Africa and pay the over hiked rates at hotels in order to see that pile of shite, I tell you I would do a lot more than boo them off the field. I’d look for a stiff breeze that was with me, aim high and piss all over them. They deserve far worse believe me. I feel for the stupidity of the fans who once again made the trek to parts unknown to watch their country shame them.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:39
@Traverse: Yes but in Football Manager all the English players get much higher ratings in their skill sets than they actually deserve.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:43
@Phoenix Red: You’re not paying a lot of money and wasting your time going to the stadium to watch them mate. If they were hurting you in the wallet and you felt you weren’t getting your money’s worth entertainment wise, well maybe then you might change your tune. Christ you should take in a sporting event in towns like Philadelphia or Chicago where the fans will really let you have it if you stink out the joint. Big difference is North American athletes will admit that they deserve it where English footy players act like little babies who’ve had their rattle stolen when they get booed. Different culture I guess.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:46
@colver: Temperament will always be his downfall. He comes from a a family of pugilists and that says a lot about his hot headed temper. He seriously needs to grow up and shut up. But also in fairness to him, he is playing with a band of muppets who have done sweet fuck all when it comes to getting him any proper service. But also, when they have his fury and anger has rattled him so much so that his first touch has eluded him and he is forcing things.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:48
@Phoenix Red: English fans suffer from high and unrealistic expectations and delusions of grandeur and then reality hits them hard and they deal with it poorly. But like I said earlier, if you had spent the kind of money those poor bastards have to go see your nation play like a bunch of muppets, well maybe you too would be a lot more pissed off than you are, don’t you think?
June 19th, 2010 at 4:50
@themec: Actually I thought the bird looked pretty bored by the whole thing. I’d like to think the game was for the birds, but apparently the bird disagreed due to it’s disinterested and bored look.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:53
@themec: I guess you would prefer an old fashioned world war to get your nationalistic fever up then eh mate?
June 19th, 2010 at 4:59
@Johnsom33: That’s what I have been saying for years mate. Kudos to Alexei for saying that. Fact is England has a lot of players who are incredibly overrated and who continually turnup absent for the national team. If this was Germany, they would be dropped. I can give many examples of strong Bundesliga players who have never made in on the national team over the decades because they cannot handle the pressure. SWP, Lennon, Barry, Carragher, Johnson, Carrick, Upson and all the keepers are not good enough and Lampard and Gerrard are just choke artists. Rooney would be better if his supporting cast was better. Frankly, they just suck. This kills me to say this but for me the one player for England that seems to show up every game and perform up to his abilities more often than not is the cunt John Terry. The rest just suck.
June 19th, 2010 at 5:04
@colver: The two biggest culprits in this World Cup mate are the ball and the managers. Domenich, Capello, Queiroz and all the other cautious and cowardly muppets who attack every game with such caution and chicken shitted lack of ambition that it’s shameful. I especially point the finger at Domenich and Queiroz who have two of the most talented teams in the competition yet are clueless on how to get them to produce their best form and score goals. And when you watch them play it’s so easy to pinpoint the reasons why these teams suck so badly. The game has fallen prey to chess players and armchair generals who have reduced the game to grid tactics and taken away the individuality , the pace and the natural flow of the game. The game has been Rafanized.
June 19th, 2010 at 8:50
@Grognard: Finally you see my point on Rooney.As a United fan,i get lambasted for talking about him but he is nothing special just ordinary.How does any manager not see that?They will always bring last season out of their ass but Bent had 2 goals less.
June 19th, 2010 at 8:57
@CraigMc: Spot on, no real England fan actually believe we are actually going win the World Cup, only bitter Jocks say things like that@donibrasco: Yet another Ani Rooney post, do you actually post anything else muppet?
June 19th, 2010 at 9:07
I have to say I have watched England live a few times and the fan base is a disgrace. Most people watching England support lower league sides and go to the games with very large chips on both shoulders waiting to criticise the “over paid” premadonnas.
Booing your team for me is awful, Spurs, West Ham are culprits of this and United fans certianly don’t. Yes England were shit, Lampard has been awful, but booing certianly doesn’t help.
I think Rooney over reacted and should’nt have said what he did but the fans should in my view should not boo, I understand their frustation but as I say you get a certain type watching England who can’t wait to get on the players back.
But England are shit, please, please play Joe Cole.
June 19th, 2010 at 10:15
@donibrasco: Rooney was non existent so far for England I will give you that, but you should also consider that a player like Wayne thrives on PRECISE crosses finding him in the box. England do not play with any width under Capello, so Rooney gets little supply. Gerrard should not be taking corners either, he should be in the box on the end of them, and the same with Lampard. Rooney has no height, so crosses into the box have to be precise, especially when he is surrounded by lanky arsed defenders! Perhaps Wayne will appreciate at last just what a great provision of top class balls into the box, and goal making opportunites he gets from Nani, Valencia and other United players, and stop bolloxing those whom he should appreciate. For we see in his non entity games for England, he is nothing without top class providers. But then what top players are!
June 19th, 2010 at 10:25
@Stephen: YOU FUCK!Dont post any more shit concerning my opinion.I have a right to express my self and i exercise it.Who the fuck are you to tell me what to post?Fucking idiot always thinking through his ass.Yuou dont like my post shithead,ignore what i post and believe what you believe.It was not even directed to you.
June 19th, 2010 at 10:31
@Stephen: My team for the Slovenia game would be this one:-
Hart
Johnson Dawson Terry Arsehole Cole
Barry
Gerrard Carrick
Joe Cole Rooney Milner
And Rooney would not be in on form, for which he would without his name have been dropped on present performance, but in this formation with Joe Cole and Milner getting good crosses into the box, he might be okay. If not swop him with another forward, and by the way Defoe looked slick and speedy, and getting into the box when he came on – so we have to look at who is in form! Nevertheless I am so sick of Englands ever eternal underwhelming performances in WC comps, that I seriously couldn’t give a fuck any more – just put us out of our misery someone
.
June 19th, 2010 at 10:44
@Grognard: With all due respect, i have little or no interest in the “values” of north american sport, i certainly wouldnt look for inspiration from over there.@Grognard: Being Irish i have no aforementioned problems with delusions of grandeur! Fine, be pissed off, of course most english fans are pissed off, but booing your team in the world cup, with one game, maybe more left, is not in any way proactive or supportive of your team.It shows up the complete lack of class that these supporters have. As far as i’m concerned they deserve fuck all, just cause they’ve travelled around the world, so what? They werent forced to? were they? England fans have continually disgraced themselves on tour, i wont bother with the litany of complaints.Suffice it to say I’m glad i’m not associated with the mob.IF anyone wonders why i dont have any time for them? @Stephen: Thank you Stephen, thats what i’m talking about.
June 19th, 2010 at 10:48
@colver: I have to say mate, much as it pains me to do so, that to me Gerrard was our best player in the USA game. I think Gerrard is really trying, which is more than I can say for others. I mean any team who plays Heskey the cart horse, and for a big player always seems to finish up stumbling on the floor following every tackle – well that team deserves all they get
.
June 19th, 2010 at 10:53
The England fans I must say, that to their credit they have filled the stands, and decked all the boardings with St Georges flags and messages. They have been the best supported team in the two games they played so far, and if they had given any kind of good performance instead of the dead stinky bread they try to feed us, well the fans and the stands would be rocking. Just a good performance, any good performance would have done. Nobody expects them to be WC winners for fucks sake! But give the fans something to sing about!
June 19th, 2010 at 11:08
Pissing myself laughing at Luke Thornhill, the ENGLAND MAD editor, who has written an online letter to Wayne Rooney. A comment he made in the letter was very funny. He said that when England played Macedonia at OT and were again typically abysmal, that a guy sitting in the stands behing him was ejected for FALLING ASLEEP! Isn’t that just typical of the police state stewardism at OT?
June 19th, 2010 at 15:12
CraigMc I like that team. I also thought Defoe looked quite fresh so maybe benching Rooney is what we need to do.
Ive never seen Rooney play this badly before. Nothing is there. His touch is gone. He is tense and unhappy. He looks leaden footed. It is depressing to watch.
But then he had similarly bad performances for us since coming back from injury.
I heard that Rooney picked up an injury after the USA game. So maybe that was affecting him? We all know how he lies when he is injured so he can play.
Anyway I am not that bothered. Better he plays badly for England than for Manchester United. And if England get knocked out early he at least gets a month or two rest so he can come back fresh for the next season.
But if he starts playing badly for Manchester United next season then that is going to be a problem because he is the only goalscorer we have.
Gerrard was good in the USA game but then Capello switches his position to the left wing and he looked a lot less effective.
Lampard has looked awful so I think Carrick and Milner deserve another chance. Carrick may be a wimp but he is still one of the best passers in the team and we desperately need someone who can actually pass the ball.
Unfortunately like Fergie Capello is a stubborn SOB. So he will play the same team, the same tactics and we will probably fail to qualify or finish second and get soundly beaten by Germany.
And of course he will refuse to take any of the blame. When will the media wake up and turn on Capello?
June 19th, 2010 at 15:16
Oh the possession statistics: 55% Algeria, 45% England. And that says it all. The English disease is inability to keep the ball.
June 19th, 2010 at 17:22
@Johnsom33: damn harsh
June 19th, 2010 at 17:29
@colver: I get the impression Rooney’s ankle has gone. If you watch him carefully, you will see he pulls out of most tackles, and he can’t seem to leap for the crosses to head the ball in the area, maybe because on landing he exacerbates the far from healed right ankle injury.
June 19th, 2010 at 17:30
@donibrasco: No mate I don’t see your point entirely. I think Rooney is a great player but he is an inflexible player and his consistency and reliability at clutch time remains an issue. I mean he scored over 30 goals for Manchester United last season mate. Hardly an average player. My point was that his inflexibility and his style has become somewhat predictable and I think it affects the play of everyone around him and all I am saying is that for the money we could get for him, Fergie could rebuild this team and also give it a fresh new look and feel. The the only things I hate about Rooney are his immaturity and temper as well as his inability to regain his form fast enough after an injury layoff. For me Rooney is a truly great player but a player with nagging issues that frustrate all of us
June 19th, 2010 at 17:31
@Stephen – It seems my money is still safe at the moment on Holland, who just made it in their game today 1-0. They are out of the groups now right?
June 19th, 2010 at 17:42
@Grognard: Bent also scored nearly than number of goals with non-existent support from others.Then he must be world’s best player.
Great players should do something at their own.The fact is ( you also know) that Rooney did not scored a single goal from Outside the box last season and was the worst regular free kick taker in whole Europe.
He is a great player only because he is English.He is no way in top 10 players in the world.
June 19th, 2010 at 17:42
@Stephen: Sorry mate but the fans have every right in the world to boo their socks off. You are not one of those poor bastards that took time off from work, spent a small fortune to fly to South Africa and book accommodations only to watch your national team mail it in like a bunch of spoilt petulant brats. Rooney was way out of line with his outburst and highly unappreciative of the sacrifice that thousands of supporters made to follow his rancid ass to South Africa only to see him float along aimlessly on the pitch, screw up every first touch he got and then put them down after the team came off after one of the worst England performances in recent memory.
You don’t put down the fans mate. The fans are you, they represent all of us. I will never take the side of a bunch of spoilt millionaires who complain about us treating them badly when their play and lack of desire is abusing and killing our spirits. They should be ashamed of the way they are playing and the lack of passion and desire they are showing in their first two games as well as the lack of skill we all assumed they had. Fans have every right to boo their team when things are going far worse than expected. They pay their hard earned money to be entertained and they aren’t. It’s not just about winning or losing. I would cheer them on if they lost but put up an effort the way the US did yesterday. The US showed heart, desire and hunger not too mention typical American pride and togetherness. England players showed none of that and they looked to actually despise each other on the pitch after bad things would happen. They are not better or no worse than France but are lucky to have come out of both games with a point unlike France.
Sorry mate but i just don’t agree with you despite the overall makeup and home base form most of these fans. Like I said, if I spent close to 10K to go see my team play and was served up that shite, I’d be lambasting them from the stands as well. And rightly so.
June 19th, 2010 at 17:47
@Phoenix Red: You are welcome to think that way mate and I respect it 100%. In fact I admire it but I do not agree with it I’m sorry to say. I am not for fans booing their team unfairly but the England team deserves to be booed as they are a disgrace and an embarrassment. And like I brought up to Stephen, I think I would blow a gasket screaming at them if I had paid the money they did to go down there and be served up a big platter of festering shit. Sorry mate but the fans have the right as long as their booing does not transform itself into something far worse. In Ancient Rome I would simply stand up boo and give the thumbs down for the winning gladiator to put the losers out of their’s and ours misery.
June 19th, 2010 at 17:52
@colver: I also think their disease is not being able to do anything constructive when they have the ball. Possession is overrated. Inter Milan won the CL with many games where they had far less possession but were able to soak up pressure and the be dangerous with a lightning fast and efficient counter attack. Possession is a nice thing to have but only if you are doing things with it and not dicking around. For all of England’s woes yesterday, what exactly did Algeria do from an attacking point of view that makes their ball possession statistic impressive? Absolutely nothing.
June 19th, 2010 at 17:59
@Owen: Right now I am down on Rooney but no way do I agree with you there. Ask every world expert on thegame and they will all pick Rooney in their top 5 players worldwide. But the lad does have weaknesses and issues but so does Messi and Ronaldo. The perfect player does not exist, not even in my beloved German camp.
The bottom line is that Rooney ’s play is hampered by a number of conditions that have led to things looking very gloomy right now. The number one reason is simple mate, he’s plum exhausted. There’s no fuel in his tank right now and he needs a good month off where he can get away from football. I don’t wish ill on England but for the sake of Man Utd’s season, I hope England are eliminated in their next game so that he can leave and go on a long holiday. To prolong his agony and fatigue by advancing is just wasting him more as England have zero chance of lifting the Cup. So my feelings are better now than later. My concern is United, not England.
June 19th, 2010 at 18:18
@Grognard: Then Rooney should take retirement from International Football because no player can play any international game after taking good rest.Due to club fixtures,the international games are always scheduled in such a way that you have to play without having proper rest and then perform.He is exhausted is not an excuse because there are number of players who have played even more than him in the season and are still performing well without shouting at the fans.
You only said yesterday that you are not surprised because Rooney has not done any miracles in any big games whether it was against Inter,Barca,Chelsea….Was he exhausted then also?
June 19th, 2010 at 19:13
All this criticism of Rooney is unwarranted. He is obviously unfit and carrying an injury. He hasn’t played well since March and it is largely because he was rushed back from injury by Fergie because we were still in the title race, Berbatov was playing shit, Owen was injured and there was no-one else.
We all know that Rooney will lie through his teeth to play even when he is injured and just like Fergie, Capello thinks he can’t do without Rooney so still plays him.
If Capello had the balls we all thought he did, he would have rested Rooney until the second round and played Defoe. Rooney in his current state is no use to any team.
It was the same with Ronaldo. He had a great season in 2007/8. Got injured. Played through injury the first half of the season and did shit. But then second half of the season once he had recovered from injury he started to hit top form.
The same thing has happened with Messi many times. It happens to everyone.
England will get knocked out pretty soon so Rooney will get a nice rest and will hopefully be fresh and injury free to start next season.
As for the big game criticism you do have a bit of a point. But people said the same about Ronaldo. It comes with time. He is still young. Also as a striker it is pretty difficult to play well if you get crap service.
Also for Manchester United in the past Rooney would get put on the wing in the big games and given a team role so it was difficult for him to shine. He did very well in his first season for us as a lone striker, and over the coming years he will continue to grow in that position.
June 19th, 2010 at 19:51
@Owen: Actually yes, he was exhausted then. All those games were late season games and considering Fergie never rests him because he is so dependent on him for his success, Wayne get overused and burns out with about a quarter of a season to go. He’s not like many other players because he goes full out and works his ass off. That takes a toll on him. And lets not forget his bad smoking habit. Can’t be doing him any good either.
June 19th, 2010 at 20:00
@Grognard: This is just an excuse.If some one is exhausted then it does not mean that he cant even pass a simple ball to his team mate.A so called WORLD CLASS striker has not have a single shot on goal after 2 matches against the likes of USA and Algeria.Wow.I have never heard something like this.Even Heskey has forced one save from GK.
June 19th, 2010 at 20:07
@donibrasco: YOU FUCK
You fucking mug, I bet you were shaking when you posted that you thick cunt, I tell you one thing you anti Rooney pro Glazer muppet e-mail me your address and I will be happy to meet you, I bleed red, white and black and one thing I will say those colours don’t run.
June 19th, 2010 at 20:15
@Grognard: Trust me mate England fans are awful uneducated neanderthal fuckwits, probably what you think about me at the moment
I have been to games when the Gar and Phil Nev, Scholes and Beckham have been booed when the team has been announced on the tannoy, totally pathetic.
The team were poor no doubt but for me it should be all for one and one for all, but the bitterness of somes fans wants England to fail sometimes and I bet Tonymontanna, Traverse, Craig would agree. But the players need to perform and currently they are not.
June 19th, 2010 at 21:05
@Stephen: Even Pompey fans support their team knowing before the start of match only that they will loose.But they know that they lack quality.
But English fans are not all guilty.For last 1 year ,they were promised that this is going to be their year.Each English player was made world class by the media.Rooney was made better than Messi.They were told that we will easily beat likes of Spain,Brazil..But they struggled against Algeria.Even Capello declared that we are perfect and everything looks OK.Fans have right to criticize their team when they see Heskey starting the match,SWP coming ahead of Cole and a bastard Carragher starting the match.
June 19th, 2010 at 21:36
@Owen: how many times did Ronaldo score against Inter, Barca or Chelsea.Yes Ronaldo scored vital goals in Europe for us, eg Porto, Arsenal and Chelsea. But Rooney has also scored important goals as well, eg AC milan in two different ties, one being a semi final, Roma away when we were down to ten men, Bayern away last season. You are being selective with the evidence mate. All the Rooney bashers are having a field day and it appears that objectivity has no place in this debate.
Im a fan of Rooney and must admit that he was atrocious last night. But I agree with Craig, he was ducking out of tackles at times, and that would indicate to me that he has a problem some where that he maybe is hiding. For some players this can be ok, but for a player whose game is all about pace, power, movement and aggressiveness it would be a big handicap. Whatever the reason might be, something, either mentally, pysically, or both is effecting him. Combined with the fact that England have failed to create one single clear cut chance for him in 180 mins of football and you have to ask yourself what chance does he have to shine. England are rubbish on the flanks, Nani and Valencia would both easily get into the England team, and both have created a fair chunk of Rooneys goals last season. How many chances have the English widemen served up for him? Capello really missed a trick in not selecting Adam johnson for the left side. Virtually no top team consistantly plays 4-4-2. This would have allowed him to play a genuine 4-5-1 with Johnson on the left, Lennon or SWP on the right, with a central three of Barry, Gerrard and Lampard, or my trio of Barry, Gerrard and Cole, with either Cole of Gerrard pushing on to support Rooney. This would have beem a far more balanced team that would have also allowed the manager to have big players on the bench to change things if needed. Rooneys performances have been poor so far, no doubt about it. But lets try to be real in our criticism of him, hes a top player, but he cant do it on his own. No top player ever did, despite the myths some would have you believe about Pele and Maradonna. Both had legendary World cups, but both were ably supported by their team mates.
June 19th, 2010 at 22:04
@Fred the Red: Hey Fred – I thought you’d emigrated mate – long time no show
. You looking forward to next season then? Or are you as worried as the rest of us?
June 19th, 2010 at 22:17
Mmmmmmm I’ve just read a worrying article in the telegraph supported by body language psychologists, and they all agree that Rooney is in mental meltdown. They say that the England Managament team are concerned that he is under far too much pressure for a young man, and it should be remembered that he is still a young man. Capello apparently is very concerned about Rooney, and says he is fully fit physically, but his pressure is in the mind, and he is emotionally fragile. Seriously if they are so concerned, because Rooney and some others in the England team are haunted and very fearful of failure, then Rooney should be kept out of the games to help his peace of mind. Am I wrong about this, and if so or what do you all think?
June 19th, 2010 at 23:01
@CraigMc: To drop Rooney would have an adverse effect and make things worse. The problem as I see it has been created partially by the English media. They constantly overhype or tear down teams or players, and have done for as long as I can remember mate, there is no balance. Talent wise, Rooney is as good a British player as I have seen. But mentally I think he is not as strong as Ronaldo or Messi.I think his cuurent problems are down to the pressure that he is being put under, and that he is not 100 percent fit. He feels it more when he is not performing as he can and can sometimes go into his shell, which is why he is a streaky player. Also, he is a player who is at his best whenever he plays week in week out. His physicall attributes seem to thrive whenever he is kept on the go. Because of his stocky build and tendency to puff up when he is not playing, it takes him a few weeks to really hit his stride when he is returning from injury. Most footballers are naturally lean and the addition of a few temporary lbs would not effect them. But players like Rooney, Tevez, Gazza and even Maradonna need to be almost 100 percent fit before you can see them truly shine. An 80 percent fit Rooney is not as good as a 70 percent fit Giggs or Gerrard, Its down to thier physical make up, eg Ronaldhino who when 100 percent is a genius, but when only 80 percent fit is a passenger. Whatever the reasons are, and I think team selections have contributed to the problems, he does not look a happy camper, and some of the criticism that he has recieved is not fair on the kid.
June 19th, 2010 at 23:23
@CraigMc: as for next season, as it stands, I think that we will be more consistent than last season with players like Nani and Valencia improving. I think the team as it stands if we are able to hold on to everybody will compete strongly and will have benefitted from playing for a season without Ronaldo. Nani, Raphael and Valencia have shown huge potential and should go to the next level. So, in answer to your question, no, Im not as pessimistic as some fans.
But if you are asking me would we benifit from a few good signings then the answer would be a definate yes. I genuinley think that Hernandez will prove to be a very good signing. He looks be be a naturally excellent finisher with good movement in the last third and a turn of pace that would trouble most defenders. He is the fans favourite from a Mexican point of view and has had to put up with a fair amount of expectation, so far he has taken it all in his stride.
The addition of some one with a bit of guile and craft like Hamsic, Diego or Sanchez would leave me fairly happy with our squad Craig. Not completley happy, but happy enough that it would enable us to be better than last aeason, which was always going to be be a difficult season anyway, and as it turned out, wasnt as bad as most predicted.
Thats the footballing side of things mate, but from the financial side of things Craig, Im defo not as happy with the situation.
June 20th, 2010 at 1:00
With Rooney it is a combination of physical and mental. He isn’t fully fit and is still carrying an injury, but he desperately wants to impress for England and is getting frustrated and completely losing it mentally and forcing everything and getting into a negative spiral.
He needs to conserve energy, relax, focus on the basics and have faith in his ability.
Fred, you are totally right, with your observations about the nature of Rooney’s game meaning he is only effective when he is match fit and fully physically fit.
He loses his touch worryingly easily. What he needs is a game where we completely dominate, give him lots of the ball so he can get his touch and confidence back and hopefully bag a few goals.
But that is going to need a huge team performance from the rest of the useless bunch of muppets in the England team and Slovenia aren’t going to roll over after seeing our recent performances.
The thing about Rooney is that he is not a saviour. He is not like Ronaldo or Messi who you can give the ball to and let them do the rest.
But if you surround Rooney with good players he will excel, score goals, take apart defences and is as effective as any striker in the world.
Rooney was very effective for England in qualifying. But then the whole team played better in qualifying and gave him good service and he took his chances which is all you can ask of a striker.
The problem is that Capello and the media hype up Rooney as though he can win the world cup singlehandedly, which is rubbish.
Even Ronaldo looked average playing for Portugal because he was surrounded by rubbish players in a team with rubbish tactics.
I dont see England turning things around.
But if England get knocked out early Rooney will get a month off to recover from his injury, and he will return fresh to Old Trafford and be welcomed by the vastly superior service of Valencia and Nani (both of whom would walk into this England team) and delight in being in a winning team again where he can concentrate on doing his job confident in his team members.
June 20th, 2010 at 3:54
@colver: I agree, Capello could take the pressure of him by playing a 5 man midfield. this would give England more possession which should in turn give Rooney more opportunity to get on the end of things should the possession be turned into chances or play in the opponents last third,which is were he should be told to stay. Instead Capello plays 4 against 5 in midfeild which allows the oppostion more of the ball which limits Englands forwards involvement. He has been poor so far, theres no argument about that. But you could count on one hand, or maybe 2 fingers, how many times his team mates have put him in positions were he can be dangerous. Thats not good enough, and most, if not all strikers would struggle to find their rythym in such circumstances.
Capello had the opportunity to pick a genuine left sided player who has a bit of pace, a bit of skill, and who has a nice left foot in Adam Johson, and I think he really missed a trick by not picking him.
Instead England have no alternative but to play a right footed player on the left, and very rarely do you see a steady supply line from the left whenever this happens. Again, not good if your a striker.
June 20th, 2010 at 7:49
@Owen: Easy to say from the tactical position of a couch potato mate. Look at Rooney’s last half dozen games for United where he did sweet fuck all too. He was hurting and he was exhausted. I can’t speak for you mate but I have played organized team sports and I know what long seasons are like and what fatigue does not only to the body but the mind. You just stop reacting fast enough, you don’t have that extra gear that’s needed and above all, you lose concentration and focus. I can recall this because I have experienced it playing sports. Rooney is playing football at the very highest level where any downgrade from his very best makes him one of the also rans. Look at Ronaldo’s struggles at the beginning of 2008/09 when he came back from surgery. How long did it take him to get back to his real self? and at least he had a couple of months off. Rooney has had no break at all and was worked into the ground by Fergie. So cut him a break and stop blaming him for being human and for having a gas gauge that shows empty.
June 20th, 2010 at 7:56
@Stephen: I don’t think that of you at all mate. I just think you are a passionate fan who has the temper of a Wayne Rooney. And that’s not a condemnation as I too suffer from the same affliction. I understand your frustration with DonnieBrasco but getting personal and in his face like that is only going to get you in trouble. I know because I too have been set off by many in the past and it’s difficult to contain ones anger and frustration. I just ask you to please try because I like you on this blog as you are one of the more intelligent posters when not mad as Heck. I’d hate to see you getting the boot just because you refuse to allow one man his right to speak his mind. He has a right mate even if what he says gets on our nerves. Just disagree with him, help him see the errors of his ways and move on. Still that’s easy for me to say to you but not as easy for me to practice what I preach when I get pissed off.
Anyway, calm down mate because he’s not worth getting banned over. Nobody is. Relax kick your shoes off and have an ale on me and think bright shiny thoughts like the Glazer’s being systematically eliminated by a secret covert Black Ops organization or something romantic like that. 
June 20th, 2010 at 8:12
According to Daily Mail:
But on the basis of his two performances so far, I fear that Rooney has turned into something of an overblown, overpaid, over hyped halfwit.
He’s not just been poor. He’s been shocking. And he’s getting worse. He was bad against the United States, but quite extraordinarily horrendous against Algeria.
I couldn’t believe what I was watching. If he wasn’t failing even to exercise basic control of the ball, he was flailing rubbish passes into the ether, making runs that made Theo Walcott look unpredictable, and shooting like someone had replaced his gunpowder with talcum powder.
June 20th, 2010 at 9:39
Valencia is the best player in the world.
June 20th, 2010 at 9:57
Right folks. New post up. I’m a little in rant mode: a short one on Messi, a longer one on Rooney/England fans.
Go. Head over to that thread. Cheers.
June 20th, 2010 at 11:42
@Grognard: All your points have been taken on board, thanks mate.
June 20th, 2010 at 12:26
@Owen: Stop smoking that stuff Owen, its affecting your judgement big time
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June 20th, 2010 at 12:28
@Owen: Very sad for Wayne, but sadly its true!
June 20th, 2010 at 12:38
@Fred the Red: I agree Fred, that is a problem I must admit – no decent wide players to take players away from the penalty area, making space for England strikers – not just Rooney. You only have to watch UNited, where there are always two defenders leaving their positions to mark Nani, in an attempt to stop his precision crossing into the box, and the same with Valencia at times! England need width, to make that room in the box, and I am sure we would have seen more goals. Lennon hasn’t beaten defenders and got by them anywhere near enough, same on the left side of MF too. If they have to come inside, it is a waste of space having them in the team. But then one feels like they are talking to themself over this issue! And your dead right about Johnsom.
June 21st, 2010 at 11:07
@Stephen: My address?Retarded bastard!Now you are an internet gangsta? I dont care what you bleed mate you just have to use your brain if you have any to know that people post what they want.Oooops i forgot you are going to shoot me through my laptop!
June 21st, 2010 at 11:26
@donibrasco: Mmmmmm and good morning to you too
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