The Official 2010 World Cup Thread

well that was fucking disappointing. The only good thing about that match was Joe Hart.

England's shape improved with Joe Cole coming on, and it's clear that Gerrard and Lampard need to be the heart of the midfield. Was not impressed by Lennon or Walcott today. Rooney seems to have lost a bit of his magic...ever since that injury...

As for the Dutch - the CL loss won't have much effect at all. They've a month off between that and the first match, and as they're professional players, losses come with the job. They understand that. The Dutch will be fierce in this Cup...

Theres something wrong with English football if they can only manage to field 1 world class striker, and the long term looks even worse. Im just hoping England do well, just because it lifts everyones mood while theyre in it.

I was in Spain for our only moment of glory, when Jerry Armstrong won it for us. Sadly, that was a life time ago.

I dunno, watching the UEFA U-17 final and England look reasonable in it. The big lad Wickham looks decent (though if Ipswich Town don't give him up, he won't develop). Keane looks good too, and playing at ManU he will develop.

Should this thread be pinned?

Lampard and Gerrard in the middle is not the option, no no no no no. Best use out of Gerrard is behind Rooney but Capello's clearly no interest in doing so. He'll put him out left and let him roam in.

These last two games have just shown more that we rely on Barry quite a bit.

Also people don't seem to realise Crouch's record for England is pretty credible, 1 in 2 pretty much.

  On 5/30/2010 at 11:15 PM, Boxing Day said:

Anyone buying the Panini Sticker Album ?

 

 

It irritates me that Kaka and Macherano's photos are are funny angles. Where the quality control guys.

  On 5/31/2010 at 8:43 AM, Alex C said:

Lampard and Gerrard in the middle is not the option, no no no no no. Best use out of Gerrard is behind Rooney but Capello's clearly no interest in doing so. He'll put him out left and let him roam in.

 

These last two games have just shown more that we rely on Barry quite a bit.

 

Also people don't seem to realise Crouch's record for England is pretty credible, 1 in 2 pretty much.

Lampard and Gerrard in the middle is the best possible combination of central midfielders. They both have vision in the middle of the pitch to find wingers/fullbacks making the run, certainly more so than Barry. Sure, let Gerrard play a little ahead of Lampard, in that gap. Ideally it should go from left to right Milner - Gerrard - Lampard - Wright-Phillips.

Can't believe Lampard missed the penalty.

I like Crouch up front. I think he and rooney can play well together.

Also well done to the England U17 squad!!

The amount of times we were exposed with Gerrard/Lampard in the middle under Sven was unbelievable. We concede sloppy enough goals as it is and it won't help. Barrys not a holding midfielder naturally but he's the closest to it. Lampard will track back compare to Gerrard who won't.

Providing we play the 442 we've stuck with for the last two years but adapt after the group stages (4-2-3-1) then we could go far.

Also Walcott/SWP/Lennon are all carbon copies, I'd just start Lennon. I've spent enough time saying to myself 'Theo will come good' only to get fucked off time and time again with his pathetic balls in

Eh? gerrard won't track back? I know you're a Villa man but take off the blinkers, and watch Gerrard's league play. He spent plenty of time in his own half. Combine Capello's discipline and Lampard/Gerrard's increased experience and it's a much better proposition than under Sven.

I agree that Walcott/SWP/Lennon are all carbon copies, I think SWP has a touch of flare the other two don't. Walcott is probably the fastest out of the three, but that's not enough. I wish capello would have given Downing more of a look, it would have been exciting to have Downing and Milner play together (they did it very well for Villa), as they switch sides so comfortably, and Downing certainly gives a different look compared to the aforementioned clones.

Me? Villa? lol

You only have to look to past Monday to see the amount of shit Baines was having to deal with (and poorly) because Gerrard was leaving wide open spaces for them to walk into.

p.s Downing is shit, his £12m fee baffled me.

Sorry, are you not a villa man? I thought one of you C lot were.

Anyhow. on MOnday, gerrard was paired with Carrick, who is utter gash. Because Baines is so shit, that made Mexico's 5 man midfield look much worse than it actually was.

I like downing, pacey, creative and can actually cross the ball.

  On 5/31/2010 at 3:33 AM, Dirty Protest said:

I was in Spain for our only moment of glory, when Jerry Armstrong won it for us. Sadly, that was a life time ago.

I think that was my favourite ever World Cup. I still remember that game.

  On 5/30/2010 at 11:15 PM, Boxing Day said:

Anyone buying the Panini Sticker Album ?

 

 

I used to do that(Tradition) for all World Cups , completed all of them (Except 1994 , i was missing some Yanks).

There's an online version on fifa.com for free I completed last week. Not quite the same, but addictive and fun none the less.

The more minutes Fabio gives to Walcott, the better for every team England faces in South Africa. Let's be honest; other than respectable pace, he is shit. He reminds me of Kieron Dyer. Skilled, quick...and utterly retarded.

Bent and Theo omitted according to SSN.

Please no fucking Carrick. Oh God please

  On 5/30/2010 at 11:15 PM, Boxing Day said:

Anyone buying the Panini Sticker Album ?

 

 

I used to do that(Tradition) for all World Cups , completed all of them (Except 1994 , i was missing some Yanks).

Yes, son.

I'm all over Pannini this year. Just ordered 20 packs from Amazon for £8. Almost as good a deal as 2 for 3 stickers from Sainsbury's.

Swapsies?

Gareth Barry is in , Walcott , Bent and Baines out

  On 6/1/2010 at 3:13 PM, Boxing Day said:

Gareth Barry is in , Walcott , Bent and Baines out

Barry - ambivalent

walcott, bent and baines out!! hooray!

(is milner the backup leftback then?)

Just 5 minutes 'till the official squad is announce.

From the BBC -

  Quote

So we're 100% sure on Theo Walcott and Scott Parker, and pretty sure on Leighton Baines, Adam Johnson and Darren Bent. Just waiting for Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson confirmation now. Full squad announced at 1600 BST, remember.

.. So yeah , Theo Walcott, Darren Bent, Adam Johnson, Leighton Baines, Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson are out.

Keepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

Defenders: Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole,Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Strikers: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

LOL

it's a pretty good squad on paper. i'm still mystified by what barry actually ever accomplishes. too bad about dawson, he's better than that terry wanker.

I don't rate Upson over Dawson at all, that's a fucking travesty. Toss-up between Carrick and Huddlestone, Carrick probably swallowed to win that spot.

It doesn't really matter , Upson , King and Wanock will only play against Slovenia (everything will be done and dusted by that game)

Nobody will likely agree, but it's a shame about Scott Parker. At least the dude plays with loads of energy, something that can't be said of most these fat, pasty, English twats.

  On 6/1/2010 at 5:20 PM, The Overlook said:

Nobody will likely agree, but it's a shame about Scott Parker. At least the dude plays with loads of energy, something that can't be said of most these fat, pasty, English twats.

wow, what a hater lol.

I'd go

------------------------James

Johnson-------Terry-----King-----Cole

Milner/ -----Lampard----Barry----Cole

Lennon

-------------------------Gerrard

-------------------------Rooney

Don't be a pussy Rambo

------------------------Hart-------------------

-----Johnson-------Terry-----King-----Cole-----

--------Milner------Gerrard----------Barry------------------

---------------------Lampard-----------

---------------------Crouch-------------------

----------------------Rooney-------------------