Midfielder poll: results!
by Herr Ed
Results are now in from the first World Cup Hippo poll! An incredible 14 people took part and the findings must be Sven’s biggest wake up call since his Chelski alarm clock went off this morning.
Steven Gerrard is Sven’s most important midfielder: a massive 57% of the nation argues that he’s the most crucial cog in the England engine room. In fact Gerrard can be compared to the blazing furnace of the engine room, driving the locomotive on with fire and over-hit passes. The only problem Sven is left with is which part of the engine room to situate the blazing furnace. Does he play Stevie G in the middle, or on the right flank where he is currently positioned for Liverpool?
Joe Cole is a smaller cog but with 29% of the nation backing him, he too is a vital part of the engine. Cole used to be a pointless but slightly annoying spare cog which would spin around in aesthetically pleasing directions but provide no contribution to the overall engine. Cole is now a more purposeful player and whilst still a dynamic and tricky cog, he also functions for the macro-purpose of the team. A bit like a fan-belt or a carburetor perhaps.
However, Beckham and Lampard only received 7% of the vote apiece. The result for Beckham is perhaps no surprise. His recent England performances have been pretty two-dimensional and fans would at least like to try a midfield on for size sans Beckham. He’s seemingly the most expendable of England’s midfield resources but, as captain, he’s the player Sven will never drop. It will be interesting to see how he plays for Real Madrid against Arsenal this week.
The unpopularity of Lampard is not so explicable. He’s not been on his best club form for a few weeks but his energy and goalscoring have been a key contributor to England’s successes over the past few years. But only 7% rate him most important and statistics are never wrong. It therefore seems Lampard and Beckham must be dropped and Sven should look elsewhere for those extra midfield cogs. Herr Hippo recommends: Kevin Nolan and Jimmy Bullard.
Who is England’s most important midfielder? Gerrard 57%; Joe Cole 29%; Beckham 7%; Lampard 7%
February 20th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Dear Sir,
If Beckham does play well this week, will this be the end of Herr Hippo’s thinly disguised loathing of Beckham?
Or will the campaign continue until we have Carrick in the centre supporting Hargreaves pushing forward, with Jenas on licence to roam as he see fit, which is, one suspects, what Herr Hippo (if that is your real name is after).
Gerrard should clearly be in, but it’s hardly like he has set the international stage on fire when he has played for England is it.. As for Cole - do us a favour
D. Holdsworth
Chair of Beckham Supporters Trust
Leytonstone
London
England
February 20th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Are these results statistically valid?
February 21st, 2006 at 11:40 am
Can you please explaing the methodology?
Also, what’s the obsession with Bullard all about?
February 21st, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Thanks Ed
February 22nd, 2006 at 4:42 pm
Will Jimmy Bullard be doing a column for World Cup Hippo?
February 22nd, 2006 at 11:13 pm
I don’t care what the readers of this website think. The only opinion I respect is that belonging to the ITV commentary team. For without them I would never have realised that Arsenal, currently fifth in the English Premiership, took part in the greatest footballing upset ever by beating Real Madrid, currently third in La Liga. I have trawled through every sporting almanac I’ve been able to find and found not a single instance of a football team beating another team that is as much as two places higher in a comparable league. Heaven knows, there may even come a day when the team that finishes fifth in the Premiership may win the Champions League final.
Andy Townsend, however, was, is and always shall be a dick.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:27 pm
Moreover, the Real Madrid line-up included Roberto Carlos (or Bob Charles in old money) who is the greatest footballer in the world and never blasts shots thirty yards wide or gives the ball away cheaply.
I hope Herr Hippo will be standing next to the pitch for the World Cup games to provide analysis like McCoist and Townsend. Another great idea ITV thought of first!
February 23rd, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Could we have another poll to find England’s most impotent midfielder?
Herr Hippo could do two, one most impotent within the current England set up and two, most impotent of all time.
My money’s on Steve Guppy for the latter.
February 24th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
My money is on Steve Hodge and Frank Lampard.
February 24th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
I agree that it’s Frank Lampard. He’s always shooting outside the box.
Copywrite every retard member of forum.football365.com
February 27th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
Which England player does the most thinking outside the box?
June 1st, 2006 at 2:25 am
gerrard is englands best midfielder, followed by lampard, cole, and then beckham(well see how he plays)