Comments on: England can win!

by: Wes Truth

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 15:38:56 +0000

You’ve made some good points there.

by: The Ghost of Dennis Watts

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 13:21:17 +0000

I dunno Wes. Figo certainly isn’t as dangerous as he was 4 years ago and whilst the others are all top class attacking players, not one of them has the tenacity of Steven Gerrard or the beef of Frank Lampard.

Also, England have a great chance this year as they have a goalkeeper under the age of 30 for the first time in a major tournament since 1966! No more creaking backs stretching for lobbed balls, no more aging reactions clumsily bringing down defenders in the box, just spry, fleet-footed, quick-minded, pure goalkeeping essence.

by: Wes Truth

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 09:52:26 +0000

Ronaldo, Simao, Deco, Figo - not a bad midfield either.

by: The Ghost of Dennis Watts

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:35:04 +0000

Quite right 200. I don’t know the ins and outs of every ‘keeper at the world cup, but I reckon Paul Robinson will be the ‘keeper of the tournament.
Our defenders have international experience at club and country level in spades, Lampard and Gerrard came 2nd and 3rd respectively in the European Footballer of the Year awards, Rooney, when fit, is the most feared striker in Europe, if not the world.

The weakest link in the England set up, as far as I can see, is Sven.

by: 200percent

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 06:44:05 +0000

Your assessment of the media view of the current England team is correct. A quick summary, so far as I can see it: Paul Robinson is, I think the best England goalkeeper since Gordon Banks. Run this by me again: how did Peter Shilton win over 100 England caps? At the back, Ashley Cole was apparently deemed good enough for the richest club side on the world to be tabling an offer for him. Gary Neville is (and this requires one to put one’s prejudices to one side) an experienced and intelligent full-back. John Terry is possibly the best central defender in Europe. Rio Ferdinand is, whilst not the great defender that we hoped he might be, in great form (so lnog as he doesn’t let his mind wander). The midfield: Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard & Cole. The best midfield in the world, bar none. Cole & Gerrard have been in sensational form this season. Lampard is a goalscoring midfielder that any coach in Europe would want. Up front, Michael Owen is (regardless of what the naysayers keeping going on about) at great striker and predator. He has also linking up very effectively with the in-form Peter Crouch.

You can’t put a price on the psychological edge that they’ll gain just from the news that Rooney is fait and back in training. There’s even strength in depth: or all the criticism you can throw at him, there aren’t many other reserves goalkeepers with the experience of David James. Sol Campbell and Aaron Lennon are both in great form. There are plenty of squad players that I’ll be happy to see come on of need be. There are, for once, reasons to be cheerful.

This is, so far as I can see it, the best England squad since 1970. The only criticism that you can level at them is that… well… it’s England. And they have a long and glorious history of letting us down. But let’s enjoy it while it lasts, eh? Because all of this optimism might have evaporated in a couple of days or so.

by: Helger Heiderson

Thu, 08 Jun 2006 16:08:37 +0000

Player by player I think this is the best team we’ve had for a long time. If we can just get the midfield to gel then we stand a good chance of doing very well.

I’m willing to put my anti-Arsenal bias behind me to hope that Ashley Cole proves himself to be one of the best player (A) s in the world.

by: Wes Truth

Thu, 08 Jun 2006 15:09:09 +0000

Maybe, maybe not.