England World Cup Embarassment

[StevieG]

I expected England to bow out this afternoon but their display was an absolute shambles but what can one expect after their previous matches.
I feel for the supporters who shelled out their hard earned money to be present at inept displays by the National Team but when the Manager stands on the
touchline gyrating to the players, it makes me wonder what his game plan was from the start as the players played as individuals and not as a team whereas
the German team played football which was constructive so I expect the squad and management to arrive back in the UK in the early hours of the morning to hide
their embarassment
The sooner the FA hierarchy realise that these Contintental Coaches have no grasp of English Soccer,with possible exceptions, then we will get somewhere in World Football

Rant Over!!!!

[ironskyblue]

I don't know how the fans who are out there felt, but after watching that absolutely dire performance, I felt physically sick. I was trying to eat a carvery about 20 minutes after full time, could only manage a couple of mouthfulls.

If they can't get themselves motivated for a game like that, then there is no hope whilst any of that lot are in the England team. The fact that two of their goals were scored from our setpiece situations surely says everything about it. Lazy, lethargic, dire, a perfromance without pride, or passion, or love for the country they play for. If they represent the best footballing talen in England, then frankly I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed that our game has become so reliant on foreign imports. I'm ashamed that our players can't play to the standards that should suit the country that gave the world football. But most importantly, I'm ashamed to say that any of those men on that pitch represent my country.

I hope they feel as ashamerd of it as I do, but what's the betting that they'll all put in world class performances during the upcoming season?

[Angler]

Not a lot to say about that display yesterday but ISB/Stevie agree with every word but that is the standard of all sport in the UK
but where oh where has the pride gone

[pollyanna]

Everything that's been said is sadly true. Think it's time to throw the lot of them out of the squad - along with the manager - and start again.
If Capello had an ounce of decency - he'd resign now.

As for dis-allowing that goal - it was a massive injustice.

I didn't watch the game - I was sunbathing on the patio - but could hear the neighbours cries of woe - so it was easy enough to understand what was going on !!!
They have to bring in goal line technology - those officiating the game yesterday are also a bloody disgrace.

[PoundShopPeter]

The sad thing for me was that in qualifying Crapello seemed to have accepted that we needed a pacy winger in the team - i.e. Wright-Phillips, Lennon or Walcott. Yet when we get to the finals his preferred choice for the right side was James Milner - a clone of David Beckham! Gets one or two decent crosses in but has no pace so can't get past players and doesn't frighten the defence.

Everything about England was pedestrian. I like Gareth Barry but bringing him back into the centre of midfield had a massive adverse effect on Gerrard and Lampard, and he was caught out far too many times with sloppy passes and touches which proved costly. Against the USA, Gerrard was probably man of the match for me from a central position. So Crapello goes and puts him wide left for the rest of the tournament!

After the Algeria game I really thought Crapello would have the balls to drop Rooney to the subs bench and play Crouch up front with Defoe along with Lennon or Wright-Phillips on the wing. How on earth does Heskey play ahead of Crouch? If you're going to go with a 'target man' then at least Crouch can score goals and he holds the play up much better than Heskey.

I thought John Terry was poor as well. Most of the players looked nervous and not happy with how they were being asked to play. It's a sorry state of affairs when the likes of Australia, New Zealand and the USA all looked better than England.

1982 was the first time I saw England in a World Cup and the shambles we have just witnessed is by the far the worst of the lot. Sad thing is all the hype etc. was starting to get my little one interested in football ... poor soul has probably been scarred for life now!

[StevieG]

Peter, your comments are totally in line with mine in positional play dreamt up by Capello
We had the same problem with the "Spanish Waiter" at L'Pool mainly with Stevie Gerrard and other
players, glaring example was when he substitued Nando Torres after a few minutes in a match and the look of disbelief and facial expression
on Stevies face was there for all to see and the Koppites around me were speechless and the foreign imports he spent millions on were about as much use as a one legged Morris Dancer
As I have stated, in a previous post, these Continental coaches may be good in their own country or wherever but they have not got a bloody clue
about English football structure but these amateur clowns at the FA cannot see it and I pray that we had the legends ie Alf Ramsey, Bobby Robson,
"Shanks" and "Cloughie" still around and we would get somewhere
Where are we standing in the World League these days and I would hazard a guess, not far off the bottom