Euro 2012 Quarter Final 4: England - Italy (24/06/2012)

Spot on Moog. It's incredibaly frustrating to see the huge sums of money in our game that never seems to filter down to the kids level and produce the thousands of qualified coaches required. Somewhere, at a high level, someone just plainly doesn't give a **** and won't do anything about it.

 

I think we'll qualify unbeaten again. Ukraine away and possibly Poland will be the toughest test but they're not great sides. Trouble is will that create unrealistic expectations in 2014?

 

Watching the match last night was almost like watching the Irish or the Greeks. In fact we were like a poor man's Greece if you like (excuse the pun).

In the first half I though we were ok. Italy's chances came from simple balls over the top, so in the second half we seemed to sit deeper to counter this - plus we got tired so it played into Italy's hands somewhat. Why they were so lethargic is a mystery, Gerrard imho has played his last tournament, cramp at 70 mins shows his legs can't take it any more. Parker was gone, Rooney was slow and looked unfit.

In future Roy can't play like that again, he needs to find a system that sees us keep the ball and involves the younger players like Cleverly and Wilshire.

The major issue here is that players like cleverly and wilshere don't get time on the pitch at their clubs. Adam Johnson's not getting games, man utd youth players don't get into the team before spending 3 years on loan at championship clubs. Wellbeck spent time away at Sunderland.

I'd like to see the rule on English players in a squad increased even further than they have done, I'd like to see the new academy structure make clubs focus on ball control, passing and skill, almost to the point were they don't play competitive matches.

 

Thing is Rooney should have a role to play but it should be more like he does at United - for England he's asked to do too much. One minute he's leading the line, then he's out wide, then he's dropping deep. To me his showed his ability at times yesterday when he was surrounded by 3-4 Italians and still managed to get a pass away to a team mate. It was often the team mate who then lost it immediately.

 

Our 'young players' are no better than out old ones. They are just younger.

Yesterday we could have beaten the Italians IMO if the tactics were different. Why we played 'give them as much space as possible and close nobody down', and allowed Pirlo to pick out passes the entire game with absolutely no pressure on him at all I don't know. Gerrard might as well have gone home at half time for all the running he did in the second half, he didn't move or touch the ball.

It is not in the interests of the bank balances of the PL and it's hierarchy to invest in academies or junior coaching, because they can simply buy in talent without any long term investment and get an instant return. That is why we have the crippling shortcut EEEP.

 

LOL! It's always dull being an England fan.

 

Not in Bedford

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-18576404

 

Bedford, now what team is based in Bedfordshire errrmmmm I wonder........ some bunch of :sign6:

 

Borehamwood - love it or leave it.

I think your comparison is a *bit* unfair. This tournament has been the first where England have appeared to have some strategy or plan and actually stick to it. The only downside is that the team still aren't very good footballers showing flair and skill (like your lovemaking?) which is a bit of a handicap for a national football team.

 

well, at least John Terry made it to the semi's. I'm very happy for him.

 

All of this. I salute you, sir.

 

NSFW

http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/06/25/sport/fotball/fotball-em_2012/22281014/

 

How did they get that hoola-hoop in the ground?

 

Lineear at least went and played abroad twice in his career, OK when he went to Japan it was for the money but at least he gave it a go at Barca. Until other players do this, the national team will stagnate.

What football I do watch on the TV, the German league is by far the most enjoyable (Spain is just a 2 horse race now). I would love to see more players like Dale Jennings giving it a go and moving over there, not since Mark Hughes and Alan McAnally has a UK player really gone over there and given it a go. Germany is place to be now

 

Michael Mancienne plays for Hamburger SV at the moment doesn't he? At least he signed for them, not sure if he plays!

 

Oh yes, forgot about him. Yes he signed for them and correct he hardly plays!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18586809

"...but admitted the weight of expectation on England's most gifted attacking talent may have been too great..."

Can anyone remind me what the excuse for his pi$$ poor performance in SA was.

 

He was 'unfit' then too.

Just like he was in 2006.

 

I just knew that backing Italy to finish bottom of their group and to score the least amount of goals would come back to bite me on the ar$e!!

As for Wazza,we did ok in the first two games but once he came in everything seemed to look very disjointed but hey getting to the Q/F is good isn't it?

 

Italy's Pirlo says "England played like Chelsea"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18602624

Is there a reason that everone is calling it "doing a Chelsea". Surely it has been done before? Stoke for example played/play a similar tactic do they not?

 

Grace Jones brought it with her.

 

:doh: