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Post by JoeinOz on Feb 15, 2004 10:39:21 GMT
He's in the England squad. God, thats a waste of a squad place.
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Post by jaykaye on Feb 15, 2004 13:37:03 GMT
Sven must have his eye on him for when he joins Chelski ;D ;D
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Post by markscfc72 on Feb 15, 2004 21:43:09 GMT
defoe would have been a better choice also no gerrard?
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Post by markscfc72 on Feb 15, 2004 21:45:59 GMT
campbell is injured and out of the squad call up for williams im sure  |
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Post by JR on Feb 16, 2004 9:21:17 GMT
Gerrard has asked to be left out as girlfriend expecting.
Personally have absolutely no interest in these games.
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Post by JoeinOz on Feb 16, 2004 10:09:15 GMT
I'm interested in the side developing but not too arsed about the result. We might get beaten by Portugal but as long as theres something learnt its been a worthwhile exercise.
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Post by StuttgartStokie on Feb 16, 2004 10:29:03 GMT
I'd prefer to give Smith a go rather than continuing with Heskey, surely there are better options than him.
After Owen, we've only got Rooney, but he isn't playing regular for Everton.
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Post by JoeinOz on Feb 16, 2004 10:47:19 GMT
Rooneys got that thing happening though where even if he's playing crap for Everton, or not playing at all for them he still plays well for England.
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Post by McLovin on Feb 16, 2004 15:05:34 GMT
he cant be arsed to try for Everton ;D
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Post by abharsair on Feb 16, 2004 15:47:29 GMT
People seem to forget about Owen too, in my humble opinion he dives more than Jurgen Klinsmen and has only scored 2 in the last 6million games!
Cak!
Darius Vassel over owen everytime!
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Post by cpepper on Feb 16, 2004 15:56:30 GMT
Bit harsh.
I think Smith is a quality player. Don't forget he's surrounded by a bunch of lazy sods at the moment.
Seen him play a Leeds a few times and I have a sneaky feeling he might prove succcessful for England - a la Lineker. He never appeared to be that special but was if you get my drift ???
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Post by McLovin on Feb 16, 2004 17:16:35 GMT
Smith and Vassell up front would be able to do more than Owen and Rooney/Heskey in my opinion. Owen adn Heskey have bassically got themself a guranteed place in the England squad and dont try enough to really earn it, whereas the likes of Smith and Vassell would relish the chance and go out there and try there hardest for there country.
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Post by ParaPsych on Feb 16, 2004 17:54:07 GMT
Yeah, Michael Owen doesn't deserve to be in the England team...
wtf ???
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Post by lurcherthelurker on Feb 16, 2004 18:23:17 GMT
Para, face the facts mate, Owen is shit !! he doesnt deserve to be in the England set up full stop if you ask any fan they will say the same, See the reasons above if you dont believe me.
this season he has played 21 games and only scored eleven goals, thats only a 1 in 2 ratio, and he calls himself a fooking striker? ;D
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Post by ParaPsych on Feb 16, 2004 20:25:53 GMT
Yeah he's wank, I see it now.  |
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Post by homerj on Feb 17, 2004 9:06:08 GMT
I, like para, must know nothing about footy then, cos I thought Owen was a quality player!
You ask any opposing defender who they would rather play against & they would say Vassell every time - Owen scares most defences shitless regardless of his current scoring ratio.
Owen has had a tricky season with injuries & problems off the pitch, and his form has suffered a little - doesnt stop him being a great player though, and it looks like he is on his way back.
I do rate Vassell, but he is hardly prolific for Villa and is not world-class (yet).
Smith, in his defence, is playing in a shit team, but this will affect his game, and he is only a squad player at best for the England team at the moment.
Heskey - say no more.
Back to Owen - name any other English centre forwards (with the possible exception of Rooney) who are truly world class & could play in teams like Real Madrid with the Beckhams & zidanes? No-one.
The real scandalous omission from this friendly is Thompson @ Celtic - give him a chance!
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Feb 17, 2004 9:12:00 GMT
Homer, you don't really " do " irony do you?
;D
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Post by homerj on Feb 17, 2004 9:36:01 GMT
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Post by JoeinOz on Feb 17, 2004 9:45:40 GMT
HomerJ, agree about Alan Thompson. Still an unknown quantity at international level and deserves a chance. What are these friendlies for if not to try different players?
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Post by greyman on Feb 18, 2004 0:39:55 GMT
I fail to see how any player in Scotland is proving anything.
So Alan Thompson looks good playing against Livingston does he? If I was England manager I'd ignore anybody playing in leagues like Scotland as a matter of course precisely because of the level of opposition.
Isn't Dave Rowson now a regular in the SPL? Wasn't John Clark? Gerry McMahon? Gordon Marshall?
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Post by JoeinOz on Feb 18, 2004 1:36:58 GMT
Rather harsh Greyman. The nucleus of the Holland side in 74 played for Ajax and thats never been a particularly competitive league.
Thompson is an important player for a side that winning games. True, the league isn't mega-competitive but he's still a good player. He can play wide on the left and at centre half which would fatten the squad up. He's good at scoring headers from corners too. A small thing I know but these things all add up. AND if outsiders like him aren't going to be tried in friendlies like this theres not much point in playing in them.
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Post by StuttgartStokie on Feb 18, 2004 9:14:07 GMT
I don't seem to remember Thompson doing much when he played in the Premiership, was it for Villa?
I think Alan Smith deserves more of a chance than Thompson.
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Post by cpepper on Feb 18, 2004 10:18:01 GMT
Greyman.
Although I understand the general meaning of your post. I'm thankful you don't manage England ;D
Remember Stern John, Nathan Blake and Richard Dunne play at the highest level in England
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Post by homerj on Feb 18, 2004 13:40:24 GMT
Its got nothing to do with choosing between Smith & Thompson - its to do with having a natural (good) left-footed player playing at left-midfield.
After watching Le Saux being constantly overlooked for the last few years, despite him playing some of the best football of his career before his move to Southampton. And then Gareth Barry not being given a chance to prove himself (he plays mostly in the centre for Villa now, but should still be in the frame), I dont hold out much hope.
I know Ericsson favours this diamond formation thingy, but it wont hurt to have a left footer in the squad in case we ever have to revert to 442.
Still, Heskey could always play there again? (Or Dyer, McManaman, Sinclair, Hargreaves, shall I go on?)
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Post by sheffieldstokie on Feb 18, 2004 14:19:32 GMT
I'd still like to see the cole/bridge partership down the left again because I thought in the 45 minutes they had it looked pretty good. Can't really comment on hargreaves - not sure how well he's playing at the moment but certainly has looked good before. Up front I don't think there are any players playing at a world class level or near to it. Owen isn't as good as he was before his injuries - doesn't seem to have that turn of pace he had a couple of seasons ago. Vassell is probably the striker with the best form of late and I've always thought he looks good in an england shirt. Smith I really rate as a player but he needs to calm down and stop the "every one is out to get me" attitude. Defoe is probably not ready for it yet after playing in div 1 for half a season. For me - rooney and vassell up front.
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Post by homerj on Feb 18, 2004 14:24:22 GMT
The day Owen is dropped for Vassell (not including injuries & crazy player carousel friendlies) is the day i stop taking any interest in internationals.
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Post by sheffieldstokie on Feb 18, 2004 14:26:49 GMT
I just don't think owen is playing well enough at the moment, and as it's a friendly what's the harmin looking at other players? On his day owen is the best striker we've got but we all know he blows hot and cold. Scores 10 in 14 then doesn't score for 7 then goes on a scoring run again then gets injured and doesn't score for another 6 after coming back and then scores a brick laod... And currently he's just not scoring.
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Post by steelcitystokie on Feb 18, 2004 14:33:44 GMT
Alan Smith was always going to be in the England squad this time around as Sven is honouring a promise to him. When Smith was selected for the last squad but then withdrawn the day after following the bottle throwing incident, Sven promised he would be in the next squad to make up for it.
The BBC site explains:
Eriksson revealed on BBC's Breakfast With Frost that Smith's inclusion fulfils a promise he made to the Leeds striker.
Smith was included in the England squad for the friendly against Denmark, only to be embarrassingly dropped when he was arrested for the bottle throwing incident at Elland Road, for which no police charges arose.
Eriksson said: "After what happened last time I promised he would be in the squad this time.
"He deserves it because he is playing very well."
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Post by slangking on Feb 18, 2004 14:38:51 GMT
Rather harsh Greyman. The nucleus of the Holland side in 74 played for Ajax and thats never been a particularly competitive league. Ajax won the European Cup in years 1971,1972 and 1973, Celtic and Rangers have done nowt in that competition for donkeys. |
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Post by JoeinOz on Feb 18, 2004 23:54:13 GMT
But slangking, there are no parrallels between international and club football in that context.
If doing well in the European Cup was a sole criterion Michael Owen wouldn't get anywhere near an England squad would he? Maradona would never have played for Argentina either.
The point remains that not playing in a competitive league doesn't mean you won't cut it at international level.
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), but i was under the impression that HMHB was being serious.
