Russia v England (17.10.07) - Page 3 - TalkSoccer

robinho · 17-10-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyan

Israel stand a good chance at home against Russia though, let's pray they do us a favour.

donn't even dream about it
isreal isn't the team which would beat russia forgett about it man man
this is out of England's hand

Buddha14 · 17-10-2007, 09:11 PM

I had a bad feeling about McClaren. As much as i dont want it to happen england should ask Harry Redknapp for the job.He has a good understanding of the players where they prefer to play and how they should play

NJ10 · 17-10-2007, 09:11 PM

a draw would be enough wouldnt it?

surely Israel are capable of that? they drew with England....as easy as that sounds...

**kyan** · 17-10-2007, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robinho

donn't even dream about it
isreal isn't the team which would beat russia forgett about it man man
this is out of England's hand

What are you basing that on?

Cos until last year (when they lost to Croatia 3-4) Israel were unbeaten in Tel Aviv for 7 years weren't they? That's not a bad home record.

They drew with England as well, and any Israeli fan will proudly admit that their stadium is sh*te and will hinder the opposition.

Russia won't have a plastic pitch and (shouldn't have) a terrible match-changing decision to help them in Israel so we'll see what happens.

And we know it's out of England's hands... that's the whole point, that's y we need Israel to give us a hand. A draw will do and they're more than capable of that if they play well and their fans make it a tough atmosphere.

**LAF** · 17-10-2007, 09:19 PM

Sounds like your lot were as underwhelming as our lot tonight.

Wouldn't it be something if nobody from Britain qualified. I can't see it happening though, UEFA seem to have told the refs which teams get decisions and which ones don't.

NJ10 · 17-10-2007, 09:22 PM

Paul Robinson has to have played his last game for England tonight. How many more mistakes does he have to make before he is dropped? I often think maybe I'm too harsh on keepers, but that tonight was a joke. Perfect height for a keeper, not particularly well struck and not particularly far away from him, it has to be either held, or pushed away from goal. It is unforgivable to push it straight out to the feet of a waiting attacker at any level, let alone in a crunch EC qualifier. He had already allowed a pretty innocuous shot in the first half to hit the post and get the crowd up also, add to this the howler against Germany, and the goals he should have saved for Spurs against Arsenal, Bolton, Villa & Everton, and you have someone who isnt good enough for Englands B Squad (make that Z squad).

Carson, James, Green & Kirkland are all ahead of him atm in terms of form, and Foster will be when he returns to action. One of them needs to be given the shirt, it just might be too late tho.

**LAF** · 17-10-2007, 09:24 PM

Carson is your future. Give him a chance, look what it did for Gordon.

**kyan** · 17-10-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJ10

Paul Robinson has to have played his last game for England tonight. How many more mistakes does he have to make before he is dropped? I often think maybe I'm too harsh on keepers, but that tonight was a joke. Perfect height for a keeper, not particularly well struck and not particularly far away from him, it has to be either held, or pushed away from goal. It is unforgivable to push it straight out to the feet of a waiting attacker at any level, let alone in a crunch EC qualifier. He had already allowed a pretty innocuous shot in the first half to hit the post and get the crowd up also, add to this the howler against Germany, and the goals he should have saved for Spurs against Arsenal, Bolton, Villa & Everton, and you have someone who isnt good enough for Englands B Squad (make that Z squad).

Carson, James, Green & Kirkland are all ahead of him atm in terms of form, and Foster will be when he returns to action. One of them needs to be given the shirt, it just might be too late tho.

The only problem is that James doesn't do too well when he's put under too much pressure, and assuming we're in with a shot when it comes to playing Croatia, the pressure will never be bigger.

Carson is uncapped, again would he be able to handle the pressure in such a huge game?

Green & Kirkland... well they're both solid, which is certainly more than can be said about Fat Paul, especially Kirkland who if he wasn't injured 80% of the time probably would be England's #1, but they're barely on the fringes of the England squad and both have little experience again.

We're stuck between a rock and a hard place, stick with a shit keeper who's been crap for club for months, and has failed whenever tested for country (which has been rare) or go for keepers who either lack experience or might not be able to handle the pressure? I'd personally go for Kirkland but I don't see it happening...

NJ10 · 17-10-2007, 09:34 PM

I dont fully agree on James. Look at the errors he has made in his England career.....i struggle to think of too many (one in Poland or Austria sticks out)......you have to go with a keeper who is confident enough to be the last line of defence. James has been harshly tarnished in his career imo, he is a good presence in goal, whereas Robinsons confidence is surely shot to pieces and his form is even worse......

True that Carson hasnt played at that level yet (he did play a couple of CL games for Liverpool tho), but how else will he gain experience if he isnt given a try? If anything the Croatia game is less pressure as he cant do any worse than Robinson and everyone in England will be rooting for him.

**LAF** · 17-10-2007, 09:43 PM

I agree with NJ10. I'm sure Carson would relish an England debut not fear it. If he chokes then it was never meant to be but he's just behind James as your best 'keeper, imo.

c.ronaldo#1 · 17-10-2007, 10:21 PM

Keegan done nothing before Sven and McClaren done nothing after him. Sven might be the most underated unappreciated manager ever. He obviously got the best out of overated players.

NJ10 · 17-10-2007, 10:24 PM

One thing about Eriksson is that he ensured we qualified with (relative) ease. Whatever his shortcomings, he knew how to get us to the tournament in the first place....

i wonder what changes the media will insist on next?

c.ronaldo#1 · 17-10-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJ10

One thing about Eriksson is that he ensured we qualified with (relative) ease. Whatever his shortcomings, he knew how to get us to the tournament in the first place....

i wonder what changes the media will insist on next?

Maybee a public apology to Erikson would be a good idea.

**LAF** · 17-10-2007, 10:37 PM

Sven is proving the very good manager he is at Man City. Alot of England fans are sheep and mugs and believe everything they read, how dare Sven only get England to the 1/4 finals of 3 comps after all.

NJ10 · 17-10-2007, 10:42 PM

The only decision that ever really bugged me with Sven was bringing Vassell on for Rooney in Euro 2004, when we needed either an extra midfielder or a hold up striker (i.e. Heskey).

Oh, and Theo Walcott. But when you consider the alternative was Jermain Fucking Defoe....

Other than that there wasnt much more you could do. I remember seeing him going round the penalty takers against Portugal at the World Cup saying "pick your spot and hammer it" (or words to that effect), and no one really picked up on it but i thought it showed he was not this passion free dummy that he was made out to be and that he did have his head screwed on. If his players had listened to him we might have gone through to play France. and after all, it wasnt his fault Rooney got sent off, and Owen did his cruciates..