The Ecuador Match: Other Voices

Shawn–

Only a nationalist zealot would deny that England have played poor to mediocre football to this point. Sven inspires about as much confidence as a lump of Midlands coal. The team would almost certainly be better off dropping Lampard and Beckham and going back to the 4-4-2 with a fit Neville retaking his position at the back, Hargreaves in the holding midfield position, and Crouch, God forbid, pairing with Rooney. That said, your observations about the team’s travails tend toward the hyperbolic side: “Lampard couldn’t hit the ocean if he were standing on the beach at high tide.” Now there’s some keen insight. I shouldn’t complain though, this blog, and indeed sports journalism in general, is one part analysis, one part PR, and one part theater.

I’m sorry, but I’m REALLY bored of the english media with regard to this, and almost every other subject. Even normal TV pundits like Lineker have turned into total nobs.

The whole thing is under the microscope and everyone is getting far too involved.

It is obvious that Sven decided that England’s strength is in midfield… hence taking Jenas, for example, instead of Defoe or Bent… and he’s right… bent and Defoe have been AVERAGE this season.

Also you can only beat what is put in front of you… and as Jose Mourinho would say… ‘zey park ze bus in front of ze goal.’

You can’t blame England for being dull… they are trying their hardest… but no-one wants to have a go… and the reason for this is that England are bloody good.

I really don’t care what any English newspapers have to say on the matter, it is as stupid as most of the crap written in this blog.

Now I wouldn’t deny England have played poor to mediocre football thus far… and I am certainly not a national zealot… but we’re talking about people (the media) who want it their own way ALL the time… bad result… kill the manager… good result… kill the manager… what a craock of f**king crap.

well, having seen which two you picked I don’t actually need to go read the articles – I could have told you a month ago what they would have said at any stage at the world cup. Of course the same is true of everybody except the tabloids – they would either be proclaiming that the England team were the second coming OR that The turks and Caicos islands should be asked to take out place.

At the end of the day I will always reserve the right to be ridiculously overoptimistic…

Still reckon a good turn or two by Rooney and a bit of luck will be enough to get us into the final… but then I am not a journalist and can afford to lose face!

CROUCH TO SCORE A HAT-TRICK IN THE FINAL