David Brent

I do not believe it.

Rooney has broken a foot.....again!

England will be hard pressed finding eleven fit players for next months Euro qualifiers. I fear the worst.

Dave.

clitheroekid

The Premiership table made happy viewing this morning.

MUFC languishing in the middle, and City near the top

Wonderful!

Harbottle

Especially with numpty McLaren in charge

Fareham_Bee

It's not as big a disaster as you would think is it? Rooney hasn't set the international world alight with his goalscoring record has he? Hasn't Crouch scored more in recent years? I seem to remember own goals scoring more for England than Rooney in the World Cup Qualifers! That said I would rather he was playing.

Agree with fearing the worst though David. England are managed by Sven mk II.

clitheroekid

Look at the stats - England have won more games without Rooney

DB7

I just don't think that Rooney and Owen work as a partnership, nor Gerrard and Lampard, but successive managers England managers refuse to accept the obvious.

Also looks like Spurs 2 England strikers couldn't hit a barndoor with a banjo.

clitheroekid

There's always Heskey




or Morecambe's exciting number 9 shirt....

hankoler

As the line in the famous film goes, " frankly my dear.................................."

DB7

Highway robbery from Chelsea on Sunday. I think they're starting to run Utd close as my most hated team. Another bunch of whingers with an arrogant streak.

batman

Harsh words .... the only whinging done at the weekend was by Benitez et al. He didn't mind last year when Bellamy and Alonso were diving all over the place. Steve Bruce was another one, moaning about said Bellamy .... then he had the nerve to say, 'having said that, I'd expect my forwards to do it'.

Bats.

ps - great dive by Malouda though ... made up a little for the 'goal that never was'

Don't miss out on a chance to win a rare film in Bat-Quiz 13 closing date - 31/8/8.

batman

Another masterly performance by McLaren's 'lions' tonight .....

Bats.

Don't miss out on a chance to win a rare film in Bat-Quiz 13 closing date - 31/8/8.

David Brent

Why is it that every time I watch England play I feel as though I'm trapped in a time warp?

Same old players, same old missed shots on goal, same old blunders at the back,
same old result, same old let down to English fans, same old promises from the manager, same old....same old......


Dave.

penfold

On last night's showing I don't think you can blame Rooney for that....how many sitters did Owen miss???

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

batman

Mark Lawrenson moaned at one point about McLaren playing his strikers 'slightly out of position' .... does anyone understand that comment?

Some personal views ...

Baffling decision 1 - Micah Richards had a stormer at centre back on Sunday. Neither JT or Ferdinand had particularly good games the same day. Surely it was worth having a look at him in that position in a 'friendly'. A half played with one each of the others would have given McLaren an idea of how it might have worked in emergency situation.

Baffling decision 2 - Why take off your most effective player (Joe Cole) instead of your tired looking and ineffective (at that point) former captain (Beckham).

Baffling decision 3 - Peter Crouch nearly always scores for England. Why not play him from the start, and take him off if it isn't working, instead of starting with the not match-fit Owen (who had a stinker). Crouch and Wright-Phillips at least looked interested.

Baffling decision 4 - Why does Jermaine Dafoe never get a start? He's no worse than the others and would be an unknown quantity for a lot of international opposition.

Baffling decision 5 - Why was McLaren appointed when they should have moved Heaven and Earth to get Steve Coppell?

Baffling decision 6 - I agree with Mr Brent .... why have we not moved forward? I watched highlights of the 5-1 win in 2001 on ESPN afterwards and only 2 Germans who played in that match would have figured in a full strength German team .... compared with about 8 of the England team.

Some positives .... I thought Shorey did OK. Richards was good. Wright-Phillips (and although he plays for Chelski I am not a fan of his) played well when he came on. That's all I can think of.

TV coverage - BBC should pension off Motson (cliche corner awaits) and get rid of the irritating Lawrenson. The unprofessional Ian Wright should never be allowed near a TV studio ever again (he's arrogant, slovenly and has nothing interesting to say) and Hansen's lip had better heal soon 'cos the stubble doesn't suit him. If Adrian Chiles could be tempted to do more footie he should do all the BBC's coverage in future .... he's top man!

Rant over .... back to sleep now.

Bats.

Don't miss out on a chance to win a rare film in Bat-Quiz 13 closing date - 31/8/8.

penfold

Point 1 - Yes, he played a blinder against Man U....but I thought he played a blinder last night, set up the goal with a piece of real class.

Point 2 - Agree entirely.

Point 3 - Owen is a waste of space for England, and has been since before he left Liverpool. Last night he was like an extra German defender. Alan Smith is not a striker, he's an attacking midfielder a la Paul Scholes...but he deserves a better return for his final deliveries. Crouch is fine, but England tend to play long ball when he comes on...usually as last night, a last ditch desperate throw of the dice. Smith and Crouch I would like to see start.

Point 4 - Sorry, don't rate him at all.

Point 5 - One day perhaps, but at least give Coppell a couple of years at top club level first.

Point 6 - I have to disgree with your analysis here....Germany 1 England 5 - we were away - and it was a World Cup Qualifier, not a friendly. the Germans put out the best team they had available...according to the manager's opinion. A false dawn as it happened, but let's not denigrate that night's achievement.
Due to withdrawals, last night's England was at far from full strength.



Re. the commentaries, my dream team would be Barry Davies commentating, Lineker is OK, but would like to see Chiles given a chance, Hansen and Johnny Giles as pundits.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??