We’ve got one of the best managers in the world who cut out the nonsense and got us playing as a team again (at least in the qualifiers).
We’ve got some of the best and most valuable players in the world.
Yet the performances in the two group games so far have been dreadful, and it looks like we may struggle to qualify in a group we should be managing to top quite easily.
What has gone wrong ?
Speculate and discuss ?
One theory is that we overestimated both our team and manager based on their performance in what was, by any measurement, a fairly easy qualifying group.
If what I’ve read in The Times today is true, then the Terry situation sounds like it may have got completely out of hand. I’m taking the story with a pinch of salt, but if Terry is causing trouble then I say stick him on the next flight home.
I’m tending to take all the stuff in the papers with a pinch of salt at the moment. We’ll only really find out what’s been going on after the world cup is over.
A French friend of mine has a theory that England will beat Slovenia, make it through to the last 16 where they face Germany, and beat Germany, and that that will give them so much confidence that England make it all the way to the final.
Come on boys, just think how good you are going to feel and how the team spirit will change once the goals start to go in.
What’s gone wrong ? I speculate :
1. Underestimating the opposition
2. An unhappy camp
3. Players paralysed by fear and being sh*t scared of coming home in disgrace
They need to put all of that behind them on Wednesday. C’mon England !!
Trying to put square pegs in round holes?
Allowing David Beckham in the dressing room?
Selecting injured/injury-prone players?
Not enough hard work?
Oh, I forgot ….
Trying to please both Gerrard and Lampard, and restructuring the whole shape of the side around two players that simply can’t play together.
Come on boys, just think how good you are going to feel and how the team spirit will change once the goals start to go in.
… and then Third Uncle woke up and discovered it was all a dream.
(Managerialism at it’s finest there!)
Trying to please both Gerrard and Lampard, and restructuring the whole shape of the side around two players that simply can’t play together.
Admittedly I have said before that Gerrard and Lampard cannot play together but I’ve had a change of heart, I believe that if Gerrard is playing as a supporting striker off of a main striker that there is room in the team for both (Lampard has proven this to be the case at Chelski).
As for what has gone wrong I think that they have underestimated the opposition, this group was touted as an easy group when it was drawn and all the way up to the start of the tournament, but there are no easy games.
I also think that Capello has become absorbed into the traditional England managerial position of sticking with the same big names in the same positions, regardless of performance/form/ability/attitude. When he came in he said “No players role is assured” but aside from enforced changes (Johnson for Neville, too old; Lennon for Beckham, crocked) what has changed in terms of players and formation since McClaren & Sven were in charge?
I’m not knocking Capello as a manager, I think he worked wonders at both Milan and Roma, but he obviously needs to do something different to what he is now. I don’t believe, however, that him naming his side 2 hours before the game is the wrong decision, I believe that by doing that he is ensuring that all the players know that right up to that point there is something which they can do to secure their place.
I do think that we will win against Slovenia…just…
It’s traditional for England to get off to a slow start. Remember Mexico in 1986 or Italia 90. When we beat Slovenia tomorrow, it will all be forgotten.
Mingey says I’m coming over all managerial ….. I was thinking more James Corden ……. c’mon England (thumps his chest), c’mon, c’mon !!