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Things are looking up
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Preperations have been far from ideal for the world cup, at times its been depressing, but on this miserable sunday lunch i feel a whole lot better about matters.
Firstly losing Gerrard was a massive blow, he was key to out team and couldn't be replaced, could he ? Step forward Owen Hargreaves, two consecutive man of the match performances has shown he has taken the step from club football to international standard, this is a player who has already won the Champions league, his pedigree can't be doubted and now he stakes a timely place in the starting line up, he may not be as complete as Gerrard, but is certainly good enough to compete and can only increase our chances.
Secondly, Sven has reassured me on Becks, although there remains a small chance he won't be fit for the Sweden match, he will almost certainly be fit for the Argies and compared to last nights rumours which said he was going home, its a huge boost. He also lead out the team today, which must of done alot for all concerned.
Thirdly, it seems we will have much more support than anticipated, it seems from today's match he Japanese love us <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> We are the second team of many of the natives and that can only give us a huge advantage over most of he teams out there, all our games are in Japan, hopefully the mass of support will make it feel like we are playing at home.
Fourthly, our strikers are scoring goals, well Owen, Vassell and Fowler, to expect Heskey to score is obviously crazy, but at least they are scoring as a unit, Sheringham linked up beautifully with Fowler for the second and has given a timely reminder he can make a useful addition in the latter stages of games.
Finally we saw a few glimpses of the real Joe Cole today, his role is only ever going to be as a second half substitute, but he's a good one, its nice to know if we can't quite unlock teams we have a little wizard on the bench just in case, Sinclai played supirsingly well on the left, better than Heskey anyway, so if Dyer doesn't pull through we've options.
The defensive unit, all been well, will only lack Neville and Mills could be a satisfactory replacement, perhaps against the Argies Brown's defensice capabilities may be wiser, but Mills coming forward is a nice weapon against inferiror teams.
I guess the time has come, next time the three lions step out onto a pitch it will be for real and somehow after todays's game its all come together in my head, the team looks good, balanced and effective. I fully understand Sven's squad now, he's no fool, not that i ever believed he was, but he really has got it all right so far.
Nobody is claiming we are the best side on paper and if we are to beat teams like Italy and France we will need luck, a few breaks here and there, but then were due some, if not for penalties we'd of won either Italia 90 or Euro 96, we have gone closer in the past than people give us credit for, never as favourites, never with the best side on paper, well this year again we aren't favourites, but maybe, just maybe, the 30th June will be a day we'll forever remember <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
Firstly losing Gerrard was a massive blow, he was key to out team and couldn't be replaced, could he ? Step forward Owen Hargreaves, two consecutive man of the match performances has shown he has taken the step from club football to international standard, this is a player who has already won the Champions league, his pedigree can't be doubted and now he stakes a timely place in the starting line up, he may not be as complete as Gerrard, but is certainly good enough to compete and can only increase our chances.
Secondly, Sven has reassured me on Becks, although there remains a small chance he won't be fit for the Sweden match, he will almost certainly be fit for the Argies and compared to last nights rumours which said he was going home, its a huge boost. He also lead out the team today, which must of done alot for all concerned.
Thirdly, it seems we will have much more support than anticipated, it seems from today's match he Japanese love us <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> We are the second team of many of the natives and that can only give us a huge advantage over most of he teams out there, all our games are in Japan, hopefully the mass of support will make it feel like we are playing at home.
Fourthly, our strikers are scoring goals, well Owen, Vassell and Fowler, to expect Heskey to score is obviously crazy, but at least they are scoring as a unit, Sheringham linked up beautifully with Fowler for the second and has given a timely reminder he can make a useful addition in the latter stages of games.
Finally we saw a few glimpses of the real Joe Cole today, his role is only ever going to be as a second half substitute, but he's a good one, its nice to know if we can't quite unlock teams we have a little wizard on the bench just in case, Sinclai played supirsingly well on the left, better than Heskey anyway, so if Dyer doesn't pull through we've options.
The defensive unit, all been well, will only lack Neville and Mills could be a satisfactory replacement, perhaps against the Argies Brown's defensice capabilities may be wiser, but Mills coming forward is a nice weapon against inferiror teams.
I guess the time has come, next time the three lions step out onto a pitch it will be for real and somehow after todays's game its all come together in my head, the team looks good, balanced and effective. I fully understand Sven's squad now, he's no fool, not that i ever believed he was, but he really has got it all right so far.
Nobody is claiming we are the best side on paper and if we are to beat teams like Italy and France we will need luck, a few breaks here and there, but then were due some, if not for penalties we'd of won either Italia 90 or Euro 96, we have gone closer in the past than people give us credit for, never as favourites, never with the best side on paper, well this year again we aren't favourites, but maybe, just maybe, the 30th June will be a day we'll forever remember <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
Post edited by JustV on
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Comments
We seem to have completely different views(see England V Cameroon). But whatever Sven decides, we will deliver, the nation depends on it.
If we fall at the first hurdle I can see the German papers showing the three Lions up in flames, as the mirror had 9 months ago with Kahns gloves.
COME ON ENGLAND
Not long now lads, the waiting is almost over.
We're not worthy.
This kid has certainly impressed over the past few appearances. I thought he was pretty good at Bayern, but man he seems to be up for this...
<STRONG>
So, is this a regular thing, or was it just a one-off phone call?
Well basically the clouds oppened up and this sureal beam of light filtered through, it morphed into a god/sven type shape and uttered 'He'll be fit, Becks shall play' then it disappeared before my very eyes <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
Hargreaves has proved himself to be one hell of a player and with Europena experience already. A real prospect for the future <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
The rest of the squad looks good when we pass the ball around like we did for bits of the first half against Cameroon. There are no obvious links in the team (Mills or Brown right back <IMG SRC="confused.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> ) and having Beckham fit again is a huge boost.
I wore my England shirt to exams today and I'll wear the training shirt tomorrow <IMG SRC="cool.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="rolleyes.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">. We are also arranging for as many people as possible to wear one our French exam after the Nigeria game <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">