Its approximately 18:01 and I've just finished watching the first half on England v Spain and all in all its gone a bit better than I would have expected. To be honest I had been meaning to a post about the game all week but just never go round to it...to sum up what my thoughts were going to be, basically if you look at the squads the England squad is looking a bit second rate, and this should be a routine victory for the Spaniards.
The possession stats will probably tell the same story, but having watched the first half, England have done remarkably well at being patient and restricting the Spanish chances.
Obviously its only half time, so I'm not going to start banging on about how well we may or may not have played, but at the moment the English midfield are looking fairly solid and disciplined. The deployment of Phil Jones and Scott Parker in the middle of the park has given the team a bit of steel, but Jones has also been one of the more promising attacking options, creating space in the middle of the park which is looking otherwise congested.
However, that shouldn't be his job...and at the risk of jumping on bandwagon about Frank Lampard, that should be the job of the attacking player in the midfield trio. Darren Bent has been so isolated, and he needs a link man breaking out from the midfield when (eventually) England get the ball, someone with young legs and a good engine to keep going as a box-to-box player (how many cliches in a sentence!?) to get around him and provide support. James Milner could do this job, but so far he has been ineffectual wide on the left, and this has led to Ashley Cole losing the ball on multiple occasions.
As an attacking force, England haven't turned up and seeing Downing coming on for Walcott at half-time doesn't seem like changing that.
Spain have done what Spain do...despite what the pundits and commentary team think, they've not been amazing, they've moved the ball sideways well, but have looked troubled when the English line pushes up and pressurises the team...and as ever, they have been masters of the "dark arts", tactical fouls, rolling around etc.
So, to summarise before the second half kicks off. England as a defensive unit have done well and have resisted the temptation to over commit when they have the ball which would leave us open at the back. But lets at least take a few chances, these are international standard players, professional athletes and should be able to get themselves back in position before Spain have passed them to death...we'll see...GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL....1-0 England, cracking set piece from "ineffectual" James Milner and scored by "not doing his job" Lampard...I'll just keep quiet next time...
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Playing for the Shirt - Update
First there was no income tax...then there was no money back, no guarantee...but now those Fools and Horses are giving back...and giving back to the football world...and its epic.
Available with no name or number, 'Del Boy 1', 'Rodders 2' or my personal favourite 'Trigger 9'. I can't help thinking they should have done a 'Dave 99'.
If you only see one goal from the last week
We have been spoilt in recent weeks with some cracking goals, and many of us thought it would go on forever...alas it wasn't to be, and this weeks offering from around the globe just don't quite stack up to recent weeks.
Having said that, don't turn your nose up at this weeks selection...the technique alone was enough to get me out of my chair with the standard incoherent vocalisation of my appreciation for the goal (its an emission something like an "ooh" but that seemed very camp when I typed it...incoherent vocalisation is much better...). The technique in addition to the ball ending up in the top corner made this the stand out finish of the week...so take a bow Andy Johnson, for this goal in the Europa League against Wisla Krakow.
Having said that, don't turn your nose up at this weeks selection...the technique alone was enough to get me out of my chair with the standard incoherent vocalisation of my appreciation for the goal (its an emission something like an "ooh" but that seemed very camp when I typed it...incoherent vocalisation is much better...). The technique in addition to the ball ending up in the top corner made this the stand out finish of the week...so take a bow Andy Johnson, for this goal in the Europa League against Wisla Krakow.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Premier Leagues most under capped players
In these times when international caps get given out like sweets, I've decided to have a look at 11 players who have played in the Premier League who have a criminally low amount of caps...no I don't mean Francis Jeffers and Michael Ricketts, I'm talking about the guys who are immense week in week out for their club sides, but for some reason just haven't ever made the step up to international level on a regular basis.
GK - Carlo Cudicini (0 caps). In the pre-Cech era at Chelsea Carlo was arguably the best keeper in the league and with form that also saw him voted Chelsea's Fans Player of the Year in 2001/02. Unfortunate to be an Italian 'keeper in the same era as Buffon...but I'm no England fan would have complained if he was to turn out for us.
DEF - Steve Bruce (0 caps). As the song goes "Steve Bruce, he's got a big fat head, he's got a big fat head, he's got a big fat head"...but he's also got 3 Premier League winners medals, 3 FA cup winners medals, 1 League Cup and 1 European Cup Winners Cup winners medal along with being the first captain to complete an FA Cup and Premier League double and being voted into the Premier Leagues team of the decade in 2002. Yet somehow Steve managed to turn out for England a grand total of zero times.
DEF - Ledley King (21 caps). Ok, so 21 caps isn't too bad a tally, but when you look at the sheer talent big deadly Ledley possess it is a crime that he hasn't represented his country more than 21 times. Pace, power, positioning and impeccable tackling technique if it weren't for his injury problems I think he would be first choice over Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
DEF - Paul Parker (19 caps). The best thing you could say about Paul Parker is that you very rarely noticed that he was on the pitch...and then he'd go on a foray forwards and whip a cross in for Eric Cantona to finish. The original Mr.Consistency before G.Nev took over that mantle, along with his place in the Man.United and England team.
MID - David Ginola (17 caps). Undoubtedly talented, but also liable to the odd meltdown. Ginola's international career was all but ended during a qualifier for USA 1994 against Bulgaria. With the scores level and France only needing a draw to qualify Ginola over hit a cross, from which Bulgaria went up the other end and scored and knocked France out of the tournament. France manager Gerard Houllier blamed the failure on Ginola and he was branded the "assassin of french football". Ginola was barracked by French fans during the following season prompting him to leave for England...for this we are forever thankful to the French, especially for moments like that goal against Barnsley.
MID - Danny Murphy (9 caps). Another hugely talented footballer who maybe didn't get the chances he deserved because of his peers. Made his debut for Crewe at the age of 16, before moving to Liverpool where he won the treble. Great striker of a dead ball, always has space in the middle of the park and what a range of passing on the boy...just ask Fulham fans.
MID - Mikel Arteta (0 caps). No-one epitomises being born in the wrong year more than Mikel. I hope Mr and Mrs Arteta are happy with themselves for producing such a talent, but hang their heads in shame for not consulting with the Iniesta's and Hernandez's before having little Mikel.
MID - Paul Merson (21 caps). To say Paul Merson had some problems would be an understatement (playing a drinking and sleeping pill game with Gazza), but to see him in full flight with a ball at his feet was something else. Maybe not the most graceful of players, but a legend at every club he played for.
MID - Matthew Le Tissier (8 caps). Sure he may be "chunky", and he may have been a little bit lazy...but Matt Le Tissier is a one man highlight reel...he just didn't know how to score an average goal. A true one club man, only ever missed one penalty, fittingly scored the last ever goal at The Dell and cited by Xavi as one of his childhood inspirations. "His talent was simply out of the norm. He could simply dribble past seven or eight players but without speed - he just walked past them. For me he was sensational"...I think I may just agree with Xavi.
FWD - 'Sir' Les Ferdinand MBE (17 caps). 'Sir' Les was the perfect number nine. Strong, powerful, great finisher and unstoppable in the air. Once again maybe didn't quite fulfill his potential at International level due to his contemporaries, despite giving up his number 9 shirt at Newcastle to allow Alan Shearer to take it and move to Newcastle, but 'Sir' Les will always be a hero at Loftus Road.
FWD - Kevin Philips (8 caps). Almost single-handedly dragged Sunderland to their highest ever finish and one of the few Englishmen to finish a season with 30 goals...although he has now played for almost as many clubs as that.
FWD - Robbie Fowler (28). The ultimate finisher, for my generation there has been no deadlier finisher in the Premier League, not blessed with physical assets but still was at the top of the game for many many years until a better standard of life called from down under.
Subs;
Jonathan Woodgate (8 caps). How many players score an own goal and get sent off on their debut and still get a standing ovation, and how many do it for Real Madrid. Tells you all you need to know about the man.
Michael Bridges (0 caps). Once one of the Premier Leagues hot properties, but a string of serious injuries led him down the leagues (much to the delight of Carlisle United fans) before a stint in Australia before he retired earlier in the year.
Scott Parker (9 caps). Tenacious, hard working and can play a bit. No more needs to be said.
Andrew Cole (15 caps). Once the most expensive player in the league, and well worth his price tag.
GK - Carlo Cudicini (0 caps). In the pre-Cech era at Chelsea Carlo was arguably the best keeper in the league and with form that also saw him voted Chelsea's Fans Player of the Year in 2001/02. Unfortunate to be an Italian 'keeper in the same era as Buffon...but I'm no England fan would have complained if he was to turn out for us.
DEF - Steve Bruce (0 caps). As the song goes "Steve Bruce, he's got a big fat head, he's got a big fat head, he's got a big fat head"...but he's also got 3 Premier League winners medals, 3 FA cup winners medals, 1 League Cup and 1 European Cup Winners Cup winners medal along with being the first captain to complete an FA Cup and Premier League double and being voted into the Premier Leagues team of the decade in 2002. Yet somehow Steve managed to turn out for England a grand total of zero times.
DEF - Ledley King (21 caps). Ok, so 21 caps isn't too bad a tally, but when you look at the sheer talent big deadly Ledley possess it is a crime that he hasn't represented his country more than 21 times. Pace, power, positioning and impeccable tackling technique if it weren't for his injury problems I think he would be first choice over Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
DEF - Paul Parker (19 caps). The best thing you could say about Paul Parker is that you very rarely noticed that he was on the pitch...and then he'd go on a foray forwards and whip a cross in for Eric Cantona to finish. The original Mr.Consistency before G.Nev took over that mantle, along with his place in the Man.United and England team.
MID - David Ginola (17 caps). Undoubtedly talented, but also liable to the odd meltdown. Ginola's international career was all but ended during a qualifier for USA 1994 against Bulgaria. With the scores level and France only needing a draw to qualify Ginola over hit a cross, from which Bulgaria went up the other end and scored and knocked France out of the tournament. France manager Gerard Houllier blamed the failure on Ginola and he was branded the "assassin of french football". Ginola was barracked by French fans during the following season prompting him to leave for England...for this we are forever thankful to the French, especially for moments like that goal against Barnsley.
MID - Danny Murphy (9 caps). Another hugely talented footballer who maybe didn't get the chances he deserved because of his peers. Made his debut for Crewe at the age of 16, before moving to Liverpool where he won the treble. Great striker of a dead ball, always has space in the middle of the park and what a range of passing on the boy...just ask Fulham fans.
MID - Mikel Arteta (0 caps). No-one epitomises being born in the wrong year more than Mikel. I hope Mr and Mrs Arteta are happy with themselves for producing such a talent, but hang their heads in shame for not consulting with the Iniesta's and Hernandez's before having little Mikel.
MID - Paul Merson (21 caps). To say Paul Merson had some problems would be an understatement (playing a drinking and sleeping pill game with Gazza), but to see him in full flight with a ball at his feet was something else. Maybe not the most graceful of players, but a legend at every club he played for.
MID - Matthew Le Tissier (8 caps). Sure he may be "chunky", and he may have been a little bit lazy...but Matt Le Tissier is a one man highlight reel...he just didn't know how to score an average goal. A true one club man, only ever missed one penalty, fittingly scored the last ever goal at The Dell and cited by Xavi as one of his childhood inspirations. "His talent was simply out of the norm. He could simply dribble past seven or eight players but without speed - he just walked past them. For me he was sensational"...I think I may just agree with Xavi.
FWD - 'Sir' Les Ferdinand MBE (17 caps). 'Sir' Les was the perfect number nine. Strong, powerful, great finisher and unstoppable in the air. Once again maybe didn't quite fulfill his potential at International level due to his contemporaries, despite giving up his number 9 shirt at Newcastle to allow Alan Shearer to take it and move to Newcastle, but 'Sir' Les will always be a hero at Loftus Road.
FWD - Kevin Philips (8 caps). Almost single-handedly dragged Sunderland to their highest ever finish and one of the few Englishmen to finish a season with 30 goals...although he has now played for almost as many clubs as that.
FWD - Robbie Fowler (28). The ultimate finisher, for my generation there has been no deadlier finisher in the Premier League, not blessed with physical assets but still was at the top of the game for many many years until a better standard of life called from down under.
Subs;
Jonathan Woodgate (8 caps). How many players score an own goal and get sent off on their debut and still get a standing ovation, and how many do it for Real Madrid. Tells you all you need to know about the man.
Michael Bridges (0 caps). Once one of the Premier Leagues hot properties, but a string of serious injuries led him down the leagues (much to the delight of Carlisle United fans) before a stint in Australia before he retired earlier in the year.
Scott Parker (9 caps). Tenacious, hard working and can play a bit. No more needs to be said.
Andrew Cole (15 caps). Once the most expensive player in the league, and well worth his price tag.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
A chip off the old block
First we had;
Johann Cruyff - Amazing
Then we had;
Jordi Cruyff - Had his moments, always did a job
And now we have Jesjua Angoy Cruyff, the 18 year old grandson of Johann who is currently on the books of Wigan having left Barcelona in the summer and who scored this stunner in the 81st minute in the Lancashire Cup against Preston North End...maybe a chip of the old family block.
Johann Cruyff - Amazing
Then we had;
Jordi Cruyff - Had his moments, always did a job
And now we have Jesjua Angoy Cruyff, the 18 year old grandson of Johann who is currently on the books of Wigan having left Barcelona in the summer and who scored this stunner in the 81st minute in the Lancashire Cup against Preston North End...maybe a chip of the old family block.
Rubbish defending? brilliant Strikers? A bit of both?
One of the big talking points coming out of the Premier League fixtures at the weekend is the amount of goals that have been scored in the league so far this season....some writers and pundits have been attributing the shift to the quality of the strikers now plying their trade in the league whilst others have blamed it on poor defending...so now its time for my take on it.
There can be no argument with some of the statistics, after the first ten rounds of matches we've averaged 2.97 goals per game, this is the highest rate we've seen in the Premier League, you could argue that this has been skewed somewhat by the regular cricket scores which have cropped up this season...the 8-2's, 6-0's, 6-1's and 5-3's...but these have been frighteningly regular, are we seeing a shift in emphasis from the managers? Andre Villas-Boas has gone on record stating that he simply wants to outscore the opposition.
At half-time of the Chelsea vs Arsenal game on Saturday Gary Neville was genuinely angry and appalled by the frankly shocking defending being exhibited by both sides (I would call it schoolboy defending, but even schoolboys are better than this), after all these are for the most part international defenders making basic, basic errors. Even John Terry is no longer looking like the man mountain he used to be, and as pointed out by Alan Hansen, it used to be the case that you could play anyone next to JT and it'd be fine, but now you have to make sure that its a quality defender alongside him to help out...what he then stopped short of saying was the David Luiz is not, and will never be the right man for that job (as good as his scissor kicks are, the boy is pony at defending...and penalties). It does on occasion seem like the basic art of defending has been forgotten by the top pro's, simple things like marking and tackling seem to be beyond some, there are exceptions Steven Taylor and Fabio Coloccini have been outstanding for Newcastle and Ledley King is always a rock at the back (when he's fit).
But on the other hand, maybe its just that when they make a mistake the strikers on show are more talented and nine times out of ten they will punish you for the mistake...Sergio Aguero has undeniably been different class, Super Mario has equally been as good when he's not setting off fireworks in his bathroom and Wayne Rooney has found his form again (a little piece of me can't help but thinking it may be the hair).
Both of these are valid explanations for the increase in goals this season...but maybe its a bit more to do with a culture change within the league itself, maybe the public have become so drunk on watching Barcelona and Real Madrid playing their open attacking brand of football that the managers and players are starting to open up a bit. Maybe the need to entertain has over taken the need to keep a clean sheet, and the need to keep the fans coming through the gates to see free flowing football is more important than basic defending as a team.
If any of these explanations were to hold true, then we can't really just look at the Premier League results. One way of analysing how English clubs are performing is to compare the performances of the English teams in the Champions League over the first four group games this season compared to last. So far this season the English teams have scored 27 goals and conceded a miserly 10 across the combined 16 games played by the four teams. At this stage last season the four English teams had scored 44 goals and conceded 14 across the combined 16 games...hmmm, so defending is getting worse, strikers are getting better, but in Europe, English teams have scored less and conceded less...
I'm sure you've all made up your own mind about why there have been so many goals this season, all I know is I'm confused, but I am enjoying it...however, I would like to see some good old fashioned defending find its way back into the league, crunching tackles, towering headers, positioning and no-nonsense defending....BANG.
There can be no argument with some of the statistics, after the first ten rounds of matches we've averaged 2.97 goals per game, this is the highest rate we've seen in the Premier League, you could argue that this has been skewed somewhat by the regular cricket scores which have cropped up this season...the 8-2's, 6-0's, 6-1's and 5-3's...but these have been frighteningly regular, are we seeing a shift in emphasis from the managers? Andre Villas-Boas has gone on record stating that he simply wants to outscore the opposition.
At half-time of the Chelsea vs Arsenal game on Saturday Gary Neville was genuinely angry and appalled by the frankly shocking defending being exhibited by both sides (I would call it schoolboy defending, but even schoolboys are better than this), after all these are for the most part international defenders making basic, basic errors. Even John Terry is no longer looking like the man mountain he used to be, and as pointed out by Alan Hansen, it used to be the case that you could play anyone next to JT and it'd be fine, but now you have to make sure that its a quality defender alongside him to help out...what he then stopped short of saying was the David Luiz is not, and will never be the right man for that job (as good as his scissor kicks are, the boy is pony at defending...and penalties). It does on occasion seem like the basic art of defending has been forgotten by the top pro's, simple things like marking and tackling seem to be beyond some, there are exceptions Steven Taylor and Fabio Coloccini have been outstanding for Newcastle and Ledley King is always a rock at the back (when he's fit).
But on the other hand, maybe its just that when they make a mistake the strikers on show are more talented and nine times out of ten they will punish you for the mistake...Sergio Aguero has undeniably been different class, Super Mario has equally been as good when he's not setting off fireworks in his bathroom and Wayne Rooney has found his form again (a little piece of me can't help but thinking it may be the hair).
Both of these are valid explanations for the increase in goals this season...but maybe its a bit more to do with a culture change within the league itself, maybe the public have become so drunk on watching Barcelona and Real Madrid playing their open attacking brand of football that the managers and players are starting to open up a bit. Maybe the need to entertain has over taken the need to keep a clean sheet, and the need to keep the fans coming through the gates to see free flowing football is more important than basic defending as a team.
If any of these explanations were to hold true, then we can't really just look at the Premier League results. One way of analysing how English clubs are performing is to compare the performances of the English teams in the Champions League over the first four group games this season compared to last. So far this season the English teams have scored 27 goals and conceded a miserly 10 across the combined 16 games played by the four teams. At this stage last season the four English teams had scored 44 goals and conceded 14 across the combined 16 games...hmmm, so defending is getting worse, strikers are getting better, but in Europe, English teams have scored less and conceded less...
I'm sure you've all made up your own mind about why there have been so many goals this season, all I know is I'm confused, but I am enjoying it...however, I would like to see some good old fashioned defending find its way back into the league, crunching tackles, towering headers, positioning and no-nonsense defending....BANG.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
If you only see one goal from the last week
Slight change once again to the format of my only "regular" piece...basically I've decided that restricting the search to just the weekend means that you fine people are missing out on seeing some absolutely stonking strikes.
This weeks award goes to Rapid Vienna's Christopher Drazan with one straight from the training ground...finished off with a sublimely sweet strike...I love it when a plan comes together.
Honorable mentions also go to Denis Baris and Milan Petrzela for these long run and finishes.
This weeks award goes to Rapid Vienna's Christopher Drazan with one straight from the training ground...finished off with a sublimely sweet strike...I love it when a plan comes together.
Honorable mentions also go to Denis Baris and Milan Petrzela for these long run and finishes.
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