England Friendlies

[rhroyal]

:|

What's that for? He has completely owned you and that response isn't even an attempt to make sense.

His inability to see that my point was aimed at people who thought we did well when we didn't

The only way teams have beaten Spain is by playing like we did today.

It's you who is entirely missing his point. Either you want us to play more attacking open football, which would have played to Spain's strengths and seen us tonked. Or you simply want us to get better which is frankly an obvious wish which Capello really can't do much about..

[Hoop Blah]

:|

What's that for? He has completely owned you and that response isn't even an attempt to make sense.

His inability to see that my point was aimed at people who thought we did well when we didn't

We restricted a very very good side to just a few decent chances.

With the lack of attacking quality available this week (it's not a strength at the moment) that was pretty much all we could do when better sides than us have failed miserably in the past.

I'd rather we had a vast array of quality players to beat Spain at their own game, but that's the same situation for the rest of the world really. To get the result, but more importantly restrict Spain to the quantity of quality chances they had is doing pretty well.

[Royal Rother]

The number of divs saying "now there will be loads of divs saying we are going to win Euro 2012">>>>>>>the number of divs saying "we are going to win Euro 2012"

That's because your 2nd category of divs haven't started saying it yet. But they will do when the tournament gets close and it will be, in large part, justified by the result last night.

[Schards#2]

The number of divs saying "now there will be loads of divs saying we are going to win Euro 2012">>>>>>>the number of divs saying "we are going to win Euro 2012"

That's because your 2nd category of divs haven't started saying it yet. But they will do when the tournament gets close and it will be, in large part, justified by the result last night.

dis'gree. I think South Africa saw a sea change in the majority of England supporters attitudes in that, firstly, they think England are shit and, secondly, they don't really like the team or players at all any more.

I've watched some of the Euro qualifies in the pub and have noticed an indifference or even contempt for the team from the sort of people you would normally expect to be your 'typical England fans' even when winning. Even yesterday, one of our best results in decades, see how subdued the whole atmosphere was.

I could be wrong, but I don't think you'll see much enthusiasm or optimism about England until they put in a real performance in a tournament, until then, people's default is that they will flop again.

Personally, I think we have as much chance as we did before yesterday, about 20/1 IMHO. If we do do well, it will be in the style of Greece in 2004 rather than Spain in 2008.

[Royal With Cheese]

I've watched some of the Euro qualifies in the pub and have noticed an indifference or even contempt for the team from the sort of people you would normally expect to be your 'typical England fans' even when winning. Even yesterday, one of our best results in decades, see how subdued the whole atmosphere was.

While I agree with the genral sentiments Schards, I'd put the 4-1 demolition of Holland in Euro '96 and our 5-1 thrashing of the Krauts streets ahead of a meaningless friendly against a team who have lost to both Italy and Portugal in non-compedititve fixtures in the last 12 months and perhaps is one of the reasons for the general apathy.

[Schards#2]

I've watched some of the Euro qualifies in the pub and have noticed an indifference or even contempt for the team from the sort of people you would normally expect to be your 'typical England fans' even when winning. Even yesterday, one of our best results in decades, see how subdued the whole atmosphere was.

While I agree with the genral sentiments Schards, I'd put the 4-1 demolition of Holland in Euro '96 and our 5-1 thrashing of the Krauts streets ahead of a meaningless friendly against a team who have lost to both Italy and Portugal in non-compedititve fixtures in the last 12 months and perhaps is one of the reasons for the general apathy.

Yes, obviously.

However, a win against the best team in the world would, in normal circumstances, be greeted with a whole lot more enthusiasm/jingoism IMHO.

[Tredder]

29% 71% possession
3 shots 21 shots

Never has term, smash and grab been more apt.

It was a dire performance, and quite frankly, boring, Spain did their best to make it a spectacle, but to start with Bent up front, just about typifed the managers approach, weird, as this was just a friendly.

[PieEater]

It was like watching FA Cup giant killers where we were the non league team and Spain were in the premier league. The players were hard working but the gulf in class was apparent. Passing and movement was appalling, but organisation and defending was good.

[Royal Rother]

That's a good summary.

[Royal With Cheese]

I've watched some of the Euro qualifies in the pub and have noticed an indifference or even contempt for the team from the sort of people you would normally expect to be your 'typical England fans' even when winning. Even yesterday, one of our best results in decades, see how subdued the whole atmosphere was.

While I agree with the genral sentiments Schards, I'd put the 4-1 demolition of Holland in Euro '96 and our 5-1 thrashing of the Krauts streets ahead of a meaningless friendly against a team who have lost to both Italy and Portugal in non-compedititve fixtures in the last 12 months and perhaps is one of the reasons for the general apathy.

Yes, obviously.

However, a win against the best team in the world would, in normal circumstances, be greeted with a whole lot more enthusiasm/jingoism IMHO.

Sorry, it didn't seem that obvious to me in your first post. That's why I highlighted my reasons for disagreeing with that particular part of the post.

[melonhead]

very solid performance against the best side in the world, with a below strength team, and alot of kids playing.

defensively excellent,played with a good tempo, tried to keep the ball while still playing quick forward ball.(not always successful, but the neat triangles we tried to play in their half were a good sign, and surprising, and also the ammount of space we managed to get ourselves on occasion in their half, and the ammount of good running into their box)

yes, we gave it away alot, but still managed to restrict spain to limited chances for all their possession, managed to nick a goal, and deserved the win.

yes it was only a friendly, but you only had to see how spain resorted to kicking us, and eventuallly went 4-4-2 and started hoofing it to see how desperate they were to win that game.

is it the dawn of a new era of english domination of the world game? no, although the two new CBs were very very good, and give me hope that we wont get worse when terry and ferdinand finally retire- we may even get better.

will we be even better with rooney in that team? yes,
will we look to set up so defensively against lesser nations, no.
was it still an entertaining, and meaningful game? yes.

and it was certainly one in the eye for all the people on the radio all weekend saying we had no hope and would get tonked.

i enjoyed it.lets build on that.without going crazy and thinking we will win the euros just yet.
it certainly helps us that everyone is down on england at the moment, and if we can keep that pessimism/realism going into the tournament, instead of going mebntal, then it may actually play into our hands

[Super_horns]

It was a good defensive effort more than anything else which proved for once the tactics were right...ofcourse Spain are still better than us and probably should have scored 2/3 goals.

However it was positive to see a England team playing with a determination to win rather than going through the motions.

[melonhead]

It was a good defensive effort more than anything else which proved for once the tactics were right...ofcourse Spain are still better than us and probably should have scored 2/3 goals.

However it was positive to see a England team playing with a determination to win rather than going through the motions.

great tempo, great pressing, but also some nice passing at times with a determination not to just hoof it into the channels, but 5to keep it on the deck, and good movement.

lol at coulda woulda shoulda scored 2/3

if wed had rooney up front instead of bent , we woulda shoulda scored 4

[No Fixed Abode]

When listening to Schards about football. Remember this. He thought Gary Lineker DIDN'T dive to get the penalties against Cameroon in Italia 1990. That sums this chump up.

[who are ya?]

I'm not sure why it really matters that England have scraped together a win against a country that has taken football to the next level and won the last 2 tournemants.
We won, enjoy that fact! Nobody with a brain cell thinks it has won us the Euros

[melonhead]

lots of people saying that victory means nothing though, where i think that is over doing it a little.
it shows we arent as faar behind as people think.and its shows that we should stick to what we are good at, instead of trying to follow whatever the flavour of the month fashion in football is at any one time.
just have a clear direction, and focus, and work on it. get players playing for eacgh other, in the way they play each week, and we have what it takes to beat anyone on our day, and if we get a bit of luck, and get a real team together, with some fresh blood, and some old heads we could possibly have a decent tournament for once.

[cmonurz]

Agreed with all of that brendyhead.

Although TMD says we should work on our Cruyff turns and it doesn't matter if we lose. So I don't know what to think.

[M-U-R-T-Y]

All it really showed me was that England play a lot better without as much pressure and expectation on their shoulders. Everyone was bracing themselves for a tonking and I think that played into our hands a bit.

Yeah, it's a friendly, but I can't help but be pleased with a victory against the world and european champions with a young side.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

29% 71% possession
3 shots 21 shots

Never has term, smash and grab been more apt.

It was a dire performance, and quite frankly, boring, Spain did their best to make it a spectacle.

Really?

I find Spain extremely dull to watch, and any game with them in equally so (if the team, like England, just defends)

[Ian Royal]

You have to admire Spain's ability and dominance. But they are also quite boring.

I'd take Germany over them every day. Just like I'd take Utd over Arsenal. Or Norwich over Swansea.