Footy

[sasguru]

I take the "false dawn" point.
But hope springs eternal in the human heart and all that.

[Flubster]

I suspect it way have something to do with Roman Abromovich offering a £40k per player bonus to each Russian player if they beat England. No better inspiration to wind the Chelsea/England contingent up, let alone the rest of the team.

In all fairness, a great TEAM display...and that has to include McClaren & Venebles.

[HankWangford]

I suspect it way have something to do with Roman Abromovich offering a £40k per player bonus to each Russian player if they beat England. No better inspiration to wind the Chelsea/England contingent up, let alone the rest of the team.

In all fairness, a great TEAM display...and that has to include McClaren & Venebles.

Not sure it would have motivated the russians. the russian people hate the oligarchs who (stole) most of the coutries wealth, loaded their private lear jets with the loot and foooked off

[Flubster]

Not sure it would have motivated the russians. the russian people hate the oligarchs who (stole) most of the coutries wealth, loaded their private lear jets with the loot and foooked off

Possibly. Everyone has their own motivator. Each England player has donated their fees to charity (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ls/6736783.stm) which is probably irrelevant as they are overpaid ponces anyway (just like C# contractors). Could it be England are now playing for pride? Could this also explain Scotland's win in Paris last night and the even bigger shock of Wales' win?

[Muttley08]

I think for the first time in ages we've played to a formation and a plan - instead of just putting the best 11 players together and trying to invent a formation.

We played with two wide players (plus attacking full backs), together with a 'little un and a big un' upfront - as well as two good midfielders who can control the midfield.

We also got rid of two 'hangers on' in Lampard and Rooney whose positional play is awful (I don't just mean Lampard runs into the box).

I'm not a Heskey or McLaren fan (and never had much of an opinion about Barry) - but well done to them.

Only hope now MaLaren has the balls to keep the team, and not just put Lampard, Rooney, Neville etc back in the team.

[daviejones]

I wonder how the game would have gone if Russia had been awarded that goal early on. It definitely was not handball and if awarded, could have had a different result...

[sasguru]

I wonder how the game would have gone if Russia had been awarded that goal early on. It definitely was not handball and if awarded, could have had a different result...

fair enough and they missed 2 sitters - but thems the breaks. England were much more incisive and creative in front of goal and were miles better in defence.

[daviejones]

fair enough and they missed 2 sitters - but thems the breaks. England were much more incisive and creative in front of goal and were miles better in defence.

I agree...just wondered how the game might have turned out....

England did play well though and no doubt would have won anyway but it might have been a closer game.

[wendigo100]

Why any credit, his hand was forced to make those selections. If he had done this with all players available then give the guy credit. But this was done to pure luck, not inspired management.

Not true. There were several players in front of Barry and Heskey for spots in that side.

Most pundits were for dropping Robinson, and were howling with laughter about the recall of Heskey - up until he played that is...

[sasguru]

Not true. There were several players in front of Barry and Heskey for spots in that side.

Most pundits were for dropping Robinson, and were howling with laughter about the recall of Heskey - up until he played that is...

Heskey was patchy when he played for England in the past. I haven't seen him as good as he was in the last 2 games