England post-mortem

[wendigo100]

And if England are do to better then they ought to make sure the likes of this hoodlum does not wear the England shirt

Oh, hoodlums like this you mean? Works for Portugal.

[Central-Scrutiniser]

Oh, hoodlums like this you mean? Works for Portugal.

Indeed W.

But you have to face that after all this media hype about Wayne Rooney , what did he actualy achieve ?

As far as I can see, a red card.

I mentioned pre touranamnet there would be a good chance Rooney could get sent off, he is a hothead and a defender knows that if he can niggle him enough then he can get him a red card.

Players like Rooney who cannot keep a cool head will always be a liablity.

[Clog II The Avenger]

When I watched the England team in training on the new I thought they looked a bunch of overweight unenthusiastic pampered plonkers. They are overpaid and therefore do not have incentives to practice and play hard. What is needed is a fresh team of athletes to train as footballers. Perhaps a bunch of Eastern European emigrant athletes will do the job.

[The Lone Gunman]

Indeed W.

But you have to face that after all this media hype about Wayne Rooney , what did he actualy achieve ?

As far as I can see, a red card.

I mentioned pre touranamnet there would be a good chance Rooney could get sent off, he is a hothead and a defender knows that if he can niggle him enough then he can get him a red card.

Players like Rooney who cannot keep a cool head will always be a liablity.

You are justifying cheating against Rooney! He did not instigate any of this he reacted. The ref is supposed to protect players from the kind of abuse that he suffers.
He is a hot headed tosser and certainly a liability but he should not have to put up with the kind of treatment he gets. He was head butted by Ronaldo. He was kicked and pulled all over the place. It was not untill he reacted that the ref took any action.
If the ref is not going to protect him then I don't blame him for defending himself.

[Central-Scrutiniser]

You are justifying cheating against Rooney! He did not instigate any of this he reacted. The ref is supposed to protect players from the kind of abuse that he suffers.
He is a hot headed tosser and certainly a liability but he should not have to put up with the kind of treatment he gets. He was head butted by Ronaldo. He was kicked and pulled all over the place. It was not untill he reacted that the ref took any action.
If the ref is not going to protect him then I don't blame him for defending himself.

Doesnt work like that LG,at this level of football you have to have a cool head.

If the opposition know that you can lash out if they provoke you ,they will do exactly that.

Anway to end this Post MoOrtem I found this report rather sad ...



Last night the dejected England squad arrived back home to the polite applause of 200 fans - a stark contrast to the rapturous reception that had been expected when they were predicting a World Cup triumph. The players trudged down the steps of the plane onto the tarmac at Stansted Airport.


Coach Sven Goran Erikkson and girlfriend Nancy dell' Olio led a grim-faced procession down the plane's steps.


But they angered many of the fans who had waited in the searing heat to greet them by leaving via a rear entrance without saying thank you.


Colin Merryweather, 44, who was with 10-year-old son Charlie said: "This just about sums them up.


"I have spent thousands following them all around the world and they can't even be bothered to stop and say hello to the children. They need to sort themselves out. They could have given us a wave."

[Captain Jack]

Don't forget, it's a team of millionaire playboys who by and large think they can do (or not do) whatever the feck they like.

[BoredBloke]

My 2p

I think Rooney has been very harshly treated. If somebody has your leg clamped between theirs, then obviously you are going to try to pull it free. As good as Rooney is, he can't fly. As the guy was sat on the floor, obviously there is a danger that Rooneys foot would connect with his bits. The true culprit in all this is Ronaldo and I can't see him being welcomed back to these shores. Imagine the response Man U are going to get in their away games.

Sven has to take the blame for this fiasco. We went to the world cup with too few forwards. The 4 we took were either injured, regaining fitness, too crap or too young.

Rooney I would have gambled on. Owen I would have taken also with Defoe in reserve. Crouch could have gone but only ever used for the last 20 minutes to shake things up. Why the fook did he take walcot? Did Theo need a long holiday in Germany?

Lampard should have been dropped to the bench and Beckham should have joined him.

On the final game against Portugal I would have played 442 with Crouch starting (due to a lack of other options). I would have dropped Lampard and shoved Beckham in the middle (or possibly dropped him for Hargreaves) and started Lennon.

[shaunbhoy]

I think Rooney has been very harshly treated. If somebody has your leg clamped between theirs, then obviously you are going to try to pull it free. As good as Rooney is, he can't fly. As the guy was sat on the floor, obviously there is a danger that Rooneys foot would connect with his bits.

That has to be the most feeble attempt at mitigation I have ever heard Tony. Whilst I agree Ronaldo comes out of the whole episode with little credit, Rooney has nobody to blame but himself for being an impetuous hothead. Had any Portuguese player done to Terry what he did to Carvalho then the English media would have been baying for blood had they not been red-carded. The root of the problem for England was the ineptitude of Sven IMHO, his squad selection, tactics, and persevering with his favourites regardless of form were the main contributory factors to this latest disappointment. Sadly for England fans, I can't see McLaren being any better. The FA should have held out and got Scolari, Hiddink or even O'Neill. They didn't and English football at international level will suffer for it.

[wendigo100]

Lampard didn't play well, but he had done for three years right up to the tournament, so there was an excuse for playing him.

However, Beckham hasn't played well for four years. England played better from the moment he went off. Corners were better, and Lennon gave the opposition far more to think about.

I would never, ever consider playing Beckham in the middle.

[AtW]

The FA should have held out and got Scolari, Hiddink or even O'Neill.

If Scolari agreed, then how would FA and fans feel about him beating England again in a rather low handed way? Remember - his school if coaching is based on the Arts of War book, which is basically do anything to win as its life and death situation, so no doubt Ronaldo is just a good pupil.