The_One wrote:
You beauty! The last half hour was much more like it. I was getting very worried. Lennon changed the game for me. The T&T defenders couldn't just stand there and head balls away. They actually had to commit defenders, which made space for others. Great ball in for Crouch (thank God he made up for that miss) by Becks (thought he was a bit poor up to that point) and a fantastic strike by Gerrard.
I second all of that o/
I was worried after the first half, but I had always said it wouldn't be an easy win Nice to see Rooney on pitch again. Credit due to Terry for saving a goal !? lol , not too familiar with Lennon up until now but I agree, he did exactly what was needed.
Is it a coincidence that it was the Liverpool players that managed to snatch victory from almost certain embarassment?
Okay, okay, the rest of the team helped too
I'm hoping Sven experiments a little with Sweden. I want to see Lennon and Rooney start. Owen alongside Rooney, with Walcott coming on for Rooney later.
Owen deserves 90 minutes and I think Crouch's aerial threat will be pretty well contained by the Swedes.
I wonder if Becks could play as a holding midfielder, he can certainly still supply the forwards from the centre - defensively it is a gamble though.
What puzzles me is before the tournament started, he was described as 'something different' or 'plan B' or 'another option' ie something defenders won't be used to.
But playing him in every game is surely providing future opponents more than enough information on his weaknesses.
He might be no oil painting but he doesn't come across as stupid at all. England were poor, again, until the substitutions. We always play poorly against defensive teams. Becks provides no width at all.
You're right R3L!K, future opponents will be making their defenders grow a few inches before they face England.
Without altering the side completely, the change I would make would be to drop Lampard for Carrick/Hargreaves. We must have a holding midfielder. Lampard is keeping Gerrard in shackles.
If we want a bolder change 3-5-2 seems to make sense.
As for up front, Owen HAS to be given 90 minutes against Sweden.
Last edited by The_One on 16-06-2006 15:00, edited 1 time in total.
That (shot at the) goal from Trinidad/Tobago yesterday that was offside.. (just after they had gotten the extra 3 minutes)
It was so fucking awesome!
The ref should have just given it to them (it wouldn't have won them the game anyway) I felt like crying along with the guy when it turned out to be offside.
Best played game from any team I have seen so far, before that I was only really impressed by some of Spains work. If Brazil don't sort it out , and Argentina stay on form they could well be on the way to the cup
Only team I have seen so far that really deserve to do well, ofc things will change as we get on to the next rounds
So Ivory Coast are out. Shame it was such a tough group. They looked good enough to go through. Tunisia is the best bet for an african nation in the next round now.
Glad to see Angola getting a positive result in the World Cup.
It's nice for these players, some of them without club, others playing in the portuguese secondary league, to enjoy some success.
And they can still hope to get past the group stage, so gg
Hope that Portugal does well tomorrow, not only a good result but also an entertaining exhibition like we always love to watch, but if they can get the three points with another 1-0 it's fine.
Last edited by Cenotaph on 16-06-2006 21:56, edited 1 time in total.
Nice to see Rooney on pitch again. Credit due to Terry for saving a goal !? lol , not too familiar with Lennon up until now but I agree, he did exactly what was needed. 
\O/\o/
I felt like crying along with the guy when it turned out to be offside.
