I think some are drunk or blind...

[tony d]

Right fellas lets get one thing clear...Today we played a team who would struggle at in our League ...

The usual "We are gonna win the World Cup" rubbish is off and running...

I would be more worried with the amount of chances they had...The lack of real cohesion in our back four...The way Stew Peas looked pretty comfortable against our front men...

They scored two own goals ...Yep two...

Crouch's goal laid on by Owen was a very good one... The other goals were either own goals or mistakes by a poor defence set up...

But let's face it if he hadn't scored against these fellas then he would have defo needed the chop...

I reckon Bradford City would have a good chance against the Jamaican squad.

Donovan had a shocker and any decent international keeper would have saved a couple of those soft goal...In the same way any decent defence would have kept us out..

We played average the whole game...Granted it's hard to raise your game against a side so poor...But the signs were there for all to see..

I challenge anyone to say we played fantastic today or that Jamica are anything other than a poor Championship side or a League One side at Best...

Not like England fans to make out we are top of the world after winning a game by a margin expected against sides in and around the clibre of San Marino...

[Wicker Man]

Right fellas lets get one thing clear...Today we played a team who would struggle at in our League ...

The usual "We are gonna win the World Cup" rubbish is off and running...

I would be more worried with the amount of chances they had...The lack of real cohesion in our back four...The way Stew Peas looked pretty comfortable against our front men...

They scored two own goals ...Yep two...

Crouch's goal laid on by Owen was a very good one... The other goals were either own goals or mistakes by a poor defence set up...

But let's face it if he hadn't scored against these fellas then he would have defo needed the chop...

I reckon Bradford City would have a good chance against the Jamaican squad.

Donovan had a shocker and any decent international keeper would have saved a couple of those soft goal...In the same way any decent defence would have kept us out..

We played average the whole game...Granted it's hard to raise your game against a side so poor...But the signs were there for all to see..

I challenge anyone to say we played fantastic today or that Jamica are anything other than a poor Championship side or a League One side at Best...

Not like England fans to make out we are top of the world after winning a game by a margin expected against sides in and around the clibre of San Marino...


tup: tup: tup: Nail on the head!! why can't others see this:confused: :confused:

[Mallorcabantam]

6-0 was a good score, but I cannot say I was impressed, we should have ripped them apart, we never did

[wykie]

Maybe if Heskey was playing we might of scored more as he is a better striker than crouch surely?tup: tup:

[ChuckleBantam]

6-0 was a good score, but I cannot say I was impressed, we should have ripped them apart, we never did

Aye, I was a bit disappointed we just scraped through by the odd six goals meself:rolleyes:

[king billy]

6-0 was a good score, but I cannot say I was impressed, we should have ripped them apart, we never did

PMSL.....yep, i'm disgusted we didn't score 27 goals today - what a pathetic showing eh winning 6-0.....FFS is tonight comedy night on the messageboard?...

Good to see the resident site geriatric loonburger Mallorca is on form again tonight.....:rolleyes:

[tony d]

Right fellas read this and tell me im wrong...You tell me that Jamaica are a decent ..No a team who is of an Average standard or above...

If we had played San Marino today the score would have been around the same...Would you be slavering then????

They were dogshit and caused us problems throughout the match up front...If they were a half decent team we would of stuggled today...

Right fellas lets get one thing clear...Today we played a team who would struggle at in our League ...

The usual "We are gonna win the World Cup" rubbish is off and running...

I would be more worried with the amount of chances they had...The lack of real cohesion in our back four...The way Stew Peas looked pretty comfortable against our front men...

They scored two own goals ...Yep two...

Crouch's goal laid on by Owen was a very good one... The other goals were either own goals or mistakes by a poor defence set up...

But let's face it if he hadn't scored against these fellas then he would have defo needed the chop...

I reckon Bradford City would have a good chance against the Jamaican squad.

Donovan had a shocker and any decent international keeper would have saved a couple of those soft goal...In the same way any decent defence would have kept us out..

We played average the whole game...Granted it's hard to raise your game against a side so poor...But the signs were there for all to see..

I challenge anyone to say we played fantastic today or that Jamica are anything other than a poor Championship side or a League One side at Best...

Not like England fans to make out we are top of the world after winning a game by a margin expected against sides in and around the clibre of San Marino...

[tony d]

Good to see the resident site geriatric loonburger Mallorca is on form again tonight.....:rolleyes:

Funny that the three blokes who tick the most over being called names are free with them today eh...jawdrop: tup:

[Mallorcabantam]

It was a friendly -- it gave some players a work out and we all have our opinions about it, accept that lads, name calling wont improve the England team, who I hope win the World Cup, but its gona be hard --- very hard

[ChuckleBantam]

Funny that the three blokes who tick the most over being called names are free with them today eh...jawdrop: tup:

Tony, you can spend half the night attempting to back that up with facts and the other half trying to convince us that you aren't worse person on here for dishing it and not being able to take any back.

Or alternitively, you could go to the pub or the pictures and not waste your time attempting the impossible on such a lovely sunny night...

[Mallorcabantam]

Tony, you can spend half the night attempting to back that up with facts and the other half trying to convince us that you aren't worse person on here for dishing it and not being able to take any back.

Or alternitively, you could go to the pub or the pictures and not waste your time attempting the impossible on such a lovely sunny night... Now your getting it right Chukie, I'm just off out to a BBQ
Lots to eat and drink with good company and not one person who should play up front in the "Argue for England" olimpics barb: wine: Cheers:

[ChuckleBantam]

Right fellas lets get one thing clear...Today we played a team who would struggle at in our League ...

The usual "We are gonna win the World Cup" rubbish is off and running...

I would be more worried with the amount of chances they had...The lack of real cohesion in our back four...The way Stew Peas looked pretty comfortable against our front men...

They scored two own goals ...Yep two...

Crouch's goal laid on by Owen was a very good one... The other goals were either own goals or mistakes by a poor defence set up...

But let's face it if he hadn't scored against these fellas then he would have defo needed the chop...

I reckon Bradford City would have a good chance against the Jamaican squad.

Donovan had a shocker and any decent international keeper would have saved a couple of those soft goal...In the same way any decent defence would have kept us out..

We played average the whole game...Granted it's hard to raise your game against a side so poor...But the signs were there for all to see..

I challenge anyone to say we played fantastic today or that Jamica are anything other than a poor Championship side or a League One side at Best...

Not like England fans to make out we are top of the world after winning a game by a margin expected against sides in and around the clibre of San Marino...

If Our 6-0 victory over Jamaica was a poor result, what does it make these then?

France 3 Faroe Islands 0

Faroe Islands 0 France 2


Italy 2 Moldova 0

Moldova 0 Italy 1

Armenia 0 Holland 1

Holland 2 Armenia 0

Portugal 2 Litchenstein 1

Litchenstein 2 Portugal 2

There are a fair few matches with similar results I could highlight too.

All these are competitive games too all the minnows are of a calibre lesser than Jamaica too.

Fact is, that there are no minnows in international football. 0-2 or 2-0 is the most common score in competitive international football. A 6-0 scoreline in international football is a gubbing in any language against any side. Todays result was a great one, the "it's only Jamaica" excuse (why England fans should be making excuses for winning is totally beyond me) doesn't wash. There have been a fair few friendlies this week with so called mismatches,I didn't see many six nils.

[tony d]

There was me thinking that when Ghana beat Jamaica the other day 4-1 we may do a little better...

You know that powerhouse of world football Ghana...

BTW didnt Germany do Luxemburg 7-1?????

BTW i expect the "there are no easy games in international football these days" argument froma Celtic fan...Thats what the Scottish managers have said for years...

Of course there are easy ties....

[Mallorcabantam]

roflmao: You wont win Tonyd .. Chuckie will never back off to see another point of view
roflmao: Barbie calling... night all roflmao:

[Loyalish2]

Tone, me no understand, as someone who has actually bet money on England not winning their group even I can't understand your negativity.

Re:Crouch, I know he doesn't look the part, but apart from lacking a yard of pace and punching way below his weight in the air, ala Lee 'Mrs' Mills, there's not much that you can criticise him for. He has a good first touch, he's deceptively strong and can hold onto the ball under pressure, he links well, he has a good footballing brain, knowing when to drop off and collect the ball deep instead of charging gung ho into the box, he's a nuisance in the air(not good, but definitely a nuisance), and now, thanks to the odd goal or two his confidence is now off the richter scale.

Twelve months ago Crouch would have hidden away and blended in with the crowd, now he's doing 'the robot' and taking the pish with daft penalties ffs. That sort of confidence can take a player a long way and can only be good for team England. Furthermore, if Rafa Benitez and Englands greatest post war centre-forward have faith in him, then so have I!

Re:Jamaica, of course they are s**t, any international team with Donovan Ricketts and Damion Stewart in their side has to be, but you can only beat what's in front of you, and even if it was only Jamaica it's a long time since we've looked like we could score at will.

Come on tone, chill out mate, like I said, I've backed against England, and to be honest I saw nothing today to change my mind. The difference is geez, I'm desperately hoping I'm wrong, whereas you sound like you're desperate to see England, and Crouch inparticular, fail. :(

COME ON ENGLAND!!!

[tony d]

No mate i hope he gets the golden boot on the way to us lifting the cup..

But i don't buy into this Crouch Mafia telling me how fantastic he is when he obviously isn't mate..

I want England to win. But i know where i expect then to get...That is to the 1/4 finals at the bear fooking minimum.. That is where the are in the world of football...After that if all the big guns get through its in the hands of the footballing gods..

I never buy into the mass hysteria of this time we are defo gonna win..I hope we do, and with the squad we have we should be able to be there or there about..

My beef though as i keep saying is folk telling me Crouch is a top player..He isn't...

[bg]

no he isn't, he is distinctly average; however today he played reasonably well, but then it was carnival time, friendly sort of a game. He is not in the same class as the other players in my view; and just before I get labeled unpatriotic or other dubious names...............I want England to win, and to be quite honest if a miracle happens and Crouch suddenly turns it on, then I would be more than happy to eat my words with gusto.

I don't often agree with Tonyd on here, but I am not going to disagree with him just for the sake of it....I will leave it to others to dig their own holes and climb in....

There is a something about this England side, a bit of swagger, high skill level, and a burning ambition to win; now all we need is a slice of luck. For those who think you don't need it if you are good enough, you haven't watched as many world cups as I have:p

[Loyalish2]

It depends on what you consider to be a a top player. Misen I'd prefer Et'o and Adriano, but it's horses for courses and what a player brings to the table, and like it or not, right now Robo man IS the best we've got.

Btw, here's one for you. We might have won 6-0, but imho Lampard and Gerrard were once again decidedly average. Imho, if we are to have any chance at all one of them(definitely Lampard)has to make way for Carrick or another Makele type player. Failing that play three centre-backs and have a five man midfield. Because at the moment both players seem to be more concerned about what the other ones doing rather than letting their hair down and doing what they do best.

Sven should have experimented with a 3-5-2, 3-5-1-1 months ago. Unfortunately the bloke's a complete arse and as a result our best chance of winning the WC for fourty years is in the lap of the Gods. :(

[bg]

It depends on what you consider to be a a top player. Misen I'd prefer Et'o and Adriano, but it's horses for courses and what a player brings to the table, and like it or not, right now Robo man IS the best we've got.

Btw, here's one for you. We might have won 6-0, but imho Lampard and Gerrard were once again decidedly average. Imho, if we are to have any chance at all one of them(definitely Lampard)has to make way for Carrick or another Makele type player. Failing that play three centre-backs and have a five man midfield. Because at the moment both players seem to be more concerned about what the other ones doing rather than letting their hair down and doing what they do best.

Sven should have experimented with a 3-5-2, 3-5-1-1 months ago. Unfortunately the bloke's a complete arse and as a result our best chance of winning the WC for fourty years is in the lap of the Gods. :(

yes well I often agree with you; well I think he needs to experiment with other strikers, Crouch just doesn't do it for me, but as I have said, I don't mind being wrong. However, football as you know Ranger is a team game, and what you need is for them all to click together, much better than individual brilliance.

I am no Sven lover either, and yes he should have been experimenting long before this week. However, I still think that the team will gel and start to improve match on match despite Svens best effortjump:

Gerrard and Lampard did not shine today, as I say it was a reasonable performance against a weak opposition. Nevertheless we do not want them to peak to early, would rather see them making their mistakes this side of the world cup.....

[ChuckleBantam]

Tone's resorted to inventing stuff agin.

I can't recall any of the so called "Crouch Mafia" saying he was fantastic. However I can recall them, mysen included saying that they can see why he's going to Germany at the expense of the so called other sameo sameo England strikers. Fact is Crouch gives us an option wheras the likes of AJ, Bent and Defoe (who I personally think should be going at the expense of one of our superflous midfielders) don't.

I think if anyone genuinely said they thought Crouchie was world class, then they'd be wide of the mark. But not as wide of the mark as someone who genuinely thinks he's shite.

England have two genuine World class strikers then they have a pack of above average ones, in between is somebody that gives us something extra and can play a bit as well. That's not debateable, that's not in question, that is hard fact.

[king billy]

Tone's resorted to inventing stuff agin.

I can't recall any of the so called "Crouch Mafia" saying he was fantastic. However I can recall them, mysen included saying that they can see why he's going to Germany at the expense of the so called other sameo sameo England strikers. Fact is Crouch gives us an option wheras the likes of AJ, Bent and Defoe (who I personally think should be going at the expense of one of our superflous midfielders) don't.

I think if anyone genuinely said they thought Crouchie was world class, then they'd be wide of the mark. But not as wide of the mark as someone who genuinely thinks he's shite.

England have two genuine World class strikers then they have a pack of above average ones, in between is somebody that gives us something extra and can play a bit as well. That's not debateable, that's not in question, that is hard fact.


Spot on - Loyalish apart everyone else is totally missing the point, Crouch ISN'T a classy, world beating legend - never will be!!!.....he's EFFECTIVE and as Chuckle aluded to - the best weve got at the moment who can do a job behind Rooney and Owen......he's full of confidence going into this world cup on the back of two good performances and 4 goals in the last two games - anyone who can find criticism in that and suggest someone else should be playing is either quite simply a total dumb fook or mad....or maybe both....

[Superfatbantam]

I'm in the Crouch Mafia, tone, but I realistically think we'll get no further than the quarters. Why? Not because we don't have the players - on paper we are arguably in the top three, but when it comes to one-off all or nothing games we either have too many hiding or are undone by a team that uses the luck or good judgement to their advantage. Add to that the immense pressure placed on them by the media and public our lads usually cave in at some point - I just hope that this time we have someone who stands up and is counted and wins the game on their own.

And for the record I don't think Crouch is a superstar. I think he is a genuine team player who has enough to offer to justify his selection. And at the moment it's a good job he's standing out cos as Loyalish says Gerrard and Lampard aren't exactly setting the world alight.

[Rick]

And for the record I don't think Crouch is a superstar. I think he is a genuine team player who has enough to offer to justify his selection. And at the moment it's a good job he's standing out cos as Loyalish says Gerrard and Lampard aren't exactly setting the world alight.

Big Players win big games, Lampard and Gerrard will not disapoint in the World Cup.

[Superfatbantam]

Big Players win big games, Lampard and Gerrard will not disapoint in the World Cup.

I truly hope so, my friend. Either that or someone else stands up and is counted, a la Crouch perhaps?jawdrop:

[Rick]

At Euro 2004 it was Calamity James and Beckham who seemed out of sorts. Lampard was arguably our best player behind Rooney.

[Rick]

he is simply The Form Striker for England, going into the world cup - and that counts for everything.IMo

I don't think it does, if Rooney and Owen were both fit they'd both be guaranteed to start regardless of form. Still he will defo be starting next sunday and getting my full support like everyone in a England Shirt.

Plus Sven himself blew that theory out of the water when he went and selected a player who hasn't even started a premiership game.

[Rambo]

he is simply The Form Striker for England, going into the world cup - and that counts for everything.IMo


I agree!!!

So what if he's a gangly streak of piss?
So what if he looks awkward on the ball?
So what if he isnt one of the "fashionable" players?


The fact is, is that he can put the ball in the back of the net, and you can see his confidence growing by the minute.

Nobody grilled Tori Andre Flo back in the day!!!

I say play him! Eng: Eng: Eng: notworthy: notworthy:

[wykie]

I don't think it does, if Rooney and Owen were both fit they'd both be guaranteed to start regardless of form. Still he will defo be starting next sunday and getting my full support like everyone in a England Shirt.

Plus Sven himself blew that theory out of the water when he went and selected a player who hasn't even started a premiership game.

Hope he starts a day earlier with the rest of the teamtup:

[Rick]

Hope he starts a day earlier with the rest of the teamtup:

Good Point :D

[Bobby_Campbell 143]

the fact remians that this debate will go on forever regardless of whether it is crouch or another AVERAGE striker. until we have 4 world class strikers which will never happen, we have to trust Sven-Goran Eriksson (that's right i said trust the foreigner) to do what is best and it would seem that at the moment crouch is our only option.

play crouch while he's confident and if......when he starts underperforming assess our options