English Football Thread! 2005-2006 Season

[Loony BoB]

I've renamed this thread, hope you don't mind, Jess. This way it can cover any game involving an English side.

Psy: I think the #1 reason Utd have conceded ten more goals than Liverpool is the midfield problems allowing the opposition to get close enough. Also, I'd take Brown over Vidic any day of the week, so I don't know why you said "Hyypia over Vidic" instead of "Hyypia over Brown". I think Neville seems to be concentrating more on attack than defence these days and I personally don't rate those who are standing in for Heinze too highly. If both sides had a full strength defence, United would be on par if not better than Liverpool. For reference, that's Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Heinze.

And I just noticed that you didn't mention Brown because Rocket Edge didn't mention Brown. I guess he somehow forgot about the player that got the strongest cheer in the awards ceremony at the end of the Carling Cup. Brown is in sensational form lately, saving goals with foot and head more often than any other player in the back row for United.

But again, the reason Liverpool have conceded less goals is because they have a solid back line (like United) and a strong midfield (unlike United).

If the rumours are true about the Glazers giving Ferguson an open cheque book during the summer transfer window, I see Man Utd taking on Chelsea in a very strong way next season. But then, these rumours are from the same kind of tabloids that say Ruud is leaving Man Utd for £10million purely because he was "disappointed" to not play the Carling Cup, despite immediately going on to refute any rift after the previous statement.

On another note, Carrick impressive, but Cole in particular tonight against Uruguay - sensational.

[Jess]

Ofcourse I don't mind, BoB!

I totally agree about Joe Cole in tonights England match. Usually I would not give a Chelsea player a pat on the back but tonight he did play amazingly. I think that Darren Bent played really well too, and it was a shame he didn't get his first goal playing for England, but that's okay because Crouch got his instead.

[Psychotic]

Hyypia over Brown. Besides, look at the performances of the likes of Silvestre and O'Shea this season if you want to say it's the midfield's fault. Or better yet, watch Mr. Evra in the Manchester derby. Ouch.

As for Ruud leaving due to Fergie's personal feelings, it's happened before. Stam, Beckham, Keane... (if Stam and Beckham were still there, they'd be challenging Chelski, imho)

England played alright. Nothing special.

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

Top 5 Moaning Premiership Managers
Jose Mourinho, David Moyes, Graeme Sounness, Alex Ferguson, Bryan Robson

also congratulations to England on the 2-1 win

[Psychotic]

Top 5 Moaning Premiership Managers
Jose Mourinho, David Moyes, Graeme Sounness, Alex Ferguson, Bryan Robson

No Sam Allardyce? He's the absolute worse. I will scream if he is the next England manager.

[Rocket Edge]

No Sam Allardyce? He's the absolute worse. I will scream if he is the next England manager.

i think he would do brilliantly to be honest

forgot to mention brown back there all right, he is really playing brilliantly at the moment.

yes i do think heinze is the best left back in world, ashley cole cant touch him. he was the best player for united last season, and when playing for argentina during last summer, he was the best defender in the world, and everyone said it. i hope this injury doesnt effect him tho.
we do seem to have our differances psychotic

what does ppl think of irelands 3-0 win over sweden?!

[Psychotic]

Sam Allardyce would probably make us play 4-5-1 and we'd play long balls up to Kevin Davies or Peter Crouch all day long. *shudder*

And indeed, but I guess differences are what make life interesting.

As for Ireland 3-0 Sweden, a great start for Steve Staunton (and as an ex-Red, I'm happy for him) and for Robbie Keane's captaincy. He's used a young squad, with the likes of Steven Ireland and that Spurs guy whose name I have forgotten...damnit...Stephen Kelly? I think that's his name, and the future looks good for them. And Sweden losing is good news for us in the World Cup!

[HowlingMonkey]

Yeah, England didn't play exceptionally well, but didn't play badly. We won, and we kept the momentum going forward and that's what matters. We really missed Frank Lampard, Darren Bent didn't get enough service, and I adore Joe Cole

[Loony BoB]

Hyypia over Brown. Besides, look at the performances of the likes of Silvestre and O'Shea this season if you want to say it's the midfield's fault. Or better yet, watch Mr. Evra in the Manchester derby. Ouch.

O'Shea's been playing midfield more often than defender recently with good reason - again, midfield is just that bad for us. Anyone who thinks that the defence is more of a reason for United conceding 10 more goals than the midfield is needs their heads checked. O'Shea and Giggs played midfield in the Carling Cup, right? That's a winger and a defender in the midfield. That says it all. If we had two midfielders of the quality that we had a few years back, United would definitely not concede as many goals. Definitely.

As for Ruud leaving due to Fergie's personal feelings, it's happened before. Stam, Beckham, Keane... (if Stam and Beckham were still there, they'd be challenging Chelski, imho)

Further pointing out that if we had a decent midfield we'd be right up there, as I said. As for it "happening before" - that was when it was common knowledge that there was a difference of opinion going on. Ruud has openly rejected the claims that he intends on leaving and just a week or two ago stated he plans on staying here for 2-3 more years.

[Psychotic]

Ruud has openly rejected the claims that he intends on leaving and just a week or two ago stated he plans on staying here for 2-3 more years.

If I had a penny for every time a footballer said that and then promptly left...

[Loony BoB]

The latest two updates on that matter are that Ruud's agent says Ruud is happy where he is and has no reason to change teams, and that AC Milan have told Man Utd to keep them posted on the situation. Ha.

EDIT: To be honest, I do think that with the likes of Saha, Rooney and Rossi, United don't need Nistelrooy as much as they need a far, far better midfield. Not to compare him with either of those three, merely saying that United have three top class goalscorers as it is and even if Ruud wasn't in the squad, they would still have one of the best (if not THE best) attacks in the league.

[Resha]

That arsenal - Fulham game... Best ever. Damn near everyone had slated Fulham to win at Craven Cottage, just because they'd not lost there since October. But *happy*. The Gunners were brilliant, but then again, I don't think Fulham put up much of a fight either.

[Shoden]

Newcastle once again won with another thriller from Nobby and 202 from Shearer even the useless Ameobi netted one.

[Cz]

That arsenal - Fulham game... Best ever. Damn near everyone had slated Fulham to win at Craven Cottage, just because they'd not lost there since October. But *happy*. The Gunners were brilliant, but then again, I don't think Fulham put up much of a fight either.

Yes! At last an away performance to be proud of! Fulham were terrible on the day, but that shouldn't take anything away from our performance, because we bossed the game from the moment the first goal went in. A good weekend for us, considering that Bolton lost, and that Spurs and Blackburn play each other tomorrow.

P.S. I'm totally on TV for the second half goals.

[Psychotic]

I think we need to start feeding our strikers viagra.

I hope Spurs win at Blackburn tomorrow (although I've a feeling it'll be a draw) as I'd rather see them make the fourth Champion's League spot than anyone else, if only for the benefit of giving some of England's young players some CL experience.