England v Kazakhstan 11/10/08 KO:17.15

[papereyes]

So because Kazakhstan are shit, and can't deal with set pieces, Gerrard and Lampard were shit, because they have been before, and they only care about Liverpool and Chelsea etc etc.

No.

Not that at all. Well, a bit. But, IMO, it wasn't a game changing substitution/switch and it would be dangerous to portray it as such.

CLICK ME

[cmonurz]

LOL. Am I the only one who didn't already know what Rio's middle name was?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Ferdinand

[cmonurz]

So because Kazakhstan are shit, and can't deal with set pieces, Gerrard and Lampard were shit, because they have been before, and they only care about Liverpool and Chelsea etc etc.

No.

Not that at all. Well, a bit. But, IMO, it wasn't a game changing substitution/switch and it would be dangerous to portray it as such.

CLICK ME

[The whole year inn]

[papereyes]

So because Kazakhstan are shit

Clearly not. Have a look at my posts on here, on this thread.

However, like a lot of weaker teams, set pieces are a problem.

They also clearly tired at about the 65 minute mark.

[soggy biscuit]

LOL. Am I the only one who didn't already know what Rio's middle name was?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Ferdinand

Didn't know that.

On a similar theme did you know what Michael Chopra's real name is?

[cmonurz]

Hang on, it's changed.

FTR, when I looked, Rio's middle name was Ethel. Now it is Gavin. Both are shit.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

On a similar theme did you know what Michael Chopra's real name is?

What is it?

Wiki doesnt say its not his real name...

[cmonurz]

On a similar theme did you know what Michael Chopra's real name is?

What is it?

Wiki doesnt say its not his real name...

Rocky.

[papereyes]

[The whole year inn]

On a similar theme did you know what Michael Chopra's real name is?

What is it?

Vijay

[chandog]

is chopras real name Ivar Bigun?

[The whole year inn]

is chopras real name Ivar Bigun?

It certainly isn't Dave Nugent's

[papereyes]

To give England the credit they deserve, they finished that game off really well - an almost-teutonic efficient streak there.

Especially given that the Kazakhs had done perhaps enough to reach parity around the 1st and 2nd goals.

[Chaney]

they will get plenty of grief in the papers tomorrow, but at the end of the day its job done

[earleyroyal]

So England were shit but still won 5-1. I'm no England fan but that is a good sign, they won't get complacent with Capello in charge. Tricky tie in Belarus coming up, no doubt the papers will be full of the same patronising, arrogant garbage as they were this week (there's no figure of fun to substitute for proper coverage from Belarus though) but there are no bad teams in the group.

Andorra excluded

[From Despair To Where?]

Thought Kazakhstan did a pretty good job of getting men behind the ball and closing England down in the first half. Credit to them for making a game of it for the first hour. Seems to be the key for smaller nations playing against ENgland, stick men behind the ball and they will always strugle to break teams down.

Have to say, the booing of Ashley Cole was deplorable. However, and this isn't to justify it, it was shockingly slack and complacent on his part and he is a thoroughly unlikeable little oxf*rd at the best of times.

Belarus will be a different proposition. A half decent team capable of giving any country a fright in Minsk, but exactly the sort of game England have a knack of sneaking 1-0 without playing particularly well. A draw would be a decent enough result though.

[earleyroyal]

LOL. Am I the only one who didn't already know what Rio's middle name was?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Ferdinand

In June 2006, on the day of the England national team's opening World Cup group match against Paraguay, Ferdinand made his debut appearance as a television presenter. Hosting 'Rio's World Cup Wind-Ups,' the England defender found himself in a Jeremy Beadle style role, playing tricks on his fellow England World Cup squad members including Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Gary Neville. Several members of the squad were merked.

[The whole year inn]

Someone has been on the ale

[Norfolk Royal]

Apart from all the worthies slagging off England fans for booing Ashley Cole, I haven't seen anyone state the real reason why he was booed.

Are the pundits unaware that Ashley Cole's nickname among football fans is 'Cashley.'

Rightly or wrongly, AC has become a figure who epitomises the way fat cat Premiership stars have become removed from the average fan.

The way he left Arsenal, celebrity bird, opulent pictures, turning his back on the ref, general attitude, all these things combine to make it likely that if he makes a blunder he will get booed because people just don't like him.

Would Rooney, or any of the other players, have been booed for making a mistake like that? No. Because he is popular, whereas Ashley Cole isn't.