ArsenaLOL

[floyd__streete]

Arsenal fans - during their team's best season in years - boo their team off after a point at home against a side who normally roll them over.

Arsenal fans are the very definition of nouveau-riche southern softies. Long may the trophy drought continue

Ps. Olivier Giroud is crap.

[BR2]

Arsenal fans - during their team's best season in years - boo their team off after a point at home against a side who normally roll them over.

Arsenal fans are the very definition of nouveau-riche southern softies. Long may the trophy drought continue

Ps. Olivier Giroud is crap.

Agree with that other than the bit about Giroud.
At the moent he is getting the same service as Pog got earlier this season when playing up front on his own-very little and importantly none of the midfielders are getting near enough to support him.
The consequence is that he is marked tightly by two defenders so everything he does tends to be rushed.

As for last night from an England perspective:-
Cleverley- anonymous (again, with the poor luv complaining in the papers that he is unappreciated)
Smalling- uncertain and unconvincing
Rooney- terrible passing (apart from one orthodox cross that the BT commentators creamed themselves over) caught in possession far too much and far too much lip to a very lenient ref, the twat that is Clattenburg.
Same comments about Wilshere
Ashley Young- another anonymous apart from his booking.
Ox-came on too late and didn't do much
Gibbs-still (like most of our full-backs) not great defensively but got forward quite well.

The booing seemed a bit strange but I suppose both sets of fans made quite an effort to get there and then for what?

[creative_username_1]

As for last night from an England perspective:-
Cleverley- anonymous (again, with the poor luv complaining in the papers that he is unappreciated)
Smalling- uncertain and unconvincing
Rooney- terrible passing (apart from one orthodox cross that the BT commentators creamed themselves over) caught in possession far too much and far too much lip to a very lenient ref, the twat that is Clattenburg.
Same comments about Wilshere
Ashley Young- another anonymous apart from his booking.
Ox-came on too late and didn't do much
Gibbs-still (like most of our full-backs) not great defensively but got forward quite well.

Cleverley - not convinced! He's good at getting the ball moving quickly but what's he done???
Smalling - I'm more positive on him than others are
Rooney - some of his passing late on was dreadful, still an England starter
Young - came on l8 didn't do much
Carrick - Moyes just wants him to hold 4fs

Ox - think he could really do a job in the centre of the park with Wilshere but may be wishful thinking
Gibbs - good young player

How did Sturridge, Gerrard and Henderson get on?

[King of Sting]

^^^^^^
Gerrard - Superb through ball for Sturridge for Liverpool's first goal. Held his nerve well from the spot for a late winner. Put in a captains performance 9/10.
Sturridge - Typical great finish for our first goal. Worked hard 7/10.
Henderson - Looking worth every penny of his big fee these days. Another good game 8/10.

[creative_username_1]

I'm just hoping we get some form players coming through for the World Cup. I saw two Lpool games this season
and Stevie G was a liability in both. Have heard good reports recently though and he's got obvious class.

I'd put Rooney, Gerrard*, Hart & Baines on the team sheet and then i'd be struggling to really convince myself that
any of the rest of them are really good enough

*If they play him in his current Liverpool position

[King of Sting]

I'm just hoping we get some form players coming through for the World Cup. I saw two Lpool games this season
and Stevie G was a liability in both. Have heard good reports recently though and he's got obvious class.

I'd put Rooney, Gerrard*, Hart & Baines on the team sheet and then i'd be struggling to really convince myself that
any of the rest of them are really good enough

*If they play him in his current Liverpool position

I know what you mean. I think England will struggle to get out of the group. Quarter final is probably the very best they can hope for. Especially in a South American climate.

[No Fixed Abode]

I'm just hoping we get some form players coming through for the World Cup. I saw two Lpool games this season
and Stevie G was a liability in both. Have heard good reports recently though and he's got obvious class.

I'd put Rooney, Gerrard*, Hart & Baines on the team sheet and then i'd be struggling to really convince myself that
any of the rest of them are really good enough

*If they play him in his current Liverpool position

You missed Cahill. Been immense this season.

[sputnik]

Not sure about the immense, but I am struggling to think of an English CB playing better than Cahill this season.

[creative_username_1]

haven't seen too much of Cahill so couldn't really comment. Watched a game were both he and Terry played really well. I'd
be quite happy for Terry to come back into the England squad

[LUX]

Arsenal fans - during their team's best season in years - boo their team off after a point at home against a side who normally roll them over.

Arsenal fans are the very definition of nouveau-riche southern softies. Long may the trophy drought continue

Ps. Olivier Giroud is crap.

+1 More sense from Floyd.

[BR2]

Not sure about the immense, but I am struggling to think of an English CB playing better than Cahill this season.

He has done o.k as part of a defensive unit but my son who is a Chelsea regular (where did I go wrong?) doesn't rate him and his reading of the game, or the lack of it, means that he ends up having to make last-ditch tackles which always look impressive but are often made because of reading the game wrongly.
H is probably though one of the best of a very poor bunch-take a look at the other top 3 clubs in Arsenal, Liverpool and City and there is not an English centre-back to be seen unless you really scrape the barrel and mention Lescott who is about 5th choice at City.

[Sanguine]

Not sure about the immense, but I am struggling to think of an English CB playing better than Cahill this season.

He has done o.k as part of a defensive unit but my son who is a Chelsea regular (where did I go wrong?) doesn't rate him and his reading of the game, or the lack of it, means that he ends up having to make last-ditch tackles which always look impressive but are often made because of reading the game wrongly.
H is probably though one of the best of a very poor bunch-take a look at the other top 3 clubs in Arsenal, Liverpool and City and there is not an English centre-back to be seen unless you really scrape the barrel and mention Lescott who is about 5th choice at City.

I've always thought Martin Kelly looks like a centre-back playing at right-back. He won't get a game at CB for Liverpool though.

[NewCorkSeth]

Cahill is pretty solid as CBs go. Internationally not many teams have great CBs and Englands current partnership is probably in the top 10 in the WC.
I mean who have you got thats that much better? Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands? Theres certainly teams much more lacking in that department.

Shaw should not be ahead of Gibbs IMHO. Great potential, good performances but the same can be said about Gibbs. Also does being Arsenals no. 1 choice LB mean nothing? Hes played Champions League football regularly for the last 3 years.

[BR2]

Not sure about the immense, but I am struggling to think of an English CB playing better than Cahill this season.

He has done o.k as part of a defensive unit but my son who is a Chelsea regular (where did I go wrong?) doesn't rate him and his reading of the game, or the lack of it, means that he ends up having to make last-ditch tackles which always look impressive but are often made because of reading the game wrongly.
H is probably though one of the best of a very poor bunch-take a look at the other top 3 clubs in Arsenal, Liverpool and City and there is not an English centre-back to be seen unless you really scrape the barrel and mention Lescott who is about 5th choice at City.

I've always thought Martin Kelly looks like a centre-back playing at right-back. He won't get a game at CB for Liverpool though.

Spot on and Andre Wisdom is similar-he looked very calm and assured playing below his level at Derby in a televised game the other day.
It will be interesting to see how they develop as players that have come through the youth ranks at Liverpool (although Wisdom IIRC started off at Leeds) compared to Man Utd.'s fairly expensively bought players in Jones and Smalling.

[BR2]

Cahill is pretty solid as CBs go. Internationally not many teams have great CBs and Englands current partnership is probably in the top 10 in the WC.
I mean who have you got thats that much better? Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands? Theres certainly teams much more lacking in that department.

Shaw should not be ahead of Gibbs IMHO. Great potential, good performances but the same can be said about Gibbs. Also does being Arsenals no. 1 choice LB mean nothing? Hes played Champions League football regularly for the last 3 years.

The other teams may not have great centre-backs but their forward players are so much better than ours so ours may be under more pressure to perform.
In our World Cup group alone Cavani and Suarez are streets ahead of any front pairing that we might put out.

[Hoop Blah]

Shaw looks better than Gibbs already though Seth, certainly physically and he can head the ball which I think Gibbs really struggles with when defending the back post.

[Hoop Blah]

The other teams may not have great centre-backs but their forward players are so much better than ours so ours may be under more pressure to perform.
In our World Cup group alone Cavani and Suarez are streets ahead of any front pairing that we might put out.

That's a bit harsh on a Rooney and Sturridge partnership that, if it clicks, could be pretty decent. They won't be as good no, but not streets behind either.

[NewCorkSeth]

The other teams may not have great centre-backs but their forward players are so much better than ours so ours may be under more pressure to perform.
In our World Cup group alone Cavani and Suarez are streets ahead of any front pairing that we might put out.

That's a bit harsh on a Rooney and Sturridge partnership that, if it clicks, could be pretty decent. They won't be as good no, but not streets behind either.

Well Cavani and Suarez are two of the top 10 strikers in the world so thats just unlucky.. But luckily neither of your CBs are on the same team as Suarez so will have faced him several times in the past few years! Also agree Rooney and Sturridge are not looking that bad as a striking couple. Better than England have had for several years!

[NewCorkSeth]

Shaw looks better than Gibbs already though Seth, certainly physically and he can head the ball which I think Gibbs really struggles with when defending the back post.

Hmm could counter that by saying Gibbs has been performing at the top footballing level for 3 years rather than being in the 8th best premier league team for 2 years? I think he likely has a better footballing brain. My vote is do what Spain do and dont rush Shaw in too early.

[Hoop Blah]

To be honest, my main issue with Gibbs is that he's constantly getting injured. He's in his 6th season in and around the Arsenal first team and he's only played 80 league games.

He's been more resilient this season, so hopefully he's growing stronger, but I'd worry about him being able to play enough games at a tournament without a leg falling off.

Baines probably has the position for the next 2 years though (after the summer) so there's plenty of time for Gibbs, Shaw and possibly Bertrand and others to fight for the place.