England.

[redrus]

Bad news to start with people;

Ashton breaks ankle in training.

Striker Dean Ashton is out of England's friendly against Greece at Old Trafford on Wednesday after breaking an ankle during training.

John Terry took part in training for the first time since being named captain but 22-year-old Ashton's withdrawal overshadowed the session.

The West Ham player will miss the start of the Premiership season and could be out for as long as 12 weeks.

Ashton was set to start against Greece and make his England debut.

redrus

[redrus]

England current training photos.

...from the BBC.

redrus

[redrus]

McClaren restores the passion

By Paul Fletcher

At the Landmark Hotel, London, (from the BBC website)

England coach Steve McClaren faces the press on Friday

I'm not so much making a statement - these are my ideas

Steve McClaren

Steve McClaren repeatedly denied that his first squad as England manager was a signal of intent but the evidence suggested otherwise.

McClaren unveiled a 25-man squad without Sol Campbell, David James and, most significantly, former skipper David Beckham at a news conference in London on Friday.

Sven-Goran Eriksson seemed unwilling to even substitute Beckham, let alone drop his captain, but McClaren has probably brought to a close the Real Madrid player's 94-cap England career.

McClaren insisted time and again that the door was always open for Beckham and the other senior players omitted from his squad.

But in one rare false move in an otherwise polished performance, McClaren ushered a Freudian slip when he said "the door will never be open."

When asked whether Beckham was not still the best right-sided player at his disposal, McClaren replied: "That is to be proved."

McClaren insisted that he was facilitating a period of "evolution not revolution" but the decision to drop Beckham, who had made it clear he wanted to continue his England career, is a sure sign that he will do things his way.

The school of thought that suggested McClaren would be little more than Eriksson Mark II might have to revise its thinking.

McClaren's first 11 days in the job have seen three senior members of the squad jettisoned, Sammy Lee depart, Under-21 coach Peter Taylor told a permanent appointment will be made for the post and Terry Venables named as his new assistant.

The return of Venables is sure to be a popular move with the press - and the 63-year-old seemed delighted to be back.

Tanned as always and unable to stop grinning, Venables gushed: "I feel wonderful to be involved again."

Indeed, the over-riding countenance of coach and assistant seemed to be one of purring delight.

When one journalist asked Venables whether, as such an influential figure, he might overshadow McClaren, the head coach's reaction was to break out into an enormous smile.

Furthermore, McClaren, Venables and new skipper John Terry's repeated use of the word "passionate" hinted at a change of direction for a team so often accused under Eriksson of lacking the bullish brim and vigour characteristic of the English game.

Terry Venables with head coach Steve McClaren

Venables and McClaren were all smiles

The motionless demeanour of Eriksson on the touchline at crucial junctures in England's recent fixtures hardly endeared him to the supporting masses.

McClaren might never directly criticise his former boss but talking of the need to build a team "the fans can be proud of" suggested the end of ice-cool England.

He said that he had learnt lessons from the World Cup but that he was "not going to share them".

606 VIEW

Venables is a very good coach and could be a major asset to England;

Terry's first sentence contained the word "passionate" twice and if the early signals prove correct McClaren intends to restore some much-needed pride to a team that has so often failed to inspire.

The England captain was asked how he had reacted to the news of his appointment.

He was having a massage at the time and simply staggered. McClaren said his new skipper "never said anything".

McClaren promised to develop a squad capable of challenging at Euro 2008 and insisted on building a team to "start winning and start winning well".

The 45-year-old said all the right things and did so with a smile on his face - suggesting that his much-publicised media coaching is paying dividends.

He outlined a case that subtly suggested he is very much his own man, that he will run the team his way.

But McClaren, like all who have come before him, will soon learn that the only performances that count for an England manager take place on the pitch.

redrus

[redrus]

Some more reading matter for ya people....

Terry Venables profile

By Mandeep Sanghera (again from the BBC site)

Terry Venables

Venables oversaw one of the greatest England performances, in 1996

Terry Venables is back in the spotlight after being appointed part of England manager Steve McClaren's backroom team.

It is a move that will go down well with most players, pundits and fans but maybe less so with those in the Football Association's corridors of power.

Venables has the reputation of an archetypal lovable rogue with his cockney charm and disarming smile.

He is a man just as at ease in a tracksuit training among players as he is in a tuxedo at a cocktail party with the rich and famous.

He may be a so-called people person but the charismatic 63-year-old's chequered history off the field, which has seen him disqualified from being a company director in the past, is what worries parts of the establishment.

On the flip side, his ability to court controversy off the field is only matched by his expertise on it when it comes to football.

As a manager he is famed for his tactical nous and ability to motivate players into producing their best.

VENABLES FACTFILE

1977: Guides Palace to Division Three promotion

1979: Guides Palace to Division Two title

1983: Guides QPR to Division Two title.

Becomes major QPR shareholder and managing director.

1985: Steers Barcelona to first Spanish League title in 11 years.

1991: Guides Spurs to FA Cup success

1996: Announces in January he is to resign after Euro 96 because of court cases

2002: Misses out on Newcastle job to Graeme Souness

2006: Misses out on Republic of Ireland job to Steve Staunton

It was under Venables' tenure as England manager that the national team arguably played their best football of recent times, back in Euro 96.

Venables led the team to a 4-1 win over the Netherlands in a win etched firmly in the memories of England fans, not just because of the result, but the style of the performance.

But not even Venables could stop a familiar end to the tournament held on home soil as England went on to lose on penalties to Germany in the semi-final.

Earlier in his career, Venables made his name in management with spells at Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers before his exploits saw him appointed Barcelona coach.

He was dubbed El Tel and guided the club to a Spanish League title, a League Cup win and a European Cup final - which they lost on penalties to Steaua Bucharest - before being sacked in September 1987.

He took over at Tottenham later that year and won the FA Cup with the club in 1991 before taking a role upstairs as chief executive at White Hart Lane as Sir Alan Sugar took over the club.

But a deteriorating relationship between the two led to his acrimonious exit in November 1993, which saw matters end up in the High Court.

Former Tottenham chairman Sir Alan Sugar (left) and Terry Venables

Venables' relationship with Sugar at Spurs turned sour

England came calling next and he took over as manager in 1994.

In 23 games, he won 11, drew 11 and lost once before his exit after Euro 96 but a key feature of his tenure was his ability to relate to his players and get the best out of them.

He then had an unhappy spell as consultant and chairman of Portsmouth and failed in his attempts to lead Australia to qualification for the 1998 World Cup.

A foray back at Palace did not go well as the club found itself struggling for money and form.

But Venables restored some of his ailing reputation when he was brought in as Bryan Robson's assistant at Middlesbrough and helped the club avoid relegation in 2000.

He did not stay at the Riverside long and went on to manage Leeds in July 2002 but left less than a year later as the club spiralled into financial crisis.

Venables has enjoyed being a television pundit for the past few years and is believed to have recently turned down the chance to manage Boro because he did not want to take on a full-time post.

In that respect, his new England role is ideal and both he, and England's fans, will hope he can restore the spirit and style of Euro 96.

redrus

[eddie11]

I didn't think you scum fans supported England

[mrbojangles]

I didn't think you scum fans supported England

I thought that too

As for Beckham, i think there should still be a place for him. There is no better, pin point crosser of the ball and free kick taker. IMHO

I also see Theo Walcott scored a good goal last night in the under 21's

[Lil_Jon]

why is this a bad news when so many have already been heard and read about ...

1. wasnt mclaren the same guy who sat with the Sven "Moron" eriksson for 5 years , what new does he bring to the team , its all good to start a evolution , but its a bit difficult when you are partly to blame for the cause , that needed this evolution .........

2. does he have the guts to leave frank lampard out ... much like moron eriksson had the guts to leave beckham ..... i know lamps is a good midfielder and has a good record ... but then gary linekar's goal scoring record is still good.... so does that mean he should still play? england has promising midfielders in waiting like, Scott Parker Kevin Nolan , Reo -coker , ..... will they ever get a sniff...

3. i hear a lot of people say that JT should be the automatic choice of captain, for what he has done for chelsea and his leadership , but do people realise he still has a lot of improvement to make as a defender , .... his world cup showing and charity shield showing makes me think , being a captain is much more that crying loud on the pitch , again the same question .... does mclaren has the gut to leave JT out if he fails to improve in international level , .. .options are there King, dawson , carraghar ,.......

4. does mclaren realise the pivot of england's good show.. or noshow is stevie G , he might have been undermined for the captaincy , but does he have the gut to mouls england's midfield to suit Stevie G ,

5. best england formation , robinson , g. neville , JT , ferdinand , A.cole , Scott Parker , Joe Cole, Michael Carrick , Steven Gerrard , Aaron Lenon , Rooney

[Pie Boy]

5. best england formation , robinson , g. neville , JT , ferdinand , A.cole , Scott Parker , Joe Cole, Michael Carrick , Steven Gerrard , Aaron Lenon , Rooney

Looks pretty, but what formation would they play? It would never work- good players don't always make a good team and you'll need to place a centre forward in there to play off Shrek.Its a shame Ashton is injured because he could have given us a new dimension.

Drop carrick & parker from your team & start again.

[redrus]

I didn't think you scum fans supported England

I didn't think you scum fans supported England

I thought that too

Shot through the heart, Oooooooooooh, it hurts, the pain....

You'd like that wouldn't you both, you only support them cos as bad as England are they're better than your own....

This is an England thread though lets try and keep it to that, the personal attacks can surely be posted in respective club thread.........

Cheers.

redrus

[redrus]

4-0 up at half time. Why didn't this happen last month, as if we didn't know the answer to that,,....!

England 4 - 0 Greece

John Terry 14

Frank Lampard 30

Peter Crouch 35

Peter Crouch 42

Venue: Old Trafford

20:05, Wednesday, 16th August 2006

Int Friendlies

Referee: Wolfgang Stark

redrus

[chonabot]

Good game good game.......bring on .......errrmmmmm who's our first real game aginst ?

Andorra

Oh

Seriously though , we looked good and the signs are promising.

Sound familar?

Time will tell.

Nice result though.

He said.

[taxexile]

Terry Venables is back in the spotlight after being appointed part of England manager Steve McClaren's backroom team.

for those who would like to know more about this dishonest little toerag , they should read

"broken dreams" , vanity,greed and the souring of british football.

by tom bower

isbn 0-7434-4033-1

a must read for anyone with any interest in our national sport and the crooks that run and manage it.

[redrus]

Well <deleted> me, lets look at the good points....

Nearly every part of modern day society is in some way corrupt. All I care about is players, playing football on the pitch of a Saterday.

I don't even really care what they do off it anymore. Media made <deleted>, if Terry was a bit of <deleted>, so be it. If that team plays well, whatever....! I'm not greatly suprised by anything anymore....!

Maybe a reason why I've enjoyed watching FCUM recently. A thoroughly enjoyable back to the day experience. No politics.

redrus

[redrus]

Rio latest.....

The Times;

Rio Ferdinand will have another scan today to discover whether he will be fit to play in England’s Euro 2008 qualifying matches against Andorra and Macedonia after an initial X-ray on his toe showed bruising rather than a break.

Initially feared to have fractured a metatarsal in Manchester United’s 2-1 win at Watford on Saturday, the defender is hoping that the injury to his little toe is far less serious. A club spokesman said there was "no conclusive evidence of a fracture", although further tests are required before he can be cleared to meet up with the rest of the international squad in Manchester tomorrow. If he is ruled out, Steve McClaren is likely to turn to Michael Dawson, the Tottenham Hotspur centre half, to partner John Terry on Saturday with Wes Brown also in contention.

The Guardian:

Steve McClaren faces an acid test of his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson after x-rays revealed yesterday that Rio Ferdinand did not, as first thought, break a toe in Saturday's 2-1 win against Watford.

Ferguson had ruled the defender out of England's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Andorra on Saturday and Macedonia the following Wednesday, but United's initial tests show "no conclusive evidence of fracture". Ferdinand will undergo a second scan today but, as it stands, he is not thought to have anything more serious than a badly bruised little toe.

McClaren would therefore be within his rights to expect him to report for duty with the rest of the squad but, having once worked as Ferguson's assistant manager at Old Trafford, he will be acutely aware it is not that straightforward.

The England head coach will be loath to go into his first competitive fixtures without one of his first-choice centre-halves, but he would be equally reluctant to get embroiled in a disagreement with Ferguson so soon after replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson. The matter may need some delicate negotiations, although it helps McClaren that the two men generally get on well.

The Telegraph:

Fears that Rio Ferdinand was the latest England star to fall victim to the curse of the metatarsal receded last night as a scan revealed "no conclusive evidence" of a fracture to the Manchester United defender's toe.

The 27-year-old injured his foot while clearing the ball in United's 2-1 win at Watford on Saturday.

After the match Sir Alex Ferguson cast doubt on his chances of recovering in time for England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Andorra at Old Trafford on Saturday, and the trip to Macedonia the following Wednesday.

But after a scan yesterday there was a major boost for Ferguson and new England manager Steve McClaren, as tests showed he had only suffered bruising to the little toe of his right foot.

He remains a doubt for McClaren's first two competitive games in charge of the national team, but for now Ferdinand has not been pulled out of the squad. He will have his foot reassessed today before a final decision is made on whether to allow him to join England later in the week.

redrus

[redrus]

England face the first true test of the Steve McClaren era on Wednesday night as they travel to Skopje to face Macedonia in a Euro 2008 qualifier, live on Sky Sports 1.

After a curiously poor display by Greece in a 4-0 victory for The Three Lions and Saturday's facile 5-0 win over an awful Andorra side, McClaren knows that his first away game as the country's manager could be a real test of character.

The York-born coach was assistant to Sven Goran Eriksson when the Balkan nation embarrassed England with a 2-2 draw in Southampton back in October 2002, as well as during the reverse fixture which witnessed racist abuse for England's black players and the St George's flag being burned in the stands during the national anthem.

The atmosphere in the 18,000-capacity stadium in Skopje will be far removed from the warmth that has greeted McClaren so far at Old Trafford, and the coach has stressed the need for his players to maintain their composure under what could be difficult conditions.

However, even though Macedonia have a good record under new boss Srecko Katanec, England will be fully expected to take three points from a side situated 62 places below them in the latest Fifa rankings.

McClaren's cause has been helped by Rio Ferdinand's return to fitness from a toe injury, with the Manchester United star likely to displace club team-mate Wes Brown in the starting line-up on Wednesday night to play alongside new captain John Terry.

Luke Young will be missing from the defence having returned to England due to an ankle problem, but Phil Neville stood in for brother Gary against Andorra and was likely to continue at right-back in any case.

Joining Young on the plane home was substitute goalkeeper Chris Kirkland who suffered back spasms, meaning Watford's Ben Foster will continue his rapid rise through the ranks by deputising for established number one Paul Robinson.

In attack Wayne Rooney is still suspended after his sending off in the World Cup, but Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch both scored a brace against Andorra and the Liverpool man is in the form of his life having scored 10 times in his last 13 international appearances.

McClaren's new look midfield of Stewart Downing, Owen Hargreaves, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard - winning his 50th cap - will have another chance to impress as England look to make it six points from their first two games in Group E.

Macedonia will also be pursuing a 100 percent record after winning 1-0 in Estonia in their opening game, and Katanec could be welcoming back a familiar face for English fans.

Former West Brom midfielder Artim Sakiri, his country's most capped player, missed the game in Estonia due to a groin injury, but the midfielder will be hoping to repeat his heroics from 2002 that saw him score direct from a corner in the famous 2-2 draw against The Three Lions.

Sakiri, who was then involved in a high-profile run-in with David Beckham in the return fixture, could line up in an expected 3-4-1-2 formation, with Lazio forward Goran Pandev playing in a withdrawn role behind strikers Ilco Naumovski and Goran Maznov.

Skipper Goce Sedloski scored the only goal of the game against Estonia, and Macedonia may require another captain's performance if they are to spring a shock against an in-form England outfit.

2-0 to England.

redrus

[lampard10]

Well...................................Bloody Thai TV screened a completely different match than the one they showed in England. Apparantly, according to the press, England were fantastic again. Crouchie was out of this world, and the rest played their hearts out.

Now, I am a fanatical England supporter, and I was ready to have a go at anyone with a different opinion from me in the World Cup, but last nights dismal display against Macedonia, I hail as the worst I have seen England play in 50 years of watching them. They were pathetic. OK Macedonia were good, playing out of their skins. It reminded me of Saturdays match against Andorra, with the roles reversed. If they had had a decent striker, they might have run up as good score against us.

Ok, the televised broadcast was <deleted>, in fact I resorted to switching over to the Thai broadcast. The commentry was up with play, good, and more understandable than the English rubbish on the other audio channel.( when you could hear what he was saying)

Hear are my ratings

Robinson..........1 flapped around like an angry sea-lion

Ferdinand.........1 off the pace of the game

Cole................1 he better do better for Chelsea

Terry...............2 Took over Robinsons job. Should have had a penalty against him.

Lampard..........1 WHO

Gerrard...........1 obviously saves it all for Liverpool

Neville............1 lost with the big boys and missing his brother

Downing.........1 didn't have it

Defoe..............1 didn't get a decent shot in

What was his name..........1 didn't notice him

STAR MAN.................CROUCHIE 3 Got three extra points for the goal

Referee...French <deleted>..........0 too much farting and coughing on the pich, for which he blew up every time.

[HarryHacker]

….can someone please explain why Defoe and Johnson are above Daren Bent as our strikers? Benty was the leading English goal scorer last year and was left out of the England team completely by the Swede and now he seems to be the last choice for Mclaren.

I think Benty should do what Sutton did to Hoddle and retire from International football.

[redrus]

….can someone please explain why Defoe and Johnson are above Daren Bent as our strikers? Benty was the leading English goal scorer last year and was left out of the England team completely by the Swede and now he seems to be the last choice for Mclaren.

I think Benty should do what Sutton did to Hoddle and retire from International football.

Agree with you fella although, not with the last point.... His time will come, SMc is a better man than to not admit he's wrong and change things.

redrus

[Lil_Jon]

….can someone please explain why Defoe and Johnson are above Daren Bent as our strikers? Benty was the leading English goal scorer last year and was left out of the England team completely by the Swede and now he seems to be the last choice for Mclaren.

I think Benty should do what Sutton did to Hoddle and retire from International football.

I am not sure abt the defoe one but for A.J just look at the game he had for everton against liverpool last saturday , and you will see why he SHOULD BE top of the list in english striker ,

[redrus]

Now this is a real shame, the lads only just gettin rid of his <deleted>, shouldn't be in the team tag. Unlucky Owen....

Hargreaves hit by injury blow

By Tom Adams - Created on 16 Sep 2006

Owen Hargreaves looks certain to miss England's next two Euro 2008 qualifiers after suffering a suspected broken leg whilst playing for Bayern Munich.

The busy midfielder was carried off in the first half of Bayern's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday afternoon, and initial impressions suggest Hargreaves has sustained a serious injury.

Hargreaves had to be removed following a tackle with Thorben Marx after 24 minutes at the Schuco-Arena and Bayern's medical staff suspect the Manchester United target has snapped his fibula.

Coach Felix Magath confirmed Hargreaves will now undergo a scan to reveal the full extent of the damage.

"We fear he might have broken his left fibula. I think he will be X-rayed," said Magath after the game.

With The Three Lions due to host Macedonia on October 7 before travelling to Croatia in what could be a crucial qualifier four days later, England coach Steve McClaren is now almost certain to be missing one of his starting XI as he looks to extend his perfect record after victories over Greece, Andorra and Macedonia.

After taking his chance to win over a sceptical English public at the World Cup finals, Hargreaves has emerged as one of his country's key performers in a withdrawn role in midfield.

The Canadian-born star hankered after a move to Manchester United over the summer but after being forced to stay in Germany his season has seemingly now suffered a telling blow.

redrus

*Hargreaves has this morning confirmed the injury is a broken leg.

[mrbojangles]

From SkySports

David Beckham has revealed the truth behind his England axe, and why he refuses to give up on international football.

The Real Madrid ace received a brief phone call from new boss Steve McClaren before his first game in charge, which was the friendly game against Greece in August.

Beckham admits he was shocked to be dropped by the new England boss.

"He said with moving on there come casualties and 'you are one of the casualties'. That was it really," Beckham told the Mirror.

"I heard later there were some reports that I had begged and pleaded with him not to do it. Well, obviously I was upset but nothing like that happened.

"I was upset but I am a man and I would never crawl to someone to pick me for the team."

The 31-year-old is just six caps short of a century and says he still holds a faint hope of reaching that landmark figure.

"I didn't announce my international retirement because I want to play for England again," he continued.

"I still want to reach that milestone of playing for England 100 times and help them win the European Championship. It's a target I set myself a long time ago and I won't give up now."

But Beckham has conceded he doubts McClaren's insistence that the 'door is still open' to him.

"I want to fight my way back in. Steve McClaren says the door is still open. I'm not so sure," he added.

"I'd love to say I'll play for England again in the future. I'd love to say I'll reach 100 caps and go beyond that, but I wouldn't tell anyone to bet on it.

"Unless someone comes over and watches you play, they can't see what you are doing week in and week out.

"But if I play for Real this season the way I played last season, then we'll see."

I hope the lad gets a shot at playing again. Sometimes you need a guy with his pin point accuracy at set pieces.

[redrus]

McClaren drops Becks hint

By James Pearson - Created on 30 Sep 2006

England coach Steve McClaren has hinted David Beckham's international career could be over.

Beckham was surprisingly axed from McClaren's first squad and he failed to regain his place for The Three Lions' upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia.

With Tottenham's Aaron Lennon out injured some felt Beckham could be recalled, but now McClaren has hinted Liverpool's Jermaine Pennant is next in the pecking order.

"Aaron Lennon is out but I said when I named my first squad that I'm looking for the future," explained McClaren.

"Along with Lennon, we have Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jermaine Pennant is also knocking on the door very much at the moment.

"He may not be included in this squad but he is doing very well at Liverpool and he's not beyond my thoughts.

"In Lennon, Wright-Phillips and Pennant, I see three young players I want to keep involved and keep around the squad."

Wayne Rooney has often been one of England's greatest sources of inspirations in the last two years, but McClaren has conceded he has lost his form.

The Manchester United ace missed the start of the campaign after being sent off against Porto and has struggled to hit top form for The Red Devils since.

"His momentum has been lost because of disruptions," he added.

"He hasn't got into a rhythm because of injury and the bans he's received but he's a world-class player and he'll get that form back with games.

"He's always been one of the best players.

"He's always been a player the opponents have feared and tried to take care of. But Wayne Rooney, believe me, will be in my team as long as he's fit."

Meanwhile, McClaren has distanced himself from the comments made by his agent Colin Gordon about corruption in football.

'Bungs' in football have been high in the media of late following BBC's Panorama investigation into the transfer market.

"I would like to make it clear that the views expressed by Colin earlier this week were his own individual opinions," he continued.

"I was not aware of him making the comments until I read them in the newspaper and he did not discuss the matter with me in advance.

"They are Colin's personal views and opinions. I would like to reiterate they are not mine.

"I do not intend to make any further comment on the subject.

"The matters in hand are (the Euro 2008 qualifiers against) Macedonia and Croatia."

I think him being left out totally, is a bad decision. No-one including me, should ever be without a shout......

redrus

[chonabot]

It's me birthday on Saturday , this must mean England are guaranteed a win.

ps , send cards to Chonabot Towers.

[Lil_Jon]

just a thought in my mind , is the back three of rio , terry and neville strong in a 3-5-2 formation , i would rather prefer carragher or king instead of neville?

[OneeyedJohn]

Regarding Beckham, he is even being villified by the advertsing on ESPN in Thailand when the voice over for Saturdays game against Macedonia is something like ' lets end the discussion about Beckham playing for England, they seem to play a more fluid type of football without him'

Jeez...what a short memory people have, yeah I know form is important but give the guy some slack.

He deserves some respect for what he has done during his England career, but how can one forget what happened to Lineker so I guess nothing new with Becks ( arrgh that reminds me...cocktail hour already )

Lampard... I didn't see the last game against M'donia so I guess it is being glossed over as another victory, just don't look too closely at the performance.

Chonabot...happy birthday you old mucker

[joe1912]

….can someone please explain why Defoe and Johnson are above Daren Bent as our strikers? Benty was the leading English goal scorer last year and was left out of the England team completely by the Swede and now he seems to be the last choice for Mclaren.

I think Benty should do what Sutton did to Hoddle and retire from International football.

I am not sure abt the defoe one but for A.J just look at the game he had for everton against liverpool last saturday , and you will see why he SHOULD BE top of the list in english striker ,

I see Moyes has sensibly told AJ to fake a hamstring injury and take a rest tonight so he is ready for our next league game up at Middlesbrough. Sorry England but our need is greater than yours, you can play the giraffe instead he seems to be in form and well rested.

[Backpack_thailand]

It's me birthday on Saturday , this must mean England are guaranteed a win.

ps , send cards to Chonabot Towers.

England 0-0 Macedonia

Famous last words Chon...!!!

[redrus]

NEVILLE THINKS ENGLAND'S A JOKE

By Ed

Thursday 5th October 2006

He wants to win something soon.

An interview with Gary Neville in the Times on his England career and the messiah departing.

Along with Tom Cruise, Neville was one of the first people contacted by Beckham as soon he had been told that his international career was almost certainly over. What the Hollywood film star said is anybody’s guess, but the Mancunian defender offered a combination of support and pragmatism.

“Obviously he’s been my best mate for a long time,” Neville said. “I spoke to him and his initial response, as it has been throughout his career, was to take it on the chin, keep working hard and bounce back. That’s how we were brought up at United where you are going to get the odd punch. Don’t get me wrong, you take some punches harder than others, but Becks’ first thought was to fight like crazy.”

Even Beckham acknowledges now that the fight appears to be in vain. Neville cannot comment on whether he expects to line up alongside his old mate again, but he does know that the England team must move on without their former captain.

“David Beckham is an incredibly durable person,” Neville said. “There is nothing that can be thrown at him now that he has not suffered before. Huge disappointments happen in football, but it is not the end of the world. It will come to me one day, perhaps when I’m not expecting it.

“I have seen Kevin Keegan resign as England manager in the dressing-room, Eric Cantona disappear into the blue, Roy Keane leave Old Trafford. These big moments happen and, after a day of talking, players get on with it, just as David will have gone back into training.

“What shocked me most was Kevin Keegan. That was a bad day. But you move on. A few days later, England had a new manager [Howard Wilkinson, the FA technical director at the time] and we were playing in Finland.”

Time will catch up with Neville one day, but it should certainly not come before Euro 2008 for this most driven of sportsmen. His pre-match ritual is a simple one. He sits in the dressing-room and makes a silent vow that, while his opponent may be quicker and more skilful (“probably both,” he jokes), no one can outrun him.

“Like playing 500 games for United, it would be a great milestone just as getting anywhere near Bryan Robson’s 90 would be unbelievable, because he’s my all-time hero,” Neville said. “But that’s not what’s important. It is winning something in an England shirt. I am desperate for it. To me, it is a joke that we haven’t won anything in 40 years, a joke. I am not saying we have a God-given right but the fans are crying out for it.”

It is far too soon to know if McClaren, the head coach, will end the decades of hurt but Neville, a survivor from Euro 96, hails the recruitment of Terry Venables, the assistant coach, as a masterstroke and not only because of the knowledge that the former England manager brings.

redrus

*Happy Birthday for Sat Chon mate.

[redrus]

CARRICK UPBEAT

Tuesday 10th October 2006

He expects a win for England.

Michael Carrick thinks a win for Ingerland tomorrow will make it easier for everyone to forget about the Macedonia game on Saturday.

"The best teams all bounce back. It's a test for us to go there and win," said Carrick.

"Confidence and belief hasn't been knocked. You just have these days and we're trying to get it out of our system as quickly as possible.

"You've got to forget about the Macedonia game. What's happened has happened.

"It didn't quite go our way but even if we'd won the game it would still be difficult in Croatia.

"We spoke after the game about keeping our heads up and doing the right things.”The confidence is there, the belief is there, the attitude is there but sometimes you have them games.

"It's a new manager and a new regime and we want to be doing things right."

redrus

[Gis]

Is the game on TV anywhere this morning?