England.

[PREM-R]

I notice from BBC that the UK kick-off time is 6.00pm for Croatia v England so that would make it midnight here. Maybe channel7 or channel3 will have it.

[Gis]

I notice from BBC that the UK kick-off time is 6.00pm for Croatia v England so that would make it midnight here. Maybe channel7 or channel3 will have it.

Checking my TV guide on UBC, apparantly there is live football on at 12pm on Channel 3, fingers crossed it's the England Game

[Backpack_thailand]

Is the game on TV anywhere this morning?

Thai TV, either Channel 3 or 7 will have it 100%. They ALWAYS show England.

It's not on UBC. They have the Slovakia v Krauts and Ireland v Czechs.

COME ON ENGLAND!!!

[chonabot]

Well what a shower of poo!

[davidjtayler]

... and if you thought the Macedonia game was dismal .... muppet show

[gpt]

Memo to Steve MacClaren

Do not name a team prior to the next match against Holland. Walk around the stadium prior to kick-off and pick the first 15 spectators wearing an England shirt and a pair of footie boots and give them a game.

Memo to Gary Neville

Do not forget the basics. NEVER pass the ball across the area and NEVER EVER pass it back to the keeper inside the aea. Get it as far out of the danger area as soon as possible.

.

[farangconnection]

My comments as a staunch never-say-die England supporter on last nights match.

[Neeranam]

These Russian teams are just better than UK ones now - accept it.

[joe1912]

Memo to Steve MacClaren

Do not name a team prior to the next match against Holland. Walk around the stadium prior to kick-off and pick the first 15 spectators wearing an England shirt and a pair of footie boots and give them a game.

Memo to Gary Neville

Do not forget the basics. NEVER pass the ball across the area and NEVER EVER pass it back to the keeper inside the aea. Get it as far out of the danger area as soon as possible.

.

its OK , Robinson said he didnt do anything wrong and he would do same again for Nevilles backpass. It was the other goal keeper who scored the goal by digging up the pitch in the first half.

How about always pass the ball back to the side of the goal and keep your eye on the ball!!

[farangconnection]

The only light at the end of the tunnel I can see, is that with Neville and Ferdinand at the back for Man U, then it's our title again.

[totlanh]

Theres only one Paul Robinson

[mrbojangles]

Here's to you Misses Robinson

What a shower of useless #####

[farangconnection]

After missing virtually an open goal on Saturday, the question was asked " When will Gary Neville get his first international goal?"

All downhill from there ey Gazza

[Backpack_thailand]

If it wasn't for Robinson we would have lost by 4 or 5. The own goal was not his fault. In years to come it will be recorded officially as a Gary Neville O.G.

The whole team, apart from Robinson was SHOCKING! No other word for it, SHOCKING! No passion, no heart and no idea.

We have to face facts that this is the same core group of players that couldn't do it in Euro 2004 or WC 2006. Why do we think they can do it this time..?? We need a mass clearout, starting with the management staff. It's still "jobs for the boys", Maclaren, Clemence, etc. etc.

[nev]

that england team would struggle to be a mid table team in the premiership.

united chelsea arsenal would easily beat them.

[mrbojangles]

united chelsea arsenal would easily beat them.

Hey nev, what about us. I think even we would beat em

[nev]

united chelsea arsenal would easily beat them.

Hey nev, what about us. I think even we would beat em

mr bo. i think you would too, bring back errickson

[soihok]

The media said that " the ball hit a divot..".

I say it was missed by a "pillock".

Cheers

[Backpack_thailand]

bring back errickson

Calm the <deleted> down, let's not get TOO carried away...!!!

[mrbojangles]

I say it was missed by a "pillock".

Yep, it was A-Paul-Ling

Sorry couln't resist

[ThaiPauly]

I have not seen the own goal...will they put on "You Tube"

[ThaiPauly]

The only light at the end of the tunnel I can see, is that with Neville and Ferdinand at the back for Man U, then it's our title again.

Saturday will soon be upon us Lampy

[farangconnection]

The only light at the end of the tunnel I can see, is that with Neville and Ferdinand at the back for Man U, then it's our title again.

Saturday will soon be upon us Lampy

yeh.........we got a tough trip to Reading

[soihok]

I say.

Sack the lot of them,,demanding 60,000 pounds a week,???????

Instate the entire under 21 team and put David Beckham as player manager.

Why not

I could,nt be any worse.

S.Mclaren is not to blame but the fussy ,overpaid ,superstars he has been delt with are only as good as they feel they need to be are.

IF YERS DUNT LIKE IT ,,,,YERS CAN F##K ARF

[muckypups]

Sorry.. I had to resurect this thread..anybody seen this today!

Sven-Goran Eriksson insists his England team were good enough to play in this year's World Cup final: "We had a very, very good team." (Sunday Telegraph)

Eriksson has also defended his decision not to take Spurs striker Jermain Defoe to Germany: "He had a bad season. He did not deserve to go.

and Theo Walcott did?

[redrus]

Sorry.. I had to resurect this thread..anybody seen this today!

Sven-Goran Eriksson

= Know nothing toss pot....! (as polite as I can be for a beautiful Sunday)

redrus

[redrus]

SEXY FOOTBALL?

Tuesday 14th November 2006

No chance with England.

Ruud Gullit in the Mirror:

“Of course they should be beating Macedonia. England's players play Champions League football - they play at the highest level. So how can it be possible that they cannot beat Macedonia?

“I don't know what is wrong with England. The Dutch have a system that works, whereas England don't. England still don't know what to do with the players they have. With Holland, at least it works.

“It doesn't mean they win all the time but they still know what to do.

“They were not impressive, not at all. They were not good. There was no spark, no conviction. Everything seemed to be left to luck, looking to profit from other players' and teams' mistakes.

“I would love to say that you could and should have won the World Cup but it was clearly not the case. When England play abroad, they just can't produce.

“I think this has to do with the pace of the games. Away from home, they're not always allowed to play the typical English way at 100mph.

“That they can't make challenges in Europe like they can in England doesn't help them. You have to press teams and not just dive in. When the game gets slower, England don't seem able to adapt.”

redrus

[redrus]

Holland 1 - 1 England

Int Friendlies | Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:00

Van der Vaart denies England

By Graeme Bailey (Sky) - Created on 15 Nov 06

England put some of their recent woes behind them with a respectable 1-1 draw with Holland at The Amsterdam ArenA.

A Wayne Rooney goal late in the first half looked set to give England a much needed victory for coach Steve McClaren and his side, who were still licking their wounds from their Euro 2008 qualifying defeat in Croatia.

However, with just four minutes left - some slack defending allowed Rafael van der Vaart to slam the ball home to claim the draw and deny England their first win in the Dutch capital since 1969.

Both sides began in a 4-3-3 shape with Andy Johnson and Joe Cole surprisingly told to fill wide forward roles - and it was evident in the early stages that the Dutch were much more comfortable with their shape, understandable as it is their archetypal formation.

It also soon became clear that Marco van Basten intended to test debutant Micah Richards on England's right. Both Arjen Robben and Urby Emanuelson were pushing on him at every possible opportunity and it was through that channel that the game's first chance arrived.

Robben was given far too much time on the edge of the box and he danced his way past Richards before stinging the palms of Paul Robinson who could only parry the chance, but Danny Landzaat could not convert the rebound as he headed wide.

England should have taken the lead moments later through Steven Gerrard - looking much more comfortable in a central role. It came through a sloppy back pass from Chelsea's Khalid Boulahrouz but the Liverpool man took the shot first time which Henk Timmer deflected wide, when he had time to take the ball on.

Holland continued to play their typical brand of flowing football with the recalled Clarence Seedorf seeing plenty of the ball, and combining well with van der Vaart and Robben - but nothing clear cut was coming their way.

Rooney then had a wonderful chance as the ball fell for him 12 yards out, but he did not realise he was unmarked with so much time on the ball and headed straight at Timmer.

England were now becoming increasingly confident with their shape, with the likes of Lampard, Gerrard and particularly Joe Cole getting to grips with their all-important roles and on 37 minutes the latter unlocked the home side's defence to set-up Rooney.

Cole switched to the right and found himself in acres of room on the edge of the box, he looked up and played a superlative ball into the six-yard box and Rooney was there to poke the ball past Timmer to register his first England goal in more than a year.

The host of half time substitutions as has become the norm for England were not forthcoming and indeed only one change was made by either side with Maarten Stekelenburg coming on in goal to replace Timmer.

The opening chance of the first half fell for Seedorf who met a Bhoularouz cross on the volley, but the Milan man could not find the target to the relief of a static England back-line.

England now using Johnson on the left were struggling to get themselves going again and it was Holland dominating the possession, but some fine rearguard action from Rio Ferdinand especially meant the home side were limited to long shots.

Just before the hour and the first of a plethora of changes were made as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Kew Jaliens were introduced by van Basten.

England's created their first chance of the second period with just 20 minutes to go and it came for Rooney after good work from Joe Cole and Lampard, but despite finding the target the Manchester United ace was denied by Stekelenburg.

This heralded a brief stint of English pressure and another opportunity soon arose and this time it was for Carrick, making a rare foray in Dutch territory, but his drive from distance flew just wide.

The Three Lions' first change was just around the corner and a largely disappointing Johnson was hauled off for Shaun Wright-Phillips, and soon after Kieran Richardson came on for Joe Cole.

Still it was the Dutch looking far more likely and van der Vaart was unlucky as he flashed a cross-come-shot across goal - but it failed to trouble Robinson.

The Hamburg man, though, would soon have a telling contribution as he grabbed the late equaliser.

A simple long throw into the box saw substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink beat Richards and Ferdinand to the ball. The rest of the English defence failed to react and the ball eventually fell for van der Vaart - who lashed the ball home from ten yards.

With a couple of minutes left - the Dutch were well and truly buoyed by the leveller and went looking for the winner, but it was the English who should have won it.

Holland failed to clear an England free kick and the ball fell for Gerrard, who flicked it over the first defender but again he could only find the Dutch goalkeeper when clean through as Stekelenburg parried the ball to safety.

That proved to be the last goalmouth action as England claimed the draw - which they would have taken at the start, but realise they should have taken the win after conceding so late in the game.

redrus

[redrus]

McClaren rues absent stars

By Alex Dunn -Sky Created on 8 Feb 2007

Steve McClaren believes the players missing from his starting line-up against Spain will prove to be the difference in forthcoming European Championship qualifiers.

England left the field on Wednesday at Old Trafford to a crescendo of boos and McClaren accepted in his post-match press conference that those who had paid through the turnstiles were entitled to their views.

There were few positives to be garnered from what was a disjointed display devoid of any real passion but McClaren remains confident that when the likes of Wayne Rooney, and other key players return, England's quality will come to the fore.

"We came and had two days which were disrupted with players going," said McClaren.

"To be honest that is not an excuse, but a reason. We had six or seven players missing who would have been in the starting line-up.

"You are bound to lack cohesion and we did. Nobody is blinded to the fact that we lost the quality in the final third that wins football matches. Playing a good final ball let us down and we lost to a very good goal from Iniesta.

"The attitude and the effort was there. It was the quality in the final third which was missing.

"We started well and then started giving the ball away and you cannot give the ball away like we did."

McClaren drew consolation from the fact the likes of Gareth Barry and Joey Barton, who made a late debut, were given a taste of international football - albeit from the substitutes' bench.

He was, though, willing to concede that overall it was a performance that will not live long in the memory and one which will have to be improved upon.

"We had a look at the likes of Gareth Barry and Joey Barton," he concluded.

"There are always positives and negatives and the negative was losing the game.

"The final cross and the final pass and the final ball let us down and that is key to any football match.

"We started the second half better but changes came and cohesion was lost."

Carrick: Fans have right to boo

By Chris Stanton -Sky Created on 8 Feb 2007

Michael Carrick admits England can have few complaints about the criticism being levelled at the team by supporters following the 1-0 defeat to Spain.

Steve McClaren's team put in a disappointing performance in losing to Andres Iniesta's second half goal at Old Trafford on Wednesday and have now not won in four matches.

The team remain confident that results will improve for the crucial Euro 2008 qualification campaign, but fans and press alike have their reservations.

Carrick acknowledged the doubters, telling Sky Sports News: "They come here and pay their money and they want to see a winning team.

"It hasn't been the case tonight and they've got the right to their opinions."

The Manchester United midfielder did find some positives in the performance.

"We don't want to get too down about things," he added. "They didn't create much so we defended as a team pretty well.

"They kept the ball and they're very good at that, but chances wise they didn't do much so we can take heart from that.

"We can take heart as well from the way we started both halves, we started both well but we couldn't see it through."

Goalkeeper Ben Foster echoed Carrick's view, but admits it was not the reception he had hoped for on his international debut.

"To get booed by the England fans is never a nice feeling, especially on your debut, but they came here to watch a good game of football and watch England win.

"They paid their money and they've got their right to do that."

redrus

[redrus]

Friday 9th February 2007

Neville in the firing line.

From the Mirror:

Outspoken defender Neville blasted England fans for jeering Steve McClaren's flops, claiming his club’s fans give unwavering support. In fact Neville was in a bust-up with supporters at Old Trafford late last season when he angrily confronted them following United's draw with Middlesbrough.

Neville’s broadside got little support from his England team-mates.

Steven Gerrard said:

“The fans paid their money and came wanting to see goals. They wanted us to wipe the Spanish away. So it was frustrating from the fans' point of view.”

Michael Carrick said:

“The supporters pay their money and they want to see a winning team. That was not the case and they've got a right to their opinions.”

Stuart Pearce, now Under-21 manager, said:

“We are all in it together. I'd never criticise any fan for coming and venting frustration if they see a performance they are disappointed with.”

Jim White in the Telegraph:

It was past 11pm, long after the final whistle had sounded on England's friendly with Spain, and the queue outside Old Trafford tram station still snaked halfway back to the stadium.

There was, however, some consolation to be had for those waiting for a ride. At least the frustrating hour or so standing around doing nothing in the bitter February air was considerably more entertaining than the 90 minutes of football they had just witnessed.

Immediately after the game, Gary Neville was somewhat shirty that the home crowd had booed in the wake of the defeat to a Spanish team recently beaten by Northern Ireland.

He said Manchester United followers would never have reacted in the same way. He is probably right. Faced with a performance as hapless, hopeless and half-witted as this from their club, you imagine even the most supine of prawn sandwich munchers would have laid waste to the stadium.

Neville seemed to be suggesting that England's fans should show more understanding for the team's problems. It was, after all, just a friendly using an experimental side. In which case it should have been played behind closed doors, without conning more than 50,000 customers out of their cash with the empty promise of fulfilment.

Frankly, after paying more than £50 for the opportunity to watch one shot on target all night, a few frustrated catcalls seemed the mildest of retribution.

redrus