Englands dismal performance on Saturday

[Steven P. Administrators]

Luckily for me I missed the game as I was playing in a team tournament (darts) where my team came in first place (something the English pro's seem to have trouble finding themselves in lately, rugby anyone?) So I had to settle for the Holland game which was being shown on a big screen at the pub we were playing (I live in Holland, but I am am British). They also drew against Romania but they are arguably better than Israel.

I saw the highlights and have been reading up on the BBC Sport website for everyones comments, players, Graham Taylor and just about everyone has said "drop Lampard, bench Rooney as both have not scored for at least 10 games (Rooney hasn't scored in 15 internationals).

Just wondering what our Neowin England fans think about this situation. It seems to me that McClaren is appeasing some of the 'stars of English football' rather than making them earn their place in the squad. I think it's a shame Beckham was dropped and then injured when it seemed like he was eligible for selection again, we need someone like him to lead England to victory again.

The only other home team not to win on Saturday were Wales, but they faced the Republic of Ireland, good job boys! Northern Ireland and Scotland are on fire at the moment, I wish England displayed as much passion for the game as they did on Saturday.

[Steven P. Administrators]

Oh and btw, well done to England U21's on Saturday afternoon, they drew 3-3 against Italy U21's at the new Wembley stadium and they had a cracker of a game, our staffer Tom Warren was present for that but I haven't had a chance to speak to him on how he found the new stadium and game. I watched the second half here at home on Sport 1.

[tomwarren Veteran]

Yeah the U21 game was good, lots of goals but it was really cold!

We were right behind the goal area about 40 rows back and decided to move at half time to go straight to the front. You could hear the roar of 50,000 people right at the front and it was fairly impressive. I thought ?1.50 for a packet of crisps, ?3.50 for a beer and ?4 for a hot dog was way over the top though! Great stadium though.

[Lingwo]

Personally i think drop Lampard and keep Rooney in the squad because he can turn on magic out of nowhere and does work really hard. I still think England have the same problem as with Sven, none of the players seem to know what they should be doing, they played Lenon on the wrong side just because they had to have Gerrard in the squad, drop Lampard and put Gerrard in the center, he plays every position when he plays anyway.

Attack i still think Crouch should be starting alongside Rooney, i know he can't at the moment because of a broken nose. He may not be a quick player but he still scores consistently when he plays and because he isn't the quickest he knows to hold to ball up. I find Johnson to be an overrated attacker.

England should easily beat all the teams in their group but they seem to struggle to even get a draw at the moment. It is awful.

I'm still confused why Steve McClaren even got the job.

[MightyJordan]

I was on holiday up at my caravan at the time, and I was thinking of going down to the bar to watch the England game, but changed my mind before it began, and I'm glad I did. I did watch the U21 game earlier, though, as I was just passing through, and I was gagging for a drink. A good game, that was.

[Martyn]

Sack McClaren. Most people will think that is probably overreacting, but to be honest he is not the man for the job, he was not first choice anyway as we wanted Scolari and he was only only appointed to stop people moaning about how an English manager should lead England.

There are no excuses to how England have been performing. One goal in the last five matches and no wins in the last five matches is inexcusable considering the playing talent available and the opoosition we have been playing.

The next game against Andorra is going to be crucial, if we do not win then it is going to be very hard for us to qualify for Euro 2008.

[Sandor]

Sack McClaren. Most people will think that is probably overreacting, but to be honest he is not the man for the job, he was not first choice anyway as we wanted Scolari and he was only only appointed to stop people moaning about how an English manager should lead England.

There are no excuses to how England have been performing. One goal in the last five matches and no wins in the last five matches is inexcusable considering the playing talent available and the opoosition we have been playing.

The next game against Andorra is going to be crucial, if we do not win then it is going to be very hard for us to qualify for Euro 2008.

should ask sanchez for a few pointers.

WE'RE NOT BRAZIL WE'RE NORTHERN IRELAND!

[Shibby]

Drop Lumpard, Drop Gerrard, Drop Rooney.

Seems since Beckham has left a few people have taken his role as being in the team all the time.

These people need to be taught a lesson and not be so big headed.

I feel these people are a big problem and struggle to work together. Anyone remember when Lumpard was played wide left in an england match? What a stupid tatic that was.

[leesmithg]

I lost interest in the England team since the 1990 world cup.

I watched the cricket rather than the football.

If England want to win things then they need more players like Owen Hargreaves and less players like Frank Lampard JNR.

[Rappy Veteran]

Luckily I didn't watch it but it sounded really shocking...

[DomZ]

I didn't watch it, but from the sound of it a major shakeup is needed. I think England's main problem is they struggle to play together as a team, even though they have top class players.

What would be the most boring match ever? Wales vs England in footy. Neither sides have passion anymore it would be like watching paint dry. I gave up supporting the welsh football side years ago, at least we have *some* hope with the rugby side. (Wales that is)

[mr.pingu]

Yeah the U21 game was good, lots of goals but it was really cold!

We were right behind the goal area about 40 rows back and decided to move at half time to go straight to the front. You could hear the roar of 50,000 people right at the front and it was fairly impressive. I thought ?1.50 for a packet of crisps, ?3.50 for a beer and ?4 for a hot dog was way over the top though! Great stadium though.

Don't forget the ?8 for fish and chips, and judging from what I saw they weren't even decent size. Luckily I had foreseen this problem and sneaked in my own f:Dd :D

It's huge but I didn't think there was anything there that made it particularly stand out from other big stadiums especially considering they spent best part of a billion on it.

Didn't watch the England game, only saw the highlights so can't really comment too much on it. Although I was slightly confused by McClaren taking off Lennon because from what I saw in the highlights he seemed to be the only player really causing any problems. Personally I didn't agree with McClaren being given the job in the first place so me saying they should get rid of him would be me being a bit biased, but then again screw it.. Sack McCla:pn :p They certainly need to change something if they're going to qualify from this group but what that something is I'm not entirely sure. Bring Beckham back anyone?

[leesmithg]

I didn't watch it, but from the sound of it a major shakeup is needed. I think England's main problem is they struggle to play together as a team, even though they have top class players.

What would be the most boring match ever? Wales vs England in footy. Neither sides have passion anymore it would be like watching paint dry. I gave up supporting the welsh football side years ago, at least we have *some* hope with the rugby side. (Wales that is)

Wales would be a better side without Charlotte Church's bit Gavin Henson.

Wales went the same way England have gone now in the lates 80's.

Wales need those JPR Williams, Derek Leslie Quinell, Jonathan Davies, Gareth Edwards, Nigel Davies and any I did not mention.

Rugby Union is more exciting to watch, except England currently as I support them.

I would say the standard of Union has improved since the professional game, however the passion seems to have gone due to clubs having Kittens when the players they pay wages to play for their country and might get seriously injured.

I get the feeling some super stars that play for England should behave like Ryan Giggs does, he plays his heart out for both team and country, rather than worrying about breaking a finger nail.

Like Northern Ireland they lack players they can pick from the premiership. Most of Northern Irelands players play in the championship and below and still beat England in a world cup qualifier.

This is why Wales, England and E.I.R.E & Northern Ireland will not qualify for major tournaments every 2 years, due to the lack of top flight players, yes yes yes...too many foreign players in the premiership.

I look forward to the day they bring back the home internationals league, they don't have any excuses for it not to happen.

Maybe this will help improve, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, they all seem to be overtaken my the rapidly improving Scotland.

I hope England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland do well in the coming world cup, I will say now that out of those four England will do the worst and maybe followed by Wales & Scotland and I expect Ireland to at least get a semi final birth.

[Steven P. Administrators]

I fear that England will *just* make the qualifiers for Euro 2008, putting McClaren back in everyones (ie: the tabloids) good books.

[WarStorm]

They certainly need to change something if they're going to qualify from this group but what that something is I'm not entirely sure. Bring Beckham back anyone?

I agree they need to change something. However beckham is not the answer. He had his time. He can take a good free kick, you cant have a player in jus for that.

I think they will qualify but they have to improve a lot, i cant remember the last time i saw England actually play well. It would be nice to feel proud to be english once in a while after they ve played.

Lenon looked like the only one trying (but then again Im biased, C'MON U SPURS!)

[leesmithg]

I fear that England will *just* make the qualifiers for Euro 2008, putting McClaren back in everyones (ie: the tabloids) good books.

Hope not.

Watching England is about as exciting as opening a tin of Tuna fish.

I nearly said whilst speaking to my son about England was, ' they should bring back Sven'.

Thats how bad it's become.

[mr.pingu]

I don't know I get quite excited opening tins of tuna, I love the stuff.

Oh and if you almost said that then yes it is bad :rofl:

[leesmithg]

I don't know I get quite excited opening tins of tuna, I love the stuff.

Oh and if you almost said that then yes it is bad :rofl:

I knew somone would write that.

I don't do fish.

It was the act of forcing myself to open it (watching England).

Then the foul smell associated (Mclaren and his b.s).

[snyper]

i agree fully England are shite.

I saw the game and it was almost as bad as ireland, we beat wales which with our current form is a shock.

What i want to know is ow the hell england have such a high ranking in the FIFA world rankings when there are teams out there like Mongolia tha deserve higher.

[Steven P. Administrators]

What i want to know is ow the hell england have such a high ranking in the FIFA world rankings when there are teams out there like Mongolia tha deserve higher.

:(

[snyper]

Ive highlighted teams below england in the to 50 that have easily got the beating of England.

1 Argentina

2 Italy

3 Brazil

4 France

5 Germany

6 England

7 The Netherlands

8 Portugal

9 Czech Republic

10 Spain

11 Ukraine

12 Croatia

13 Greece

14 Romania

15 Sweden

16 Scotland ....WTF??????

17 Switzerland

18 Cameroon

19 Ghana

20 C?te d'Ivoire>

21 Mexico

22 Denmark

23 Russia >

24 Poland

24 Ecuador 26 Uruguay

27 Turkey

28 Serbia

29 Paraguay>

30 USA 31 Colombia>

32 Chile

33 Finland

34 Iran

35 Mali 36 Nigeria

37 Slovakia >

38 Israel39 Bulgaria

40 Australia >41 Egypt

42 Japan >43 Norway>

44 Morocco 45 Senegal >

46 Tunisia

47 Northern Ireland - - - - they have beaten england in the last 12 months or so...48 Korea Republic

49 FYR Macedonia >

50 Costa Rica

[mr.pingu]

I've got it, we need Joe Cole back. Ok I am biased as I'm a Chelsea fan but you've got to admit he's better than most of the players in the current squad

[Martyn]

Under Sven England had a great record (even though we won sod all), which is why we are so far up the league table. In a year or so I can imagine us sliding down the table, seeing as it is the most recent results that count.

I agree with Pingu, Joe Cole is a very important player for England. I rate him very highly :)! On paper though, England have one of the best teams in the world, we just do not produce.

Sod England, watch Liverpool.

[Steven P. Administrators]

Nice try Snyper, lets look at the facts when we were under Sven

Despite encountering no small amount of criticism during his time as England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson's time in the post was notable for the following reasons [1]:

67 matches spanning over 5 years with only 5 competitive losses (3 inside 90 mins). This record is only beaten by Sir Alf Ramsey and Glenn Hoddle, excluding Caretaker managers.

He never lost a competitive match by more than 1 goal.

He is the only England manager in post for 3 or more major tournaments not to fail to qualify for any (each time qualifying without the need for playoffs). Of course, both the European Championships and World Cup now admit twice as many teams as they once did, making the job of qualifying approximately half as difficult for European countries.

He took England to their first European Championship quarter-finals on foreign soil since 1972 - their third ever.

The 5-1 defeat of Germany on September 1 2001, will probably rank as Sven's most significant single game in charge, as well as his point of highest popularity. It remains Germany's largest competitive home defeat and the best England result against probably their biggest rival. England had never previously beaten Germany in a competitive match in Germany and had not beaten them at all in the World Cup competition since 1966. Following the defeat, the host of popular sports comedy quiz They Think It's All Over unveiled an icon-style picture of Sven, comicly depicting him as a saint-like figure.

England were ranked as a top ten team by FIFA for the vast majority of Sven's time as manager, and they improved to 5th after the 2006 World Cup. Between 1975 and 2000 they were rarely in the top ten and often fell below 20.

England earned the second seed of the 2006 World Cup, ahead of all other European teams and only behind top-ranked Brazil.

A metatarsal injury to arguable the best player in the team blighted all Sven's competitions, yet still he maintained an excellent record.

Reaching the quarter-finals, which England did in all of Sven's tournaments was an improvement on both of England's preceding two tournaments (World Cup 1998 and Euro 2000), when England were knocked out before the quarter-finals

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sven_Eriksson

[snyper]

Nice try Snyper, lets look at the facts when we were under Sven

I dont believe Mr Sven is the Manager Now. Lets keep to current form.

you loose.

:p