Heskey did not play well! and if he starts the next game then Capello is a moron. All he brings is winning the ball from a big hoof up field and even then he gives it straight back to their players. All this does is encourage our players to play long balls all game. He'll score no goals in this world cup so what is the point in having a striker that cant score?! oh yeah and the stepover... lol. I feel bad for Defoe and Crouch having to watch that heap of crap play ahead of them, surely hes got to be one of the worst players at the world cup?

He can't really give the ball to anyone if there's no one anywhere near him when the balls hoofed up towards him, can he? It's the same style when Crouch plays, only Crouch wins less balls and gives away far more fouls.

 

Apart from the dodgy stepover and cross he did pretty much everything asked of him. The stats regarding Heskey are true, for the last 10 years our only to strikers who you could even consider to be World Class have performed far better when partenered by Emile Heskey than by other striker, apart from possibly each other. So all he was doing was winning long balls and tackling? It's more than anyone else did!! Lampard did neither, Gerrard did little of either, same with Rooney and Lennon. All supposedly much better players than Heskey. I knew he'd be made into far more of a scapegoat than he should be for last night.

The problem is we're too hyped up. I fully believe the public and the media bought into all these victories in friendlies we've had of late - when they've been unconvincing to say the least. The media hypes up England so much, and I mean the whole Sun thing with having another star on the England flag and saying 'just maybe' is absolutely ridiculous and so arrogant. If any England fan geninutely felt we'd win the World Cup this year then I feel sorry for them, as it's not going to happen. Yes i'm being pessimistic, and I thought we'd win in 2006 but this England team is so unbalanced and disjointed that it's not going to happen. Gerrard is completely wasted on the left. Imo his best position is on the right. J.Cole-Barry-Lampard-Gerrard would lack width but it's a lot more balanced and experienced of a midfield and would do well for us, and would definitely allow for the full-backs to go forward.

 

Algeria are a team we should be beating, but if you ask me I believe the England players thought they'd win it with ease and underestimated Algeria. We should have got beat last night. We're lucky to still be in the competition and have our fate in our own hands if you ask me. A point last night was no more than we deserved and we should look at the positives of it.

 

Half of this squad has won about everything there is to win at club level, domestically they're as decorated as any other country at this World Cup. I don't think it was unreasonable to seriously expect we could win it. But aren't we over-reacting slightly anyway? Look at all the other 'favourites'. Spain lost, Germany have lost, Brazil laboured to a 2-1 victory against a team who most 'experts' seemed to think would roll over and accept a 5-0 defeat, Holland have beaten two average sides and haven't looked convincing, Italy laboured to a 1-1 draw, France have been worse than England. Argentina have perhaps been the best but like Holland, they've only beaten two average sides and look weak defensively.

 

Has anyone actually performed how they were expected to pre-tournament?

Half of this squad has won about everything there is to win at club level, domestically they're as decorated as any other country at this World Cup. I don't think it was unreasonable to seriously expect we could win it. But aren't we over-reacting slightly anyway? Look at all the other 'favourites'. Spain lost, Germany have lost, Brazil laboured to a 2-1 victory against a team who most 'experts' seemed to think would roll over and accept a 5-0 defeat, Holland have beaten two average sides and haven't looked convincing, Italy laboured to a 1-1 draw, France have been worse than England. Argentina have perhaps been the best but like Holland, they've only beaten two average sides and look weak defensively.

 

Has anyone actually performed how they were expected to pre-tournament?

 

But we just don't look like a team - we're so unconvincing and so unbalanced. Playing Gerrard on the left is stupid. I know we have no natural left footbed midfielder in the squad, but he's just completely wasted there. I fully believe we'll still qualify, but we're really not that great of a team. Good individual players, but just not good as a team.

 

I agree Heskey's is been made into far too much of a scapegoat aswell. There were loads more players who we're far worse than he was last night.

Playing Gerrard on the left and Heskey up front during qualification we were top scorers in Europe. How can that suddenly change in such a short period of time? Every player looks worse now that they did when playing Croatia and Ukraine who are better teams that the Algerian and Japanese teams we've struggled against recently. I fail to see how a team can look really good, and then one year later using the same players and shape, look so awful. There's no enthusiasm from even the players you'd expect it from. It's a shame Beckham is injured, at least he always gave his all. I'm sure Capello will play Upson but I think he'd be far better off playing Dawson on Wednesday, at least he'll show some passion. Parker would've done too, gutted he's not there.

Playing Gerrard on the left and Heskey up front during qualification we were top scorers in Europe. How can that suddenly change in such a short period of time? Every player looks worse now that they did when playing Croatia and Ukraine who are better teams that the Algerian and Japanese teams we've struggled against recently. I fail to see how a team can look really good, and then one year later using the same players and shape, look so awful. There's no enthusiasm from even the players you'd expect it from. It's a shame Beckham is injured, at least he always gave his all. I'm sure Capello will play Upson but I think he'd be far better off playing Dawson on Wednesday, at least he'll show some passion. Parker would've done too, gutted he's not there.

 

I can.

 

David James = Injuries resulted in just 25 appearances for his relegated club last season. (Rob Green has been erratic all season for West Ham; and Joe Hart is too young and inexperienced at the moment)

 

Glen Johnson = As the Inter Milan manager admitted as a pundit on Spanish TV last night, Glen Johnson is great going forward; has a decent shot; and is a good crosser of the ball, but can't defend and has concentrational lapses and poor positional sense. (Gary Neville = over the hill, and would probably end of fighting on the pitch with Steven Gerrard & Jamie Carragher)

 

Ashley Cole = World Class left back, but recovering from lengthy lay off. Not helped by Cheryl "publicity seeking chav Princess Diana no talent act" Tweedy having a divorce party on the night of the first England World Cup match.

 

Rio Ferdinand = Not at World Cup due to being injured by a tackle from Emile Heskey. But has been struggling with back troubles all season. (Jamie Carragher = A great player who has never had pace, but as Rafa Benitez admitted on Spanish TV last night, Liverpool's expensive right back signing left him exposed last season having to cover up for his deficiencies, hence he frequently dropped Johnson (or played him as a right-sided midfielder); Ledley King - a great player but also slow and seems virtually incapable of playing two Games in a week or going a month without picking up a minor injury; Matthew Upson = His form this season at West Ham has suffered as a result of him replacing Lucas Neill as the Hammers captain; Michael Dawson = great season for Spurs; but uncapped).

 

John Terry = Has not been the same player since those allegations regarding his private life in February.

 

Gareth Barry = A quality player when fully fit (but no Alonso); but is recovering match fitness after an injury.

 

Steven Gerrard = Has had the worst League season of his career to date with lack of form & frequent minor injuries since becoming a Liverpool regular.

 

Frank Lampard = Has had a great season at Chlski scoring 27 goals & 20 assists from 50 Games; but either he has gone stale or knowing his reptation as a sensitive person is suffering from the heap of abuse he received by English supporters since May after being outed by the Mirror as a Conservative Party member.

 

Aaron Lennon = Recovered from injury, but 2 goals & 3 assists from 29 Games for Spurs is not good enough at international level. (Theo Walcott = Fantastic potential who was stunning in the away victory in Croatia where he scored a hat-trick; but injuries; and a loss of confidence (well he is an Englishman in an Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side so what do you expect) have decimated his powers; David Beckham = his crosses; corners & free kicks are being badly badly missed in this World Cup. Just look at his older not as good Mexican equivalent Blanco to see quality counts; Shaun Wright-Phillips - Can go past players all day; but his crosses lack accuracy)

 

Wayne Rooney = Sir Alex Ferguson rushed him back from injury in April; and he has been nowhere near a World Top 3 Player since.

 

Emile Heskey = Aston Villa suffer a striker shortgage due to injuries resulting in Martin O'Neill forced to play "Emilie". His season tally of 3 goals in 31 matches coincided with a rapid drop off of form for the Villa after challenging for an ECL place earlier in the season. Whilst the Villa fans showed their appreciation of his ahem skills by booing and jeering his performances. (How the hell is he in the team ahead of .... Peter Crouch = England 21 goals from 40 Games; Jermaine Defoe = England 11 goals from 41 Games; & 21 Goals for Spurs last season; Bobby Zamora = 21 goals last season for Fulham; Gabriel Agbonlahor =16 goals in an injury impacted season for Aston Villa last season ....)

 

.... and lastly why is Capello ignoring the always good for England as a live wire at the highest level Joe Cole, especially as he is the one player in the squad who is truly fresh after being injured for most of the season; yet has played himself into form due to cameo appearances for Chelsea at the end of the season.