If we win this we qualify for South Africa next year don't we?

 

I'm half expecting a draw tbh. Hope Capello plays either Gerrard or Milner, or even Beckham at a push, on the right of midfield instead of Lennon or SWP. Wishful thinking from me probably though.

Yepp, win = qualification. I can see us not winning though, possibly even losing :rofl:

 

Classic England.

My interest in England is rapidly deteriorating.

 

Mainly for the muppets in the media (90%) who think they're brilliant armchair managers and know exactly who to play and who is England's weak link etc. when in reality they know f*** all. Proper grates me tbh. The pressure of the media is one reason why I think we have no chance at winning the World Cup next year (if we qualify obv).

The media are like that with every club though, certainly the big ones. Whilst I wouldn't say I cared for England as much as I do Forest I'd rather country success than club success. Maybe it's because I don't support a big, successful team but at the moment the best I can hope for is to get promoted and then be happy with 17th position despite spending millions upon millions of pounds. If it's a very successful season it might be a push for the top half and massive success would be to sneak into Europe, but then all it would mean is most fans complaining that it'll ruin out season (like Fulham are now).

 

If that's success then give me the World Cup 100% of the time.

Green; Johnson, Upson, Terry, Cole; Lennon, Barry, Lampard, Gerrard; Rooney, Heskey.

 

Subs: Foster, Brown, Bridge, Milner, Defoe, Beckham, Crouch.

 

Unless Lumpy Lampard gets his act together we're gonna be dangerously exposed on the right hand side imo.

I'm glad Heskey is playing. It was Walcott that got the plaudits but I felt it was him that was the main reason we beat them 4-1 last time.

 

I have to say I'm coming round to Lennon a bit more, he had 2 1/2 years where he did f*** all and just go backwards. At the last World Cup he had a couple of appearences and looked like he was going to be one for the future, then he stagnated but these last 6 months he has come on a lot, his crossing is now so much better than it used to be. I've said before that I've seen him twice (in the past 12 months) and both times he was easily the worst player on the pitch. I'm glad that it looks like he's have to have an off day for that to be the case now.

Lennon's come on leaps and bounds over the past 12 months don't get me wrong. But he's playing in front of Johnson, who is a very attacking full back. Lennon doesn't track back and cover Johnson when he bombs forward so it leaves us exposed at the back. The same happened against at the weekend, as SWP wouldn't track back, and then midfield didn't cover the gaping holes down the right hand side. Milner's definitely the bets option for the right hand side imo. Will never get as many plaudits as Lennon and SWP because he's not a proper winger and doesn't attack as much but he's an absolute fantastic talent.

Job done then?

Job done then?

 

Probably. :dance:

 

But Croatia have 68 minutes to score 3 goals without reply.

Probably. :dance:

 

But Croatia have 68 minutes to score 3 goals without reply.

Just like a true England fan :lol:

England in the World Cup then... knocked out by Brazil in the Quarters or Semis as usual. :lol:

Awesome stuff. We looked like a proper team for once. Croatia were pretty poor, but we were pretty excellent to be honest.

 

Thought the left hand side was brilliant. Cole, Gerrard and Heskey were fantastic, and Croatia couldn't cope, so Johnson and Lennon had tons of empty space on the right hand side. Motm for me was Gerrard. He's properly wasted on the left but he played a blinder tonight. As per usual though - ITV. :manson: Cluessless wankers. Lennon was good, but you'd have thought it was the Aaron Lennon show, and he was streets ahead of every other player listening to those bellends. We get out done from a fantastic bit of skill from Croatia for their goal and they start having a hissy fit. Idiots. Couldn't believe them calling for Defore either - alright Heskey's utterly w*** at finishing, but his overall skill suits our current style of play so well.

 

I'm just preparing myself for the over extatic media and fans expectations for SA 2010 now. Is gonna be a bit of a let down for the media when we don't win.

Certainly agree there. Tilsley and Beglin are f***ing morons, ok Heskey could've had a couple when he had two great chances but inbetween them we saw Heskey at his best. A ball down the channel, he used his strength to flick it round to Lampard who shot over. Defoe wouldn't have done that but they never said anything about that.

 

I think this XI is about as good as we can get, I don't think Rio and James are that much of an improvement (if any) on Upson and Green. The only chance I'd maybe make is that if he can hit form when fit again, bring Joe Cole in for Lennon and move Gerrard to the right. Having the likes of Milner, Defoe, Lennon and Beckham for impact substitutions is a pretty good situation to be honest.

Congrats all you English fans!!! :yahoo: I knew you'd won and I know nothing about football! Croatian players on field looked like little children begging to play with the grown ups :kink:

How times change. When the draw was made who'd have predicted that we'd score nine in tow games against Croatia? It has to be said that the result says as much about Croatia's decline as England's improvement but it's still a great result. It's almost disappointing not to have the usual nail-biting finish to a qualifying campaign :lol:

Croatia a shadow of their former selves from 2 years ago most definitely.

 

Great game, but I have to say that I absolutely hate ITVs coverage: *Adverts* Welcome back - Here are the national anthems - now time for some adverts! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/DandyHighwayman/Canadian.gif

Poor match for us, congrats to English fans, 5:1 is a great result.

That woz a great performance from England ive seen in a while..hope they keep it up..am glad we've qualified for WC

Glad we're there now! :D There was a HUGE difference when Heskey was taken off imo, it was like someone taking the part of a Jenga game that makes the entire tower fall down! We were less structured and Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard and Lennon found it much harder to find space! Glad to see Lennon have a good game, Walcott is gonna have a hard time getting back into the starting eleven now and maybe Beckham's place isn't guarenteed afterall?

Well done England I guess.

 

I am not an enthusiastic national team supporter, simply because the media act as if England deserve to win. I was talking to someone who watched Saturday's game and England were in their opinion very arrogant and thought they brought the pressure at the end on themselves. :rolleyes: