Thetownend.com

....think we're in for a tough game tomorrow, a draw is probably acceptable.

 I'm a bit worried about left back and centre half, although like most, no fan of Cashley,he is an experienced player in decent form.  The thought of Wayne Bridge takes me back to the visit of Croatia, when Bridge probably gave the most inept display I can ever recall from an England player....playing Lescot there might be a slight improvement , but he's not really international class.

 Centre half...Upson might prove up to it, but he's got little big match experience.

 Belarus are an improving side, although without Hleb, certainly weakened,  the coach Stange, apparently worked for the Stasi, whilst coach of East Germany in the 80's.

I'm very concerned (well, on the scale of things) that England will go into this over-confident and treat them as another 'small side'. Really need to score early on and make a positive start if we're going to take the points.

There was an article in FourFourTwo I believe... but yes, he was big buddies with the Shield and Sword of the Party.

belarus are very much an improving nation and will do well at home.

im backing them at 9/1. ridiculous price.

An amazing stat I have read is that if England win, it will be the first time ever that we've won the opening 4 WC qualifying games.

Draw it is then.

Remember when the Belarus first team (minus Hleb again) beat our 'B' team pre-World Cup at the Madejski? Rob Green injured himself and Belarus scored as a result of it. That was fun.

They have plenty of experience including Vitali Kutuzov who is playing in Italy at the moment.

It's England U21 (3) vs. (2) Wales U21 tonight in the second leg of their qualifier... I enjoyed the first game. Proper scrappy cup tie.

The Welsh fans were quite loud. Anti-English chanting always amuses me, especially when 6 of the starting XI were born and raised in England.

 I watched the U21 game....and will watch the return this evening. I considered going to watch the stiffs, but just can't be arsed with the necessary rushing around. 

 It's interesting watching to see if any look like they might step up a level. Hart certainly loks a promising keeper

I was planning on going to the cinema, but alas the other person can't make it.

They've offered me their ticket for Coogan on Friday though, as can't make that either. Hmmm, decisions.

 You been stood up then Si?  Probably just playing hard to get.

 Plenty more fish in the sea.

David Wheater, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Joe Hart are linking up with England after the game. All have been called up by Capello previously though.

Nah, only a mate, we go quite a lot. It's quite sweet really.

 As you saw, Wheater played right back on  Friday and didn't look too clever.  No doubt Agbonlahor, has talent, but he's a bit raw.  I like the lad Adam Johnson, it's a shame for him that he's a bit like Downing, only better....just means he'll get less games.

 It is quite sweet....I've never really known a bird who I'd say was just a mate, I invariably want to bed them. Can you honestly say hand on heart, you've never had an impure thought?

As nice as she is I don't find her attractive. Although alcohol has changed my mind a couple of times. Bad alcohol.

 Ah good....

Currently

England U21 1-2 Wales (4-4)

We were comfortable and then......

 Wales have a player called Andy King  :)

away goals count?

Yes they do. 2-2 on the night.

England down to 10 men for the last 25 minutes. Huddlestone with a straight red.

EDITED!!!

 Homophobia should have no place in football.

Hahahah... that's what happens when you start writing, go to the kitchen for a drink and come back.

Meh who am I kidding :D

excuses.

Hence the "meh who am I kidding".

;)

I've also had me a bit of that.

Jesus, I can't believe some of you lot.

Yes they're not totally useless but it's Belarus ffs, I can't imagine the populations any more than 9-10 mill, anything other than a decent win and I'll be bloody annoyed.

I agree.

I miss the first half today because the good folk at the University of Newcastle feel it is compulsory for Postgrads to go to a workshop teaching me how to use a PC.

Grrrrrrreat but in fairness I probably won't miss much!

Interesting quotes from Rio yesterday, that under Capello the whole england set up is more professional.

He reckoned that having the WAG's around,turned things into a circus.

I don't imagine "Rio's World Cup Wind-Ups" or whatever it was called helped either.

You just got MERKED!

 You've a lot to learn young David....did you know the Pripet Marshes bordering Belarus and Ukraine is the biggest wetland area in Europe?

what IS he on about?

WAGS made the world cup much more interesting - whos outfits would I have copied for the whole summer otherwise?? duuhhh Rio  ::)

Yes. Yes I did.

1-1 at the moment.

oooh I have 2-1

if it stays like this all my other bets will be refunded as Paddy Power had a "Rooney to score last and refund your bets" special

Yup, courtesy of Emile Heskey who did the work.

There's still plenty of time to fuck this one up :)

Wayne Bridge looks totally out of place in the England squad these days - didn't think he'd play again after the Croatia loss. He needs a new club big time.

Huzzah for Yeovil ... 3-1 but Rooney got it.

I love heskey, so underated

You can thank Gerrard later Yeovil :)

Very good result this, probably most professional i have seen for a long time.

ah well got my tenner back,think ill waste it on something else.

Buy me flowers

Ive found some bets on tonights Presidential debate  ;D

Obamha not to mention "change" in the debate 25/1

 The urge to get excited is strong....I'm sure though Don Fabio would counsel against it.

 Next up a friendly v Huns....is there such a thing?

the Queen is 5000/1 to win celeb Big Brother 2009  :D

The Beckhams house keepers are 500/1  :D

 Newcastle normally take the  Wayne Bridges of the world, pay silly money and excessive wages and watch them collapse into terminal mediocrity. There's nothing left back wise i the U 21's Jamie O'Hara has been playing there, previously a young Leicester kid Joe Mattock, who's only just 18.

Not english i know but gareth bale is probably the best left back prospect in the premier league.

leighton baines looked the business a few seasons back, a injury free season and he will be ahead of Bridge

 Is Yinka qualified for England?

The problem with the current England team is that most of them have shit names. How the fuck can you be inspired by a Steven Gerrard. Wayne Rooney sound like a poor attempt at alliteration by someone who can't read or write very well.

The 1969 team had proper names like Nobby, Gordon, Roger and Sir Geoffrey Charles. Not fucking shit like Jermaine, Wayne and Ashley.

They won't get my support until we play a Marmaduke Athelston Herbbertatron.

Emile ivan heskey, now that is a solid name

Reuben noble-lazureus could be playing in a few years the 15yr old who played for barnsley the other week

Yeah I agree. He's one of the exceptions. Good name.

 Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey does it for me.....if you'd seen the 50's Roger Moore starring Ivanhoe as a kid you'd know why.

Reuben Courtney Noble-Lazarus, thats a cracker

Just seen the belarus goal again very well worked. Must of been 20 passes

I'm chuffed, 4 wins from 4. Can't ask for more than that. well, not reasonably.

Was 23 according to Setanta. Lovely stuff.

Pleased with the win anyway. I think that Gerrard miss is up there with the very worst I've ever seen. Awful! Probably not as bad as Iwelumo's the other day though.

24 according to ITV.

23 according to me and i am right

So do we all like Fabio now?

He wasn't too popular on here after some of our meangingless friendlies.

I think he's brilliant :)

What a solid performance. We did exactly the right thing and kept the ball for ages at the beginning of the match. All of a sudden it went from stroking it around at the back, to Rooney being pulled back in the area. Next attack and we score. Sure Belarus are not world beaters but Qualifiers shouldn't be underestimated. This England side is progressing superbly, I think Capello is the perfect man to continue that. He says he wants to look at some new players next.

Was good to see him change it at half time and put gerrard on the danger man. Would rather a English manager but times have moved on and to be fair i do not think we could of got much better than Capello

My sources tell me Fitton has got Capello lined up to be the next Swindon manager......


You heard it here first.

The Audi driver?

also Wesley Brown ducking as the ball passes him.

Yeah but wont take that away scott. Argentina scored a simalar goal a few years ago and people said it was one of the best ever, if that was any 'big' team last night that goal would be being raved about.

i know mate. Against Serbia in the world cup. Both top goals

awesome trip, cheap beer, fit birds and we actually won!

Anyone seen Heskey's linked moves back to Liverpool?

I had to laugh at Robbo's BBC Column today, which opened with...

Robbo Robson 17 Oct 08, 09:29 AM Four wins out of four, 14 goals for, three against, five for Rooney, three for Walcott, none for Heskey (but then again he has established himself now as international football's first ever out-and-out non-goalscoring centre-forward).

Haha its true, every player who plays alongside him plays

well?

Very well and ends up on their best scoring runs, god knows what happened then