Thetownend.com

god this game is shite

Super Super Frank... oh wait  :D

England are utter garbage.

2-1 then.

I keep missing the goals by flicking between the game, Celeb X-factor and Big Brother :roll:

Thank fook Sky+ gets installed the day before the WC starts!

3-1. Great goal and celebration by Crouchy!!

Fair play to Crouch, that was a good goal.

First half was a bit poor, second half was very good. Think this game shows that we should just start with Crouch and Owen in the group stages, with neither Carragher or Hargreaves really doing much to show they're the solution as holding midfielder.

 Crouch's goal was superb. Great run from cole and then perfect touch and for a guy that tall to turn like that is just outstanding and then perfect finish and finishes it off with one of the best celebrations ever. Legend!

Was a bit disappointing that Lennon didn't get a chance to play though after being man of the match against Belarus. I'm a bit worried that with Sven never having subbed Beckham Lennon just won't get a chance, Sven's said he thinks he could play as a second striker but he deserves a chance on the wing.

Overall good performance and result.

Its a balancing act though....you have to play Owen as he's proved he's the class striker.....playing just the one up front then enables the use of Gerrard and Lampard, at what they do best....the Crouchmeister, can then enter the fray as needed.

True but I didn't think Gerrard or Lampard really played amazingly well anyway. In the group stages we'd be better off playing with Crouch and Owen and then maybe use a holding midfielder later on.

I hate to say it but I'm with Graham Taylor and BWB   :shock:  :o

I'd rather two up front even if the second man has to be Crouch I've not seen anything to suggest that Owen can fulfil a role up front alone and could see him being easily marked out of the game against better opposition.  At least with that 2nd body up front there’s someone to play it off and hopefully create a bit of space.  

Brazil have a bit of a similar dilemma with their midfield being loaded with big guns going forward but not much left to cover the defence.  I’m not convinced the holding midfielder plan is going to bear fruit and we’d be far better working out ensuring defensive responsibilities are shared throughout.

Plus if the lanky goon carries on putting those away true to my word I will be eating my trilby in a few weeks.

obviously beckhams crossing was superb tonight.but anyone else notice second half that becks basically played centre mid (coz hargreaves is shit).heres my suggestion becks does not really create as much from open play as he does from set pieces so have beckham in the middle sitting in front of the defence with lennon on the right.thats what i would like to see happen but never would

Hargreaves should be tea maker........hes terrible, completely useless

it was all a bit half-hearted, will they step it up a bit against jamaica or still be weary of injuries?

beckham is as fit as he's been for about 4 years, i think he'll have a good world cup.

I was saying the same tonight before and after the game.

Crouch needs to play from the start with Owen. Little mikey is lost up front on his own, and gives us no outlet whatsoever.

As mentioned by some above, teams in our group will generally fear us and be defensive. 1 up front should be reserved for playing a better team in the latter stages who will push up and leave spaces for owen to exploit.

Iw we go down this route we need to be totally comfortable with the 4-1-4-1 system before we play someone good in the latter stages.

Bit of a furore over how Gerrard won the penalty (which was saved anyway)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5033004.stm

If I was manager I'd be screaming at Beckham"Get out wide and do your fucking job or I'll bring someone on who will-I'm running this team you sarong-wearing puff,If I want you to play in the middle I'll fucking say so"-But,then,I dont like the bloke.Also,I'm a bit annoyed about the"other teams do it so why dont we"attitude towards diving in the box to get pens-if its "dirty cheating fucking foreigners"when others do it,its the same when we do(apart from the"foreinger"bit).Joe Cole was superb,Carrick must be gutted-If Eriksson so obviously doesn't rate him why is he in the squad?

I only watched the first half because it was so dull and boring....all I can say is....I fn hope Rooney is fit for the WC!!!!

You're lucky you missed the 2nd half then!

Beckham has been on about playing in the middle for years now right back to his united days and every time he has he's looked like a tuppence in a turd.

It's the old delirium wide men seem to suffer from, craving a move in the middle to see more of the ball but without considering defensive duties that come with the role.  Grunt Sniff was similar when he first switched inside but he had the waddling Duke to his left to sweep up after him.

If Gerrard hadn't of dived, he would have been taken out anyway. I don't see what the fuss is about.

What happened last time beckham played in front of the back 4? we lost. to nothern ireland. nuff said.

Why? The second half was very entertaining for a friendly. Four goals and two of them were outstanding.

the gerrard incident is bollocks.that cunt lunged in with two feet it was a pen for dangerous play irrelevent whether he was touched or not.if he had not of dived he would have a broken leg now

Exactly. I can't believe such a big thing has been made of it. If it was the other way round I would have still (grudgingly) admitted it was a penalty

Terry was a cheeky cunt claiming the second as well.  String 'im up :nod:

but he scored

I haven't seen it since last night in the pub, but it looked very much to me as if Terry glanced it onto the defender's head.

nah terrys goal all the way..you confused me then

O well, string him up for going out with that 13 year-old then.

I sometimes wonder who is the happier out of him and his brother.  One plays for Chelsea and England, is loaded and has a fit girlfriend(these days).  The other is ginger and plays for Yeovil.