Macedonia

[larwood]

I'd like to see Scotland qualify and Italy not even make it through.

I wouldn't :shake:  Although a draw against Lithuania and losing to France is a bit of an inauspicious start for the Italians.I'm pretty sure they are a bit off the pace seeing as the Italian season doesn't start till this weekend[at last!!]

The Northern Irish did brilliantly,its [almost] always great when the bigger nations lose to the smaller ones,not so great when its England of course.As for our game, it was tripe, but we got the result can't ask for much more than two out of two.

[Stef Troll]

Crouch is rubbish, anyone can sit up front and kick a ball in the net, very few of the goals he has scored were very good, and none fantastic, he does nothing with the ball apart from some step overs which look silly with his lanky leggs, but at the end of the day he does score goals and if he keeps scoring goals he will stay in the team.

So how many goals have you scored at international level then? Actually most of Crouch's goals for England have been very good goals, both the goals against Andorra were top class as was the one tonight. Jermain Defoe is a decent player but has only scored 3 in 18 games for England, Crouch has one of the most impressive scoring records in international football because he is fucking good. It's as simple as that.

But you'd have more chance of getting a blowjob from the pope than getting some muppets to realise that.

He lacks pace and his only major asset is his height.   Once he plays against a decent back 4, who know when to jump for a header, and also work as a defensive unit then Crouchy will find it hard to score.  Just my personal opinion.

You've already been proved wrong though, as I said he's scored against loads of decent defences, and it's them that've been found out not him.

In the premierleague last season he only scored 8 goals in 32 games,  1 in every 4 games   Not exaacyly prolific.  In total he scored 13 goals in 49 apperances in all competetions   -  again, not exatly a world beater.

[Piemonte]

Crouch may not be a world beater but hes better than Defoe. :|

To be honest I find some of crouch's control and flicks remarkable considering how tall he is. Hes a good player who fully deserves to be in the England team with Rooney banned and Owen a crip.

[Batch]

My twopenneth:

Game - Yes it was a dull scrappy affair. Yes we should be too strong for them. But Macedonia are no push overs. They are well disiplined and their results largely reflect this. They drew with Holland twice in the world cup qualifying just gone. A win is a win.

Players:

Robinson - Pre world cup I though he was very solid. Since then he has looked a bit dodgy to me.

Downing - I hope McLaren wakes up. He can put a good ball in but can't beat a player.Ever. Beckham is better at doing this than him, though I am not calling for a recall.

Lamps/Gerrard - Still don't think they are effective together.

Hargreaves - Boy was I wrong about him. He has limitations, but his sheer work rate and ability at getting in the face of the opposition more than justifies his place.

Defoe- For me has only shown why Swen left him at home. too lightweight and  ineffective.

Crouch. Has done as much as he can scoring goals aplenty. I have reservations about him though. His pace is slow. He is rubbish at heading constantly fouling to get the ball despite his size.  No arguing he is a handful but I am not convinced he would work against the better defeneces. Horses for courses I guess.

[Luci]

Crouch for England has scored (yesterdays statistic) 11 goals in 14 appearances.  As long as hes getting the goals he deserves to be in the squad.  He was unlucky yesterday as ref wouldn't leave him alone.

I would much rather see Crouch and Johnson up front as I don't really rate Defoe.

[Bogus Dave]

downings just a left footed beckham, only not as good. once joe cole gets fit again, im sure he'll be out on the left instead.

[Ben Wah Balls]

Crouch is rubbish, anyone can sit up front and kick a ball in the net, very few of the goals he has scored were very good, and none fantastic, he does nothing with the ball apart from some step overs which look silly with his lanky leggs, but at the end of the day he does score goals and if he keeps scoring goals he will stay in the team.

So how many goals have you scored at international level then? Actually most of Crouch's goals for England have been very good goals, both the goals against Andorra were top class as was the one tonight. Jermain Defoe is a decent player but has only scored 3 in 18 games for England, Crouch has one of the most impressive scoring records in international football because he is fucking good. It's as simple as that.

But you'd have more chance of getting a blowjob from the pope than getting some muppets to realise that.

He lacks pace and his only major asset is his height.   Once he plays against a decent back 4, who know when to jump for a header, and also work as a defensive unit then Crouchy will find it hard to score.  Just my personal opinion.

You've already been proved wrong though, as I said he's scored against loads of decent defences, and it's them that've been found out not him.

In the premierleague last season he only scored 8 goals in 32 games,  1 in every 4 games   Not exaacyly prolific.  In total he scored 13 goals in 49 apperances in all competetions   -  again, not exatly a world beater.

Including his England games last season he scored 19 goals, not a bad total at all and he has 8 already this season, in just 7 games. Over his career he has averaged better than a goal every 3 games, you're clutching at straws.

And lets not forget that two of his England goals came against the current european champions. He is the first ever England striker to score more than 10 goals in a year anyway and that achievement speaks for itself.

[Matchworn Shirts]

My team did well : San Marino 0-13 Germany  

I never thought I see the day we scored double-figures. Why do San Marino bother?

[Piemonte]

Batch - I agree that Downing isnt really very good. If anyone last night didnt look international class it was him.

[red macca]

Batch - I agree that Downing isnt really very good. If anyone last night didnt look international class it was him.

him and defoe piemonte

[Luci]

Terry was MOTM for me.  Defended well at all times and make some crucial clearances.  I agree with the comment about Downing though, not up to scratch.  I also was shocked to find out that Lennon was only 19. Had him down as being in his twenties.

[McLovin]

Downing is my new scapegoat. He's had a chance, and he's been very poor. Kieron Richardson should have been brought on at half time (and that's saying something).

I still want to see Lampard left out too. I didn't realise he was playing until the ball hit his fat arse and his attempted shot was scuffed to Crouch. Stevie G in the middle, Lennon on the right. Thank you.

[red macca]

agree what you say about lampard but i would be interested to see joe cole in his position ..just to see what its like he scores as many as lampard from out left

[Ben Wah Balls]

I agree Downing and Defoe were a bit disappointing, Joe Cole and Rooney should be back soon though.

[DV]

still playing at such a slow tempo, when the premiership is played so much faster...

As for Crouch, world class - no, brilliant technical player - no. Effective - yes....

He's not the classiest, or most talented player but he is effective.

However, dont think you can read too much into his England scoring record, most have come against teams that would struggle to beat non-league teams......like Oxford.

Regardless though of goals scored/ratios/stats....hes an effective player