South Africa 2010

**hinarei** · 2 Mar 2010, 3:57 am

Well, even with the master of Italian efficiency and respect Don Fabio in control, we've done a grand job of late showing just how easily the England setup can self-destruct on or around an international tournament. We go into our last friendlies before summer without our first or second choice left-back, a demoted captain who's not playing well at the heart of the defence, our newly-promoted captain injured, one certain striker and none of at least five other names showing any of the consistency needed to partner him up front, a lacklustre under-performing midfield with problems on the right-hand side especially, and don't even get me started on the goalie situation...

But other than that, great

Opinion of the Terry/Bridge handshake at the Bridge?

™ · 2 Mar 2010, 3:57 pm

I used to have respect for Terry, but not anymore, so, I guess i was kinda glad that the guy didnt give him the handshake, it would've been hypocritical.

**hinarei** · 2 Mar 2010, 7:14 pm

especially so considering he'd just forfeited his England place (which was nailed on, to be honest) due to the circumstances. Bridge quit because he thought the England dressing room would be divided, but there's a possible three Man City players still involved and four or five Chelsea players, so it might be too late to worry about that.

Going from a stable solid progression through the knockout stages, I reckoned we'd had our best preparation to a tournament in ages. Now, I'm not so sure >_<

**Betong Åsna** · 3 Mar 2010, 10:47 am

lol @ Bridge for '2nd choice left back'

Don't see it myself, never have.

™ · 3 Mar 2010, 6:38 pm

So, Gerrard will be the kyapten! Anyways FIFA Matches today! Mexico is playing vs new zealand tonight, they come from hammering bolivia 5-0 (it was 4 - 0 by the 20th minute of the first half

)

**Betong Åsna** · 4 Mar 2010, 12:36 pm

Ferdinand's the captain, actually. Just debatable whether or not he'll ever be fit enough to play for England again.

**hinarei** · 4 Mar 2010, 8:14 pm

Originally Posted by Betong Åsna

lol @ Bridge for '2nd choice left back'

Don't see it myself, never have.

Who would you have then? The laddie Baines? He's only won the one cap, and that was in last night's friendly

Originally Posted by ™

So, Gerrard will be the kyapten! Anyways FIFA Matches today! Mexico is playing vs new zealand tonight, they come from hammering bolivia 5-0 (it was 4 - 0 by the 20th minute of the first half

)

Gerrard didn't exactly shine last night, and it might point towards the captaincy of his country being a restriction for him. He rarely brings the kind of game he has at club level to internationals though. Mehico saw off New Zealand 2-0, and looked the better side every step of the way, from highlights. Made hard going though, doing all your scoring in five minutes

Pathetic showings from Northern Ireland and Wales underlined their weaknesses (Wales, without Aaron Ramsey, were hopeless, and the less said about NI the better), but the Scots pulled off their first home friendly win in 14 years

**Betong Åsna** · 5 Mar 2010, 12:24 am

I probably would have Baines. I know his weaknesses well enough, but when he's on his game he brings a handy thread down that left hand side. He overlaps like Wayne Bridge couldn't even imagine.

**hinarei** · 5 Mar 2010, 4:10 am

doesn't fit my picture of the storming fleet-footed wingback though. Maybe I'm missing something. I'll bet he'll not be taking many set-pieces like he does at club level :/

**Betong Åsna** · 5 Mar 2010, 10:30 am

He took the corners and some free kicks on Wednesday. To be fair, if Lampard and Gerrard play anything like they did in that game, they shouldn't be anywhere near the pitch, never mind the set pieces.

**hinarei** · 10 May 2010, 3:30 am

sorry to talk mostly about England in this thread again... but we've got about a month before the Finals now. Anyone still/ever seriously think Don Fabio could take England to the final and bring us home from Johannesburg as winners?

Looks like we'll be relying on a messed-up cheat and a captain who's only played ten games all season in central defence, backed up by a perennial Spurs casualty. Solid bedrock then, at centre-half. Left-back was going to be a problem for us, but our starter's still a git

Midfield, well, Lampard's going, but after that I wouldn't put any English names down for "top players in the League", aside from Scott Parker, of course. Up front we are all praying the curse of the metawhatsit doesn't strike the forward who's second best in England. Don't even get me started about goalkeeper

why does "the nation's favourite paper" issue silly prayer mats? O_o

I also reckon Franco should be in the Mexico squad, if it's not been named already

Good performances and clutch goals for the Hammers this year

™ · 10 May 2010, 2:21 pm

Nope, we have chicharito and Vela, I think

**hinarei** · 10 May 2010, 6:14 pm

I was just saying he could be of benefit to the squad. Bringing him on in the last 20 minutes has normally paid dividends for us

**Rasberry** · 20 May 2010, 7:14 am

got my supporter merch ready for AUS, looks like Germany may falter with some big names not able to play!

**hinarei** · 20 May 2010, 10:48 am

supporter merch? o_O Please explain.

Germany won't find their route through the Finals quite so smooth now their captain and talisman Michael Ballack has been injured, but then they only get to finals with him playing and then contrive to lose.

™ · 20 May 2010, 12:50 pm

Mexico vs England on monday! Should be good

**hinarei** · 20 May 2010, 8:02 pm

should be a drubbing, on paper. We've played you eight times and you've only scored 3 goals

Ee-zeh! Ee-zeh! Ee-zeh!

in other news, Spain's preliminary 30-man squad's been announced. I thought it was a Spanish law that Raul had to be included, even if he could no longer walk!

™ · 20 May 2010, 10:17 pm

He has been referred to as "cancer" both in real and the national team

**Rasberry** · 21 May 2010, 3:18 am

I thought supporter merch was a wide term....

It is short for supporter merchandise (hats, shirts, Guernseys etc)

**hinarei** · 21 May 2010, 4:44 am

maybe it is, but I've never heard it. Maybe widely used in Oz

here, we might take the trouble to list what we've got, but in terms of beer and tellies

And what the hell's a Guernsey? Can't be another word for shirt (jersey?), cos you've already said that

cancer now, is he? Thought all the sleepy people worshipped the ground he walked on

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