England B Tonight?

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Interested on what anyones views on tonights game are that watched the full 90 minutes?

Ok it is a meaningless B international but it did give us a chance to have a good look at the players who Sven may need to call upon.
I have to say Belarus have deserved the win imo.

Bar a good opening 15-20 mins from England they have been very poor for the remainder of the game.

Ok so the first goal for Belarus wasn't the best sportsmanship i've seen but i would've done the same. Cancels out Englands offside first goal i guess.

Lennon, they are raving about him but he hasn;t done much to be fair. Great 15 mins to start with then a good little 5 minute spell in the second half but thats all, i haven't seen him do anything else.

Walcott has come on and done nothing really bar a long range effort and he is going to have to step up his game against defenders of a far better standard.

He seems like a one trick pony to me. Got a lot of pace but he doesn't look like he has a left foot and looks like he is trying to do too much. Thats my thoughts anyways.

Hargreaves has just showed why he should never be in the set up again. Maybe out of position but he is apparantly in the squad due to being able to play in a range of positions.

His distribution has been an absolute disgrace.

Any pluses from the game?

Campbells looked very good although he has chanced his arm abit trying to go on little mazy runs.

Carrick i have been impressed with also. Rarely wasted the ball when in position and has played some cracking through balls for the attack.

Also thought for the lack of football Owen had he did fairly well and linked up well with his team mates. Should've scored an early chance but he is rusty and will be putting that kind of chances away when he is sharper.

All in all, i do think the first 11 are pretty damn good and should do well. But im not entirely convinced by the players you guys have in reserve

Thoughts?

[Computer Guy]

I'm just looking forward to England v Brazil with Ronaldinho against Hargreaves

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by Computer Guy

I'm just looking forward to England v Brazil with Ronaldinho against Hargreaves

Your English CG?

That would be my worst nightmare if i was an English fan

Should be lucky with Neville coming in place of Hargeaves although you wouldn't be too surprised if Sven played Hargreaves to man mark Ronaldinho if England did meet Brazil :loon

[Computer Guy]

yup, but that would finish Hargreaves International career for good with a bit of luck.

[crowie]

Here's what I posted at the end of the match thread.

Watched the first half and suffered my first bout of "Anti English commentatoritis", 15 days before the bloody WC even starts. Trevor Francis, who I despise at the best of times, after England went 1 up starts prattling on about "The only surprise is its not more.....". Was he watching the same 1st half? Belarus, once they settled down, played some nice stuff, little triangles, and looked comfortable on the ball, certainly going forward. Not a huge threat up front but neither were England at that point so no idea where he got the should have been more comments from, apart from being a twat.

A bit surprised to see it finished 1-2 but they are no mugs, as Scotland found out to their costs, them actually supposedly being 5th best team in our WC qualifying group when the draw was made. Hopefully Trevor Francis was eating his words come 90 mins, the nasally Brummie twat (apologies to Swoops in advance!).

Did Walcott come on and play?

Have to say I though Lennon looked a wee bit out of his depth in the first half, small and speedy but didn't look like he the confidence to take his man on.

Still, only a B team friendly, only 2, possibly 3, of that starting 11 will be starters at the WC I would imagine.

[crowie]

Originally Posted by Kiko

Carrick i have been impressed with also. Rarely wasted the ball when in position and has played some cracking through balls for the attack.

I only seen 45 mins Kiko but I though Carrick was possibly the worst England player. About halfway through the first half Jenas seemed to have to take over from him and run the midfield, well as best he could.

As I said above, only a friendly really but the worrying thing is when you go below the starting 11, I do think that England aren't the strongest. To have a reasonable chance this summer you are really looking for a pretty settled side throughout the competition as I wouldn't fancy the likes of Lennon, Carrick, Hargreaves or Downing if they were called upon.

[mrmuzeman]

small and speedy but didn't look like he the confidence to take his man on.

You kidding? He skinned that left back looooads of times I really dont know what youre talking about there I have to say. Especially as you usually talk good sense His crossing left some to be desired though.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by mrmuzeman

You kidding? He skinned that left back looooads of times I really dont know what youre talking about there I have to say. Especially as you usually talk good sense His crossing left some to be desired though.

Aye usually Crowie speaks sense 99% of the time but he seems to be off the mark a bit here

I did think the left back was terrified of Lennon as Lennon skinned him with ease every single time. The only bad thing was that he only did it in small spells through the game and couldn't keep it up consistently.