Two things I want to discuss

Firstly, Ben. Please get rid of that stupid Football news bar as it covers half of the most recent message of the blog!!!! FFS we all know and can use www.bbc.co.uk Thankyou

Secondly. England

Firstly it the last two games were as I mentioned last week. Group phase England will struggle. Why? Because Underdog teams like Trinidad and Paraguay will set their stall out to defend, men behind the ball and wait for a counter. England CANNOT BREAK TEAMS DOWN when they have 10 men behind the line.

Why? Simple, English players for the most part are unwilling or unable to take a man on. Its always draw the man, pass, draw the man , pass. This is simple to defend unless you start playing 1-2's which none did last night. Exceptions to this rule, Joe Cole. He can take players on but had a poor game last night and everyone is entitled to that. Arron Lennon. Wow this boy is a gem. Notice how much the game turned when T&T relaised oh fuck this guy is running at us. Rooney, he can do this also and Owen but useually when its just 1 on 1. Walcott by all accounts will run at defenders. This is good. But Erikson needs to realise he needs attacking options, Crouch /Owne is ineffective in games where there is little space round the back for Owen to run on to and lets be honest, Crouch is just an average League player. he does alright but is not strong/fast/skillful enough to be world class striker like Shreaer of old. Against teams willing to attack a bit more, like Sweden will next week, you watch England will do well maybe win by 3 or 4 goals.

But, I think the future it a little dim for England in regards to attacking football and taking on the man, and i think this goes deeper than just the players available. I will try and explain why.... I dont know if anyone remembers a very young Beckham, Owen or Gerrard. I do. These guys were gifted youngster full of confidence and would RUN at defences with the ball. This made them exciting to watch and has made them houshold names they are today. But you look at last nights game. None of them did this. Rooney has been doing it less of late and I bet as you watch Arron develop and Walcott they will be less willing to take players on as well. WHY???? English Coaches. England if full to the brim with "Old school" coaching. Players like Becks and Gerrard and Rooney will have the inate ability to run past defenders coached out of them. Its very sad but everyone asks why Brazil are so good, they have it built in from day one that they must be able to beat the man and this is encouraged. English coaches liek set formations, pass and move, long balls and attacking down the wings. If you notice most of brazil's goals will come through the middle. Agreies are the same because their technical skill is so much higher. England need to improve ther eif they are to become a true world force. English game is predicatbale. Players cant take on defenders so it goes down the wings for crosses. Its effective but one dimensional. THats why when owen came on the scene he was such a revelation. This kid ran around the back. Wow... look at him go. He wont do that so much now though... he gets ball, looks to play it and get in box. Owen of 17 would just run at the goal and support had just better keep up.

Good news is i think England have such a strong back line that they will go very far in this cup if they can get goals. I think Erikson needs shooting fo rhis choice of strikers to take on tour. Look who he has taken...

Crouch _ Average 1 dimensional League player. This guy was in Championship last season and has had a poor Season in Premiership with liverpool. Compare crouch to Owen or Fowler when they played thier first season at liverpool.

Owen... Been out most of the season so is off form. its kind of the Jonny Wilkinson of football, poor guy I feel sorry for him. He is nowhere near ready for International football and as such people critique him for being so crap. he just aint ready and its coaches fault not his. Not just that, other english players have played so long without him they need to get used to how he playes again. There is a real lackof communication between attack and rest of the players.

Rooney... great he's fit and should go. but he isnt 100% yet. So who can you play instead.

Walcott.... never played a premiership game and looks like Erikson is saving him for soemthing? but what??? This kid needs to play so he can learn the game and othe rplayers get used to how he plays. Really stupid taking him as he is not an option.


How much better would england be with a powerhouse forward liek bent or silk skills of Defoe? Aye they aint played the best this season but AT LEAST THEY PLAYED!! I just hpe rooney can get his match awreness back quickly because he is the real cutting edge in attack right now. Or maybe owen getting a goal and some confidence will help. Good thing I think for England is they have more open games comming up which should allow attackers a bit more spcae around the back.

If I were playing england though, I would look at Trinidad's tactics which were ace... you see how the two attackers split and tracked the Wing backs... so only the Centre backs could play the ball forward? Awesome. Anyways, yup if I were the Sweedes I would play like Trinidad. Just imagine how bad it could have been yesterday if Trinidad had some really quality about them. Would have been dire!!!!