England v Denmark

[puds1970]

David Moyes on the Cleverley petition pretty much sums up everything that is causing British coaching to fall behind.''A fantastic young player who is developing all the time. He is a great trainer. He never gives it less than 100%.'' - I get so frustrated when all we ever praise as a footballing nation is effort. If you run around a lot it definitely makes up for falling increasingly behind technically and tactically.

100% agree. And the thing is this is coming from a man that has spent most of his life living day to day in the football world.
SO WHY CANT HE SEE THAT ITS ONE THING WORKING HARD TO WIN A BALL BACK AND MAKING THE RUNS. AND ITS ANOTHER ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT WHEN YOU HAVE IT.

Tom Cleverly will make no difference good or bad to England's World Cup chances. He should actually go just to represent us because he is what the past and future of English football is all about. Which is sterile, boring one paced, 100% 3 lions on your chest, Terry Butcher blooded sweatband, sideways passing football. Who treat the ball like a hot potato. And couldn't run with a football if their lives depended on it.
BORING ENGLAND.

 

[Tango Man]

Spot on. A good friend of mine, who lives in the Netherlands was with Ajax up to the age of fifteen. He now plays for Blau-Witt and does youth coaching.

The things the Dutch teach their kids when it comes to football are light years ahead of what is coached here.

It's all about technique, ball control, passing, tactics, vision, and positioning.

The athletic side of the game - at youth level anyway - is almost an afterthought in Holland.

Yes, we all know that the Dutch are technically proficient, & have been for 40 odd years. But where has it got them as a nation?

Same number of honours as England i.e, one major tournament win although they have been in the final of them a lot more than England.

Biggest problem with the Dutch? Massive egos & lack of teamwork always lets them down.

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

Played in the Netherlands on tour with my junior team. Their players were 17 and 18, we were 15 and 16. Not quite sure how we managed to fix that one up.

We gave a good account of ourselves. We attacked once with a ball over the top, scored and went in at half-time at 1-1. We eventual lost 3-1. We both played up to the stereotypes. They had all the possession and played nice football on the ground, and we tried to stay in the match by getting stuck in. It was the only thing we could do to bother them. I was never particularly aggressive, but I remember putting in a couple of hefty challenges. Their players hit the deck and the Dutch Dads were up in arms on the touchline. Then we discovered we could all get served. As a team we discovered alcohol for the rest of the week. Steve Stone's goal at Norwich in our 3rd in the PL season, which we watched on MotD, would have been the first Forest goal I celebrated under the influence.

We somehow managed to win our other game 6-0 whilst most of us played with a hangover for the first time. They must have been woeful (actually I think they were younger - the age groups didn't really match up). And our sub goalkeeper appeared to pull liberal Dutch lesbians which amazed us all at the time. Every stereo-type was played out on that trip, but particularly the first match. Typical Netherlands versus England.

 

[DapperDan]

Played in the Netherlands on tour with my junior team. Their players were 17 and 18, we were 15 and 16. Not quite sure how we managed to fix that one up.

We gave a good account of ourselves. We attacked once with a ball over the top, scored and went in at half-time at 1-1. We eventual lost 3-1. We both played up to the stereotypes. They had all the possession and played nice football on the ground, and we tried to stay in the match by getting stuck in. It was the only thing we could do to bother them. I was never particularly aggressive, but I remember putting in a couple of hefty challenges. Their players hit the deck and the Dutch Dads were up in arms on the touchline. Then we discovered we could all get served. As a team we discovered alcohol for the rest of the week. Steve Stone's goal at Norwich in our 3rd in the PL season, which we watched on MotD, would have been the first Forest goal I celebrated under the influence.

We somehow managed to win our other game 6-0 whilst most of us played with a hangover for the first time. They must have been woeful (actually I think they were younger - the age groups didn't really match up). And our sub goalkeeper appeared to pull liberal Dutch lesbians which amazed us all at the time. Every stereo-type was played out on that trip, but particularly the first match. Typical Netherlands versus England.

I am starting to wonder if I know you

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

Bantams?

 

[DapperDan]

Ah, no. But it sounds like we mirrored your tour, at exactly the same time. And that there was a standard set of events on these.

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

We followed every teenage British football team on a European tour cliche. It was a great trip though.

 

[Ravi]

Played in the Netherlands on tour with my junior team. Their players were 17 and 18, we were 15 and 16. Not quite sure how we managed to fix that one up.

We gave a good account of ourselves. We attacked once with a ball over the top, scored and went in at half-time at 1-1. We eventual lost 3-1. We both played up to the stereotypes. They had all the possession and played nice football on the ground, and we tried to stay in the match by getting stuck in. It was the only thing we could do to bother them. I was never particularly aggressive, but I remember putting in a couple of hefty challenges. Their players hit the deck and the Dutch Dads were up in arms on the touchline. Then we discovered we could all get served. As a team we discovered alcohol for the rest of the week. Steve Stone's goal at Norwich in our 3rd in the PL season, which we watched on MotD, would have been the first Forest goal I celebrated under the influence.

We somehow managed to win our other game 6-0 whilst most of us played with a hangover for the first time. They must have been woeful (actually I think they were younger - the age groups didn't really match up). And our sub goalkeeper appeared to pull liberal Dutch lesbians which amazed us all at the time. Every stereo-type was played out on that trip, but particularly the first match. Typical Netherlands versus England.

Was BC your manager?

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

Was BC your manager?

Our manager didn't discourage our drinking, but he looked more like Kevin Keegan with his perm and shell suit.

 

[andover red]

The current England set up mirrors all the others going back as far as I can remember. The performances are so much better when the more experienced and established players are missing. Take out Rooney, Gerrard and to a lesser extent Cole and the increase in energy, enthusiasm and ingenuity is astounding. Unfortunately, as has always been the case, managers are too scared to make the big call and leave these players out. Only when injuries force the manager's hand, such as 1986 and 1990, do things click into place.

 

[Ravi]

Our manager didn't discourage our drinking, but he looked more like Kevin Keegan with his perm and shell suit.

*obligatory*

 

[Tutts]

I'm struggling to think of centre midfielders better than Cleverley who aren't in the squad. We don't have much depth.
I doubt he'd get any grief if he played for Hull.

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

We MUST "Park the Bus" in Brazil !

 

[Ravi]

We MUST "Park the Bus" in Brazil !

Our back five is very good when everyone is fit. Cahill is an excellent player, and I rate Jagielka highly. With those two in the middle we will have a chance in games.

 

[Danga]

I'm struggling to think of centre midfielders better than Cleverley who aren't in the squad. We don't have much depth.
I doubt he'd get any grief if he played for Hull.

Off the top of my head this season i think Osman, Barry, Delph, Westwood, Huddlestone, Noble, Nolan, Shelvey... And thats just off the top of my head.

Second point, he wouldn't be playing for England if he was at Hull, it why people don't want him in the squad, his call up is based purely on the club side he plays for.

 

[Tutts]

Off the top of my head this season i think Osman, Barry, Delph, Westwood, Huddlestone, Noble, Nolan, Shelvey... And thats just off the top of my head.

Second point, he wouldn't be playing for England if he was at Hull, it why people don't want him in the squad, his call up is based purely on the club side he plays for.

I think the first 2 are too old for a squad moving forward as is Nolan. Huddlestone strikes a nice ball but is too immobile.
Delph is a thug.

Noble is a decent shout. Shelvey is the one I'd hope would break though this season really. Sadly he's come to Swansea after they've peaked a bit and so he has a bad game for every good one. It think Roy sees Cleverly as one of his 'leg men' putting in the yards that Gerrard, Carrick, Lampard can't give him anymore.

Also on the second point though, a lot of the dislike is because he plays for Man United, who are probably pound for pound, the most disliked club in the country. Most players England fans boo, go one to be decent players for them, so at least they can claim its a decent motivational technique as it worked for Beckham, Crouch, Hargreaves and a few others!

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

The Green Man is being torn apart on the crap Gordon Ramsey/The Nanny/The Dog Whisperer but with pub/hotels type of programme currently playing on my TV. Is that the pub every one goes to pre-Wembley?