Frustration for England trio

[mawspurs]

Source: Official Site

Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch all featured as England played out a disappointing 0-0 draw against Algeria in the World Cup on Friday night.

Winger Aaron started the Group C fixture before being withdrawn for Shaun Wright-Phillips after 63 minutes.

Jermain entered the fray for Emile Heskey after 74 minutes with Peter thrown into the action five minutes from time for Gareth Barry.

There were few highlights in Cape Town.

'Azza' created England's best chance of the first half when his cross from the right was half-cleared to Frank Lampard, but Algerian keeper M'Bohli saved the Chelsea man's effort down to his left.

Aaron almost carved out a chance for Wayne Rooney in the 62nd minute, but his cross was flicked away by defender Bougherra with Rooney waiting to nod home from close range. That was his last action.

'JD' arrived soon after and 'Crouchy' after that but they had little chance to break the deadlock - JD's only effort a 25-yard snapshot in injury time that flew over.

England's fate is still in their hands - victory over Slovenia in their final group match on Wednesday will take them through to the knockout phase.

There was one interesting note for Spurs fans though.

Jamie Carragher picked up a second yellow card of the tournament and will therefore be suspended for the Slovenia match - it will be between Michael Dawson and Matthew Upson to partner John Terry on Wednesday.

[nferno]

capello shudnt have taken off lennon for fucking swp :bang: its like changing a parker pen for a 10p biro, they both do the same thing except one does it better. sorry for the shit similie i cudnt think of anything else lol.

[davidmatzdorf]

I reckon that Rooney's retort to the fans was just Rooney doing that familiar thing where you're very angry at yourself and you take it out on the first thing that gets in your face, in this case some booing fans.

He was, as others have observed, genuinely incompetent, not just lacking in inspiration but unable to do the basics of ball control, passing and shooting. But Gerrard and Lampard weren't any better. Lennon put in two good crosses, but insisted on cutting inside on every one of the rare occasions when he got the ball at his feet (I'm still of the opinion that Johnson and Lennon can't play together because they attack the same spaces and won't pass to each other). No once did he acually try to beat his opponents with pace and not once did he take the outside route. I think the last point is the reason he was removed for SWP, who immediately started running up the touchline - not that it worked.

But it's worth pointing out that, despite the abject lack of quality and co-ordination in our attacking and midfield play, we did not actually lose the game and that our defence played competently, after a nervous start, against a powder-puff attack. And we kept a clean sheet, for the first time in awhile. James was good, Terry was decent, Cole did his defensive job and Carragher and Johnson just about coped.

No, the main concern is not the result, it's the sense of helplessness in the players' faces, the visible signs of "why isn't this working?" showing from about the 10th minute. No one had any ideas. No one took any initiative. The England midfield and attack spent the entire game reacting to what Algeria were doing, collecting the ball and then looking relieved if they could just hang onto it for more than 1 or 2 passes. No one moved off the ball. No one ran into space. Every attacker scrupulously chose the wrong option whenever they were anywhere near the goal.

We can't even use that old reliable excuse that the other side played with 10 men behind the ball and put in a determined, heroic defensive performance. Algeria defended well, but there were no heroics, because we never put them under any significant pressure. Their defence was required, like ours, merely to be competent.

A large proportion of England's players are stars of international football, players who are accustomed to winning, are familiar with pressure and have achieved things at club level. I don't think the issue here is Capello's tactics - any randomly chosen 11 from the England squad ought to have been able to score a goal or two against Algeria - although we could have used an earlier substitution or two when things were visibly not happening.

I think some of the problem is a matter of individual key players being not-quite-totally-fit (Rooney, Lennon, Barry and A Cole have all missed a lot of competitive football recently, as has Defoe a bit less recently). But I think most of the problem is a deep-seated fear of Being Blamed that is causing several individual key players on the team to play in a hesitant and inhibited manner. They're terrified of doing something wrong and that is preventing them from doing anything right.

That's the key word for me about England's two performances: inhibited. You can't play football at a high level if you're second-guessing yourself constantly. You just lose the ball.

[samways]

Well said.
I will say though that call it inhibition or fear, I can understand it coming in to play when a player is in posession or is about to recieve a pass but I dont see how it would, firstly, affect every player simultaneously and secondly how it suddenly stops them moving into space-for gods sake its just basic stuff!!

I hate to say it because I hope we keep him for a long time but does anyone else think Harry Redknapp would be the ideal man to replace Capello when he goes? FA prob wouldnt go for it but he seems to be what the players need

[sebo_sek]

Well England yesterday showed it's true image. It is comprised of players who are starts at their respective clubs and simply can't play as a team.

Lampard was a waste of space and the sooner you dump him the better. Things only started heading in the right direction when Defoe came on. Within 5 minutes he created 3 corners which were guilded opportunities compared with the dross that the Three Lion-cubs showed last night.

Defoe and Crouchy to start surely against Slovenia. Heskey doesn't do anything, will never score and looking at Rooney, it's sad to say, bu the same applies.

Still - England to beat Slovenia and the US draw against Algeria. England and Slovenia go through. Then England get knowcked out against whoever they play, but they will qualify from the group.

[ziggy]

Would be nice if Johnson passed to Lennon early occasionally.
When SWP came on he passed to him straight away.

[doom]

i think in his last ten minutes on the pitch lennon was actually taking the initiative, moving into space and trying things out - then he gets taken off - bizarre!!

What seems to be happening with the team is a kind of mental block that could be be released if they qualify to the next round. We've seen it in other world cups - Italy being a good example. One way to get round this is to pick the players that seem most enthused about playing... I've never seen these players look so stressed before a match. Defoe came on with enthusiasm, Crouch looked stressed... We need the likes of Dawson & JC in the team to put some energy into our play.

[jolsnogross]

A large proportion of England's players are stars of international football

That's an amazing statement. The fact that they play for England should be evidence enough that these guys are not stars of international football. They're internationally recognized stars of club football. There's a distorting effect of Premier League football on the perceived quality of English players. The fact is, they are mostly kick-and-rush players who often have an end product and play in an exciting league. But they need other technical players around them to make them look good by playing some possession footy, determining the tempo, and relaxing on the ball.

It's amazing yet again to see the dismissive attitude by England toward other smaller nations. This same core group of players have been caught out so often, including not qualifying for tournaments, and yet they still they go in to the World Cup believing that they'll swat smaller countries aside by just turning up and deserve their place among the favourites. Algeria had more possession and played the much better football yesterday. If they had a striker of any competence they'd have won and deserved it. Similarly, despite dismissing the yanks before the game, most footy fans would be aware that they are more gutsy, have more team ethic and greater competence in possession than England. They just lack the one or two world class performers that can change a game. England have the game changers, but didn't bring or don't play the few modest team players available to ye.

It would help if the manager picked players who actually play some possession footy, like J Cole, Carrick, Hudd, Scott Parker, A Johnson. And I think the circus aspect is still there since Scholes packed in the Sven-palooza. When a quality international player like Scholes packs in because it's a side-show, there should have been alarm bells going off about the whole structure of the elite national team. The great Don Fabio has played the myth of the strong man pretty well, but the fact that a functionless Beckham is brought along to be the coach's celebrity pal says a lot about how Capello has also bought into the bull.

DM, that was a decent effort at trying to find something positive from that disastrous couple of games. I don't buy the not-fully-fit argument, it's just the alternative crutch to "they're too tired". The simpler and before-your-eyes explanation is that England can't play with possession. They can play against teams who also just try to get it forward asap, but the world cup is usually more sophisticated than that.

And the fact remains that despite the abject performances, a decent win against Slovenia could get the show moving again. But "stars of international football" don't usually start looking helpless 10 mins into a game and "display a deep-seated fear of Being Blamed" for the remainder of it. There's definitely some truth to it, because England usually play better when they're the underdogs or playing a more traditionally established footy power. But if the US and Slovenia make it through the group, they'll be full value for that as the better teams of the group. And England can stop stinking this tournament up, along with the French.

[StokeSpur]

Lennon has been caught like a rabbit in car head lights, he is shocked at the dross he's playing with, he cant believe he is the best player on the pitch.

Seriously, England are fkd, they are so scared to lose or dissapoint that they are constantly making mistakes. They are not coping with the huge amount of pressure that has been put on them and its digracefull and now the harder they try the worse they get.

They cant pass straight, they cant control the ball when they get it and they seem to want an age on the ball to make sure they make the right decission but they dont get that sort of space and time at this level, the fulancy has totaly gone.

Capelo needs to be dramatic and bench Rooney, Heskey, Gerrard and Lampard out and bring in Cole, Carrick, Crouch and Defoe. They have had their chance and now and they have blown it big time, they need to see that they are not the be all and end all.

That said, we'll probs win the last game and go on to the final haha ..

[davidmatzdorf]

That's an amazing statement. The fact that they play for England should be evidence enough that these guys are not stars of international football. They're internationally recognized stars of club football...

Perhaps I phrased it badly. But I thought it was obvious that I was trying to say that they were stars of club football on an international stage, players who regularly play in the Champions League, players who are sought-after by the biggest and richest clubs in international club football.

They'll only be stars of international football when playing for their country when they actually achieve something playing for their country. Doesn't look likely right now, "golden generation" or not.

[davidmatzdorf]

It would help if the manager picked players who actually play some possession footy, like J Cole, Carrick, Hudd, Scott Parker, A Johnson.

Yes, we can agree on that. Not necessarily the individual names, but the concentration on keeping the ball. Every side that has overcome this World Cup's domination by sides aiming not to lose has done it by keeping the football.

When a quality international player like Scholes packs in because it's a side-show, there should have been alarm bells going off about the whole structure of the elite national team.

You are rewriting history. Until a few days/weeks ago, no one had ever suggested that Scholes retired from international football because he was unhappy with the atmosphere of the national team. It's a fib that has suddenly started to gain currency because people are pissed off with the England team.

Scholes retired partly because he wanted to concentrate on Man Utd, but mainly, as he said at the time, because he had achieved what he wanted to achieve with England and was desperate to change his lifestyle to concentrate more on his family life. It wasn't a throwaway statement, he was serious. He just didn't want the disruption, the travelling and the 52-weeks-a-year of football anymore. Not all footballers have the same priorities.

DM, that was a decent effort at trying to find something positive from that disastrous couple of games. I don't buy the not-fully-fit argument, it's just the alternative crutch to "they're too tired". The simpler and before-your-eyes explanation is that England can't play with possession. They can play against teams who also just try to get it forward asap, but the world cup is usually more sophisticated than that.

I'm amazed that you thought I was "trying to find something positive". What was positive about that except keeping a clean sheet against a side that can't score goals anyway? Just because I don't rage on and call individual players "fucking ****s" and demand mass sackings doesn't mean I'm being positive. The whole performance sucked.

And I agree with you about the possession. I just think that it's easier to keep possession when you don't field a team with 5 players who have not had much competitive football recently.

[StuckinPoland]

we were so bad against algeria that i actually thought ashley cole was the only one who cared ! and we all know what a money grabbing twonk he is.

to me, our problem was this.

we had 4 defenders, 3 central midfielders who ALL dropped back to pick up the ball from defence and usually did it together. we had a winger who we NEVER give the ball to. we had a striker who never scores and a star striker who never stayed up front.

we were in absolute disarray.

lampard needs midfielders behind him to be of any use. bring in carrick (can't believe i am saying this) and j. cole. and play this. thankfully, carragher is out.

...................james
johnson, dawson, terry, a.cole
..............carrick, barry
gerrard.......lampard......j.cole
...................rooney

tell j.cole and gerrard to play infield (they will anyway) to allow a.cole and johnson the space to attack down the wings. and tell rooney to stay the crap up front !!!

to me, that's the best team we have with the sh!t squad that capello picked.

[nferno]

...................james
johnson, dawson, terry, a.cole
..............carrick, barry
gerrard.......lampard......j.cole
...................rooney


and leave the best right winger in england out of the team?

[PantherX]

A couple of observations (from a non-Englishman):

Lennon was ineffective because when he got the ball when he was either standing still or moving with his back to the opponents goal, I don't think he got a single ball that he could run on to and and use his pace to attack the Algerian defense.

I don't care which 11 you pick the performance will be the same, the problem is the mental state of the entire team. They all have the look of people crushed by the burden of expectation, very tense and lacking any energy whatsoever. Frankly I don't see them capable beating anybody in the state they're in.

Maybe somebody needs to break out a dentist's chair or something.

[jolsnogross]

You are rewriting history. Until a few days/weeks ago, no one had ever suggested that Scholes retired from international football because he was unhappy with the atmosphere of the national team. It's a fib that has suddenly started to gain currency because people are pissed off with the England team.

Scholes retired partly because he wanted to concentrate on Man Utd, but mainly, as he said at the time, because he had achieved what he wanted to achieve with England and was desperate to change his lifestyle to concentrate more on his family life. It wasn't a throwaway statement, he was serious. He just didn't want the disruption, the travelling and the 52-weeks-a-year of football anymore. Not all footballers have the same priorities.

I've held this view for quite a long time, since Sven was manager, so I'm not re-writing history here from a personal standpoint. I'm not English, so I'm not remotely pissed off with how things are going. I also thought it was widely known that Scholes did indeed pack it in because it just wasn't a serious operation. He just came out with the club and family stuff so as not to directly challenge the England set up. I'll admit to not having a source for that, but I don't think anyone could doubt some dissatisfaction on his part about the England set up.

The Sven, Becks, & Wags circus is no place for a serious player like Scholes. Even though he's lost some of his influence, he's still the most accomplished English possession player and the best of his generation. God knows ye could do with him now.

Your version, which I'm not doubting is in the record, lacks some credibility because it would be ludicrous for any English international to suggest he'd achieved everything he wanted to as an international. Especially ludicrous for an accomplished Premier League and Champions League winner. Also, Scholes is a fairly private person and a well known family man, so while all the travel may have been disruptive, he still spends his time at home rather than partaking in any of the celebrity peripheral stuff. What's more, he said he'd have considered Capello's invitation to return to the fold had it come earlier - that doesn't sound like a fella concerned about disruptive travel.

I just think he was too important a player to just let walk away without really getting a debrief about his experience with England and what he'd do to improve it. Or persuade him to stay after Sven left. This isn't a recent thought or flavour-of-the-month rationale for the current mess. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but he's that important to England - their only player with a genius footballing brain.

[jolsnogross]

Perhaps I phrased it badly. But I thought it was obvious that I was trying to say that they were stars of club football on an international stage, players who regularly play in the Champions League, players who are sought-after by the biggest and richest clubs in international club football.

Fair enough. But I think you overstate the sought-after by the top clubs in international footy. Those clubs break the bank, or try to, for Ronaldo, Xavi Alonso and Fabregas, but they don't bust the door down for Gerrard, Lampard or Rooney or even J or A Cole. Now I'm not saying they wouldn't splash the millions it would take to get Rooney, just that the record of these types of English Premier League stars playing in foreign leagues is vanishingly small. As is the history of actual bids made for them.

Maybe Mourinho will get one of them to Madrid, but you can't help think that he'd only do that with the benefit of Prem experience while other managers and chairman don't think it's worth the risk. Mourinho hasn't bothered to bid for any English player since leaving Chelsea that I know of (Jenas???). I'd love to see Lampard head to Spain because i think he's very over-rated despite the magnificent goal tally - I wonder if he'd keep it up, even at Madrid, or if he'd be found out, like he is at international level.

[JimmyG2]

The point about Lennon and Johnson not complemeting each other is well made. (By Davidmatzdorf)
Johnson was continually in Lennon's space forcing him inside which is why he plays better with Corluka than say, Hutton.
Several times he played the ball back but the ball into the space behind the full back never came or the ball to feet with space in front of him to run at the full back.
He kept wide in the first game and stretched the defence but seemed to have been ordered to tuck in in the second to allow Johnson to make the outside runs, which makes no sense..

Our team is comprised in the main of 'strength' players who do well in the Premiership but at Internationale level against better players, managers and tactics don't seem to have much idea.

Skill and flair players are clearly not trusted. Heskey and Carragher, one of the dirtiest and slowest players in the Premiership are preferred which makes nonsense of the overhyped Cappello's judgement.
If O'Hara is known as 'three touch' Carragher should be known as 'four touch'.

Still don´t lose heart, Spain, where I am at ther moment, the most skilful team in the tournament were beaten by a very pedestrian Switzerland.

How can Joe Cole not get on the pitch? And who gave Rooney the freedom to go wherever he pleases. He's supposed to be our key striker feeding off Heskey. Thin pickings so far.

[jolsnogross]

Still don´t lose heart, Spain, where I am at ther moment, the most skilful team in the tournament were beaten by a very pedestrian Switzerland.

It's a peculiar English phenomenon to look at other teams that are completely irrelevant to your plight and take heart that they're also having troubles. I don't mean to have a go at you, an article of this sentiment has cropped up in almost every paper. I suppose it's fun and interesting to note how the French have become completely dysfunctional, but it really has no bearing on England getting through their group. I'm not sure how the Swiss beating Spain helps you to not lose heart about England. Ye've been abysmal and are really worthy of being dumped from the tournament. Spain played really good stuff against the swiss and would grace the latter stages of the competition if they make it. I don't see the connection between Spain's blip and England's enduring anti-football.

[JimmyG2]

It's a peculiar English phenomenon to look at other teams that are completely irrelevant to your plight and take heart that they're also having troubles. I don't mean to have a go at you, an article of this sentiment has cropped up in almost every paper. I suppose it's fun and interesting to note how the French have become completely dysfunctional, but it really has no bearing on England getting through their group. I'm not sure how the Swiss beating Spain helps you to not lose heart about England. Ye've been abysmal and are really worthy of being dumped from the tournament. Spain played really good stuff against the swiss and would grace the latter stages of the competition if they make it. I don't see the connection between Spain's blip and England's enduring anti-football.
Because it means you don't always get what you deserve which is England's only hope.
I agree we might get dumped and probably don't deserve any better.
Winning the World Cup in 66 probably set us back 30 yrs in our development as it seemed to show that we could beat the World the English way. We still think we can unfortunately.
I'm not reading the English press at the moment so my sentiments are all my own.
If I thought exiting the tournament at an early stage would lead to a root and branch reformation of the English game I would pray for it but it won't.
The manager will carry the can and leave and a new man come in and things will stay exactly the same.