- Aug 24, 2008
- 2,368
- 1
Feel free to share your thoughts on our internationals' performances here :grin:
Lennon (England 2 - 1 Ukraine)
This seems to be a point of debate depending on how biased (read: anti-Spurs) you are. I didn't see all of the game but I thought that basically the same thing happened again - most of our play happened down the left and he was bypassed so he didn't really have a chance to impress. I thought his final balls were generally fine, but for some reason they never mentioned it when he put in a decent cross, yet immediately came out with the "he needs to improve his final ball" shtick as soon as his next one was shaky. I'd like to see him be more aggressive and demand the ball more and be more willing to take on his man, but in all honesty I care a lot more about how he does for Spurs than for England. The media are attempting to portray his performance as if he'll never get another chance to get ahead of Beckham/Walnut/SWP in the pecking order, but frankly if he keeps improving for Spurs, Capello will give him his chances. The right winger's spot is still very much in the air.
Keano (Ireland 1 - 1 Italy)
Robbie scored in the 87th minute. From what I heard, he had his usual "pretty much invisible yet coming out of nowhere with the goods in the end" for Ireland game (edit: mind you, this comes from fans who still cry over Stephen Ireland - match reports say Keano did well in linking up play but lacked the finishing touch at times). Do you know that he has never lost a game for Ireland in which he scored, with the exception of a 2002 WC game vs Spain that was lost on penalties? Scoring should give him more confidence and hopefully will help a lot against Blackburn! :beer:
Pav (Russia 1 - 0 Liechtenstein)
Pav started and played most of the game evil: bad Hiddink, we need him fresh!). I watched the game and he seemed to be a bit off the pace, maybe sluggish or weak and kept getting called offside. That said he popped up with moments of class when he did get involved. Had a sweet strike called offside and then about 10 seconds later a mg: long-range lob that went close, unlucky! So his finishing seems fine right now, but I'm still worried about how tired he is; if Bent's out for Blackburn, Pav will likely be starting I'd assume, though Campbell is also a possibility (and a recall for Obika of course ).
Wasn't the most impressive of Russia performances, but I'd love to have that whole squad at the Lane. Can we nick a few Russian youngsters? I've heard rumors we've been scouting more in Eastern Europe around Serbia and Croatia.
Bale and Gunter (Wales 0-2 Germany)
Bale started at left mid I believe (not sure though - can anyone confirm?), while Gunter was a 53' sub. Wales battled hard, much better than they did vs Finland but it wasn't enough. I heard that Bale did pretty well going forward as usual, while Gunter's name rarely gets mentioned so I assume he put in his usual solid if unspectacular shift.
Ok, so Bale's a frustrating kid but it's obvious he has talent. Let's get off his back and let him keep up his extra training, and stop calling him monkey, it's probably jinxing him or something.
Hutton (Scotland 2 - 1 Iceland)
By practically all accounts he was very good - numerous marauding runs, some brilliant work to set up the first goal, could've (should've?) scored a few himself. Granted it's only Iceland, but not bad for a guy who hasn't played in forever.
Palacios (Honduras 3 - 1 Mexico)
Sven is about to be out of a job very, very soon. Gio didn't play (injury), while Sgt Wilson had a bit of a handbags moment but played in what was a pretty convincing victory for Honduras. This part of a match report worries me though:
Eek Stay safe Sgt. Wilson!!
Modric and Corluka (Croatia 2 - 0 Andorra)
Modric didn't play, thanks Bilic! :grin: Hopefully it's just a precaution and he'll be fresh and ready for Blackburn. They had like 75% possession and didn't do much except jog around (only one shot on goal in the second half lol), so hopefully Charlie's not tired either. Hutton did a lot of running but it seems like he's starting to regain his form, so we're doing well at right back.
Taarabt (Morocco 2 - 0 Angola)
Everyone and their mother has seen his goal and assist right?
Lennon (England 2 - 1 Ukraine)
This seems to be a point of debate depending on how biased (read: anti-Spurs) you are. I didn't see all of the game but I thought that basically the same thing happened again - most of our play happened down the left and he was bypassed so he didn't really have a chance to impress. I thought his final balls were generally fine, but for some reason they never mentioned it when he put in a decent cross, yet immediately came out with the "he needs to improve his final ball" shtick as soon as his next one was shaky. I'd like to see him be more aggressive and demand the ball more and be more willing to take on his man, but in all honesty I care a lot more about how he does for Spurs than for England. The media are attempting to portray his performance as if he'll never get another chance to get ahead of Beckham/Walnut/SWP in the pecking order, but frankly if he keeps improving for Spurs, Capello will give him his chances. The right winger's spot is still very much in the air.
Keano (Ireland 1 - 1 Italy)
Robbie scored in the 87th minute. From what I heard, he had his usual "pretty much invisible yet coming out of nowhere with the goods in the end" for Ireland game (edit: mind you, this comes from fans who still cry over Stephen Ireland - match reports say Keano did well in linking up play but lacked the finishing touch at times). Do you know that he has never lost a game for Ireland in which he scored, with the exception of a 2002 WC game vs Spain that was lost on penalties? Scoring should give him more confidence and hopefully will help a lot against Blackburn! :beer:
Pav (Russia 1 - 0 Liechtenstein)
Pav started and played most of the game evil: bad Hiddink, we need him fresh!). I watched the game and he seemed to be a bit off the pace, maybe sluggish or weak and kept getting called offside. That said he popped up with moments of class when he did get involved. Had a sweet strike called offside and then about 10 seconds later a mg: long-range lob that went close, unlucky! So his finishing seems fine right now, but I'm still worried about how tired he is; if Bent's out for Blackburn, Pav will likely be starting I'd assume, though Campbell is also a possibility (and a recall for Obika of course ).
Wasn't the most impressive of Russia performances, but I'd love to have that whole squad at the Lane. Can we nick a few Russian youngsters? I've heard rumors we've been scouting more in Eastern Europe around Serbia and Croatia.
Bale and Gunter (Wales 0-2 Germany)
Bale started at left mid I believe (not sure though - can anyone confirm?), while Gunter was a 53' sub. Wales battled hard, much better than they did vs Finland but it wasn't enough. I heard that Bale did pretty well going forward as usual, while Gunter's name rarely gets mentioned so I assume he put in his usual solid if unspectacular shift.
Wales, though, reacted positively, and Gareth Bale in particular - one of a number of young players in Toshack's eleven - urged his side forward and tried to feed in Robert Earnshaw, only for the forward to squander the opportunity.
Gareth Bale has still to unlock his international form at club level, but the left-wing back continued his fine form in Wales red in the 36th minute, first winning a free-kick before fizzing in a cross which Danny Collins headed inches wide.
81: Brilliant stuff from Bale who isn't giving up yet. He wins the ball and Ledley curls in a cross, but Lahm is there covering again to clear for Germany.
Bale- 7.0: It was a toss-up between Bale and Philipp Lahm as to which full-back did the most running during the game. The Welsh youngster, who is not a regular at Tottenham, put in yet another top display for his country.
Ok, so Bale's a frustrating kid but it's obvious he has talent. Let's get off his back and let him keep up his extra training, and stop calling him monkey, it's probably jinxing him or something.
Hutton (Scotland 2 - 1 Iceland)
By practically all accounts he was very good - numerous marauding runs, some brilliant work to set up the first goal, could've (should've?) scored a few himself. Granted it's only Iceland, but not bad for a guy who hasn't played in forever.
Alan Hutton - His burst into the box to set up Scotland's opening goal and belied his long spell out injured and he almost fashioned a goal for himself after the break. 7
- 8 rating and MOTM from Setanta.
With Fletcher playing off Kenny Miller in attack, Burley’s men had plenty bustling energy about them, not least in the extraordinary figure of Hutton, a man who has been out of football for four months, but who took this game to his opponents just as he had against Italy on that famous night in November 2007.
...
But it was the Scots who claimed the lead six minutes before half-time, and it was a fine, sweeping attack by Hutton and finish by McCormack. Hutton took on Hermann Hreidarsson for pace and beat the Icelandic defender before crossing low into the penalty area.
Palacios (Honduras 3 - 1 Mexico)
Sven is about to be out of a job very, very soon. Gio didn't play (injury), while Sgt Wilson had a bit of a handbags moment but played in what was a pretty convincing victory for Honduras. This part of a match report worries me though:
Castillo continued to make his presence known on the field, however, for the wrong reasons. Castillo slammed Palacios in the ankle after Palacios had sent a ball to a teammate. Palacios lay on the ground in apparent pain while Castillo's teammates surrounded Castillo and apparently questioned his play.
Eek Stay safe Sgt. Wilson!!
Modric and Corluka (Croatia 2 - 0 Andorra)
Modric didn't play, thanks Bilic! :grin: Hopefully it's just a precaution and he'll be fresh and ready for Blackburn. They had like 75% possession and didn't do much except jog around (only one shot on goal in the second half lol), so hopefully Charlie's not tired either. Hutton did a lot of running but it seems like he's starting to regain his form, so we're doing well at right back.
Taarabt (Morocco 2 - 0 Angola)
Everyone and their mother has seen his goal and assist right?