Quote:
Originally posted by scouse mac
Hislop was fantastic, just hope they put their no. 1 goalkeeper back between the sticks whent they play England on Thursday!
Liverpool bias I may be but I thought Steven Gerrard had a great game and very harshly given a yellow card by that fucked up referee.
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hmm, i think your 'mersey'-side is showing here. Gerrard did a decent job in holding defense but he shouldn't keep shooting the long range shot - three shots and three balls into the upper decks - either learn not to lean back or, better yet, let Lampard shoot the ball (his one or two shots were at least on target).
I agree with Zwoti - as the game went on the england midfield and forwards seemed increasingly impatient and trying to take on the paraguay defense one on one - not a good chance.
I was disappointed by the pairing of Crouch and Owen. I had hoped it would give a good balance of speed and height - but Crouch, who was fair at best, couldn't seem to get the ball into a shooting position and Owen was largely absent. That said, I don't really like the idea of Rooney and Owen - two very similar style players (and I'm betting rooney gets at least one red card before the WC is over). My feeling for a long time is that England hasn't had the right combination since Shearer left - he was a good, aggressive, 'target' forward who could create space for something to happen - Crouch is good - but not quite in that way. But, I'm not sure who they can put up front to make it work.
It'll be interesting when England play Sweden - probably the most realistic test of their worth.