engerlund

i have nothing to do while waiting for the next match to start at 3, so i shall do a little review on england's performance, since i just watched them in action a while ago.

there has been a lot of talk that this england team is the strongest they've had in decades, and that 2006 will be their year to win the world cup. more hype was thrown into the mix when it was announced that current coach and media favourite sven-goran eriksson would be replaced after the world cup. a 'new-and-improved' sven supposedly ditched his negative tactics and instead will go for broke, since he has nothing to lose.

supposedly.

as the saying goes, hype serves only to dissappoint. engerlund has been mediocre at best. on paper, their team is fearsome. on the field, they are laughable.

sven obviously have not ditched his bore-tactics, which would only serve to put opponents to sleep. today, he chose a 5-man midfield, which is widely agreed to be the best formation for the team. but instead of allowing lampard and gerrard to run at the defence, svennis opted for the long ball to be played directly to rooney, bypassing their strongest point, the midfield.

engerlund have previously shown their ability to play football, rather than just kick a ball, during the first half against sweden. sven obviously prefers simple kicking.

a further show of his negative tactics was when he prepared to bring on carrager, a defender, when engerlund were only leading 1-0 after about an hour. he was content to defend his lead, rather than extend it.

several individual performances were also questionable.

paul robinson - flapped at crosses in the past few matches, fortunate that opponents didn't profit.

owen 'hazza' hargreaves - he runs with his hands in a fist. weirdo.

david beckham - wandering around central midfield when his position is on the right. reluctance to dribble, instead opting for 50-yard crosses to nowhere.

joe cole - cuts infield every time he gets the ball, instead of bringing it out to the flanks.

frank lampard - shoots at every opportunity, hasn't scored a goal. wastes possession with his stupidity. severe negativity in ball distribution. passes the ball backwards all the time, and when he can't pass backwards, he passes sidewards. this is not rugby.

oh, it's 3am now. time for more football.


now playing
the missing frame - afi