The European football thread

[LFC1892]

England cops McClaren spray - PA Sport






Manager Steve McClaren promised straight-talking and he did not hold back as he delivered a brutally honest assessment of England's performance against FYR Macedonia.

McClaren was angrier with the performance than the 0-0 scoreline.

He accused his players of poor passing, poor crossing and poor finishing and demanded an instant improvement in Croatia on Wednesday (Thursday AET).

"I think there was enough effort but there wasn't our usual quality," McClaren said. "Our passing wasn't as fluid. Our final ball wasn't there or the finish. We failed to score."

"I always go on performance and it was a disappointing performance and a frustrating one and I didn't need to tell the players. You could see that in their faces and in their eyes. They knew it."

"This is one time when we feed back to the players on reflection, on looking at the game and being brutally honest about our deficiencies in that performance."

"The biggest words were frustrated and disappointed."

McClaren was also ready to concede that Wayne Rooney was having problems finding his form after six months of injuries and suspensions.

Rooney had one shot saved by FYR Macedonia's excellent keeper Jane Nikolovski, in the second half, but was subdued at Old Trafford.

He was taken off as England pressed for a winner and replaced by Jermain Defoe, 15 minutes from time.

"Nobody is more frustrated than Wayne Rooney. He is below his usual performances, everybody can see that, but Wayne's got the resilience and the character we have to show as a team," McClaren added.

Rooney's last goal in a competitive England game came against Croatia in the group stage of Euro 2004 in Portugal.

He scored twice as Sven-Goran Eriksson's team won 4-2 in Lisbon but has only found the net twice for his country since then - both in friendlies.

Rooney's barren spell for England stretches back to the victory over Argentina, in November last year, but it is not only his lack of goals which is causing concern. He has made little impact in his recent international games.

McClaren insists Rooney is an automatic choice as long as he is fit but the England boss has told all his players to deliver more in Zagreb and drag the qualification campaign on track.

Defeat in Croatia would pile pressure on the England boss after only five games at the helm and with five months to wait before the next qualifier, away to Israel in March.

"I expect a better performance. I've always said if you win you home games and get a point away against the better teams, then you will qualify," McClaren said.

"We've done four points from Macedonia and they've shown that they're not a bad side. We know what we have to do and we're determined to do it, to get back to work and put it right."

"This is international football and we've all had many days in the past like this. We have a game in four days. We've got to make sure we're better against Croatia."

Steven Gerrard is banned from the Croatia game after receiving his second yellow card in two games against FYR Macedonia.

It leaves McClaren short of options and experience in midfield, where he is already without injured duo Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole.

Rio Ferdinand hopes to be fit to return in defence after a back spasm ruled him out of the Macedonia game and that could mean a switch into midfield for Ledley King.

"We picked a squad for the two games and anything could happen. It's too early to make a decision on anything but we'll look at that situation," McClaren explained.

The squad will fly to Zagreb on Tuesday.

"Croatia is always a tough place to play. The atmosphere will be tremendous. They have extremely passionate fans and it is going to be a big test for us," McClaren said.

Croatia have been managed by former Everton and West Ham defender Slaven Bilic since July and are notoriously hard to beat on home turf.

They finished top of their qualifying group for this year's World Cup, ahead of Sweden, Bulgaria and Hungary and opened their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw in Russia

What do they expect with McLaren at the helm?

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by GUTIERREZ

What do they expect with McLaren at the helm?

They were never going with anyone other than an Englishman after the balls up called Sven.

Originally Posted by 1979

Nottingham Forest win their first European Cup by beating Malmo in Munich with a Trevor Francis goal, it was Francis who was the first million pound footballer in Britain although technically the transfer was £999,999 and only came to over a million when taxes were added.

Originally Posted by 1980

Ronaldinho is born, he started his career of at Gremio before moving to PSG and then ending up in Barcalona, orignianlly Barca were going to sign The Ego but luck was on their side and Real Madrid signed him, since then Barca have been the team in Spain and Madrid's fortunes have gone downhill, coincidence ? hmmmmm

Originally Posted by 1981

One of the biggest changes for along time happens in England as the 2 points for a win changes to 3 points for a win, the idea behind it is that teams will go out for a win more seeing there is a bigger differance between 1 point for a draw and 3 points for a win

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by theasfl

Personally I thought he'd wind up in LA eventually for the reasons you mentioned and the fact that they actually have a soccer-specific stadium which is arguably the pride of the US Federation and MLS. It would make sense to do it for next season with the Galaxy missing out on the playoffs for the first time in the history of the league (thanks to a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas yesterday), and they'll want to pair their marquee American with their Marquee player.

Thought it would make sense to send him to the Red Bulls too with them being able to afford paying him outside of the regular team and them being on the verge of missing the playoffs as well. They aren't drawing as well as the Galaxy do, and I don't believe they're generally as big either with the Galaxy having won two titles and the Red Bulls never really accomplishing anything.

Ego in Egotown it's like a marriage made in heaven, their even become more and more friendly with Tom ruise so only a matter of time before Ego comes out and says he's a follower of scientology.

Originally Posted by 1982

Italy win their third World Cup after a gap of 44 years since their second, the final becomes famous for one of the most emotional goal celebrations by Tardelli

Originally Posted by 1983

Ajax win the Dutch title and their 21st overall, they would go on to win 8 mre up to the present day. This year they would also win the Dytch Cup so making it a league and cup double in 1983

[Guttenburg]

They were never going with anyone other than an Englishman after the balls up called Sven.

What is it turns out that Sven did the most that anyone could with that roster??

[Guttenburg]

Ego in Egotown

Vicky, though, will make it an Angel in The City of Angels :randy:

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Guttenburg

What is it turns out that Sven did the most that anyone could with that roster??

Personally I think England need Ashton back and for someone to get balls by dropping either Lampard or Gerrard.

Give this line up a try.

Robinson

A.Cole
Ferdinand
Terry
Neville

Wright-Phillips
Gerrard
Carrick
Lennon

Rooney
Ashton

Originally Posted by 1984

France do the double as they win the European Chapionship by beating Spain in the final and also win the Olympic Gold beating Brazil

[Guttenburg]

Give this line up a try.

Its an interesting line up by why did you leave Lampard and Crouch out?
BTW..Im looking forward to your FM Dynasty. Do you plan on loading players from all the Euro and the key S American and African nation?

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by theasfl

Personally I thought he'd wind up in LA eventually for the reasons you mentioned and the fact that they actually have a soccer-specific stadium which is arguably the pride of the US Federation and MLS. It would make sense to do it for next season with the Galaxy missing out on the playoffs for the first time in the history of the league (thanks to a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas yesterday), and they'll want to pair their marquee American with their Marquee player.

Thought it would make sense to send him to the Red Bulls too with them being able to afford paying him outside of the regular team and them being on the verge of missing the playoffs as well. They aren't drawing as well as the Galaxy do, and I don't believe they're generally as big either with the Galaxy having won two titles and the Red Bulls never really accomplishing anything.

It would be utter madness to get rid of a team in New York. You are basically killing the league there and then if you do that.

[Sdpm100]

dola, did anyone miss me these past two days?

I've been learning to score a baseball game, fyi.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by GUTIERREZ

What do they expect with McLaren at the helm?

Not much I would think.

[Guttenburg]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

dola, did anyone miss me these past two days?

I've been learning to score a baseball game, fyi.

It took you two days to learn to score a baseball game? Learning algebra could take years.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Guttenburg

It took you two days to learn to score a baseball game? Learning algebra could take years.

Like if 3a + b = 7, what is a and b?

Seriously, I didn't know all the annotations, but after finding a guide with a full game scored and going through that, I'm very proficient now.
I think some of my scoring has some poetic licence to it, but I can understand it, and I think that's all that matters.

[Guttenburg]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

Like if 3a + b = 7, what is a and b?

Seriously, I didn't know all the annotations, but after finding a guide with a full game scored and going through that, I'm very proficient now.
I think some of my scoring has some poetic licence to it, but I can understand it, and I think that's all that matters.

Yep. Keeping score is one of the oldest traditions of baseball; sadly dying out. Hope you are enjoyong the games.

[Guttenburg]

Dola
What do you think of UKHS's England lineup?

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Guttenburg

Dola
What do you think of UKHS's England lineup?

It's okay I guess, but then I'm not a real fan so what I'm about to say could get me in trouble with him.

The back four plus goalie is automatic, mostly because there aren't any other obvious choices for Robinson and the two full-backs.

Midfield - meh. I would have Hargreaves in there in the DM position over Carrick, although as he said Lampard/Gerrard can't play together in the same team, and so one has to go.

As for Wright-Phillips and Lennon on the wings, it would be a bold move to do that as although both have impressed as subs, of course that is against tiring opposition. Whether either could do it from the start is questionable at present.

Up front, I better say straight away I don't like Rooney, but I guess as he is the new Maradona/Pele/anyone else from the past he'll always start even if he don't score for six months.
It's probably going to be someone who runs onto balls that plays with him, so Ashton is a possible but again he has not played on the international stage, so it is a questionable and/or bold move IMO (although I guess whoever you pick it will be).

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Guttenburg

Yep. Keeping score is one of the oldest traditions of baseball; sadly dying out. Hope you are enjoyong the games.

I am.

But I sometimes get the pitching line wrong though, as when it is a long inning I seem to always read from top to bottom instead of the first batter in the inning so it messes it up if they change pitchers (for example in last night's 6th inning when San Diego changed pitchers I charged two runs to the starter because the runs came from the top of the order, instead of who it was actually off, the reliever).

[Guttenburg]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

It's okay I guess, but then I'm not a real fan so what I'm about to say could get me in trouble with him.

The back four plus goalie is automatic, mostly because there aren't any other obvious choices for Robinson and the two full-backs.

Midfield - meh. I would have Hargreaves in there in the DM position over Carrick, although as he said Lampard/Gerrard can't play together in the same team, and so one has to go.

As for Wright-Phillips and Lennon on the wings, it would be a bold move to do that as although both have impressed as subs, of course that is against tiring opposition. Whether either could do it from the start is questionable at present.

Up front, I better say straight away I don't like Rooney, but I guess as he is the new Maradona/Pele/anyone else from the past he'll always start even if he don't score for six months.
It's probably going to be someone who runs onto balls that plays with him, so Ashton is a possible but again he has not played on the international stage, so it is a questionable and/or bold move IMO (although I guess whoever you pick it will be).

Great analysis. Imagine what you would be capable of if you were a fan? </p>
And I am guessing by his omission that you would leave out the Giraffe as well?

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Guttenburg

Great analysis. Imagine what you would be capable of if you were a fan? </p>
And I am guessing by his omission that you would leave out the Giraffe as well?

I would leave out Rooney, but if you did and lost you would be hounded out of the job by the press the next day.

[Guttenburg]

Rooney is a real detriment to a team, unless he scores, what with his explosive and unpredictable temper. A real manager should have the courage of his convictions and bench him.

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

It would be utter madness to get rid of a team in New York. You are basically killing the league there and then if you do that.

I didnt mean to imply that they were going to...it would be ridiculous even if the team was horrible and hardly drew...they're in the process of getting a new stadium built so I highly doubt theyre going anywhere. I agree that it would be a horrible idea especially with Red Bull just purchasing them.