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Thursday's Mouthful o' Grass Football Thread.
England really were awful second half, weren't they?
I couldn't take any great joy in Cap'n Scotty floundering like a fish on his big debut. Began to feel a bit for him in the end.
The only players who can take any credit whatsoever were Sturridge; who at least thought trying to score might be a good idea, and ppssibly Hart; who couldn't have done any more for any of the goals.
I think we just have to write that one off given that the side that played second half, even overall, lacked experience. Only 4 or 5 of those lads would be in our strongest XI, and the Dutch *are* better than us, simple as that.
Thought all four defenders were a bit naive at various points throughout the game. Not sure what Smalling was doing for the first goal, and Baines could've got tighter for the other two, though the second in particular did at least involve a bit of obvious quality. Parker turned his back on a challenge for the third, as well - unforgiveable, really.
The Parker and Barry central midfield actually worked first half, i thought. The joy they were getting was via Robben on the left. Without Barry, though, Parker offered virtually no protection, but we're not really allowed to say that, easier to rummage through all sorts of useless stats 'til we can find a positive one. His passing wasn't awful - great. Milner didn't really offer anything, to be honest.
Adam Johnson was bright early on but faded, as he does. Hard to have any opinion whatsoever on Gerrard's little stint, and Ashley Young was the most disappointing of the lot. I'm inclined to not slaughter Welbeck, he's young, is proving his quality for United and a bit isolated, but him running balls into touch to hushed stadium groans is beginning to become his thing.
Not overly impressed with Holland. They won without really breaking sweat, let's be honest. When Nigel de Jong's running the entire midfield in a game you're either not trying enough or simply don't have enough quality. As ratters go, he's up there, sure, but he's not much more than that...and Dirk Kuyt shouldn't be causing you problems either.
In hindsight, given the side who ended the game last night, i suspect that the main factor behind Parker's captaincy has simply been that given his pending suspension he was the only senior England pro due to finish the game. Maybe we've read a bit too much into it.
Moribund all round.
Still, not all doom and gloom. The under-21s were excellent against Belgium.
Can we really be arsed spending all day debating how shit England are, or should we just laugh at Gary Megson a bit?
Shoot...