RIP to Sven Goran Eriksson, good manager, good bloke, liked his shagging

Ashley Cole was the only one out of those who took his club standards to tournament football consistantly.

Nicky Butt had a better tournament in wc 2002 than Gerrard and Lampard  did in any of their WC/Euros

Just now, deeane Koontz said:

Ashley Cole was the only one out of those who took his club standards to tournament football consistantly.

Nicky Butt had a better tournament in wc 2002 than Gerrard and Lampard  did in any of their WC/Euros

Danny Mills and Trevor Sinclair too.

What a shit show.

Recall some lip reader type thing watching Sven and his coach watching on the touchline, was a big tournament game and they were just watching on asking each other "why do they just keep on hitting it long?"

46 minutes ago, Dimron said:

RIP and thanks for the 5-1 mate

Aye, the way that 2002 qualification group was turned around after Keegan was great, first time people started feeling inspired about an England team again since 1998.

Never felt we could have won in 02 or 06 and I've never understood why people suggest that now, but 2004 was the one. Just a bit of luck and we beat Portugal. The buzz around the country after that 4-2 against Croatia with Rooney on fire etc was so good.

One of his biggest shortcomings was being convinced Beckham was any good at taking penalties.

RIP, sad news.

54 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Cole, Terry, Rio, Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham and Scholes were near enough the best players in the world in their positions. 

They just didn't gel as a team.

Can't think of one player in our current first 11 that gets in that team on an individual basis. 

Kyle Walker and Kane the only possible candidates for me.

But that's the point, they couldn't play as a team - sticking Scholes on the wing etc My point is we have had a better team these last few years, rather than a bunch some very talented players who didn't/couldn't play together.

Best Sven matches were against Germany (first day I moved down south, and Bolton were also top of the Premiership at that point having beat Liverpool with that daisy cutter)

And against Greece - was watching it in a pub in Camden, was a great day and just reminds me of being young and carefree.

23 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

But that's the point, they couldn't play as a team - sticking Scholes on the wing etc My point is we have had a better team these last few years, rather than a bunch some very talented players who didn't/couldn't play together.

 

Agreed. Shower of cunts. But fantastic players.

4 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Each to their own, but we've got and had some truly top lads now.

Kane past his best, but the leading England goalscorer has been a huge asset for example.

For me, some of the previous greats were just that for club, but weren't consistent at international level.

Be that becasue of club rivalries or not quite as good as they were made out, who knows.

Are you mad? I don’t like saying this as I don’t really like him but Gerrard is the best player I’ve ever seen live. And I will include a young Ronaldo in that. The current crop are nowhere near where Sven should have had us.

4 hours ago, gonzo said:

Cole, Terry, Rio, Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham and Scholes were near enough the best players in the world in their positions. 

They just didn't gel as a team.

Can't think of one player in our current first 11 that gets in that team on an individual basis. 

Kyle Walker and Kane the only possible candidates for me.

Ooh controversial. 

A certain young brummie at Real may take issue with that.

For me Foden takes the ball better than anyone I've ever seen, and has an incredible ability to control and keep the ball with great feet.

Stones is the most gifted footballing centre half I've seen too; not the very best defender in comparison to some, but in today's game of playing from the back, nonetheless vital.

Beckham was the best crosser of a ball I've seen regularly, but we don't play with that sort of width and style now, which we could do with having as an alternative (sounds familiar).

Not really provable either way in fairness.

England may have had a better team when Sven was in charge, but let's not forget that, with the exception of Spain, all the other 'big' countries were miles better back then too.

Just look at that Brazil team for example.  Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho FFS.

1 hour ago, DazBob said:

England may have had a better team when Sven was in charge, but let's not forget that, with the exception of Spain, all the other 'big' countries were miles better back then too.

Just look at that Brazil team for example.  Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho FFS.

2004 was the chance that got away, but that Brazil team and the Italy team from 2006 were clearly better than us. And it was generally a better era having multiple very good teams. 

Individual quality has definitely gone down since then with too many teams just being full of athletes these days.

3 hours ago, DazBob said:

England may have had a better team when Sven was in charge, but let's not forget that, with the exception of Spain, all the other 'big' countries were miles better back then too.

Just look at that Brazil team for example.  Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho FFS.

That England team weren’t even that good. 

Ashley Cole was and Rooney (before United)

Campbell probably should go in. That’s it.

For a while Ashley Cole was the best left-back in the world IMO

6 hours ago, Traf said:

For a while Ashley Cole was the best left-back in the world IMO

was he after gardner?

5 hours ago, Casino said:

was he after gardner?

And Pedersen 

Watched the documentary on Prime last night.  Very sad

Top bloke, top shagger.

An inability to take penalties,  couple of broken feet and a freak goal from Ronaldinho really cost us.

Edited August 29, 20241 yr by DazBob

Winning 1-0 v France on 89 minutes then David James managing to fuck it up combined with a bit ZZ genuis fucked our path up. 

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

Winning 1-0 v France on 89 minutes then David James managing to fuck it up combined with a bit ZZ genuis fucked our path up. 

Good Rooney had Thuram all over the show from memory. Was watching in Kavos with an open head wound so may be wrong😂

1 hour ago, tomski said:

Was watching in Kavos with an open head wound so may be wrong😂

daft name for a cocktail that.

9 minutes ago, wakey said:

daft name for a cocktail that.

Yeah was a long time ago to be fair so cocktails have come on. 
 

I didn’t fancy stumping up

€200 euros beer money (priorities were a bit different back then)  and I’m sure the nurse saw me watching that game and went ape shit. Stitches done next day

Edited August 29, 20241 yr by tomski