Spain 2 England 0

[mhead bee]

The lack of a thread shows how enthralled we all are with this one.

First half analysis.

Spain look very good going forward but its nice that we look enthusiastic and created all the early chances. Later on we have been pushed back and it has become difficult for us and a sloppy pass led to the goal.

Although spain look better than us at least we look lively and are giving 100% which makes a change, I dont mind losing when we try. We do have 4-5 quality players missing so at least we look like a squad that is moving in the right direction.

The only people letting us down are awful officials and diabolical camera work. FFS how many close ups do we need of the crowd, the bench, the corner flag, the mexican wave, players warming up, peoples heels after the ball has gone, a close up of the bloke who has just passed it ignoring the chap who is now clean through! Jesus christ I could get a better view listening to it on the radio!

The ref is a homer, Spain have basically fouled us every time we have attacked and taken the sting out of us, a decent ref would have brandished 4-5 yellows by now, i know its a friendly but I still want to see a fair football match.

Anyway, not so bad all in all and brasil won the world cup 5 times without a keeper so no problem there

PS, I think this could be one of stewart downings last games for england, he has showed every time he is not good enough and has been very poor again tonight.

 

[Markybee]

The lack of a thread shows how enthralled we all are with this one.

First half analysis.

Spain look very good going forward but its nice that we look enthusiastic and created all the early chances. Later on we have been pushed back and it has become difficult for us and a sloppy pass led to the goal.

Although spain look better than us at least we look lively and are giving 100% which makes a change, I dont mind losing when we try. We do have 4-5 quality players missing so at least we look like a squad that is moving in the right direction.

The only people letting us down are awful officials and diabolical camera work. FFS how many close ups do we need of the crowd, the bench, the corner flag, the mexican wave, players warming up, peoples heels after the ball has gone, a close up of the bloke who has just passed it ignoring the chap who is now clean through! Jesus christ I could get a better view listening to it on the radio!

The ref is a homer, Spain have basically fouled us every time we have attacked and taken the sting out of us, a decent ref would have brandished 4-5 yellows by now, i know its a friendly but I still want to see a fair football match.

Anyway, not so bad all in all and brasil won the world cup 5 times without a keeper so no problem there

PS, I think this could be one of stewart downings last games for england, he has showed every time he is not good enough and has been very poor again tonight.

You are watching...........and we're losing :suspect:

 

[Top Cat]

I do hope Alonso does himself a mischief in the second-half :mad1:

 

[GP200]

.................Grand Designs was good.......................

 

[perrybee]

david villa 1st goal 5/1

england win 3-1 33/1??????

 

[Top Cat]

Crapello OUT!

 

[Banana]

I see the ITV commentary has learnt its lesson from the BBC daring to have an opinion and thus losing the FA contract. Here are some arselicking comments:

"A rare defeat"
"No disgrace in losing"
"X Y and Z are great players"
"Most unfortunate"

My opinion is that England simply do not have enough decent players.

 

[Niyx]

Crapello OUT!

Leroy in!

 

[Niyx]

My opinion is that England simply do not have enough decent players.

:yes:

 

[Davee]

Makes me proud of my 1/8 of being part of Spain! (My Gran)
Like watching Brentford in the North.
Just awful!!!!!

Is this really the best we can do???? Total sh*t!!!!

 

[WarrenBee]

When does the Tic Tac advert come on??

 

[mhead bee]

Well, although spain do look good we created all the chances in the second half again. The main difference is that the ball sticks to their forwards and it bounces off ours.

Needless free kick, sloppy marking, 2.0.

SWR and cole had great chances and lampard could have done better with the header, I think spain created 1 chance second half.

A bit of the run of the green and a competant ref and we could have scraped something out of it!

Must say the camera work got even worse second half, do they not realise there is a game going on, at one point they actually lost the ball for about 30 secondsrofl

 

[mhead bee]

Is this really the best we can do???? Total sh*t!!!!

no it wasn't.

Spain are probably one of the best teams in the world, we created 7-8 really good chances against them. It was Ok considering we had no gerrard, rooney, walcott, owen (gulp) or ferdinand.

We are OK and we are moving forward, to say total sh*t is very unrealistic, the two goals were gifts and we created the most chances by a country mile although we were out footballed at times.

 

[WarrenBee]

We will win the World Cup.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Gives a good indication of how far we need to go if we are to reach the last four in SA and beyond.

Don't think England played badly but we don't treasure possession in the same was Spain do and we lack an incisive move without Rooney, Gerrad, Cole or Walcott.

We gave away two silly goals and lost the match.

Not exactly thrilling but Spain are a joy to watch.

 

[bees52 bomber]

was don howe in the dugout ,ucking woefull what on earth have we learnt from this friendly, other what we already know ,our premiership players are not very good and our passing in tight spots very poor rant over bring on sat, you reds

 

[oddbod]

Didnt Carlton Cole used to live in Brentford and play for Old Isleworthians?

 

[SQUELCH]

PS, I think this could be one of stewart downings last games for england, he has showed every time he is not good enough and has been very poor again tonight.

He is awful not even in form for his club. Young, Millner, SWP, Becks and even Lennon should be above him in the pecking order.

Wouldnt mind seeing Green giving a proper go.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Didnt Carlton Cole used to live in Brentford and play for Old Isleworthians?

Lives in Staines now.

 

[Mark H]

Didn't Cole have an awlful game. Twice in the 2nd half SWP had to cover for his mistakes. He is quite willing to burst forward but when he gives the ball away jogs back. He is still living of his reputation from 2-3 years ago.

 

[Ghost]

quote from my Girlfriend (who knows nothing about football!) give or take a few words

"Why are England just running around and kicking the ball aimlessly? Spain seem to think about what they are doing before they do it and have more skill, they don't run about as much either - you're (England) not very good are you? "

:yes: *sigh*

 

[maddogging]

David James attempt to catch that ball in the first half was absolutely amazing, how could an International standard keeper make such an error

 

[Bee4ever]

David James attempt to catch that ball in the first half was absolutely amazing, how could an International standard keeper make such an error

Totally agree. I would be mortified if my 13 year old 'keeper son made that sort of error in a school game.


James also made no attempt whatsoever to reach Villas goal and also did not move to the long range effort that missed the goal by the width of a programme.

There are surely better English keepers than him . Ben Hamer for a start

 

[Mark H]

James throughout his career has had a major problem with maintaining his concentration during a match, no one seems to call him Calamity James anymore. I thought Green looked a bit more secure than CJ. It does amaze me how poor our GK's are. I grew up watching Shilton and Clemence, how far off are the keepers now!!

 

[Bee4ever]

Is it a lack of training investment in young English goalkeepers that is causing the dearth of them at the top level ?

The guy at the other end last night, Casillas, is light years ahead of James in ability.
In Spain, even the long serving Victor Valdes of the successful Barcelona set up is only about 4th choice for his country.

Peter Shilton once said that a goalkeeper is the most important player in the team.....I think he was right.

 

[Brentford Bob]

I didn't even know this game was on until I was channel hopping at 10.30PM.

Dullsville UK.

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

no it wasn't.

Spain are probably one of the best teams in the world, we created 7-8 really good chances against them. It was Ok considering we had no gerrard, rooney, walcott, owen (gulp) or ferdinand.

We are OK and we are moving forward, to say total sh*t is very unrealistic, the two goals were gifts and we created the most chances by a country mile although we were out footballed at times.

Agree with you that it wasn't as bad as some made out - it was an away game against the Euro champs with several key players missing - but I can't recall the 7-8 really good chances (I remember 2: a miss by Agbonlahor fairly early in game, and the Cole effort blocked on the line)

 

[Ghost]

Is it a lack of training investment in young English goalkeepers that is causing the dearth of them at the top level ?

The guy at the other end last night, Casillas, is light years ahead of James in ability.
In Spain, even the long serving Victor Valdes of the successful Barcelona set up is only about 4th choice for his country.

Peter Shilton once said that a goalkeeper is the most important player in the team.....I think he was right.

Wasn't it Reina in goal?

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Wasn't it Reina in goal?

Second half.

 

[Bee4ever]

Wasn't it Reina in goal?

Reina was in goal for the second half. Casillas was in goal for the first half.

 

[Ghost]

Oops... was really paying attention!

 

[Westlad]

Not the end of the world, Spain played really well and we've got alot of injuries, hope Jagielka get's another chance even though he was at fault for the goal, SWP played better than expected (although too lightweight). Gabriel A bungalow got no service but hopefully lesson's that will be learnt is Carlton Cole isn't that good and Downing should be a last resort.

 

[Stanley]

Peter Shilton once said that a goalkeeper is the most important player in the team.....

Do you think he might be slightly biased?

Thought it showed how much we need our top players as the replacements such as Crouch, Downing and both fill -in centre halves showed they are maybe not for it against top teams.

Just another...yawn....England friendly which Spain seemed to want more, only Becks looked fired up for it.

 

[Claire]

Spain played some good football at times.

...it was just like watching Brentford...

 

[mhead bee]

We will win the World Cup.

I dont think we need to predict who will win the world cup in 18 minths time on the back of 1 friendly where one team puts out a reserve side!


18 months ago spain lost to northern ireland and nobody was predicting that they would win the euro champs. I think people need to calm down a bit and stop over reacting to a friendly. Germany lost at home to Norway this time but I bet they still get to the quarter/semis of the WC. Italy have had some shocking results of late but they still managed to bore/luck their way to becoming world champions again.

Just relax and whatever will be will be. Tournaments are about form, momentum and luck and seizing the opportunities that lady lucks throws at you, look at Greece 4 years ago.

I feel for the first time in around 10 years we will go into a tournament prepared, enthusiastic showing passion ready to give it our best shot. After the drab, unadventurous Sven era of negativity and underachievement and lack of effort that will do for me.

 

[mhead bee]

Spain played some good football at times.

...it was just like watching Brentford...

yes I agree, particularly the way they played lovely football on the half way line but never created a single opening against us.

 

[TW3Bee]

I only managed to catch the second half, as I was working, but from what I saw SWP had a good game, tracking back and defending, doing Cashley R Sole's job.

 

[Gee Bee]

18 months ago spain lost to northern ireland and nobody was predicting that they would win the euro champs. I think people need to calm down a bit and stop over reacting to a friendly.

same old same old.

why the hell does manager after manager insist on playing gerrard and lampard..after 50 odd attempts...........it dont frickin work!!!!!

we are shapeless and static and hitting long balls again.

Wes brown may have got the goal but quite frankly about 4 years ago it was clear that he should never be anywhere near an england shirt, he has given the ball away needlessly too many times to count in every game he has played.

Where the heck is richards, at least he has raw ability.

Comments sfrom a previous England friendly.

 

[Alan D]

I like Andy Scott's analysis of the game. Feel that he hit the nail on the head.

 

[mhead bee]

Comments sfrom a previous England friendly.

Exactly right. Friendlies are for looking at players like carson, agbonglahor and Jagielka. Not for playing the same old players in the same old positions in the same old formation that never worked.

That is why I feel positive about our future. Friendlies do not win you the world cup.

Wes brown is never an international standard player and I am right to point this out after a friendly am I not?