Papa Lazaru

It probably got lost amongst you being bitter about England as ever and having to mention them in a thread that was nothing to do with England. If i did miss any point you may have made worth noticing (which would be a first) i couldn't give a toss. My point is that it wasn't a penalty, and how much you expect the palyer to go over him in football is irellivent. And i answered your "point" that people would have different opinions if it was Rooney by explaiing that they (or at least I) wouldn't. The opinion would still be no penalty the difference would be in a wish for the ref to be wrong not right in that instance. And as an added bonus England getting through another round will increase your bitterness, so everyones a winner.

I'm sure it was, for some strange reason a lot of proven foreign players never seem to do well with us and apparently it's always the players' fault! They are all lazy mercenaries, only here for the money etc. 153580[/snapback] If they were geordies they'd be fine, its their own fault their dirty foreign mercanaries! Thomason was clearly a good player, but he was young, inexperienced and made for playing off a main striker in a footballing team. Instead he got stuck up on his as a striker and even target man at times in the prem with big centrebacks clattering him and the ball being hoofed up to him all the time, not much chance for him with that!

England as a team are usually calm and level headed compared to alot of teams and pick up less bookings, just occasionally we have the odd individual who does something stupid. So i would expect come any possible finals we would likely be as well if not beter off than our opponents for suspensions, but Rooney is always a concern!

The second half is about the best we've played and by miles the best Rooney has played in the short time available so i'd stick with the formation.

The fact remains it was not even close to being a pen, and that is all that matters, especially as the ref had a perfect view of it. If Rooney did it i would say exactly the same, no penalty, the only difference is i'd be delighted the ref had fucked up, but my view of it not being a penalty wouldn't change in the slightest. The aussies were shafted on that decision, but on the plus side Cahill will be gutted and that makes me happy!

Blatter 100k+??? The twat probably earns 100m+ each year. He is the biggest tosser walking around, always having a go at other for things who he is actually to blame for. This time it's the referees, another time it's commercialisation. 153320[/snapback] Are you coming round to my way of thinking about Fifa and uefa Blatter is a disgrace in everything he does. And agree with Spongebob, commentators always come out with that killing the game as a spectacle stuff, or "nobody wants to see it turn nasty like this" etc. and everyone knows we all do want to see games like this every now and then, its cracking entertainment! 153327[/snapback] I never had a different opinion about the Blatter's, Havelange's etc. of this world. Like every organisation UEFA is far from being perfect, but much more competent than those useless tossers who are based in Switzerland. Especially as I normally can't see any anti-English bias... 153329[/snapback] Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there I think they're all useless, incompetent and corrupt from top to bottom and if they're not they give the impression they are! But Blatter does seem to be in a league of his own for bullshit, incopetence, blaming others, wasting money, doing nothing required but loads not required, interfering where he shouldn't but not intervening where he should and generally being a complete and utter tosser!

Blatter 100k+??? The twat probably earns 100m+ each year. He is the biggest tosser walking around, always having a go at other for things who he is actually to blame for. This time it's the referees, another time it's commercialisation. 153320[/snapback] Are you coming round to my way of thinking about Fifa and uefa Blatter is a disgrace in everything he does. And agree with Spongebob, commentators always come out with that killing the game as a spectacle stuff, or "nobody wants to see it turn nasty like this" etc. and everyone knows we all do want to see games like this every now and then, its cracking entertainment!

People may or may not like the guidlines, but i think the ref applied them pretty well through the game and was left with little choice over the sendings off. Plus the players have to take their share of the blame for their antics, whether it was stupid fouls, handballs and obstructions, or diving and feigning injury to get people in trouble.

Figo might have been booked for dissent, in that case I think the headbutting incident can be looked into. 153291[/snapback] yeah i thought that, he obviously wasnt booked for the head butt as the Ref clearly didnt see it. So i'd have thought something as serious as a headbutt must be looked into. 153303[/snapback] Here's hoping! Not because it'll help England but purely because this sort of thing needs to be stamped out of the game and i'm dead against it! Seriously though, a headbutt is a red and if he was booked for dissent he has to be done after the match by FIFA for it. 153305[/snapback] thats true, but it is Figo so i wont get my hopes up too much!! Well, im sure i know who the whole Dutch nation will be supporting next saturday!! 153309[/snapback] Yeah theres a difference between Fifa punishing some unknown player from a little country and one of their golden boys like Figo. Remeber Rivaldo getting away with that disgracefull incident when he got the Turkish player sent off purely on the basis that he's Rivaldo and plays for Brazil, others would have been banned.

Figo might have been booked for dissent, in that case I think the headbutting incident can be looked into. 153291[/snapback] yeah i thought that, he obviously wasnt booked for the head butt as the Ref clearly didnt see it. So i'd have thought something as serious as a headbutt must be looked into. 153303[/snapback] Here's hoping! Not because it'll help England but purely because this sort of thing needs to be stamped out of the game and i'm dead against it! Seriously though, a headbutt is a red and if he was booked for dissent he has to be done after the match by FIFA for it.

what is nebby? 153299[/snapback] None of your business you nosey bint

Yeah, i'm hoping he's got that under control. I noticed he did well today when pissed off with a linesman's decision, he went up to him but just stared, said nothing and walked away instead of giving him a load of abuse! But its always a worry that he gets wound up or dives in for the ball agressively and gets in trouble.

It was embarassing how stupid both side were. Stay on your feet, don't jump in, don't hold onto the ball or get involved in anything its not hard, but they all lost it. Its one thing England have, that as a team they keep it pretty calm and sensible on thatf ront. They may have the odd indivisual who has their moments but we'd probably have won that game by virtue of keeping more players on the pitch!

He didn't even see the incident. 153289[/snapback] Thats what i thought, yet he apprently managed to give a yellow for it despite not seeing it!

I hadn't relaised Figo got booked for that headbutt and thus can't be done after the macth by FIFA. Now that was bad refereeing to give a yellow for a deliberate headbutt!

Yeah, if you can't be a good manager be a lucky one!

So its England versus whats left of Portugal by saturday! Poeple are going mental over the ref but of the sendings off, most were yellow cards and they had to go. Deco did a bad foul and then stopped a quick freekick, both yellows. The first Portugese player did a foul and then a deliberate handball, both yellows and from what i can remember there was certainly an argument for yellows for the Dutch fouls as well, particularly under this tournaments rules! So there you are its actually me defending a ref against everyone else, who'd have thought it!

Come on Portugal!!! If they face us they'll be without Deco, the first bloke who was sent off and probably Figo with two players carrying injuries!

Both teams are more technically gifted, they wouldn't trounce England at all. Whats good is whoever wins they'll be down at least one player against England and if its Portugal it could be two if FIFA do their job and suspend Figo for a headbutt.

To be honest i don't think you'll ever see England turn on the style for a whole half never mind a whole game, but thats different to whether they will win games or not. England are rarely if ever pretty but they are strangely effective, lacking technique and flair of other teams but doing the job of scoring 1 more than the opposition which is all thats required. I think they'll improve their performance, play some better football but i don't think anyone will be amazed by them, but they could still win these games against technically more gifted opposition. And what may be crucial was seeing how good Rooney looked second half, if he continues in that vein he can turn games on his own.

Can you bring him to a piss up!

He'll probably succeed as well! Hope he does tbh

I don't think his work rate is questionable at all tbh. And he won us the game today with a free kick. I'm a big fan of Beckham, and as much as he's misfired this tournament, I'd be loathe to drop him. If anything I'd take Lampard out the team, move Beckham inside and stick Lennon wide right. 153219[/snapback] Can't question his workrate, just before he went off, despite being ill he got in a great tackle from nowhere to stop an attack near the edge of our box. He's done very little in this tournament throughout...except for make the winner against Paraguay, the opener against T&T and scored the winner today. So playing badly he is winning matches and thats how you win tournaments, if he steps up and plays well who knows what he'll do. But the facts are love him or hate him his goal and assists have been crucial in winning games and thats the bottom line. Just like it was with Robert no matter how much Gemmil never misses a chance to have a go at him And thats not me saying he's as good as Beckham but at club level his goal and assist record speaks for itself.

I'm with you, for half the game anyway! First half we were crap, second much better with Rooney excellent and Carrick showing what he can do. Plenty of room for improvement but we only ever show it against the best teams, we always tend to struggle early on. When England won the world cup in rugby they were criticised pretty much all the way through for not playing great rugby, only doing enough to win and being dull compared to the so called flair teams, anyone think they gave a flying fuck when they brought the trophy home!!! One big difference of course is that before the world cup the rugby team had proven without doubt they were the best team in the world and could play amazing rugby, but in the cup itself they were supremely effective but not amazing to watch, then come the final they turned in an excellent performance. Even in the ashes we started by getting a bit of beating from the aussies in the first test! But England really do need to step it up a gear for the next round onwards and i think Rooney will play a big part in making that happen.

I can't blame Sven for Lampard's shooting! But overall you will always have the feeling that however far England get be it win/semi or quarter it is despite Sven and not because of him.