Twenty-two minutes in and its obvious that Owen needs some help up front. 4-1-4-1 is just too defensive. I'm starting to get nervous because a side like Hungary should be taken to the cleaners.

 

Half-time and let's be honest it hasn't been too clever. There is a distinct lack of creativity and other than a few Beckham crosses I don't think any of our Group B opponents will be having sleepless nights. And just who is going to take responsibility from 12 yards out, you could feel Lampard bottling it. I say just give it to Stevie G and tell him to hammer it.

 

Now that should settle the nerves as Stevie G nods one home. Nice cross from Beck's who I thought looked the most dangerous player of the 1st half when he got involved. Hopefully we'll see some good football now.

 

Set pieces win games and JT proves that with a brave, brave header courtesy of another tasty Becks' free-kick. Who can stop us now!!!

 

Ooops, I guess Dardai can...what a goal by the Hungarian. Now this should be a good test of where we're at character wise.

Peep, peep full time and a solid 3-1 win with a few pluses and minus's. We showed decent character and didn't get too flustered after the goal and it was good to see Crouchy come on and score.

 

Plus:

Beck's maybe slow but he is still the best in the world at set pieces.

Gerrard when he was driving looked unstoppable.

JT, rock solid as ever.

Minus:

Lampard looked out of sorts even before the PK miss.

Carragher cannot play the holding role.

Owen needs help up front.

Next up Jamaica.

 

 

I have it on excellent authority...and no I can't reveal my source that Spurs are 100% sure that they were deliberately given a case of the 'deli-belly' before their must win match versus West Ham. Supposedly the 'Old Bill' are still investigating and Tottenham feel that they will be vindicated. "We played 37 EPL matches this season and nothing ever happened. The food the players eat is so boring it would make raw cabbage seem like Wolfgang Puck's best" said the unnamed source. It must've be an Italian chef eh!

All of England is holding its breath as Wayne Rooney has his next scan on May 25th to assess the recovery of his broken metatarsal. To be honest we should all just brace ourselves for the worst. Even if the prognosis is good there is no way Wayne will have any kind of fitness until at least the 2nd round/quarter-final. Throw in the fact that if England make it that far, Sven Goran Eriksson would then have to disrupt what would be a winning team to play him. We should just write Wayne off and concentrate on the players who are fit and raring to go.

Good news for Arsenal fans and bad news for defenders in the rest of the Prem as TH14 has put pen to paper and signed a new 4 year deal with the Gunners. Personally I always felt he was going to stay, after all his missus and kids are Limeys. With the Chairman, David Dein tbreaking the bank, TH14 will see his balance Va-va-voom in the next four years. It'll make for a very exciting season next year as the captain leads out one of the youngest and most explosive teams in their new Emirates Stadium.

Congrats to Barcelona, they deserved the win but it was a truly heroic performance by the Gunners. If only Henry had put either of those two golden chances away...big time choke by Mr. Va-Voom himself. Now we'll have the whole 'should I stay or should I go' saga. I can't imagine Barca buying him now though!