Hugh MacDonald looks at what Kris Boyd’s exceptional international goal scoring record is going to get him in Paris on Wednesday – a place on the bench.
Louis Argones the Spanish coach should be fired. With the disposal of players he has Spain should be killing teams like Iceland. Bobby what do you think of Argornes as the Spanish Coach?
Merida the Arsenal youngster looked impressive against Nigeria today u.17 W.C. I wonder how Wenger will play all this C.M's that he has when they are all ready coz they are all young and will pick at the sametime. Congrats to Nigeria by the Way.
According to Arsenal-Mania Beckham is approaching Arsenal to be practicing with them during winter. Will be very intersting to see if Wenger permits it.
Also Mourinho and Wenger agreed in one thing at least that is That Platini's plan is a good plan.
Have much love for Guus, one of the better coaches out their England should get him if he wants to coach them.
Aragones is passed it and completely out of touch with new talent in Spain, which is very sad.
Why the hell is he using Pernia as a left-back-- he's not even Spanish-born and he's ####. del Horno would be a better choice. Real Zaragoza's Zapater and Sergio should also get a callup. Mikel Arteta's debut in the national team is long overdue. Mallorca's striker Guiza is also a great option, as is Getafe's Kepa Blanco, Atletico's Raul Garcia, and Sevilla's Jesus Navas (although he does suffer from chronic homesickness).
It's sad that a country with such abundant, homegrown talent can't find a coach that finds a winning squad. I really think it would be interesting to see Capello take control of this side.
Bobby what do you think of Bernd and his Madrid team ?Do you think he has the right mix of players and the managerial knowledge to guide Madrid to winning La Liga ?
Secondly how do you see Martin Jol (if he stays) keeping all 4 of his strikers happy ? I think he should keep 3-rotate them and use a 5 man midfield in case of injury.your thoughts ?
Re the Russia preview. I really don't recall any tackles worthy of the name on Saturday. I fully expect that the Russians will try to get England out their stride with some physical chalenges from the first Whistle. (See my blog for full details). If they can escape serious damage it looks like England could prevail.
Re yesterday US v Brasil game. I thought overall very enjoyable and very good play and hustle from most US players (though one should go back to singing his famous Hurdy Gurdy Man song and another needs to get on the practice field before attempting any more free kicks that sail over the attackers).
I guess we would have seen an even better game if it hadn't been played on a cow pasture. Probably helped US more than Brasil.
Sorry, but I don't get this Heskey thing. What I saw was a guy miss an easy header, do a league 2 blaze over the bar and make a couple of lay-offs. If England's standards are that low that that was a great perfromance then they need to watch Serie A or La Liga.
All the best moves were on the flanks with the Richards, Cole, Cole, SWP, Barry and Owen. Gerrard hardly touched the ball and was a passenger. I guess it's just the "Lancashire league" doing their usual thing. Richards, Terry (also playing with a broken toe but not making a fuss about it), Ferdinand all played very well and thing will cope with whatever the Russians will throw at them.
Maybe Gallas isn't such a jerk, maybe he had a point in saying those things about Chelsea's petty, backstabbing management. If the media can be believed here they have treated Ballack poorly. And the funny thing is they need him. And they need Sheva, and many will guffaw but I also think they need Maka, Mikel simply hasn't impressed at all, maybe some day.
I think Hiddink's tactics for a strong Russian side will shut down England's midfield routes. England will lose. I think the Russian striker was correct, Croatia and Russia will finish top two in the group. England will have to play a playoff game to qualify.
1. Turkey... What do you make of their chances to directly qualify after the mess they made in Malta? They currently have a game in hand, so they are not in that bad of a spot. However, they still need to play Greece, Norway and Bosnia-Hersogovina. So I think they lost their safety points now and they created a situation where they have to win every game. I think they have a very dificult time ahead, would you agree?
2. Italy. Currently in third place, but by the end of the week could be moving on up... Italy will play Ukraine which is always a tough game. But I have a feeling Inzaghi will come up big. Then they have to play Scotland. How do you see Italy's chances of making it to EURO 2008?
I wish the Turks would have not made way of their 2002 WC coach. He was great, he brought in some unknown players and was able to get the best out of his team. The current coach, Terim seems to be much like his Spanish counter part. His time has passed and is depepnding on big name players to win his games for him. Even when he has a player like Yildiray Basturk at his disposal and does not utilize him, that is sad.
I would like to see a Turkish side that fields Nihat Kahveci (Valencia), Basturk (Stuttgart) and the Altintop brothers along with some up and coming players. I think it is time let Hakan Sukur sit on the bench. He is still an impact player; however, I don't think he can play a full game. He would be much better at coming off the bench.
It is very sad as this Turkish side should be topping their group and they could not even win against Malta. Terim should quit.
It would be interesting to see what an experienced coach such as Hiddink, Capello or Lippi would do with the Turkish side. However, if I were to be the person hiring the coach for Turkey... If Senol Gunes (2002 WC Coach) was not available, I think it would be interesting to give the position to Lucescu. Lucescu has 2-3 years of coaching experience in Turkey. So far Turks have not hired a foreign coach for their national side, maybe the time has come... If they do not make EURO 2008, it will be a major topic.
Last edited by CIAO on September 10th at 11:31 AM.
For the life of me I do not understand why doesn'y Domenech play Trezeget. He is in form and put ANelka to shame. If he was playing on Sat. I am sure France would have defeated Itlay.
As for SPain what can I say. People talk about ENgland underacheiving but what about SPain. They have a plethora of talent and yet they always fail. I agree the manager has to go but its just not that. I never see Spain play with any urgency and that is what happened on Saturday.
Bobby, I didn't get to hear what your predictions on la liga. With the expectations so high , what do you think the top 10 will look like at the end of the season?
Afarid, you're right about Trez but I not Anelka. Anelka has been great for the French NT - the problem on Saturday was that Domenech insisted on continuing to pair Anelka with Henry, and they just don't work well together. Henry was invisible, Anelka was by far more threatening to Italy. When Anelka and Trez are working together, the goals come. France could've won on Saturday if Domenech had taken off Henry and put on Trez or Govou.
I didn't watch the game, but I was told Italy played better than France. Is that true?
Regardless, I think like Arsenal, France have got to begin focusing to play w/o Henry. Maybe as danielgregg suggested Trez with Anelka would be a better fit. They also have Govou and loads of other strikers that could be called up if needed (i.e. Cisse, Giuly, Saha and Wiltord). Henry has not really been an impact on the national side, so maybe it is time to give him a chance to prove himself coming off the bench as a clutch player.
Anelka was mildly more threatening than Henry, let's not get carried away. True Henry was invsible but he also didn't get the ball much.
No the problem for France (besides playing the best defensive team in the world and only needing a draw) was the lack of a distributor. Maka played great and Mourinho needs to play him in his current form b/c Mikel sucks. Vieira was decent, but there was no one to distribute. I'd rather they play 4-5-1 with Nasri or Toulalan or even Dhorasoo in the creative role, than have two strikers cut off.
But if your gonna play 2, they shoudn't be Henry and Anelka, that is for sure. I love Trez but I'd rather have Saha if he could stay fit. Just writing this makes me upset b/c with all this talent Domenech should have these guys playing more attractive football.
Ciao, Italy did not play better. France set out for a draw. The onus was on Italy to score and they did not really even come close. True Italy looked more dangerous but only due to the brilliance of Pirlo who is always dangerous form dead balls. They were 3-4 balls from Pirlo that threatened, and that was it.
If France were to begin focusing on playing w/o Henry why would they do it by focusing on Trez who is the same age and Anelka who is 1 1/2 years younger? That doesn't make sense. Domenech is a defensive coach, there is no way around it, he does not play attacking football.
Bobby I didnt catch the France and Italy game, although i wanted to. I was wondering if you had watched it and if so how did Lassana Diarra and Thierry Henry do? I heard from other forums that diarra played a great game and that thierry was the worst player on the pitch.
MasMaz... From what I saw of the Italy-France game, it appeared both teams set out simply to avoid a defeat, in which case, both countries succeeded. I don't get all the grief Italy is being hit with right now, they're still in prime condition to qualify, with Scotland playing away to France on Wednesday, and Italy still having to play Scotland... Italy wins the games they are supposed to, and the Scots are defeated in those two games, and Italy are in... Pressure is on them to get what they should get, anyway...
Ciao- There is no playoff to qualify this time... Top 2 teams in each group advance = 14 teams + 2 hosts = 16... So England need to defeat Russia, or watch Euro 08 from the stands...
That being said, I think McClaren needs to take one from the Italians World Cup, and play a system that will work, despite having to sit certain players. I'd like to see Gerrard and Carrick in the middle, with Joe Cole and SWP on the wings... I'm also surprised by Peter Crouch's absense, and hte lack of talking ther is about him (is he injured, and I just never noticed?)
Defensively, England are fine... Richards is looking like Neville's successor, although I wouldn't rule out fully fit Gary Neville out of the squad. With Ashley Cole, who's finally showing his Arsenal championship form, for the first time since his move to Chelsea... I don't think his goalkeeper choice will affect the outcome at all. Paul Robinson and David James are both capable goalies.
Diarra had a good game at right back in my opinion.Not only in defense but in going forward up the flank.
I caught the game about mid way in the first half and heard Henry's name in the 80th minute.So I was wondering to myself "When did i miss the substitution?" Only to realize that he had started !!
I think Trezeguet would be better to work with Anelka (or Henry) because he could act as a target man and would provide a different option to Anelka's pace.Plus if you look at it Trez and Anelka are the ones who have knocked in some goals for their clubs.Not Henry.
Thats my opinion but Bobby is the "expert" even though he doesn't like the term so I would still want to hear his views.
Last edited by SynCrew on September 10th at 2:38 PM.
Hi Bobby,
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Bobby what do you think about the additional game of suspension if you lose an appeal for unsportmanship. l think its crazy you should be able to appeal because it is a right but , it is not an expense and there are no detectives send out of the fa , why should they add an additional game, isin't this what they are paid for
get fsc to get you a proper chair on the set! there is no way that gumba st louis should tower over you as he did on the report monday night. if they dont have another switch with st louis so you are sitting better ;)
Hey Gooners did you all see St Louis call us out on the show last night? At least he is admitting his anti-Arsenal bias. I am even thinking of responding to the weekly question. He is a Man Utd fan, does he really thin VDS is better than Mad Jens?
James Lawton – I saw him at a game once, back in the early noughties. He was at Old Trafford. Although obvioulsy it was a body double, I read his review of the game in the paper the next day and it was his usual shoddy stuff.
Paul Doyle–
Nice to see some character in international management, a world cup final is all well and good but they face a toughie against Scotland.
Steven Powell – Good points, the German situation is an intersting viewpoint. In Italy you can see a game for $20 or so bucks and public transport is easily available, at least in the major cities, Milan, Rome, Genoa and Turin.
Jonathan Wilson – usually good, here he is no exception with a nice slant on a crunch match for both teams. Terry usually finds a way to deal with the brawnier forawrds but Ferdinand will not be allowed to have his ‘casual’ moments against a Russian side that won’t sit back as the Israeli’s did. The visitors have more pace, strength, skill and a better coach than Israel.
England Beware!
Hugh MacDonald – it won’t be the first time that the better player is left on the bench, it’s almost an England institution!
Didn’t see the USA v Brazil match, word is that the USA played well.
England beat a poor Israel team who still managed to pass the ball better than the home team. Russia will be a much stiffer challenge but will be withoiut their starting ‘keeper.
LACF – HESKY IS A DONKEY! & Owen should have scored more than one, at least twice he was too slow to a ball in the box.
Best match of the weekend – DC beating NE at RFK ! & I woz there wooohhooo!
Never in my life would I have thought that an MLS game would be better than a game involving England
?
BOBBY:-
Do you know why the Italians are wearing st george crosses on their football kit, Sampdoria have a badge on their home kit and Inter have an away kit that England would be happy to wear?
From an AP article today: "Hargreaves sat out Saturday's match and, although the injury is not serious, failed a fitness test Monday."
What, exactly, makes up these fitness tests?
Do they measure things and compare to objective standards (eg, recovery time, strength, flex range, etc)? Or is it just a "how does the ol' knee feel today" sort of thing?
craigy_f, it's Scotland that faces the sterner test in Paris. Yes the French face a tough match but, it won't be easy, but the Scots will be lucky to come away with a point.
Ahead of tomorrow's France-Scotland game, here's an excerpt from a preview from the Independent:
"You only need to look at Les Bleus' record in competitive games to understand that Alex McLeish's side will require a superhuman effort, or divine intervention, to leave the Parc des Princes with even a point. As Roy Aitken, one of manager McLeish's coaching assistants, reiterated yesterday: 'We're facing one of the best sides in the world.'
The last big event that France missed out on was the 1994 World Cup. They did not need to qualify for France 98 (as hosts) or the 2002 World Cup (as champions), but aside from that they have played 46 qualifiers in five campaigns since, winning 30, drawing 14 and losing just two. Only one was at home, to Russia in 1999. The other was away, to Scotland, last October.
Before the Scots take too much solace from that, it should also be remembered that France tend to score a lot (97 goals in those 46 games) and concede few (18 in 46). In their last 21 qualifiers they have shipped just four goals. And in their last 10 matches, including friendlies, France have kept eight clean sheets, won seven of those games, and lost just twice, 1-0 defeats to Argentina, in February, and to the Scots."
Danny Craig, are you positive about 02 France not having to qualify? I thought it was after the 98 WC that Fifa did away with the automatic qualifier, not after 02.
A draw in paris will be an AMAZING results for my fellow Brits North of the Border.
And in the words o####reat footballer with crappy hair, "I'd love it if we beat them!"
Agent - it's likley that it's a two part evaluation
Part One would be clinical, ie, is the bone mended, are tendons loose or tight, is full motion possible ... that sort of stuff
Part Two would be an evaluation on the field, can he run, cut, take a free kick, jump for a header, tackle etc.
Although medical/fitness assessments in football seem to follow no set standarda, EFC's medical takes two days whereas many clubs will do their medical in a day.
But if anyone knows more, please do tell.
Me wonders now, will Gerrard and Barry Keep the midfield? Got to be an argument that this side has out-performed the previous sides and should be kept as an eleven. Messrs Carrick, Lampard and Hargreaves will make adequate subs if injuries are incurred.
Bobby, thoughts?
Last edited by redfan2000 on September 12th at 4:31 PM.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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