Comments on: An Ageing England Squad

By: Robin Hoodlum, Prince of Link Thieves

Robin Hoodlum, Prince of Link Thieves — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:55:37 +0000

[...] squad, which goes beyond big media sweeping gestures and knee jerk blogger overreactions, have a read at More Than Mind Games. Editor’s note: I am a Yank, our team’s primary weapon is [...]

By: dearieme

dearieme — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:55:52 +0000

Anyway, cheer up. Chelsea won the EPL with an ageing squad. Sir Odious pursued them with his ageing squad.

By: Mr Eugenides

Mr Eugenides — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 04:10:46 +0000

I don’t think anyone really “disagrees” with the exclusion of Walcott, as such; the argument is merely whether he’s a less flawed selection than SWP. I would say he probably is, but I agree that it’s a judgement call, because neither man has really laid claim to the shirt. Or rather, Walcott did lay claim to the shirt, but then did nothing for a year.

I agree that England can beat almost anyone – I’d say they could also beat Maradona’s Argentina, if they get them on a good day – but conversely, I believe it’s possible they could lose to almost anyone, too. Serbia or Ghana in the second round, France in the quarters: I’d bet on England, but I wouldn’t bet the house.

If they get to the semis, where Brazil or Holland await, I would say it is game over, absent some extraordinary, Italia 90-esque momentum building over the next three weeks.

By: dearieme

dearieme — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:23:54 +0000

It was the age that first struck me. And then the absent friends, particularly Dean Ashton. I hope The Signor does not regret the omission of a left-footed attacker in Adam Johnson – so handy if you come up against a side with a weak right back. But he needs a large collection of central defenders because two of them are in doubtful health, as is the midfielder meant to proyect them.

As for Young Theo – I think it’s not just his own shortcomings, but also the way that team-mates, especially at Arsenal, fail to use his strength i.e. pure pace. The best pass to him isn’t the professional footballer’s favourite, the somewhat delayed pass “to feet”, but the schoolboy’s favourite, the near instant pass in front for him to run after. In other words, to get the best use out of the current Theo, any midfielder receiving the ball should instantly look for Theo and release him if at all possible. The customary trick of rolling the ball sideways to a fellow midfielder, or rolling it back to a central defender, just wastes Walcott. If a manager could coax his team to look for that Theo opportunity, he could thereby drive his opponents to defend ever deeper, thus opening up the midfield and so make it easier for his team to retain possession on those occassions when they don’t try to release Walcott. Mind you, that’s why Lennon would be selected in the XI rather than Walcott – he offers more.

By: An Ageing England Squad « Scissors Kick

An Ageing England Squad « Scissors Kick — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:32:32 +0000

[...] An Ageing England Squad “Mike Adamson, writing in the Guardian, points out that this is the oldest England squad to travel to a finals. It surprises Rob Marrs too. The squad’s average age is 28.7, older than England’s awful nadir squad of 1954. It could have been older. Over at Attacking Soccer, Anthony reminds us that Joe Hart has a real chance to become the youngest keeper to turn out for England at the World Cup.” (More Than Mind Games) [...]

By: An Ageing England Squad « Scissors Kick

An Ageing England Squad « Scissors Kick — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:32:32 +0000

By: kenny laurie

kenny laurie — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:52:30 +0000

Just discovered this blog and really enjoyed this first article. I look forward to reading more.

By: Metatone

Metatone — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:50:05 +0000

I’ve been disappointed by the bile heaped on Walcott in the press – his injuries this season have robbed him of a lot of (needed) pitch experience and, crucially, form. Chris Waddle’s accusation of a lack of “footballing intelligence” seems hasty.

Capello’s seeming ability to read a game and make good substitutions and tactical adjustments is a good sign – it’s an important part of cup competitions (unlike the league, there are no second chances). Still, he seems to struggle as much as anyone to get the players to improve concentration and ball-retention (perhaps there’s a link there?)

Still, somehow he’s put some resilience in there – if the qualifiers are any guide it’s hard to see England failing against an average team (although luck can do any team in – that’s football) so I’d pick them to go through top of the group. Don’t see that they have any ability to live with Brazil or Spain though.

Argentina are still enigmatic – but I feel they will come good – or at the very least I’m hoping that Messi, Aguero and Millito get on fire, because it should be great to watch.