Comments on: Agincourt and England 2010

By: dearieme

dearieme — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:02:16 +0000

I’ll be interested to see what Hodgson does with Gerrard. And, if he uses him, Carragher; could he squeeze a season as a defensive midfielder out of him if Mascherano departs?

By: dearieme

dearieme — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:05:49 +0000

“England’s obsession with ‘balls’ and ‘passion’ is as bewildering ….”: really? They’re hardly going to rely on skill and tactical intelligence, are they, with that shower?

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:46:37 +0000

James, I’d query your claim that neither Muller nor Ozil “is as yet a club player of the stature of Lennon or Walcott”. Muller is a first-team regular with the biggest team in Germany and has just won the Bundesliga, the German Cup and reached the final of the Champions League, while Ozil was one of the best players in Germany last season and is reportedly being tracked by Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Other than that, this is a typically fine piece. England’s obsession with ‘balls’ and ‘passion’ is as bewildering as it is self-defeating.

By: JamesHamilton

JamesHamilton — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:30:26 +0000

Cheers, Gwilym, and welcome.
Elliott, I remember Capello commenting on this – his feeling being that the team are/were older than would be ideal, but that the youngsters coming up behind just weren’t of the same quality. With the England U17s allegedly of a higher calibre, it remains to be seen who can plug the gap between this kind of Golden Generation remnant and the U17s when they become ready, assuming that they ever do. And risks, yes, I agree – neither Sven nor Capello are known for it, and Germany’s paid off in spectacular fashion.

By: England and the Curse of Agincourt | Must Read Soccer

England and the Curse of Agincourt | Must Read Soccer — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:08:45 +0000

[...] Agincourt: The defining myth of England and its military triumphs…and the downfall of its football. What won at Agincourt or the Battle of Britain or against Greece in 2002 wasn’t heroism — it was superior firepower, strategy and Beckham’s dead-ball technique. The loss against Germany was England “once again framing the match in terms of heroics and last-ditches and a hundred clichés” and Terry and Gerrard out of position, trying to be heroes, as Germany flooded into the breach they left. (Paul Carpenter/It’s a Family Thing; HT: More Than Mind Games) [...]

By: Elliott.

Elliott. — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:26:30 +0000

James-

In addition to agreeing with you that the wide play was a bit disappointing for England and that the Lampard goal really was important (England looked good for a draw up to that point), I also feel there is a public attachment to the “United kids” generation – Sven in 2006 and now Capello in 2010 seem to ride the old horses rather than blood the young talent. What’s shocked me the most over the last decade has been the lack of turnover of the England roster – Germany did field Podolski, Klose, and Lahm, but the young and fresh faces showed both young talent and coaches willing to take risks.

I wonder what we will see at Euro 2012……

By: Gwilym

Gwilym — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:29:42 +0000

Hello James,
I’ve just popped across from George’s place. There are obviously a lot of serious and deep issues going on here so I’ll come back as and when time permits. I’m looking forward to doing so and perhaps joining some of the debates. By the way my favourite poem was written by a man named James Hamilton Sorley. Just thought I’d drop that one in for starters. It’s about running in the rain.
Cheers etc.,
Gwilym

By: dearieme

dearieme — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:20:08 +0000

“That use of speed is worth reflecting on”: it’s the USE that’s worth reflecting on. If you field an (on form) Lennon or Walcott, you’ve got to have other players who will release him. Arsenal aren’t especially good at it. Spain weren’t especially good at releasing their speed man when they brought him on. Germany did a better job. It could have been 8-2, that England-Germany game.

Anyway, if Rooney doesn’t find his form again, and Walcott still hasn’t learnt to cross, England could always consider trying Walcott down the middle with JCole to release him. But then they’d really need a good free-kick taker to exploit all the opportunities they’d get from fouls on Walcott, or to deter fouls on Walcott. Bring back Becks, eh?

By: Agincourt and England 2010 « Scissors Kick

Agincourt and England 2010 « Scissors Kick — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:24:16 +0000

[...] Agincourt and England 2010 “Paul Carpenter (Carpsio) takes the ‘passion and commitment’ line of England criticism in an interesting direction with an informed comparison of Agincourt to that 4-1 defeat to Germany…” (More Than Mind Games) [...]