I used to be an England fan. Supporting them from the days of Alan Shearer's debut in Euro 92, who at that time was partnering Gary Lineker, to the famous beer celebration by Paul Gascoigne in Euro 96. I even woke up in the wee hours of the morning to catch Beckham kick Simeone in France 98. By Euro 2000, I was kinda fed up with all the expectations England put unto themselves but they were still entrenched in my heart as the international team for me (besides Malaysia of course). They did better at the 2002 World Cup but couldn't muster a decent attack while losing to Brazil in the quarter-finals. In Euro 04, once more they lose out in a shootout. In last year's world cup, that was the tournament where I actually wanted them to lose. It was pathetic, disgraceful and inept. Losing shootouts once in a few tournaments may boikl down to luck. Losing in all of your exits in major tournaments boils down to nerves. These are highly paid professionals who earns obscene amount of money but yet, can't seem to convert from 6 yards out. But, then again if they really dreaded the shootout so bad, why couldn't they settle it in regulation time?
The last two international qualifiers they had were a disgrace. I don't really blame the coach. I blame the players. The point is, either Lampard or Gerrard needs to be dropped and obviously, I feel that Lamps is the one that does not warrant a place in the team. He does not lift his underperforming team. He can only play in a team of stars. When the chips are down, he misses more than he hits. I am a Liverpool fan but I am sure many neutrals would agree with me. Why play Lennon on the left when he is a right winger? How is he going to run to the byline and cross? It is stupid mentality and a mentality to suit the stars. If you are not performing, you are out! Guess who saved England in the match with Andorra? Stevie G of course. Typical of him. Rafa limits him on the right in Liverpool because we have equally good midfielders in the middle to suit certain tactis. If we had Lennon or Quaresma, I am sure Rafa would play Gerrard more on the middle. Both Lampard and Gerrard are similar players but if given a choice, who do you think is the better player? Who has come up with the goods when it mattered most in the most crucial of tournaments? Our captain did! So, Lamps, probably it's time to tell the coach, that you will sit in the bench for the sake of England.
I am sure it's better to sit on a bench of a winning team than playing in a lousy team. Think about it? If you can't win a World Cup or European Championships while playing in the first eleven, what is the next best thing? You win it from the bench of course. I may sound bias but it's a fact. Gerrard is better than Lampard. Period.
Sometimes, I just hope Stevie, Carra and Crouchy don't come back to Melwood injured. This is my only hope for a very dismal England team at the moment.
God Save the Team!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Not a fan of the english national team. Cocky and the beliefs that they're the best thing since sliced bread aint wining me over anytime. For their current state, they probably deserve it. The FA is a joke to begin with.
I'd rather have Gerrard dropped than Lampard. It's better for Liverpool. Stevie Me is obsessed with the national captaincy that it affects his performance for Liverpool this season.
If Phil Nevile is in your starting line up, don't expect England to be setting the world on fire any sooner.
Yeah, I would agree keeping Stevie G under wraps will be good for Liverpool but I am sure he would want to achieve something with England, not that it's crucial to me. But, he is still an Englishman after all.
Post a Comment