Posts by The Pugilist RSS feed of user posts en Car Crash Performance Against Germans Confirms English Game is Dead <p>The World Cup Autopsy can now begin as it is official and conclusive, English football is dead! Once again the hopes of millions were dashed as our multi-millionaire so-called football stars failed miserably to deliver even the faintest of hopes at another major tournament.</p> <p>The most sickening part of England’s World Cup car wreak apart from losing to the Germans again is Fabio Capello’s £6million pound wages. To do what exactly? What has he changed that those before him hadn’t already achieved? To start with perhaps £1,000 of that £6million should have been spent on English lessons. Capello can barely string two sentences together in the pre and post match interviews so how on earth can he motivate or instruct his players before and during games, through sign language? Maybe he uses salt and pepper pots and points madly like he often displays on the touch line! And what was even more amazing after the Germany defeat was how quickly his little understanding of the English language deteriorated even further when questioned about whether or not he would resign. </p> <p>The if’s, but’s, what if’s and but only’s will unravel over the next few weeks but quite simply we were not and never were good enough to do anything at this World Cup let alone win it. England’s performances or lack of in the group stages confirmed that and the win over Slovenia just pained over the enormous cracks.</p> <p>Capello should do the honourable thing once he has had time to reflect and resign as soon as England land on home soil. His impressive reputation lies in ruins after this debacle and after such a remarkable career at club level. Capello was supposed to be the talisman, the next Alf Ramsey who would drive England forward and deliver what so many had failed to do before him since 1966, in actual fact he has taken them in the other direction. From day one against USA some thing wasn’t right, team decisions didn’t make sense and reasoning didn’t add up. Did Capello know something we didn’t? You can bet your mortgage on it.</p> <p>The facts are blatantly obvious and will make horrific reading. England’s tournament started awfully and ended tragically. Too many players out of form and too many players out of their depth. Everyone talks about Wayne Rooney being a World class player I beg to differ. To be a World class player you have to do it on a World class platform. He had his stage but froze like a rabbit in the head lights. Three group games into the biggest tournament of them all and all Rooney had contributed was a snide jibe at the England fans who rightfully booed the team off the pitch after a dismal performance against Algeria. Then he gets the nod once more for the crucial game against Germany and you think this is going to be his moment, his time and he ends up being even more useless then in any of the previous three matches. Unfit, unhappy and burnt out the three ingredients that made up Wayne Rooney at this World Cup. </p> <p>Unfortunately the facts don’t get any better. Glen Johnson, Matthew Upson, Emile Heskey, Robert Green, James Milner, Gareth Barry good decent Premier League players, completely and utterly out of their depth on the International stage (and bar Green, all played a significant part in all of England’s games). </p> <p>Adam Johnson, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlaher, Gary Neville, Sol Campbell, Leighton Baines and Theo Walcott must be dying to buy Capello a drink and thanking him for leaving them behind.</p> <p>The biggest question of the tournament however is this, what on earth happened to Peter Crouch? England’s main goal threat going into the tournament and England’s main goal threat for the last two years and yet he featured for 11 minutes against the USA, 6 minutes against Algeria and didn’t feature against Slovenia. Then 3-1 down to the Germans needing two goals what does Capello do? He brings off Defoe and brings on that prolific goal machine Emile Heskey. The only conclusion that can be made is that Crouch obviously upset the manager by speaking out of turn after the Algeria game. </p> <p>The bitter truth I’m afraid to say is English football is not as good as the money paid to it’s players suggests. The English Premier League is littered with foreign superstars making a fortune leaving clubs with little or no room to breed our future stars and that has to eventually have an impact on our National side. Just look at the evidence Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool and even Chelsea, of the shirts that run from 1 to 11 how many who wear those shirts are English? Do the maths and you will find it’s the minority.</p> <p>So, what now? Where does English football and more importantly England’s International future go from here? </p> <p>Firstly, the players need to take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. Whilst the manager without doubt must pick up much of the blame the players are by no means innocent. So-called World class footballers acting like petulant children, showing little desire, little heart and more importantly little respect to the thousands of paying English fans that spent fortunes going to support them. Spoilt and over paid pre-madonna's who based on pure fact are actually not as good as they think they are.</p> <p>Secondly, the FA without question must find a new manager and an English one. One candidate stands out a mile and the FA shouldn’t waste any more time in waiting to approach Roy Hodgson. He is English, has an unbelievable understanding of the game, is well respected, is an exceptional coach and has all the credentials to build a strong, solid and together team. He has an unrivalled European pedigree and gets the best out of even the most mediocre footballers.</p> <p>The list no doubt can go on and on. Every man and his dog will have an opinion of where it went wrong, what should be done, what will be done etc. </p> <p>Ultimately no matter what happens in the end serious lessons need to learnt and fast from this utter shambolic experience. The answers are hard to find but you can guarantee the FA will find them and all the excuses in the book to back Capello, but I don’t care what the FA say not even Jesus Christ himself can save Capello from this mess and the eventualities facing him, resignation or the sack.</p> Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:12:08 +0000 The Pugilist 33493 at No heart, No passion, No Idea! <p>For a start a few certainties have been answered since England‘s draw in their World Cup opener against the USA. Rob Green’s World Cup is over and so potentially is his England career. Jamie Carragher’s brief return to the international stage and it was brief is also over after picking up a second yellow card against Algeria and so it would seem is Ledley Kings’, the permanently injured Tottenham defender who rarely plays two games on a spin for his club side is, yes you have guessed it, injured!</p> <p>Just when you think it couldn’t possibly get any worse England line up against Algeria on Friday night with 20 million English fans back home watching, in anticipation for Rooney and co to finally stamp their intentions on these finals and deliver a true English winning performance only to do what England do best, blow it beyond the realms of belief.</p> <p>However, believe it or not there are still two positives intact, England are still unbeaten at these finals and a win over Slovenia on Wednesday will see the three lions qualify, where if all goes to plan I believe they will end up playing Serbia.</p> <p>Looking back over the inept performance over Algeria it is plain to see that not all is right in the England camp. People have highlighted Frances’ obvious disharmony among the ranks well I believe England are not to dissimilar. Put aside the obvious and by that I mean team selection, players out of form etc and focus on the body language of the players themselves. </p> <p>Wayne Rooney was supposed to be the talisman, the player that would roar England through each stage of the competition with his work-rate, desire, heart and passion and show the World what a wonderfully gifted player he is. Thus far he has been arguably England’s worst performer and looks a mere shadow of the player that puts on the red of Manchester Utd every week.</p> <p>Then like a petulant child he had the nerve and audacity to complain about the England fans booing the team off after having personally offered nothing in 90 minutes football against the Algerians. Hard working, good honest people who paid thousands of pounds and travelled thousands of miles deserve better.</p> <p>The players have 90 minutes in a game to impose themselves, take their frustrations out on the opposition and vent their anger on the ball. When the fans see such an incompetent, timid display then the only way they can express their despair and frustrations is by booing.</p> <p>Rooney is quite clearly not fit and it could quite possibly run even deeper then that. Fabio Capello is being paid an incredible salary by the FA, now he has to justify that investment by making some very ballsy decisions in England’s final game against the Slovenians.</p> <p>The reason England flop is that they are actually afraid that they might. Memories of so many depressing tournaments combine with the crushing weight of expectation and suffocate the players. That was only too evident again against the Algerians. Capello correctly identified fear as the core of the difficulties and remarked that it was similar to when he took over. Exactly. So why is fear still choking ambitions?</p> <p>Capello can’t be blamed for Green’s calamitous blunder against the USA and had that not happened then England may have been a completely different animal, but he must be questioned for his stubborn selection of Heskey and his decision to exclude Theo Walcott, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor when those who survived the cull are no better. </p> <p>Capello now has three days before the circus shifts to Port Elizabeth, one last throw of the dice in which to prove he can still be the ringmaster and conjure a formula from the wreckage of what is so far a dismal English display.</p> <p>Where he starts to unravel the mess in my opinion is quite easy and straight forward. David James was the one good thing to come out of the Algerian match, he had a good presence and kept competently. The back four obviously needs to change again with Carragher out suspended. Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson should remain full backs with Michael Dawson being given the opportunity to partner John Terry (his third different pairing). Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole should head up the three in midfield with Steven Gerrard playing behind the striking partnership of Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch.</p> <p>4-3-1-2 is the last throw in my opinion and he has to play Joe Cole on the left side of the three in the middle and Gerrard behind Rooney and Crouch. </p> <p>England’s World cup bid is now dangling by a thread, defeat against Slovenia will spell the end for Capello and a number of so called super stars. However victory over the Slovakians matched with a good solid team performance will not fix what are quite clearly a number of on going problems but it will go towards restoring a little faith and belief among the loyal supporters desperate for England to do well. </p> <p>The players and Capello owe it the country, the supporters and more importantly to themselves.</p> Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:11:10 +0000 The Pugilist 33250 at Points system a total fiasco <p>How many Jewish families out there with young Jewish children have to rack up points in order to qualify for a Jewish school placement? </p> <p>The new points system which was introduced last June following a ruling by the Court of Appeal is an utter disgrace. Forcing families with young Jewish children to attend Synagogue is outrageous and unethical.</p> <p>Currently my Tesco points sit at 1500 and my Nectar points not far behind on 1200. Perhaps I could add these points together, start buying kosher Vienna’s instead of Pork Sausages (oh dear did I just say Pork?) and observe the Sabbath with the lights off, should that entitle me to my full quota of qualifying points seeing as I have shown an unbelievable commitment and observance to my faith? </p> <p>What did Mr Forsyth use to say “What do points make”? “Prizes”! I’m afraid on this occasion the only prize is a booby prize.</p> <p>There could be a case that this crazy ruling breaches people’s human rights. I learnt what it means to be Jewish from my Grandmother, she never forced her ideas on me or told me this is what you should do. I listened to her stories and observed her practices and respected her views. My grandmother survived World War II and the awful atrocities associated with those times and she will be turning in her grave on hearing this news. </p> <p>How does any individual differentiate between one Jew and another? The answer is you can’t! I am no less of a Jew then the most ultra orthodox Jew in the World. Just because I don’t wear pious, a black hat and a black suit does that mean I am not considered Jewish by the bigwigs in the Court that made this crazy decision?</p> <p>You can’t have different levels of Judaism, either you are Jewish or not. Because I choose not to attend synagogue it makes me no less of a Jew then someone who does. It just means that for me and my rightful beliefs I prefer not to go for a number of personal reasons. I do more for the Jewish community in other areas which are just as rewarding and satisfying. </p> <p>Anthony Arnold, chair of Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue said once: "It's not really a religious practice test because it's not about practice. Going to synagogue once every fortnight or once a week is not a test. There's a lot more to Judaism than going to synagogue. The problem the schools faced was that at very short notice they had to devise something which related to practice and could be measured. But a lot of Judaism is about how you conduct yourself at home - how do you measure that?"</p> <p>Precisely, how do you measure any of it?</p> <p>Since 1 September 2009, attending synagogue twice a month in addition to festivals earns a child three points although this may have changed recently. Formal Jewish education – in a synagogue or with a tutor - is worth one point again this may have changed. Voluntary work in a charity or welfare organisation is worth one point.<br /> However, the form warns that in the event that "it is discovered that a parent has submitted information above which is later found to be incorrect, this may result in the refusal of the school to offer a place to the child. If a place has already been offered on the basis of incorrect information, the school may withdraw the offer."</p> <p>I honestly don’t see what all this is going to achieve other then cause people to turn their backs on the religion and produce further chinks in an already dying religion. </p> <p>Even with families being forced to attend synagogue will it make them become more religious? Will it force them to embrace the Rabbi and want to spend every Friday night with him? Not a chance, in fact I believe it will have the reverse effect. Taking my son to synagogue becomes stressful by the end of a painful hour and to be perfectly honest is a complete and utter waste of his and my time.</p> <p>Judaism is a religion, not a race. Being Jewish means different things to every Jew in the country, if anything, those that work in the Jewish community should define who qualifies and who doesn’t as they will have a far better understanding of what individuals contribute.</p> <p>Then the crazy thing is even if you qualify for all your points there is still no guarantee that your child will get into a Jewish school. Then what? </p> <p>Having faced persecution throughout history it now seems Jews are persecuting each other based on a Court ruling that apparently has no contention.</p> <p>In a world that is extremely volatile at the moment shouldn’t the Jewish community religious, semi-religious and non-religious pull together and become one and find ways of working together in order to help every Jewsih family wanting a Jewish child to attend a Jewish school??</p> <p>Personally, if I could afford a private education for my son I would run down that route and say to hell with all this nonsense, but unfortunately I won’t have that luxury (unless of course I win the lottery).</p> Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:08:26 +0000 The Pugilist 33068 at England - Same old story <p>Did you enjoy England’s debut in the South African World Cup? Do you think it is a coincidence that these unfortunate football situations ALWAYS happen to England?</p> <p>In my opinion the answer to both questions is a residing NO!</p> <p>Fabio Capello is a great manager and his record speaks for itself but why oh why when it comes to England do these great managers get it so wrong?</p> <p>Sir Alf Ramsey is the only manager in England’s World Cup history to get it right and that was back in 1966 on home territory 44 years ago. </p> <p>Then it all went horribly wrong! Ramsey the new messiah of English football couldn’t reproduce the brilliance of 66’ and failed miserably at the1970 World Cup and then lost the plot in the build up to the 1974 World Cup where England failed to qualify.</p> <p>Since 1974 apart from perhaps Sir Bobby Robsons’ 1990 World Cup semi-final failure against Germany and Terry Venables’ 1996 Euro Championships semi-final exploits (again on home territory and again defeat against the Germans) every manager has failed and failed miserably.</p> <p>Joe Mercer, Don Revie, Ron Greenwood, Graham Taylor, Glenn Hoddle, Howard Wilkinson, Kevin Keegan, Peter Taylor, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren, great names that you would associate with great things given most of their achievements at club level. Yet each and everyone of them failed to ignite the fire needed to turn England into World Champions once more.</p> <p>Out of those illustrious names I still believe Glenn Hoddle was the one England manager who was beginning to make in roads and had it not been for the English press making such a big deal about comments he made in an interview given to the Times newspaper he may have succeeded where so many others had failed.<br /> So where has it all gone wrong? Why has it all gone wrong? I doubt the answers exist but here is food for thought.</p> <p>The day we lost the great Ryan Giggs to Wales was the start of our left hand side problems. Just imagine what a difference his presence in an England shirt would have made over the years? I blame Graham Taylor for that one. Turnip Taylor should have done everything in his power at the time to convince him the three lions is where it is at rather then keeping Gordon Cowans England career alive.<br /> Since that moment of madness the left hand attacking side of the English national team has been a major problem and no manager at the helm has managed to solve it. Players have come and gone but not one has stood out and had a major impact.</p> <p>For me the simple solution is Ashley Cole. We arguably have one of the best left-backs in the World in Cole, would it not make sense to change the team formation to a 3-5-2 automatically solving that left side problem? The team then has balance and a player that can run all day. Why do England managers continue to play players out of position when this option makes perfect sense? Roberto Carlos played left wing-back for Brazil for years and did a fantastic job. We have an abundance of Centre-half’s that are very strong, read the game well and can play football when instructed with a cracking array of midfield players to make the 3-5-2 formation a great success.</p> <p>However, my biggest criticism’s of Capello are these, firstly nothing has changed in the way we play or how we play since he has taken over and secondly the final squad he settled on for South Africa was both baffling and non-sensible. </p> <p>Let’s start with the keepers. Obviously Rob Green has come under huge scrutiny for his part or lack of in USA’s goal in the opening game, but why are we surprised? Capello has picked two out of his three goalkeepers who had shocking seasons with their club teams. Green who plays West Ham just avoided relegation and David James who plays for Portsmouth wasn’t as fortunate and actually tasted relegation. How can any manager pick two goalkeepers for the national set up that have been playing in struggling teams all season? </p> <p>Paul Robinson without a shadow of doubt is still England’s best keeper. He kept the most clean sheets out of any English keeper last season and has always been reliable when called upon. People will look back on that fateful night against Croatia, but what people forget is that the ball hit an awful divot in the pitch that would have deceived any keeper in the world at that particular time.</p> <p>Joe Hart quite rightly should be number two in the pecking order followed by Ben Foster as third choice back up should anything sinister happen to the top two.</p> <p>Now defensively, Wayne Bridge should have been forced to change his mind about withdrawing from the squad and again Capello should have done everything in his power to change his feelings. Bridge in fact should have been more of a man and not let the whole Terry fiasco affect him, it shows weak character. </p> <p>Then some of Capellos’ inclusions are just laughable. Ledley King, good defender without question, but the guy can't play two games in a row after a weeks rest, what the hell was Capello thinking? Jamie Carragher initially retired from international football for good reason, he knew he no longer had the legs, why change his mind? And then Stephen Warnock the less said about that selection the better.</p> <p>Sol Campbell, Jolean Lescott and dare I say it Gary Neville would all have been better options if only for the experience they possess. In no way are any less competent then Carragher, Upson, King or Warnock.<br /> Now onto midfiled, does Paul Scholes ring a bell? Should be first name on the England team sheet. As soon as Capello was confirmed as England manager that is the first phone call he should have made, not leaving it four weeks before flying out to South Africa.</p> <p>Including Shaun Wright-Phillips, James Milner and Michael Carrick. Helloooo, these guys are not international class, all good Premiership players but that is it. Ashley Young, Adam Johnson and yes Theo Walcott should have all been on the plane instead. All three players posses incredible pace, all three are talented and all three are relatively raw something which is always worth having at any World Cup. The Dutch, the Germans and even the Brazilians have a few raw talents up their sleeves ready to be let off the lead.</p> <p>Finally onto the forwards and once again one massive question mark. Capello in his defence did get one thing right leaving out Darren Bent. I know he was second top goal scorer last season in the Premier league but he quite simply is not up to international football. Wayne Rooney is the second name down on the team sheet but I strongly believe something isn’t quite right with him. He was poor on Saturday against the USA and wasn’t himself in the warm up games against Mexico and Japan. The question mark is why on earth did he not take Gabriel Agbonlahor? He is strong and gives you something no other striker in the squad has, blistering pace.<br /> So after all that the squad which should have been selected is as follows:</p> <p>SQUAD</p> <p>GOALKEEPERS<br /> Paul Robinson<br /> Joe Hart<br /> Ben Foster</p> <p>DEFENDERS<br /> Ashley Cole<br /> Wayne Bridge<br /> Glen Johnson<br /> John Terry<br /> Sol Campbell<br /> Michael Dawson<br /> Joleon Lescott</p> <p>MIDFIELD<br /> Frank Lampard<br /> Steven Gerrard<br /> Paul Scholes<br /> Joe Cole<br /> Aron Lennon<br /> Ashley Young<br /> Adam Johnson<br /> Theo Walcott</p> <p>ATTACKERS<br /> Wayne Rooney<br /> Peter Crouch<br /> Gabriel Agbonlahor<br /> Jermaine Defoe<br /> Emile Heskey</p> <p>FORMATION<br /> 3-5-2 </p> <p>STARTING XI<br /> Robinson<br /> Terry / Lescott / Campbell<br /> Scholes<br /> A.Cole / Gerrard / Lampard / G. Johnson<br /> Rooney / Agbonlahor </p> <p>Then you have the squad available for a plan B should you need it being able to revert to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.<br /> As is stands I can see USA winning the group (by scoring more goals then us), England coming second and playing Germany in the second round at which point it will be GOODNIGHT South Africa!!!</p> <p>Every World Cup, every European Championship the whole world writes the Germans off, yet no matter what happens they get a side together that plays football the way we would love to see England play........and that comes down to a manager preparing correctly, knowing his players and building a strong mentality and belief.</p> <p>I know it is only one game in and the knifes are already out and that after all this we will probably go on and win it. (we can dream can’t we)!! But don’t hold your breathe.</p> Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:27:53 +0000 The Pugilist 33051 at