Tragic Football Stories - Let us Kick Around the misshapen Jabulani that is English football right here

Forgot this was on. Spain outclassing England in every way imaginable?

more or less, although I gather our U17s are far, far superior to this shower

yeah suuuuuure they are

England's tactic is 'pacy, powerful forwards' - that appears to be it

yeah we'll they'll all be in prison or jaded with footballing life by the time they're 23 so best have a backup

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Book review:

The Anatomy of England
Jonathan Wilson

This is an attempt to trace the development of the England team through ten key matches in their history. It's absolutely marvellous.

The games are chosen to mark out the peaks and troughs over the decades. Some are obvious: Hungary 1953, Holland 1996, Croatia 2007. Others less so: Spain 1929, Italy 1938, France 1982. They're all given proper treatment and placed in the proper context of the periods and tournaments they occurred in.

The detail is just brilliant. He's taken great care to use proper sources instead of received wisdom, so it's continually surprising - just as much with the modern games as with the older ones. I had no idea that Hungary's lead-up to the Wembley game wasn't effortless genius, for example, but in fact some rather laboured games against teams who had worked them out tactically. And I'd clean forgotten the surge of violence the night England went out of Euro 96, and how out-of-character it was in the that tournament's context.

The best, though, is the detail he goes into on the games themselves. Individual moves get described over and over, which sounds like it might be dull but made it really easy to picture what was actually going on. Tactics and formations are pretty complex things, and it's lovely to have them addressed properly and explained on their own terms. He also draws parallels between the matches, but without being trite or tenuous - things like how England's kick-offs against West Germany in 1972 and 1990 and against Norway in 1993 were very similar, and trying to explain how somehow the middle one worked while the other two were fiascos.

It felt like there was loads of everything crammed into the book, and there is, but it's so well done that it isn't too dense or difficult to read. Highly, highly recommended.

haven't read ITP yet but really must

Slightly unexpected is that Wilson cites Why England Lose by Simon Kuper with approval on a few occasions. I was a bit dismissive of it in my previous review.

Having written that, I have unexpectedly found myself with a spare copy (of Why England Lose). If anyone wants it, send me a webmail and I'll see what I can do.

pretty sure we've covered why england lose on ilx premier league threads 2002 onwards

"Why England Lose"

cover picture- stevie gerrard, rest of it is actually a blank

hope u don't troll the real gardaí like tht

*that*

Gardaí- GAA men first and foremost

"Why England Lose"

cover picture- stevie gerrard, rest of it is actually a blank

― "It's far from 'lol' you were reared, boy" (darraghmac), Wednesday, 28 July 2010 12:15 (54 minutes ago)

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That's not Gerrard is it?

It's his squad number.

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England boss Fabio Capello has called up the uncapped trio of Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Bobby Zamora for the friendly against Hungary on Wednesday.

Goalkeepers David James and Robert Green are replaced by Ben Foster and Paul Robinson.

Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson are both recalled having been included in the provisional 30-man squad before failing to make the cut for the World Cup.

Bolton's Gary Cahill and West Ham's Carlton Cole are also in the squad.

now more players in the england team than liverpool and utd - what a hater of english footballers wenger is.

rabble-rousing alternative perspective: Arsene hates English footballers so much he won't even play the ones who are good enough for international football.

How much are tickets for the Hungary game? I tried looking on The FA website but you need to register and get an ID number.

Gah, always the case. I look, can't find the answer, ask, look again, and find it dead easy. They're £40, £30, £25, £20.

David James didn't exactly cover himself in glory today.

Ha, Paul Robinson's retired from international football.

Thanks for the memories Paul, we'll miss you big guy ;_;

I feel a bit sorry for him. I picked him for my fantasy team yesterday and was just thinking that goalies get shabbily treated in treated. They hardly ever get to make a comeback, when they're out it's off to the wilderness never to be seen again. Robinson's more or less teh same player he was when he was longstanding no.1. Obviously he's not great, but he's still no worse than anyone other than Hart and James.

Can't wait for Big Sam's verdict on this affair.

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pour one out

Obviously he's not great, but he's still no worse than anyone other than Hart and James.

― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 8 August 2010 10:56 (3 hours ago) Bookmark

sorry, what?

when did any of the other contenders cost their team points over a prolonged period like robinson did in the jol era (RIP big man)?

anyway, quite what lennon has done to deserve dropping is a mystery to me. fabio trying to get kudos for changing everything while switching round only peripheral figures imo.

abio trying to get kudos for changing everything while switching round only peripheral figures imo.

otm but i guess many things come into play - lennon was rubbish at the wc, watching him in training, 'the capello index', if he's been joining petey in any taxi rides etc. etc.

Another one bites the bullet rather than soldier on http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8896134.stm

haha, who's next then...

Goodness. I was hoping Capello was going to clear the decks and pick the unshowy guys who don't mind doing it for the team. If even they don't fancy it, he'll be on his way ere long.

Not really. Wes Brown ws probably going to be made redundant.

But Robinson? A lot of crap about concentrating on his club career (as if there was less focus before) and family (er what dude you play footie for a living?! What's a few more games adding to that commitment). But the goalkeeping position is really open: James is effectively off, so is Rob Green - only 'marginal' on paper. Wouldn't have lost much by sticking with it for a bit.

The retirements are all spineless. People who think they deserve more. Again, goes w/out saying that Capello's record at club level still carries weight - just great how there is no hiding place for the current bunch.

Can't wait for Big Sam's verdict on this affair.
Said he'd imagine Robinson would change his mind if Capello could guarantee that he'd be 1st choice.

yeah, england need more 'guaranteed first choice' players alright.

I'd only describe the decision to retire as 'spineless' if it was out of fear or lack of fight, tbh.

IMO, an england career doesn't actually matter enough to most players in that pool to qualify.

But the goalkeeping position is really open:

umm... only if hart gets an injury in the next 15 years aaaand then foster isn't available as back-up?

Can't see Hart getting one injury in his career tbh

this is awesome
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even better if you read it as a taunt tbh

ahahahahahaha

It was out of lack of fear.

only if hart gets an injury in the next 15 years aaaand then foster isn't available as back-up?

Hart was 3rd choice when arguably he should have been 1st for the wc, bit like I said he could've had stuck around.

I really hope this brave effort from some world class genii intent on unseating Capello succeeds. It's about time there was some player power re: England.

i thought that hiring an unquestionable like capello would break it, but tbh he's made himself fairly questionable and weakened his position.

but a new strategy is needed- i reckon gerrard/terry/ferdinand should be the new player managers.

said it before and I'll say it again: MARADONA. Wasn't afraid to drop big name, backbone of the team players like Cambiasso and Zanetti, exactly what England need.

MARADONA for VILLA you know it makes SENSE

england needs gazza.

he's the only person who recognises the england players the way they truly are.

good people. who have done very bad things.

england with gazza mnanager- joey barton gets a call up

'yo joey, it's gazza'