David James STARTS

[The Large One]

For me, Peter Crouch is the football equivalent of a flat-track bully. He rarely plays full matches (12 in his 39 caps), and hasn't scored against quality opposition except Croatia (when we lost 3-2 at home).

His scoring record is phenomenal, and I REALLY hope it continues, but in answer to the original question, (why is Crouch sub?) it's because in terms of all-round play, I don't think he's good enough. But then again, Rooney aside, I'm not sure who else is.

 

[Acker79]

hasn't scored against quality opposition except Croatia (when we lost 3-2 at home).

But it's catch 22. He has played against quality opposition 7 times. Three of them were less than ten minutes, with one being joining the game in the 89th minute. One of the other four was coming on v portugal when we were down to ten men, the other three were all less than a half.

He doesn't score against quality opposition (on an international level. On the domestic level he has scored against all of the big four), because he doesn't get a chance to play against them very much. He doesn't get to play against them because he doesn't score. It just goes round and round.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

We really are short on good goalkeepers aren't we. And full backs. And strikers. And left wingers.


In fact we're just not that good.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

For me, Peter Crouch is the football equivalent of a flat-track bully. He rarely plays full matches (12 in his 39 caps), and hasn't scored against quality opposition except Croatia (when we lost 3-2 at home).

His scoring record is phenomenal, and I REALLY hope it continues, but in answer to the original question, (why is Crouch sub?) it's because in terms of all-round play, I don't think he's good enough. But then again, Rooney aside, I'm not sure who else is.

Ukraine.

and plenty of the games he's scored against 'mediocre' opposition, have been ones where NO-ONE ELSE managed to do so...

 

[The Large One]

Ukraine.

and plenty of the games he's scored against 'mediocre' opposition, have been ones where NO-ONE ELSE managed to do so...

Once. V Austria in a friendly.

I think we're evidently just going to have to agree to disagree.

 

[itszamora]

I wouldn't call Algeria "top quality" opposition, so surely it is time for Crouch?

 

[Giraffe]

It's a strange one really. Either Green was Capello's number one or he wasn't. So as someone has said what happens when James makes an error, as he is prone to do?

I would have stuck with Green, but equally I don't think it is going to matter too much, as I doubt he will have too much to do as England stride to a 3-0 victory.

COME ON ENGLAND

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Ukraine.

and plenty of the games he's scored against 'mediocre' opposition, have been ones where NO-ONE ELSE managed to do so...

Quite.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Once. V Austria in a friendly.

I think we're evidently just going to have to agree to disagree.

I mean how many times has he broken the deadlock, when the others have failed. Trinidad & Tobago in the last WC, for example.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I mean how many times has he broken the deadlock, when the others have failed. Trinidad & Tobago in the last WC, for example.

Egypt
Belarus
Ukraine
Austria
Macedonia
Andorra
Trinidad and Tobago
Uruguay

8 games where he has scored the winner or opening goal for england

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Paul Robinson should be our #1 still. Best English goalkeeper in my opinion.

Joe Hart should play the European Qualifiers, it's obvious he is the future England #1. But right now, I would still say that Robinson is our best goalkeeper. Shame he's at home.

 

[Common as Mook]

David James - Most Experienced
Joe Hart - Most talented
Robert Green - Neither

I can fully appreciate two schools of thought behind who should be number 1 and unfortunately Robert Green doesn't fit into either!

 

[Acker79]

David James - Most Experienced
Joe Hart - Most talented
Robert Green - Neither

I can fully appreciate two schools of thought behind who should be number 1 and unfortunately Robert Green doesn't fit into either!

Or to look another way:

David James - Getting too old
Joe Hart - Not experienced enough
Robert Green - Neither

Or the idea that dropping Green puts too much pressure on the untested Hart, but James has enough experience coming back from mistakes?

 

[Guy Fawkes]

I'm glad Green has been dropped, I was very surprised when he got the nod for the USA game as he looked poor in the warm up games.

There was a worrying stat about the last Premiershit season that Greens keeping gave away the most goals through follow ups, he has an alarming habit of pushing the ball back into the danger area rather than catch it or ensuring it goes out well out of the box or wide of the goal. - for this reason alone he would have been my 3rd choice keeper.

I was impressed by Hart in the friendlies, he seemed to have the most assured handling and was a good shot stopper

This pic shows why Green shouldn't play for England - he looks scared of being hit / hurt by the ball, his eyes are shut when he should be watching the ball all the way to his gloves (which might be why he failed to stop that shot vs the USA because he didn't watch it all the way).

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Egypt
Belarus
Ukraine
Austria
Macedonia
Andorra
Trinidad and Tobago
Uruguay

8 games where he has scored the winner or opening goal for england

Rubbish

 

[Mr Banana]

You could spend the rest of the day analysing it. I think there is a definite possibility Rob Green is a good keeper who made a mistake.

 

[Pavilionaire]

David James was taken to the World Cup PRECISELY for this eventuality, i.e. incumbent (Green) or rookie (Hart) fucks up.

The back four all know James so there's an understanding Hart hasn't got. That said, I totally rate Hart but his time has not yet come.

The sad thing here is that all the games Green has played we could have played Hart instead. It seems Green will be binned. It's tough being a keeper.

 

[Common as Mook]

Or to look another way:

David James - Getting too old
Joe Hart - Not experienced enough
Robert Green - Neither

Or the idea that dropping Green puts too much pressure on the untested Hart, but James has enough experience coming back from mistakes?

Yes but 'getting too old' isn't really an appraisal of competency to do the job? Dino Zoff was 40 when he won the world cup

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Yes but 'getting too old' isn't really an appraisal of competency to do the job? Dino Zoff was 40 when he won the world cup

And Peter Shilton was 40 when we reached the Semi finals of Italia '90

 

[Rookie]

Or to look another way:

David James - Getting too old
Joe Hart - Not experienced enough
Robert Green - Neither

Or the idea that dropping Green puts too much pressure on the untested Hart, but James has enough experience coming back from mistakes?

How do you get experience if you don't get played? German keeper not exactly got bundles of caps of tournament experience