England v Spain- Completely pointless?

[WhingForPresident]

I've written a little blog regarding the England v Spain game, with a few other ideas chucked in.
If you've got a bit of spare time, please have a read and feel free to chip in with any constructive criticism, alternate opinions or whatever else you fancy in this thread.
Cheers.
Football Friends - BLOGS - England v Spain- What is the point?

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

I believe a home fixture was part of the negotiation when we played Spain a couple of years ago in a friendly over there.

 

[Falkor]

What's the point, well our best striker is banned for 3 games, some of our best midfielder's have serious injuries, and i think we need to test another keeper other than Hart as if he gets a knock then in goal is looking weak.

 

[Arthur]

Because the FA are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

It's an international week so we need to find a fixture. If we play a side that is a complete push over people will moan that it's not good preparation for playing in major tournaments. If we do play someone decent you get this argument saying why bother, we're going to get stuffed and could do with a more competitive game.

 

[WhingForPresident]

What's the point, well our best striker is banned for 3 games, some of our best midfielder's have serious injuries, and i think we need to test another keeper other than Hart as if he gets a knock then in goal is looking weak.

Why play the best team in the world if we're missing half of our players and need to test new formations/players though? Getting stuffed by Spain with an experimental squad isn't exactly the best way for us to prepare for Euro 2012.

 

[WhingForPresident]

Because the FA are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

It's an international week so we need to find a fixture. If we play a side that is a complete push over people will moan that it's not good preparation for playing in major tournaments. If we do play someone decent you get this argument saying why bother, we're going to get stuffed and could do with a more competitive game.

This is true, but we are playing Sweden next week and I see them as the perfect opponents- fairly strong, but not so strong that we are going to get embarrassed. Sweden don't quite draw the crowds as much as Spain though I guess.

 

[Spiros]

Why play the best team in the world if we're missing half of our players and need to test new formations/players though? Getting stuffed by Spain with an experimental squad isn't exactly the best way for us to prepare for Euro 2012.

What makes you think that the team Spain put out will be 'the best team in the world' ie their world cup winning one? I think these games are essential for Capello (and his Spanish oppo) to try out different players in place of some key ones, especially a change of attack in the absence of Rooney. You need to know that what we're trying is going to make some headway against a decent side, not just against the likes of Wales

 

[Falkor]

Why play the best team in the world if we're missing half of our players and need to test new formations/players though? Getting stuffed by Spain with an experimental squad isn't exactly the best way for us to prepare for Euro 2012.

As we have to, as stated above it was part of the away fixture, and you have to play the best to beat the best, not saying we will, but why not test new players against the best team in the world, who should we be playing faroe islands?

 

[Pavilionaire]

I don't agree with much in that blog.

1. The point is England fans WILL turn up in numbers for this match and it will help pay for Wembley.
2. When the fixtures are set in advance nobody knows that Rooney, Gerrard, Wilshere etc won't be available. If they WERE all available it would be an interesting contest.
3. I like Defoe but saying in one breath he should be in the squad whilst saying in the other Bent has had chances and not taken them is contradictory.
4. I also like Crouch but I accept he's had his day. Redknapp's not stupid and he let him go to Stoke - says it all.
5. I don't think it's certain Spain will steamroller us - they'll probably win by the odd goal.
6. Poppies. Surely the FA could have avoided all this fuss by putting the poppy on the armband which is then not part of the shirt? I take the FIFA point about symbols on the shirt.

However, I agree with you about Micah Richards.

 

[WhingForPresident]

What makes you think that the team Spain put out will be 'the best team in the world' ie their world cup winning one? I think these games are essential for Capello (and his Spanish oppo) to try out different players in place of some key ones, especially a change of attack in the absence of Rooney. You need to know that what we're trying is going to make some headway against a decent side, not just against the likes of Wales

We were bloody woeful against Wales though, and that was with Rooney!
I agree that we need to see how we would cope against a top side of course, and we need to learn who our best strike partnership will be, but I can't help but feel that no matter what side Spain put out on Saturday, we really are going to be no closer to knowing who should be starting in the first game, as we just are not in the same league as them. Spain could turn up and have David Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Casillas and Torres on the bench, but they could replace them with Reina, Mata, Fabregas, Xabi Alonso and Llorente, five players that would walk into the England side. But hey, maybe I'm just being cynical.

 

[Arthur]

This is true, but we are playing Sweden next week and I see them as the perfect opponents- fairly strong, but not so strong that we are going to get embarrassed. Sweden don't quite draw the crowds as much as Spain though I guess.

Quite so, hence why the FA were doing ticket deals for both games.

However if we've got any plans on winning anything then we are going to having to beat the likes of Spain so as I say damned if they do and.....well you know the rest.

What makes you think that the team Spain put out will be 'the best team in the world' ie their world cup winning one? I think these games are essential for Capello (and his Spanish oppo) to try out different players in place of some key ones, especially a change of attack in the absence of Rooney. You need to know that what we're trying is going to make some headway against a decent side, not just against the likes of Wales

Spain put their 2nd string out against us in Seville a couple of years back and they were still too strong for us (granted it wasn't our strongest 11). Agree with you though.

 

[Meade's Ball]

I'm quite looking forward to it. Any chance we get to see that super-team in action is well worth it. If some of the bigger English egos get reminded that they're not as mighty as they're being told and sold as, then maybe they can channel their energies into becoming as good if possible, rather than already believing they are, or forever cursed by bad luck.
Playing against a team as obscenely outstanding as Spain means it's never an embarrassment to lose.

 

[Pavilionaire]

A lot of the players in the side or on the bench will be playing for a place in the Euro '12 squad, so there's plenty at stake for them. The Spanish team, on the other hand, picks itself and they know it. Therefore, we have the crowd and motivation on our side, in theory at least.

 

[brunswick]

a good way to win cash on spain to win by 2 clear goals

 

[Simster]

Spain will win with aplomb.

I'm actually looking forward to dickheads like John Terry being shown how to play football at the highest level.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Defoe doesn't start for Spurs at the moment.

Bent has 4 goals in 5 england games.

 

[Weststander]

I've written a little blog regarding the England v Spain game, with a few other ideas chucked in.
If you've got a bit of spare time, please have a read and feel free to chip in with any constructive criticism, alternate opinions or whatever else you fancy in this thread.
Cheers.
Football Friends - BLOGS - England v Spain- What is the point?

Yep. A comfortable Spanish win, will only tell us what we knew already, and knock the confidence of the younger England players.

 

[WhingForPresident]

In hindsight, I didn't really research this well enough- cheers for the constructive feedback, it's much appreciated.
[MENTION=258]Pavilionaire[/MENTION] and [MENTION=1530]mejonaNO12 aka riskit[/MENTION]- I have been owned a little there, I must admit.
There is just something about Darren Bent that makes me think he really is not up to playing at the top level, but the stats don't lie.
I think we'll take a 3-0 pasting to be honest, but maybe that is what the team needs; a little reminder of just how far away they are from being the best in the world. Maybe England will get battered, the media will write them off further, the pressure and expectation levels will be lower, and the team will go to the finals without the weight of the nation on their shoulders for a change.

 

[Badger]

No, this is pointless

 

[Mr Blobby]

The Spain game is a sell out so plenty of £££££££'s for the FA to go towards the Wembley debt! Many people dont appear to share your view this is a pointless game.

With Rooney and possibly Terry (if found guilt of racism) looking like they could miss the Euros then Capello needs to play some games with a new line up.