Phillip Neville - most inept right back performance ever?

[CHAPPERS]

I'd rather have Robinson or Kirkland (when fit) in goal than James and all. Surely Gareth Barry would be a better bet at LB than Carragher, who is never going to be a long-term bet there

Can you please tell Eriksson that, pleeeaaasssee. How Barry is not making the England squads mystifies me. He has the most natural left foot in the league and is turning in good performances in the league consistently and IMHO has been more influential in Villa's improvement than Angel this season.

 

[Superseagull]

A few other points about last night....

1 What is the point in playing David james for the full 90 minutes when there were 3 other keepers in the squad? What did Sven learn form this?

2 Why bring on Emile (I just fall over alot) Heskey at the end when upto then our strikers looked threatening?

3 Why play Alan Smith wide on the right when everyone knows his best position is up front?

4. Why did all the England management team shake each others hands as if it was a job well done at the end of the match?

 

[beorhthelm]

I only hope Eriksson saw enough to realise the Neville is not up to International football because if he goes to the Championships this summer he is going to get found out.

found out? he's got away with it for this long, why not another tournament? Seriously, ive never understood how he got to where he is in football as he is just not very good. It as if both Fergie and Sven mistake him for his half decent brother (who, though not the greatest, can do a reasonable job of tackling and put in a good pass or two).

 

[JJ McClure]

3 Why play Alan Smith wide on the right when everyone knows his best position is up front?

Why play Alan Smith at all when everyone knows he is a

 

[Brighton Breezy]

I hope neither Butt or Neville get to go. Both mediocre players. Butt seems ok but has no skill and cant pass, being a busy bastard and tackling is not enough in the modern game.

 

[Falmer Dream]

Was Neville really inept or just inert?

 

[Spiros]

Was Neville really inept or just inert?

Both

 

[Mick Beard BHA]

Did anyone listen to the game on the radio rather than watch it on tv? I was a lazy b*stard and couldnae be arsed to go to my local to watch Ireland so i stayed in with the old wireless. The comentators (Greene, Butcher and, err, cant remember) just seemed utterly baffled by the whole game, and as a result i was too. In your esteemed opinions, did England gain anything at all from last night?

Btw, i believe all the 1 cp wonders deserve another chance although its probably too late for Euro 2004 now. I also agree that Gareth Barry deserves a shot (probably too late for him too )

 

[fleet]

I have never understood why Neville (s) continue to be viewed as being England material - and as for Southgate, don't get me started on that one.

 

[Thimble Keegan]

Personally I cannot do a lot of judging as I found it hard to concentrate whilst sitting in the stadium with a hangover. Therefore the only thing that stood out to me was those that appeared to be tying the hardest. For me they were: Rooney, Hargreaves and Defoe.

I thought Thompson was poor and he probably will not get selected again which will please some of those who were sat near me who expressed audilby their wish not to see him in the team.

Albion & England forever.

Thimble Keegan
Worthing BHA

 

[Mick Beard BHA]

Thompson deserved a chance though- and i believe deserves another crack in the future if he keeps up his good domestic AND EUROPEAN good form. When was the last time Joe Cole produced for either Chelsea or England?

 

[blue-shifted]

The thing that struck me from last night was that the players, who should be playing for their tickets to Portugal, looked as if they were more interested in going through the motions and not picking up a knock for saturday. The lack of skill of Neville, Butt and a few of the others has been know for a long time, but its the lack of desire to play for England that i'm most worried about.

Oh and not one of them sang the national anthem, at least there was nothing above a murmur. I don't think they know what it is to play for England.

I pretty much agree with playing Hargreaves at right back. He at least looked as if he was putting it in

 

[goldstone]

I'm not surprised the England players didn't sing the national anthem. It's crap! And anyway, why do they play the anthems before internationals? None of the players from any team bother to sing even if they do know the words and the fans just use it as an excuse to drown out their opponents anthem. Drop the playing of anthems say I!!

As far as the game was concerned ... probably the worst and most inept England performance I can remember. How can players good enough to be picked for their country (even if only second choice) not know how to pass the ball to someone in their own team? And in any case our second string should have been quite capable of beating the Swedes.

And I agree with the comments about Gareth Barry. Thompson was useless. And the same can be said for Neville, Butt and Carragher. And the central defence was hardly dominating. At least Defoe looked like he was interested.

Very, very disappointing!

 

[Lady Whistledown]

At last, someone else who thinks Jamie Carragher is an embarrassment. Dreadful player, even Liverpool fans don't know why he's in there.

No chance of him going, as Cole (can't defend, dives a lot) and Bridge (not quite international class but the 2nd best we have) will be on the plane.

Thank God for that.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Thank God I'm not the only one re Defoe, listening to the radio this morning you would have thought he had a hat trick. If he plays we need one ball for him and one for the rest of the team. He's a greedy, gap toothed pikey of the highest order and shouldn't be anywhere near the National team until he realises that its an 11 man game.

Neville was pony but we knew that anyway. It was a worse performance last night than the one against Romania when everyone was saying DONT SLIDE IN DONT SLIDE IN. Penalty. In answer to the original question he beats Keith Curle hands down.

think some people are still a little bitter about the under 21s game

 

[Stumpy Tim]

We have players who are in the squad beause they play for Man Utd & Liverpool IMHO. Phil Neville & Jamie Carragher wouldn't look out of place in Div 1 and should be nowhere near the Squad. And surely Paul Koncheskey, & JLloyd Samuel would be better bets for a friendly.

Why pick players who have proved they're not good enough for friendlies - surely they should be picking players who have an impression to make?

And don't get me started on the keeper. James is not consistent enough & should struggle to make the squad - Robinson is better, & Kirkland is better than Robinson (when fit).

Still, can't argue with one competitive defeat I suppose

 

[Rich Suvner]

probably the worst and most inept England performance I can remember

id probably put it second, behind a vague memory of turnip picking carlton palmer for england. cant remember the game, other than me and my dad laughing when palmer launched the ball into outer space, for it to eventually land about 50 yards ahead of any player in white. now, they were bad times.

as for jamie carragher, i'm gonna come to his defense. cant say i was overly impressed on weds but having NOT been a fan before this season he's won me over by simply being a solid left back for liverpool when i've watched them play. bridge offers more going forward, hence i'd pick him, cole is defensively too much a liability but still better than most, but i'd definitely have carragher as a squad player.