Probably the BEST pre-match statement of the entire campaign...

[Easy 10]

"I believe there is a time and a moment for players to deliver and I think it will be on Saturday. If we fail we have to hold our hands up and say the talk of us being potential world champions was rubbish. If we don't deliver, then I will be talking on Saturday after the game saying that you have found the true measure of this team. I have said before this tournament that there are no excuses this time. We are not coming off that pitch on Saturday thinking 'we could have done this better' or 'we could have done that better'. We have got to make sure that if Portugal seem to be doing better in one area of the pitch, we have to deal with it. We have to fix that problem. We can't allow it to just slowly eat away at us during the match - we have to affect the game. We have to use our experience. We have got players in the team who, I think, will deliver on Saturday. This is it for us. In four years we will be in South Africa. It could be 45 degrees, we might not qualify, we could get a group of death. We have had a pretty decent track to this quarter-final and now we have got to beat Portugal to get to the World Cup semi-final. Is this England team capable of doing it? Can it do it? I believe the answer is yes."

Gary Neville



Absolutely SPOT ON, you bolshy, fluffy-chinned, abrasive manc.
Give that man the captaincy. Immediately.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

The only bugger is, he might not play

 

[CHAPPERS]

He's my HERO!

 

[Parson Henry]

"I believe there is a time and a moment for players to deliver and I think it will be on Saturday. If we fail we have to hold our hands up and say the talk of us being potential world champions was rubbish. If we don't deliver, then I will be talking on Saturday after the game saying that you have found the true measure of this team. I have said before this tournament that there are no excuses this time. We are not coming off that pitch on Saturday thinking 'we could have done this better' or 'we could have done that better'. We have got to make sure that if Portugal seem to be doing better in one area of the pitch, we have to deal with it. We have to fix that problem. We can't allow it to just slowly eat away at us during the match - we have to affect the game. We have to use our experience. We have got players in the team who, I think, will deliver on Saturday. This is it for us. In four years we will be in South Africa. It could be 45 degrees, we might not qualify, we could get a group of death. We have had a pretty decent track to this quarter-final and now we have got to beat Portugal to get to the World Cup semi-final. Is this England team capable of doing it? Can it do it? I believe the answer is yes."

Gary Neville



Absolutely SPOT ON, you bolshy, fluffy-chinned, abrasive manc.
Give that man the captaincy. Immediately.

Somewhat Henry V and also Churchillian. all Englishmen true and proper stand up and be counted. Look your enemy in the eye and stand straight in conflict.

We must prevail.

 

[Redhead]

Gary Neville Football Genius

 

[Marshy]

He will play, its looking like Ronaldo wont be either.

Portugal are there for the taking, we wont get a better chance.

A future Manager talking if i ever heard one.

 

[Albion Dan]

not bad for a total cock.

 

[Commander]

My opinion of him has just changed completely with that statement.

Easy, do you still think we should have left Rooney at home? Just curious, not having a go.

 

[Parson Henry]

not bad for a total cock.

Easy 10 is not a cock.

 

[Easy 10]

A future Manager talking if i ever heard one.

Damn straight.
In fact, just lock that mild-mannered slapheaded buffoon out of the dressing room tomorrow and let Neville do the team talk. I GUARANTEE England would benefit hugely from it.

 

[Sid James]

Never been able to stand him.

Always wanted him in the England team.

A true leader.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Damn straight.
In fact, just lock that mild-mannered slapheaded buffoon out of the dressing room tomorrow and let Neville do the team talk. I GUARANTEE England would benefit hugely from it.

I read in one of the papers that Terry had been asked to do a speech

 

[CHAPPERS]

Damn straight.
In fact, just lock that mild-mannered slapheaded buffoon out of the dressing room tomorrow and let Neville do the team talk. I GUARANTEE England would benefit hugely from it.

I read somewhere that Eriksson wants Terry to do one.

 

[Commander]

its looking like Ronaldo wont be either.

Where did you hear that?

 

[Easy 10]

My opinion of him has just changed completely with that statement.

Easy, do you still think we should have left Rooney at home? Just curious, not having a go.

Not now, no !

At the time, I said that IF Rooney couldn't even start kicking a ball until halfway through June (which pre-scan was the bleak/realistic forcast we were led to believe) then no, under those circmustances he should've stayed at home. Howwever, he has made a (suspiciously) miraculous recovery which leads me to believe the extent of the injury was, for some reason, exaggerated from the start.

I'm chuffed he's there. If we'd have known he'd be actually STARTING by the Sweden game, its a no-brainer to take him.

 

[Curious Orange]

Easy 10 is not a cock.

He's an inititiate of the Psychadelic Monks.

 

[Easy 10]

I read somewhere that Eriksson wants Terry to do one.

I've no problem with that. Sad that the manager needs to turn to the players to give the rallying call though isn't it.

 

[Scarface]

Wont it be winter during the next one in South Africa?

 

[tricky]

Great speech - but why does he think it will be 45 degress in the south african winter!!!

 

[Commander]

Wont it be winter during the next one in South Africa?

Yeah but still pretty hot I think, wuite close to the Equator. If Oz host the one after it will be right in the middle of their winter as well. As long as we dont play too far north where there is no winter.