Which England player(s) emerged out of that TOURNAMENT with any credit?

[beorhthelm]

strong concensus there, which i went with too, James, A.Cole, Milner and Defoe. i think Gerrard was wasted on the left and think Barry actually had 3 good games but left exposed for pace today (no secret), so come away looking poorer than they were.

 

[surrey jim]

Ashley Cole and David James, Heskey for effort

 

[Marshy]

take off the Liverpool tinted specs.

His "good" World Cup lasted about 15 minutes.

And why was that...becauase the Italian Cock played him left midfield.

 

[crodonilson]

James
Cole
Lamps
Stevie G
Milner
Defoe

 

[scooter1]

To a man we were shocking, possibly with the exception of David James and to a point Ashley Cole. Cole was exposed by us not having a natural left sided midfielder, so his attempts to hack forward meant that there was always a huge hole left to exploit - and it was...
England were too predictable and too easy to play against/beat. Capellos refusal to change from a 4-4-2 and to adapt to the changes on the pitch left us looking woefully inadequate

 

[hans kraay fan club]

James was solid, but I don't think he covered himself in glory yesterday. Very slow off his line for the first goal. It was Upson's 'fault' but James could have rescued the situation. He might have done better with the third, too.

Ashley Cole did fine, and I though Johnson was good in the first two games.

Heskey did everything expected of him [including not score ]

The rest were terrible.

I can't believe people on here suggesting Gerrard did well. Madness. He was poor throughout and hit a real low yesteday. Not sure whether it is stupidity or ego, which made him think that the answer to being outclassed in a game was to try to do EVERYTHING himself, shooting [miles wide] from distance every time he got the ball.

 

[Skint Gull]

James proved he should have been in from the start, he's the only man who got my vote.

To be fair to Ashley Cole, and to an extent Glen Johnson and even John Terry they were caught out yesterday by Upson being total shite, Gerrard going wandering all over the place, and Barry not sticking with Ozil.

Prior to yesterday, our defence conceded a goal that was entirely a goalkeeping error. Upson was always the weak link in this defence, hence why Klose just sat on him the whole game, meaning that the rest of the back 4 were having to cover him as well as their own job.

James was decent throughout, then Cole, Johnson, and Terry were all decent before this game and maybe Ashley did enough in the previous 3 games to get a vote overall but I really can't see how anyone else is even considered.

Milner was awful in the first game (granted was ill), put about 2 decent crosses in against Slovenia, then awful again yesterday. Rooney was a disgrace (although again, must be unfit), Gerrard was headless apart from the 3rd game, Lampard hit the bar twice yesterday but did f*** all in all 4 games & Heskey is just so one dimensional.

 

[Mendoza]

None of them really, but I think Ashley Cole has been England's best player in the last two World Cups now, I also think he is a bit of a knob too. But credit where credits due

 

[Gritt23]

James gave a solid swansong to his International career .... it's Joe Hart from here for me.

Ashley did ok, and Milner put in some very dangerous crosses, but mixed that with some very poor play at times. I suppose Defoe did ok for a half in the 3rd Group game, and showed that maybe he could have made something of a few more caps.

That's about it, and I've struggled to make the list as comprehensive as I have.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

And why was that...becauase the Italian Cock played him left midfield.

If he was as good as we are led to believe he should still be able to play from there.

Maybe if he stopped playing 50 yard cross field ball out of play we might of done a bit better?

Saying that he did seem to care and he put in the effort.

 

[Mendoza]

If he was as good as we are led to believe he should still be able to play from there.

Maybe if he stopped playing 50 yard cross field ball out of play we might of done a bit better?

Saying that he did seem to care and he put in the effort.

Kick and Rush is a term I believe a certain German used. Rooney was doing it, Terry was doing it, Upson, Johnson, Lampard all did it. Worked ONCE

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Johnson and Cole for me.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

I thought Ashley Cole did Ok and Gerrard tried, and at least looked interested. James can't be blamed either.

However Cole didn't attack like he does for Chelsea because he had someone playing in front of him who was AWOL most of the time as he was being played out of position.

Why our two best players have both been played out of position is beyond me. Rooney plays up front for Utd on his own, and Gerrard plays in the middle for Liverpool.

For those who thought that Defoe was the answer after one goal, well think again. Was he on the pitch yesterday (to be fair were half of them?)

How many teams play a rigid 4 4 2 like we do?

How many Premier League teams do?

We shold have taken a genuine left sided player (Johnson?) and played 4 5 1, becoming 4 3 3 when we attack.

As for bringing Heskey on, well it beggars belief.

Having been to half a dozen major tournaments in my time following England I'm only glad I gave this one a miss.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Johnson and Cole for me.

Shows how it's a game of opinions - I thought Johnson was SHOCKING

 

[Box of Frogs]

james, milner, ashley cole

What he said - although I couldn't bring myself to vote for Cole!

Now I feel guilty!!

 

[sam86]

Suprised theres so much credit for David James. I thought he was SHOCKING yesterday.
And didn't really have anything to do in the other games.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

What he said - although I couldn't bring myself to vote for Cole!

Now I feel guilty!!

while the man is a complete tit, he's actually a very good player

 

[perth seagull]

Ashley Cole was the only player who performed well regularly.

James, King (if only briefly), Milner and Defoe all performed to the bare minimum standard expected.

The rest of the team were an utter disappointment.

Rooney was a disgrace.

 

[portslade seagull]

They are all overpaid and over rated. We need to drop the majority and give younger players a chance and also the FA need to impose a limit for the number of english players in premiership squads on matchdays

 

[Napper]

Cole although queston marks when the defence concedes 4

The final group game aside it was terrible all round really