NationStates Jolt Archive

Has England's favourite/least-favourite (depending on your viewpoint) Swede finally lost all credibility? Not over various affairs or dodgy-dealings but a genuinely awful display of 'tactics' in the friendly against Holland yesterday (9th Feb 2005). How much longer can he get away with putting players in totally inappropriate positions, bizarre squad changes and the like? Is he just after the money?

Should we chuck Sven.. or give him another chance?

There's a reason he's not coach of OUR football team... :p

Has England's favourite/least-favourite (depending on your viewpoint) Swede finally lost all credibility? Not over various affairs or dodgy-dealings but a genuinely awful display of 'tactics' in the friendly against Holland yesterday (9th Feb 2005). How much longer can he get away with putting players in totally inappropriate positions, bizarre squad changes and the like? Is he just after the money?

Should we chuck Sven.. or give him another chance?

You asking the wrong question....afterall friendlies mean nothing inthe scheme of things like competative matches....whats his record on those? Thats what you/we should concern ourselves with...

Has he lost it? He never had it. Totally overrated.

There's a reason he's not coach of OUR football team... :p
yea, theres a reason why he doesnt manage us either...

because were shit :D

You asking the wrong question....afterall friendlies mean nothing inthe scheme of things like competative matches....whats his record on those? Thats what you/we should concern ourselves with...

Ditto, competitive matches is where it counts. . . .

Has he lost it? He never had it. Totally overrated.

. . . . but then again.

I just can't decide on this one :(

There's a reason he's not coach of OUR football team... :p
On the face of it though he looked as if he had a decent track record before the England job. He'd been in Italian football for a while including managing Lazio through a fairly productive spell.

Then he got fired unceremoniously. Reckon we should have noticed that?

Well he had a clear oppurtunity to play his favoured 4-4-2 system yesterday, with an actual left winger who is left footed, a right winger who is playing better than beckham and a midfield two of gerrard and lampard who both work for the team, have quality and can complement each other nicely...what do we get, a waste of a 4-3-3 system that lacks imagination, andy johnson playing on the right (what the hell was that about?) and a tepid draw for a result....meh

But as for sven in actual competitions, we may as well keep him, we have done ourselves proud in WC2002 and EC2004 in my opinion. Losing to eventual winners and going out on penalties is nothing to be ashamed about.

But as for sven in actual competitions, we may as well keep him, we have done ourselves proud in WC2002 and EC2004 in my opinion. Losing to eventual winners and going out on penalties is nothing to be ashamed about.
Now let's just get one thing straight.. WE DID NOT LOSE TO PORTUGAL IN EURO2004!!

AND.. massive praise and respect for Rep. of Ireland after they tonked the cheating Algarvians yesterday.

Now let's just get one thing straight.. WE DID NOT LOSE TO PORTUGAL IN EURO2004!!

Whatever you say dear.....*nod* ;) :p :D

AND.. massive praise and respect for Rep. of Ireland after they tonked the cheating Algarvians yesterday.

Damn straight! And an ex-player of my team (the never quite mighty Bradford City), andy o'brian, got the goal too...ah smugness :cool:

Whatever you say dear.....*nod* ;) :p :D



Damn straight! And an ex-player of my team (the never quite mighty Bradford City), andy o'brian, got the goal too...ah smugness :cool:

Leeds here...

I remember seeing the fire on telly live...glad to see that you guys are still around....

Has he lost it? He never had it. Totally overrated.

Here here!
I'm worried about the Andy Johnson thing though...
How many players has Sony-Ericsson:
a) Played out of position
b) Played for a fith of the match time
and we've never seen 'em again.

I'll give the man his dues... he's good at making a scape-goat if nowt else!




An ex-player of my team (the never quite mighty Bradford City), andy o'brian, got the goal too...ah smugness :cool:

Ah, my home-town team.
Thank the footballing gods my Dad was a Forest fan. Gotta' follow the line. ;)

Ah, my home-town team.
Thank the footballing gods my Dad was a Forest fan. Gotta' follow the line. ;)

:mad: Traitor!!!!! ;)


Well my family was either Everton or Bradford (i live near manchester and there was no way in hell i was gonna support Man Utd!!!!) so i chose bradford, but i keep an eye on how the blues do, as well as my gf's team, who are Birmingham City...

In fact its really a list of teams i keep an eye on, and those i really don't like much....

Leeds here...

I remember seeing the fire on telly live...glad to see that you guys are still around....

I don't mind Leeds much, we both know how the teams live at the less well off end of football...that said so do forest atm...oh yeah *shouts* Forest Stop Trying To Nick Our Goalie!!!!! :p But it will be nice to see the two of you in league 1 next year! :p

:mad: Traitor!!!!! ;)


*shouts* Forest Stop Trying To Nick Our Goalie!!!!! :p But it will be nice to see the two of you in league 1 next year! :p

Very much so. Be nice to get beat 4-1 off teams of the Milton Keynes Ilk :p

Went to see City at Hartlepool at the start of the season... looked good. Shame you lot couldn't keep hold of Big Dele.
Now, where's that new keeper of ours? ;)

Almost gave up on football as a kid, myself.
I'm a fully paid up card carrying Bradford Bulls man these days.

Well, gotta' have at least one sporting team that wins stuff, eh?!

Yeah, I don't think we should forget this achievement:

Germany 2-2 Argentina.

Germany are doing a good job of rebuilding themselves after Euro '04. That's two draws against Brazil and Argentina recently - you don't get much better than that.

With regards to the actual issue, I was disappointed that Johnson didn't get more of the game. It's not as if he doesn't deserve it. Getting the number of goals he has done with Crystal Palace (who, let's face it, aren't brilliant) has got to mean something, and Ericsson was a bit of a ______ (insert offensive term here) to call ten minutes out of position a 'debut'. Ericsson should be shot...or fired, either of the two will do.

Very much so. Be nice to get beat 4-1 off teams of the Milton Keynes Ilk :p

Went to see City at Hartlepool at the start of the season... looked good. Shame you lot couldn't keep hold of Big Dele.
Now, where's that new keeper of ours? ;)

Almost gave up on football as a kid, myself.
I'm a fully paid up card carrying Bradford Bulls man these days.

Well, gotta' have at least one sporting team that wins stuff, eh?!

Don't mention that game.... *Cries in corner*

Dele was good, pity he didn't score a few more...but i would have had him over Andy Cooke, although i think he needs more time to settle in. As for our Aussie goalkeeper, you lot can naff off! :p Henderson is a class act, and we got him for free, if we can make a pretty penny off him at the end of the season i will be happy, as he has done well for us and saved us many a game.

As for Rugby...i went to the grand final year before last when we beat St.Helens...MWAHAHHAHAHAHAHA now that was nice!

Now let's just get one thing straight.. WE DID NOT LOSE TO PORTUGAL IN EURO2004!!

AND.. massive praise and respect for Rep. of Ireland after they tonked the cheating Algarvians yesterday.
häähää. I really enjoyed that game :D

Although last night's match was boring.... have to say Sven's trying something new here.

Sven's trying to play the 4-3-3 system adopted by Mourinho (Rather than the diamond 4-4-2 or normal 4-4-2), where it's 4-5-1 when it defends, and attack it changes to 4-3-3 (With Owen in the centre striker, followed by 2 wingers).

And of course, since this is a international friendly, with no stakes on the table, it would be a good time to test out new formations and the new players. Which of course, the results did not show.

I don't think Sven has lost it yet. In all competetive tournaments Sven has done statistically well so far, only losing to some big nation teams in matches that counts. Either than that, it's the friendlies where they can fool around and Sven can do all kinds of tinkering.

(Imagine how often do the English team get together and train? Not alot if you ask me, so this friendly match would be the best time to start doing all sorts of crazy stuff).

City and Aussie Golies, what is it?!

He's looked tasty when you've been on the telly this year.
Whatever happened to Alan Coombe? I rated him no end.
If you need another striker I'm sure David Johnson'll play for you guys on loan till the end of the season now he's out of favour with Megson.
Now he's quality.


As for the GF... It was Wigan the last team we beat in a GF.

Has he lost it? He never had it. Totally overrated.
You're right! We want that bloke in charge that led us to a 5-1 win over the Germans in Germany in charge.

If not him, then we want that bloke that is unbeaten managing a British team through 90 minutes of competitive football.

What are there names eh? I forget...

Friendlies mean precisely nothing. Sven just toys with tactics and game plans in them. This is self evident from playing Johnson and Downing out of position. You think if he was going to play Johnson competitively he'd put him out on the wing? No. But if you wanted to give a rookie 30 minutes of top level experience against an exceptional team in a formation that doesn't really suit anyone... No problemo.

It really cracks me up when people diss Eriksson for what he does in friendlies. Look at the big picture in future eh lads? :headbang:

Friendlies mean precisely nothing. Sven just toys with tactics and game plans in them. This is self evident from playing Johnson and Downing out of position. You think if he was going to play Johnson competitively he'd put him out on the wing? No. But if you wanted to give a rookie 30 minutes of top level experience against an exceptional team in a formation that doesn't really suit anyone... No problemo.

Absolutely seconded!

You're right! We want that bloke in charge that led us to a 5-1 win over the Germans in Germany in charge.

If not him, then we want that bloke that is unbeaten managing a British team through 90 minutes of competitive football.

What are there names eh? I forget.I want the Brits to fire sony-Eriiksson.

*is fan of Argentina* :D

You're right! We want that bloke in charge that led us to a 5-1 win over the Germans in Germany in charge.

If not him, then we want that bloke that is unbeaten managing a British team through 90 minutes of competitive football.

What are there names eh? I forget...

It really cracks me up when people diss Eriksson for what he does in friendlies. Look at the big picture in future eh lads? :headbang:

How about the possibility of us winning a major competition if Sven takes friendlies seriously?
I'd like to think if the team had that little extra spirit, belief or passion then maybe we would have been European Championship holders.

Also to add...
Why stick with a captain that never captains his club side?
We have the perfect option in John Terry but it isn't used.

To be fair we had a friendly with a very good team in the Dutch, I mean their strike force is brutal. The England defence wasn't IMO its strongest, I would say that John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Cambell and Ledly King are all better than the two centre backs we had playing. Rooney was ineffective if not anonomous until he got substituted.
Lastly what are we actually complaining about because we didn't even lose this match that actually ment nothing as mentioned earlier

i know poop about football but i like watching england. sven seems alright to me. fair play to him for staying in the job so long, not being hounded out by people who don't like the cut of his jib like every other one i can remember.

IMo, Jamie Carragher did a good job. :p

But their attack wasn't the most tenacious the Dutch could have thrown at England.

Why stick with a captain that never captains his club side?
We have the perfect option in John Terry but it isn't used.
Because he captains well? And I don't care if you think he does or not. His teammates and manager appear to. And our opinions and those of the tabloids don't actually matter.#

John Terry "wasn't available".

Please learn to differentiate between friendlies and competitive fixtures. ;)

Friendlies mean precisely nothing. Sven just toys with tactics and game plans in them. This is self evident from playing Johnson and Downing out of position. You think if he was going to play Johnson competitively he'd put him out on the wing? No. But if you wanted to give a rookie 30 minutes of top level experience against an exceptional team in a formation that doesn't really suit anyone... No problemo.

It really cracks me up when people diss Eriksson for what he does in friendlies. Look at the big picture in future eh lads? :headbang:
Alriiighty then. Lots of good points going on around here. However:

a) the first four (or was it six?) centre-back choices were all injured, including King, Ferdinand, Campbell, Woodgate. That's why Brown and Carragher got a run out and credit where it's due, they held the line. Carragher was happy to run upfield into attack at times as well.

b) if you're going to screw around with the formation, you do it in training first. Before the "yes but friendlies are training" arguments start again, I'm talking effectiveness-training. Friendlies are used as pressure-training: putting all the training ground stuff together and testing it in a pressured environment. The training ground is where that formation should have been either discarded or taken seriously. You can't tell me that they had 4-3-3 working as effectively as Chelsea on the training ground but then it all just went 'phzzt' in the match.

c) same point as b) for the squad: if you're thinking of putting Johnson in as a winger you make him play there in training. If he grumbles, moans and plays crap, as the manager, you slap him, tell him to shut up and think about playing him somewhere else.

d) Holland were what England should have been in terms of a team. They had a very young team who probably hadn't all played competitively together. The difference was that they looked like they'd been playing in the same team all their lives, in a formation they'd used since they were in nappies. I think this is due to having a manager who knows what to do on the training ground and what to do in friendlies.

Last night's match was boring but it was a friendly.

As many others have said, Sven does do better in tournaments...

Personally, I think that Sven should have played Downing and Johnson for the full match instead of less than half a match.

In terms of formation, if its not working, change formation, so you can try out new tactics and see if they work.

John Terry "wasn't available".



I'm well aware of the fact that Terry (was) pulled out of the squad. IMO that lad has got the balls for a battle and could rally the lads well.


Please learn to differentiate between friendlies and competitive fixtures. ;)

I know the difference, lad. But I think he takes it a step or so too far, which is why I'm happy the rule was bought in to prevent him playing 22 players per game.

If Sven is that much of a 'tinker-man' then why not try another captain in his friendlies??
I'm not convinced with Owen as a cpt, but then I never was with Shearer or Centre Forwards in general.

Stevie G for Captainship!!! :)

Either than that, Lampard or a defender. IMO, central attacking/holding midfielder should be captains.

Stevie G for Captainship!!! :)

Either than that, Lampard or a defender. IMO, central attacking/holding midfielder should be captains.
Yeah, that Bobby Moore bloke was crap. :rolleyes:

CENTRE BACKS FOREVER!!

As many others have said, Sven does do better in tournaments...
He does.. because he just lets the players get on with what they do best: scoring a scrappy goal or two (unless rooney gets some decent service), giving the ball away a lot but just about holding on for the win.

Munich is a distant memory... what the hell, I'm going back to Championship Manager. I shall conquer the world.. with West Brom!!

Has England's favourite/least-favourite (depending on your viewpoint) Swede finally lost all credibility? Not over various affairs or dodgy-dealings but a genuinely awful display of 'tactics' in the friendly against Holland yesterday (9th Feb 2005). How much longer can he get away with putting players in totally inappropriate positions, bizarre squad changes and the like? Is he just after the money?

Should we chuck Sven.. or give him another chance?

What the hell do you think friendlies are for?? You gotta try new things out in meaningless games. Fool of the world.

What the hell do you think friendlies are for?? You gotta try new things out in meaningless games. Fool of the world.

Seconded. We don't need to do out best and thrash everybody for pride and get a few players injured 2/3's of the premiership, second round of the Champions league, and approaching the quarter finals for the FA cup.

Munich is a distant memory... what the hell, I'm going back to Championship Manager. I shall conquer the world.. with West Brom!!

Pah, i won back to back prems with Bradford City (first one won on a +2 goal difference over arsenal...talk about close) and won the champions league beating barca 4-1 in the final...who says its not realistic eh? ;) :D

I think Sven just wanted to make AJ look bad (didn't work) by playing him out of position and then using that excuse not to pick him again, DISGRACE!!!

Pah, i won back to back prems with Bradford City (first one won on a +2 goal difference over arsenal...talk about close) and won the champions league beating barca 4-1 in the final...who says its not realistic eh? ;) :D

I nearly beat the Arse in the FA cup final with.....Boston United! BWAAAHAHA!!!

What the hell do you think friendlies are for?? You gotta try new things out in meaningless games. Fool of the world.
Fool of the world, eh? Fortunately for you I see using insults based on literacy skill as bad form, but please read posts above to see what 'training' should happen in friendly matches and what should happen on the training ground.

GRRR... F*CKING REFEREES. Just watched Spurs vs WBA which is why am ever so slightly :mad: . For the record:
1) striker takes shot (attempts lift over keeper)
2) keeper deflects ball (into defender's path)
3) keeper takes out striker (accidentally)
Sequence of event DOES NOT result in a penalty being given.

And for future reference Mr Styles, you do not give a yellow card for a shirt-tug. Here's your P45, get out of my sight.