Emile Heskey Called Up

[therockbox]

Confirmed team:

Robinson, Richards, Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole, Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Barry, J Cole, Owen, Heskey.

[wozzi]

What other striking options do we have on the bench?

[fineintent]

Initially I thought - Barry as a holding player? But then I remembered, we shouldn't really need a holding player against Israel.

[wozzi]

Heskey has a glorious record for England, 5 goals in 43 games.

:blink:

[therockbox]

Am I the only one that finds it odd to hear McClaren calling Gerrard 'Stevie G'? Maybe it's just me, but that seems like a nickname you'd give to your mate and not one given to you by your boss.

[therockbox]

Heskey has a glorious record for England, 5 goals in 43 games.

:blink:

[Crybaby Bunting]

Thats the problem with England, they often underestimate opposition. Israel is #2 in our group, Russia is #3 - We are #4 and cannot honestly think that we'll beat them comfortably. Sure we have the home advantage but they will fight for a win, they're not going to give up and think "pah its England... in England. Why not throw in the towel now?".

Russia have also played well throughout the group and we cannot think that they are a weaker team solely because they have players we haven't seen in the premiership.

[IAceI]

I don't really expect Israel to fight for anything more than a draw to be honest. A few counter attacks and corners and free kicks and then probably just a bit of defending. I don't neccessarily think they will be fighting for a win.

I'm trying to round people up to come watch it at the pub so we can shout at the referee, Steve McClaren and most of the underperforming England players.

[therockbox]

Wembley looks half empty.

Edited September 8, 2007 by therockbox

[The Quasi Juice]

Israel's anthem was awesome.

[IAceI]

Heskey has a glorious record for England, 5 goals in 43 games.

:blink:

Are you thick? He's not been picked to score goals, he's been picked to allow Owen to score goals.

[Baddar]

The mighty Heskey has been immense so far.

..Ok, we're only 12 minutes in, but still

And yeah, I think if England score tonight, they'll win. I can't see Israel scoring tbh.

[therockbox]

19 minutes in and we've resorted to hoofing it long already, I really hope it isn't another one of those games.

Good, it won't be

Edited September 8, 2007 by therockbox

[IAceI]

Despite being two places above us in the league, Israel are there insisting on playing the most negative formation divised by man.

Saying that, I think England are playing pretty well.

And saying that SWP scores a goal.

[wozzi]

Nice ball by Joe Cole for the goal.

[IAceI]

It's awesome we get a 20th minute goal really, something like that would have helped in so many games. If you score an early goal, the other team are fucked because they're all negative. So they have to either hold on to 1-0 and hope for a corner or a counter attack, or they have to go and attack, often leaving them spread out and easier to pick apart.

So great to get an early goal, no matter who scores it or how. As long as it's an early goal.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Gareth Barry is playing like a genius.

Owen and Heskey are holding up the ball and laying it off well but their shooting has been awful.

[Lord Nibbler]

A good 3-0 win, Owen scored the hardest of all his chances. Go figure.

SWP got MotM, deservedly. Everyone looked good, even if some of the finishing was dreadful.

[therockbox]

Only disappointing thing is that it doesn't matter that Barry/Heskey/SWP played well, when the usual suspects are fit they'll be back out of the squad.

[Whisper]

Haha, well played Heskey... second only to SWP in the man of the match stakes.

Hope everyone shuts up about Heskey now, it was the same when he was a regular. Yes, he's a mediocre footballer, but the guy is strong, he pushes defenders around and holds the ball up for players like Owen, Cole and Gerrard to play off. He's actually a nightmare for European defenders to deal with. And as someone said earlier, it's not a coincidence that Owen's best form has been partnering Heskey up front... I seem to remember a certain 5-1 win in which Heskey played and scored, not too many complaints then. But that's the English way... I remember sitting in a pub being one out of the ten people there defending Owen Hargreaves. Now look at it, a lot of people would have him as first choice. Fact is Heskey does a job, ask any Wigan fan, which is more than can be said for our other available would-be strikers.

EDIT ~ I love that when Johnson replaced him the ball barely got held up once, but of course that doesn't matter because Johnson scores goals right?

Oh... my mistake

Edited September 8, 2007 by Whisper in the Wind