a_shearer
24-06-2000, 04:52:AM
I am beggining to see a problem with Kevin Keegan.
He is the agressive son of a bitch that we need to head this team. But he does not have the tactics. But mark my words I do not want to go back to the 0-0 days of Glen Hoddle, and neither do you. 0-0 is not and has never been English football! As someone once said "Bobby Robson was the most likeable, Graham Taylor the most bombastic, Terry Venables the most crafty and Glenn Hoddle the most stupid." But I think Keegan has it in him. If he could study and learn the brilliance of Sir Alf Ramsey then we would stand a shot at brilliance for the team.
Leave 0-0 to Italy and Brazil. They are glamour teams with glamour players that play glamour football. And they are BLOODY GOOD at it.
England are no good at glamour football on a consistent basis. We have lost our 'game'. We are a lost team struggling to imitate the winning strategies of Brazil and Italy and France. And its not working...
So what the hell was our game?
Our game was built by Art Ramsey.
Our game does not involve greats such as Zidane or Davids. Our game involves greats like Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks, and Ray Wilson. Those 11 in '66 were England's greatest ever. We have NEVER been able to reach their accomplishments.
And I think I know why.
We have forgotten what Ramsey gave us.
Ramsey was the ONLY England manager that gave us a coherent team which could defend, pass and score. Simple as that. He gave us players that could mark, tackle and pass accurately. With his tactics, that is all we needed. Not Zidane, del Piero, or Ronaldo.
Since 1966 we have usually been a couple of players short. In 1990 Bobby Robson lost to Germany on penalties. In 1996 we were one left-sided player short of beating the Germans again.
Sadly, in Euro 2000 we were about nine players short of a team. But we beat the Germans! (They were 11 short http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif)
We picked a team out of prior experience. Keegan thought that "these guys got us soooo close last time! Maybe again??"
They were no longer the men they once were. So ask yourself, who can mark, tackle and pass accurately?
Despite what you think of these men that failed us in the Netherlands and Belgium, despite your pre-conceptions on the club level, THINK.
What players fall into Ramsey's category of the best in all England?
I can think of two from our squad.
Paul Scholes & Alan Shearer. They are two English footballers at their best. If we had a squad molded in their character, we would win the World Cup.
Its a pity we don't....
Or do we?
I plea to Keegan!! Forget the lessons of 96' and 90'! The reason THOSE teams got so far was because THEY learned the lessons of 66'! Go back and evaluate THAT great team. Scour our great country from 3rd division up! Find our new George Cohen! Find a new Nobby Stiles! Dig up someone with the same class as Ray Wilson!
I have changed my mind. Youth is NOT the be all and end all of our squad! Sir Alf Ramsey IS! He showed us when English football could defeat the WORLD!
Show us again Kev'...
He is the agressive son of a bitch that we need to head this team. But he does not have the tactics. But mark my words I do not want to go back to the 0-0 days of Glen Hoddle, and neither do you. 0-0 is not and has never been English football! As someone once said "Bobby Robson was the most likeable, Graham Taylor the most bombastic, Terry Venables the most crafty and Glenn Hoddle the most stupid." But I think Keegan has it in him. If he could study and learn the brilliance of Sir Alf Ramsey then we would stand a shot at brilliance for the team.
Leave 0-0 to Italy and Brazil. They are glamour teams with glamour players that play glamour football. And they are BLOODY GOOD at it.
England are no good at glamour football on a consistent basis. We have lost our 'game'. We are a lost team struggling to imitate the winning strategies of Brazil and Italy and France. And its not working...
So what the hell was our game?
Our game was built by Art Ramsey.
Our game does not involve greats such as Zidane or Davids. Our game involves greats like Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks, and Ray Wilson. Those 11 in '66 were England's greatest ever. We have NEVER been able to reach their accomplishments.
And I think I know why.
We have forgotten what Ramsey gave us.
Ramsey was the ONLY England manager that gave us a coherent team which could defend, pass and score. Simple as that. He gave us players that could mark, tackle and pass accurately. With his tactics, that is all we needed. Not Zidane, del Piero, or Ronaldo.
Since 1966 we have usually been a couple of players short. In 1990 Bobby Robson lost to Germany on penalties. In 1996 we were one left-sided player short of beating the Germans again.
Sadly, in Euro 2000 we were about nine players short of a team. But we beat the Germans! (They were 11 short http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif)
We picked a team out of prior experience. Keegan thought that "these guys got us soooo close last time! Maybe again??"
They were no longer the men they once were. So ask yourself, who can mark, tackle and pass accurately?
Despite what you think of these men that failed us in the Netherlands and Belgium, despite your pre-conceptions on the club level, THINK.
What players fall into Ramsey's category of the best in all England?
I can think of two from our squad.
Paul Scholes & Alan Shearer. They are two English footballers at their best. If we had a squad molded in their character, we would win the World Cup.
Its a pity we don't....
Or do we?
I plea to Keegan!! Forget the lessons of 96' and 90'! The reason THOSE teams got so far was because THEY learned the lessons of 66'! Go back and evaluate THAT great team. Scour our great country from 3rd division up! Find our new George Cohen! Find a new Nobby Stiles! Dig up someone with the same class as Ray Wilson!
I have changed my mind. Youth is NOT the be all and end all of our squad! Sir Alf Ramsey IS! He showed us when English football could defeat the WORLD!
Show us again Kev'...