Saw the line up and I thought 'Hmm!' cos it became clear that Lampard and Gerard were gonna play together. This is something that we've been trying to prise ourselves away from for years but thoswe two together is like a criminal record that keeps coming back to haunt you just when you think you've got over it.
Gerard and Lampard are great players (Gerard is the more exceptional) but they can't do it together. They both want to do the same thing and, in football techno parlance, they leave space in behind because of it. It's obvious they can't play together. Why do respected football pundits seem to be in denial about it. I like pundits. I value them but Andy Townsend was saying that it was rubbish about them not playing together. It's not though, is it? THEY CAN'T PLAY TOGETHER!
What do you do instead, though? I think Gerard is key but if Barry comes back, and he's become key, then Gerard gets moved. I just hope Gerard has a good World Cup cos he's a class act (on the pitch moreso than in niteclubs)
I've never really been keen on Rob Green and I wanted him to not do so well but I could never have wanted that calamity. I felt so sorry for him after that. He must've been so nervous cos his positioning was all wrong which is unusual for him. I think Capello has to play him again to keep his confidence, but I would prefer David James. He's been one of the best keepers in the Premiership over the last few years and he'll never get another chance (that's nt a reason to pick him, I know).
Anyway, enough of England for now. YES!! GO, GO GADJET GHANA! We done good, didn't we? I must admit, I did scream more enthusiastically for Ghana than I did for England. They worked so hard against Serbia, closing down quickly, looking solid defensively and a reasonable in attack. I wish we had Essien and Muntari. It was good when Appiah came on but it's the former two that we need if we're gonna progress in the tournament.
Germany looked superb in the evening. Unlike Ghana, who were too static up front, Germany had fantastic movement and that Ozil (obviously a Turk until they didn't qualify) was excellent, as was Podolski's strike (if Shaun Wright-Phillips had done that when through on goal, who knows?)
The one problem for me is that Ghana can only realistically get second spot. That means we'll face England in the knock-out stages. I just don't want that. Who can I support? I would hate that game, really cos I want Ghana to get further than they did last time around and I want England in the final. What to do!!
