It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

England V Germany

Lets hope its not a backs to wall game from England.

Germans have 2 Benders in midfield.!!!!!!!

Glad Baines has been dropped in favour of Cole, means he will pull his finger out on Sat in M'side derby.

In the words of the Bard - 'fuck where did that come from !'

Walker gave the ball away far too many times.

Cleverly..........crap. England strikers including Rooney cant control ball under pressure. Southampton lad took his chance well, just about the only positive.

German second team and we cant even get their goalie a shot to save bar townsends one which hit the outside of the post.

Be lucky if we get through to last 16 this time.

Hope England dont get Chile or Germany in their group come June.

Easy to qualify when your seeded 1 in your qualifying group then first two teams you meet , at home , that aint cannon fodder ... and England crash !

Can't wait for the finals next year , probably beat Gibralter in your last warm up game and expect to win the bloody thing :-)

At least I'm a realist ... Wales are shite !

Watched a fair bit of German club football in recent years and been very impressed with their strategy, which is quite simply to play the game as it's meant to be played... passing the ball quickly in short to other team members.

We (UK Countries) on the other hand don't play that way so consequently fail over the medium/long term. I'm playing and coaching grass roots football now and the problem is right their at that basic level... Sadly in short we are in deep do do club wise and Internationally I will argue.

Stan the simple fact is there is to many foreign players in the English leagues and not enough English(Scotish,Welsh etc) being brought on that are world class players, the exception being Townsend who at least shows some skill and enthusiasm....

ROSS BARKLEY was shifting uncomfortably in his seat on the England team coach, flicking sheepish glances at his new international team-mates, when Steven Gerrard boarded, strode down the aisle and planted himself on the empty seat at the teenager’s side.

By: Paul JoycePublished: Sat, September 21, 2013
1Comments
Ross Barkley seems to have no intention of leaving Everton GETTY Ross Barkley seems to have no intention of leaving Everton [GETTY]

The thought of the Liverpool captain making a beeline for the new kid on the block, intent upon imparting career advice, would normally constitute every Evertonian’s worst nightmare.

An invitation for accusations of mischief making or, dare it be said, tapping up. But those at Goodison Park can feel reassured. “He told me that I’m a local lad playing for the team I support and there’s nothing better,” said Barkley.

“He said that the big-hitters are going to be looking at me and linked with me, but going to another team and not playing is no good for my development.

“That the main thing is I stay with the club I’m at, the team I support and the team I love, which is Everton.

“I love Everton and all I think about is playing for Everton.”

If the underlying sentiment from Gerrard was refreshingly sincere, Barkley acknowledges the whole scenario remains vaguely surreal.

His rise to prominence following his swaggering early-season displays under new Everton boss Roberto Martinez, culminating in his England debut as a substitute against Moldova earlier this month, suggests he is an overnight success story.

Yet the midfielder’s rise has seen him defy the doctors who said his career had been shattered, along with his leg, three years ago and overcome the sort of hurdles which would have tripped up others with less drive and determination.

There is a story that Everton scouts tell of Barkley running the two miles to the club’s former training ground, Bellefield, a couple of times a week from his house in Wavertree to train.

Barkley prefers to reel off the tale of another bus journey. A trek that took him to the site of the old academy in Netherton, on the other side of Liverpool, and one that provides context to his soaring fortunes.

“Mum used to have my sister to look after, so I had to get my own way there. I would get a bus to town and then another one out to Netherton,” said Barkley, who joined Everton aged 11.

“I used to get the 79, then the 58 or the 51A. The other way was to get a bus to Broadgreen and get the 61A. Either way it would take about an hour. It’s still fresh in my mind.

“It was only when I was 15, Everton started sorting me out with taxis.

“One player used to turn up and his mum and dad had a Bentley. I’d be waiting at the bus stop and they would ask me if I wanted a lift home, but I’d always say no because I was too embarrassed.

ross barkley, steven gerrard, liverpool, everton, wayne rooneyRoss Barkley competes for the ball with John Obi Mikel of Chelsea [GETTY]

I love Everton and all I think about is playing for Everton
Ross Barkley
“There were times I’d say yes and I’d be buzzing because I’d get home quick. But there were times I’d fall asleep on the bus and wake up at the stop after. I’d have to run back quick!” Barkley is both honest and candid in his first major interview, his outlook shaped by his mum, Diane, whom he regards as his biggest influence. But also by the experiences that have taught him to appreciate what he now has.

Though the double leg break suffered in October 2010 playing for England Under-19s against Belgium came in an accidental collision with his own team-mate, Liverpool’s Andre Wisdom, the decision to play Barkley at right-back in the game still rankles at Everton.

It left David Moyes calling at the youngster’s house to offer a holiday to Tenerife to recuperate and, more importantly, reassurance. “I looked up to Wayne Rooney,” said Barkley. “He had played for Everton when he was 16 and I wanted to do the same.

“I went away with England and David Moyes said when I got back he would give me my debut.

“It was a mad time. A week earlier the doctors [in Belgium] were telling me that my career could be over and then I got a phone call to say David Moyes was on his way round to speak to me.

“He sat us down and said to my mum that I was going to be OK.

“There was a load of kids outside our house when they heard that David Moyes was inside.”

It is under Martinez that Barkley is making rapid strides, the Spaniard prepared to put up with the errant passes the youngster still makes, in a way his predecessor Moyes was less inclined to, because he knows there is likely to be a sprinkling of stardust also.

“He said he believes I am going to be a big player for Everton this season and for seasons to come,” added Barkley.

“The only way you learn is from mistakes and Roberto is allowing me to make them so I can learn from them. He’s giving me information about where not to make mistakes and where I can afford to take risks so I’m taking all of that on board.”

The advice keeps coming and Barkley keeps listening.

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Can only hope he takes Gerrard's advice.

No G/B you're missing the point like so many others, again football is a "Team" game and whilst individual talent/ability is important it's more about "how" the game is played then the quality of the individuals playing it.

Smalling had a poor game I thought, along with a few other below par performances. Apart from Townend and 1 from Gerrard I don't recall many shots at the oppositions goal, their keeper didn't have much to do at all.
I think there is some merit in what G/B says.
2517

Too many foreign players??? England '74, '76, '78, '80?

Watched the Portugal v Sweden games (7:45 PM KO) switching to England for 15 minutes at the break and full time; it would help if the England players moved when they don't have the ball. Cahill looked poor v Chile, and Cole still seems to think pace will make up for his positioning - he's getting slower.

There aren't many home players playing abroad, but the number of foreign players playing here (Premier League) is a high %age in many teams.

How many home managers manage foreign teams?
How many foreign managers manage home teams?
2517

"Too many foreign players??? England '74, '76, '78, '80?"... Indeed Kid, indeed.

2517GEORGE,

Did the group of the same, mostly failing managers help?

23 man squad, say a pool of 30 English players required; who are able to retain the ball under pressure, know who they are going to pass to before they receive the ball - having had a choice of 2 or more because the players without the ball make themselves available, press in an organised way, and so on. The number of foreigners isn't stopping that.

Cheers,
KidA

It's quite amazing just how much money some of these footballers are making for being rubbish at their profession. I guess part of the problem is idiots like myself who get bored with all the rubbish on BBC television and subscribe to Sky Sports.

I couldn't possibly comment -):

LOL - that's not like you Stan.:-)

There's always an exception to the rule DB -):

One or two of you've mentioned 74, 76, 78, 80, but just because England did'nt get through to the finals Scotland. N Ireland, R O Ireland did which contained players who played in the English leagues.

I did have the pleasure of seeing England win the world cup in 1966....