What do we think. How rubbish were England??
Awful is not strong enough, but stand back and think from last nights fringe players getting an outing, what sort of team we could field if we were at strength.
I propose that a back 3 of Terry, Woodgate and Rio-the-camel-face, with Richards attacking down the right and Cole doing the same on the left, with Rooney and Lennon up front and a midfield of Lampard, Joe Cole and Gerrard has the makings of a hell of a team.
imagine the bench too. Carrick, Owen, Hargreaves, Wright-Phillips, Crouch and so many others.
All we would need then is a managaer who can inspire them.
What say the panel?

Nobody has mentioned Steve Copple. Doing a fine job at Reading. I suppose he has the Keegan blotch on his record when he walked out on Palace.

bring howard wilkinson back !! well, if you're gonna play long ball you might as well do it properly ;)

i think too much is being made of it. it was a meaningless friendly. the only people pleased will be the regular players who are now feeling comfortable knowing that their places arn't under threat.

I know nowt about football (I'm a Leeds fan after all) but the team and tactics were very "retro" and I thought friendlies were all about experimenting and challanging the old ways of thinking. A unique opportunity to do it differently. After all. If you do what you always did - you will get what you always got. Therefore an opportunity wasted.
If we ever play a pygmy nation then Crouch should start. Other than that he'll make a good ball boy, one day.
Fill it with pace and fluidity. Make the opposition play deep, not knowing where the next threat is coming from and keep it to feet. We are making the game look like headball and in these days of football becoming a non-contact sport all we do is offer free kicks to the opposition all the time.
alan

alan, i agree with you about what should happen in friendlies. unfortunately, at this point in the season, the players wont be giving it 100% because it's a crucial time for their clubs. titles are getting closer to being won and lost, the champion's league begins again very soon and managers will be telling their players to make sure they don't come back injured. it was a pointless game and should never have been played. you onyl have to listen to a few interviews with the players after the match to realise that nobody gave a shit.

In looking at future England managers, don't overlook Aidy Boothroyd.Got the Hornets promotion last year when they were favourites for relegation at the start of the season. OK, not set the Premiership alight, but realises what he has (or has not) presently got to work with and also aware that better to accumulate some cash this time around and make more serious attempt at staying up next time around. Determined and shows lots of common sense, a characteristic which is sadly lacking in so many areas today.

Hewittalan - Who is the grass then ?

Wish I knew, FV. If I did know I would be selling it to Fleet Street not putting it on here!!
Can't see the issue, myself. They are all crap so which paticular talentless prick plays where seems irrelevant to me...................

A bit depressed after a win aren't we ?

Serious Q - Will Leeds survive, and how are Dennis/Poyet geeting on ? and what do the leeds fans think having Chelsea boys on board (inc Santa at the helm)

Not massively impressed with either KB or DW. Should have been a dream team, but fans are wondering how DW is still in a job after the results he's got.
I think Leeds will survive, albeit by the skin of their teeth. Its astonishing that the run of results for Southend, Barnsley, Hull et al has meant that 6 points from 6 saw us move from 2nd bottom to bottom!! I don't think that can continue and it is starting to look very bunched for the bottom 6, so there is hope.
I just cannot believe how quickly Leeds have gone from a side playing at the Nou Camp and winning in the San Siro to staring relegation to theird tier.
It is a frightenting lesson for all the other big clubs. Even when you are feared throughout Europe and fielding a team of world class players, be careful how you spend. It can be gone so quickly.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea etc. take note.................

I'd give Dennis some time, although as a CFC fan was extremely surprised he joined you. Am abivalent about whether you drop or not . In one sense it's a shame we're not having our 2 match rivalry each year, and in all honesty playing Fulham, Wigan or Watford doesn't really excite much.

I'd also suggest that Leeds pushed the spending to the limit - all the clubs you quote (and mine) do have foundations in place. For the Mancs, pool and us, its wealthy benefactors, for Newcastle its a large fan base, and controlled spending. Leeds sold their ground (I believe) and then hocked the future, with a naieve manager who whilst spending a fortune, span the myth that he had built a home grown team. If only someone in the boardroom had the guts to stand up to your Chairman perhaps you wouldn't be where you are. That to me is where Ken will kick some sense back into your club.

Agree FV. The key is the fan base. Leeds have that and it would be safe to say that ten years from now they will be back to the Top 6 (in Premiership that is). They are still paying for spending money that they did not have. The other key thing is the wage bill: Manchester and Newcastle United's have kept their ratio at around 50%. But remember that Newcastle were hovering in the then First Division relegation zone until Keegan joined. People love to jeer at Keegan because he is seen as having lost the Title - in fact, if you look at the results, Man U won it with a fantastic run of results; Newcastle had two critical thrillers with Liverpool and Balckburn, both of which they lost 4-3. OK, better to have won 1-0, but that was the downside of Keegan. Don't know whether Wise can turn it round but someone will. As for Coppell, he has done brilliantly at Reading and you see parallels to O'Neill's performance at Wycombe. Best not to rush into it.

Eric