Thought I'd start a football blog, we might keep this going until 2010.....England doing well....did not see the match or even the goals....I'd like Michael owen back in the squad though....and I think Peter Crouch would make a very good substitute...remember against Argentina in Geneva a few years ago....with Michael Owen and some very good movements on and off the ball...they caused havoc.....did see Scotland's missed chance....that could be very costly losing those 2 points !.

lol , it happens everytime and is about as close as you can get to a sure fire bet behind Wales never qualifying.

I hope Joe Cole will be fit and playing...a rare player that creates space....

He's fine when England are dominating a match.

RF.Joe Cole without doubt has a natural talenthe reminds me of Gazza in many wayswhat frustrates me about him is the % of times he gives the ball awayI dont count wide ball crosseswhich is a calculated play or even defensive clearancesbig punt up field when under pressure?but the amount of time he gives the ball away when there is an option within yards frustrates meI dont mind flair players that take on last defenders when the opportunity presents itselfbut he does not seem to be able to weigh up the risk factor in situationsif I was his managerhe would have a perforated ear drum

joe cole...overrated english player....he is like a less skillfull version of david ginola with a less gay haircut

you take rooney out of the england team and they will struggle

Brazil versus Spain in the Final for me with England going out in the quarters as usual.

don think i will ever see scotland at a world cup final i am afraid...our game is dying..we are the new wales

The Spanish might bump into Brazil before the final....in the quarter or the semis finals....just depends on how the draw pans out....

I believe one of the major factors in any team performing well is the shape and discipline of the playersa blunt spear formation 4-4-2 that continually follow the ball in shape and at pace in a offensive position the back four should be up on the halfway linewith a minimum 3 to 2 coverand possibly releasing one defender the two forwards on the last defenderready to make their runsmidfield for options to create and divertthe opposition with the same shape and discipline should cancel if this is performed equally then simply the best team will winsimples!! if not?the most disciplined will winthe two best examples in our league are Man Utd. and Arsenalthey keep shape with pacethey very rarely leave holes for opposition to exploitbut when they doas was shown when United played Besiktasthe very best can get stuffedok they had a few young lads inbut WelbeckObertanGibson are highly ratedand it was not quality that beat Unitedbut diciplinethey were clearly the better teambut gave the opposition little respectand got what they deservedAlex was quite on cameraI think training could have been different
Trigwhat you need is a class Managernot easy for Scotland to attractbut you need to break the Bank!
Kinda agree with you on Brazil and Spainbut Spain have been known to bottle it on many occasionsEngland have a small shoutand are clear 3rd favs.

Note that the media are already hyping us into the semis - when will these muppets (and all those idiotic readers that buy this trash) ever learn ?

Let's win our group first....well I got 2 out of 3 with my so-called easy group....the USA might be difficult but I would expect England to win the group if they are in tip-top form, the Germans will not want to bump into us : that's for sure. I'm not sure that the Brazilians will win their group, there could be a situation where Ivory Coast clock up quite a few points and in their last match against North Korea, even with yellow cards and such : they get all 3 points which could leave Portugal and the Brazilians battling it out, the 5 times winners might need a win in the last game to go top and the Portugese needing a win to get second place....so how about a goal from Ronaldo with 5mn remaining and....it could end up with Brazil in second place to one of the others....underestimate "La Cote d'Ivoire" at your peril : they might top the group. Brazil are overrated....in the game against England : our problem was that nobody got in front of the shots on goal, now with a full England side, (That's if we make it that far) no way are the likes of Gerrard and sorts going to allow 20 yarders flying in without blocking them. One or two big boys won't top their groups : possibly France, Germany,or even the Cariocas (I think that's thier nickname)......all in all : England have a great chance to do something great next summer !. I bet France might opt for a different route to the quarters, tough group theirs...Mexico and Uruguay will be tricky and South Africa are playing at home.

lol it does make me laugh...the brazilians gave you a bit of a lesson a few weeks ago and now william hill have england as second favourites to win the thing ahead of brazil...come on...bet of the tournament is to lay england

RF...of course Brazil will win their group as will England....they will mee tin the semi's and for me there is only 1 winner...

i also would not fancy you in the final against spain

england out in semis...brazil spain final with brazil winning

i am supporting north korea

Not scotland ?

The international community has been pressing North Korea to return to talks on ending its nuclear programmePyongyang pulled out of the talks in April following widespread condemnation of a long-range missile launchTrigsupporting North Koreas football team wont make Scotland exempt from a rocket up its arse!!!

joe...in case you missed it scotland aint in it i am aftraid and the way things are going i dont think we will qualify again

snap

Congratulation to Ryan Giggs for his sports personality of the year award.I hope this is more than gonna make up for a league title medal that he aint gonna win this yearI am a strong believer in loyaltyalthough I can understand the contract breakers it is good to see all sports fans realise the allegiance Giggsy has with UnitedI hope they reward him and Scholes with a two year or more contract as for him being substituted for Owen at half timein their defeat against Villa.Fergason is losing the plotits like topping up your wine with lemonadeMan Utd. fall well short up frontthe thought of two goalscorers like Ronaldo and Tevez being replaced by Owen is laughable.RooneyBerbatov.have I missed anyone?..eerrrrr thats it!!!2/3 seasons for the younger ones to maybe hit the big time is pure hope and chancetheir neighbours will not struggle to field fresh strikersTevezSanta CruzAdebayorRobinhoBellamyWright-Phillipsto name but a fewrunners upbest united can hope for imo

Chelsea to win the league.....Aston Villa are doing fine....I think that Chelsea and ManU can do the double over the Milan pair....it might not be easy, and an away goal is a must....Arsenal should prevail as well, Porto are not the force they were a few years ago....and were mighty lucky to have knocked Manchester United out the year they won it...good Scholes goal disallowed if I remember. In the Europa league...anything can happen...wouldn't it be strange if Liverpool go on to win that trophy ?.

RF - wouldn't depart too far from your predictions but would say that the league is a two horse race, with Arse lying in 3rd. Villa certainly riding high at present but their problem is that they have to maintain this all year. City, Spurs and even the waiter will be putting the pressure on so whilst I hope you're right its gonna be some achievement if Villa do bag the 4th spot.

Usual beeb bias on the draw - forget all the big names - lets see who liverpool have got and ramble on about them. - Where are the governors and the regulators when you need them ?

The writing was on the wallMan Utd were given a lesson by the GentlemanRoy Hodgson at the weekendmy take fwiwget rid of Owen!!!
one shot that nearly hit the corner flagdoing around 3mphEbbsfleet might be interested in his services?In all honesty Ferguson needs to sign at least two superstarsInnesta and Mascherano would be my two choices to be the most influential in the United teamif he could also get Torreswho I think will eventually move back to his home Countryor RiberyChelsea will have something to saythey could get back to being a dominant force
Rafael Benitez who I believe joined Liverpool around 2004...is going slightly maddescribing referee Lee Mason as "perfect" with the defeat at Portsmouthhe could be on his wayplayers tend to follow??? five years for anyone in Liverpool is enoughnow might be the time to smash and grab the two superstars?

What will 2010 bring ?...a world cup win for England ?...dream on rf....anyway congratulations to Barcelona and Messi for a fabulous year and for winning the world club trophy....(in the new version : that's Europe 3 South America 3)....(old version ; intercontinental cup version it ended 21 wins for the South Americans and Europe with 20 wins)....the Europeans are starting to dominate the event now having won 3 in a row ....Barca have gone one better than ManU 1999 by winning the super cup as well and bringing themselves level with that greatest of all football teams Ajax of the early 1970's (that is the greatest football team ever to grace the planet by the way in my humble opinion), who first achieved that feat (treble plus supercup and intercontinental cup).

Happy new year to all...and may we have a great world cup !......PS : I made room for the trophy on a shelf....(well a copy anyway) !....now where's the rest of that pasta meal I was eating last night......glue, gold paint....can't remember where the hell I've put it....