He's called back 2 goals, the last of which was Malta's pk. I've never heard a successful pk called back. The second attempt is apparently now being called a Wright og. Poor lad. What's going on? Anyone watching? I'm listening to it on Capital Gold's webcast, so can't expect anything coherent from Jonathan Pierce. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Answers

Seems that a Malta player was encroaching the area when the penalty was taken.

England started well for ten minutes or so, went off the boil, had Keown's 'goal' ruled off cos the Muchkin was offside (tw@t) they then plodded around for a while, Keown scored a good goal from a Poshpuff free kick, then Malta got the penalty, scored their first ever goal against England and the rest of the first half somewaht resembled headless chickens.

Shearer had a couple of chances that he really should have put away (I hope he doesn't play the second half) and the Munchkin has also missed a couple of easy chances, one of which would actually have been easier to score.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Try radio 5 Live on-line stream. It is a little better than Capital Gold.....mind you, substitute Jonathon Pierce for Alan (I'm such a total tw@t) Green and I'm not si sure it would be better

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Well Shearer is off early in the 2nd half....turned his ankle. He's apparently got ice on it now. Lovely. Hopefully it's not too serious.

I was getting rather annoyed with Pierce and co at halftime going on about Shearer missing his chances...but nothing about Mr M Side-Netting-Please Munchkin. *sigh*

Now the Munchkin is being pulled off..probably to clean Shearer's boots now they're off. ;-))

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

I think the ref has thing against any team scoring goals. Called back another one. Hope he's not doing any of the Euro2000 games

Have switched over to Radio 5, ITK. I see what you mean. Just as annoying, but better sound and less screaming. At least on their end...my screaming is the same. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Heskey goal......god this is pretty dire.

Malta are making their SEVENTH substitution......why are we playing this, and more to the point, why am I watching and listening to it!

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

What's the score?

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

2-1?

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Yes 2-1......typical last game before a major championship.......going through the motions....careful not to get injured........goals by Keown and Heskey with a Penalty to them

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

THye are obviulsy not playing to any form of EUFA or FIFA rules......Malta are now making thier TENTH substitution.......they will be subing the subs soon....try saying that when you've had a drink.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Penalty save by Richard Wright.......quite right too....it was never a penalty in the first place......the ref is an absolute disgrace....Malta are now about to sub their keeper and despite what I said before, this is the TENTH sub....the only player still on the field from the satrt is the guy who scored the penalty.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Malta have now changed the ENTIRE team......for Christ sake, who sanctioned this cr@p

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Sounded an absolute joke. Why call it a game? Sounded more like a poorly run training session.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

I think that is pretty much what it was.

The suggestion that it was simply a PR job to try and ensure that the Maltese vote for England for the 2006 World Cup seems to have a hell of a lot of credance.

The one thing for certain is.....if that is pretty much the shape of the starting line up for Euro 2000....and certainly at least six of them will line up against Portugal, then the one thing that is certain is that come the 20th June....they will be on their way home cos Portugal, Romania and Germany will slaughter them....we may even be out before the Romania game on the 20th.

I know this was not the kind of match that gives a decent appraisal of the players, but for f**ks sake, when Barmby looks the best player on the pitch, then we are in big trouble.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

I agree with you ITK, they were crap. I have to say Shearer has looked hopeless in these warm ups, Heskey looked a better bet today but Malta were tiring when he came on. Seems Old Al isn't getting the sevice he needs to thrive. It is bad when as you say Barmby looked like our best player.What is going on in the centre of defence? Malta mighty Malta were waltzing through us and could have won this 3-2 at the end. God help us come the real thing orrrrrr big orrrrr were they just taking things easy not to risk injury and waiting for the real thing to begin.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

but then again, Al doesn't have anything to prove in these warm ups.....he just has to jog through them......everyone knows what he can do, and only needs these games to keep his 'clock' ticking over while waiting for Portugal.

The munchkin did nowt to prove that he is no better than fifth line striker who wouldn't be there if Cole had been fit, Pauline proved that he is an yard and a half too slow, Heskey is basically just a big lump who can put it about a bit in the middle, and like today will occassionaly pick up the odd strike, which basically leaves us with YMO to partner Al........

I can see that a lot of our goals in Euro 2000, if we get any, are going to come from the likes of Beckham at dead ball situations, Keown on the end of free kicks and corners or Campbell bundling through at corners if Heskey is still on the bench.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

So England were going through the motions before the "big" games? Just like NUFC did prior to the FA Cup in 98 and 99. Worked well, too.
DOH!

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Horrible performance - even more embarrassing than the one v Scotland at Wembley, if you possibly imagine anything that bad.
BTW, Shearer's injury is a knee injury!!
Incidentally, I watched the game on Sky and thought the referee was spot on with all of his decisions, including both penalties.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Have to agree with you Clarky. What I can't understand is why he didn't sent Wright off after he conceded the second penalty.

We were cr@p today - Shearer included!

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

OoEr Missus! I think I`m just going to pretend that match didn`t happen. Maybe it was a deliberate smokescreen to make everyone think that we are rubbish?! If that was the game plan, then they certainly achieved their goal. It`s made me a bit nervous I can tell you. I don`t think I`ve seen England look less co-ordinated for ages. I actually don`t think the game was that important from the football point of view, but I was expecting a bit of a morale booster, and it just didn`t happen.(:o(

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Pilgrim,

I felt for Richard Wright, but he did the same thing in the playoff finals...but he is young he will learn. Not a good debut for him all in all. But he won't be used in Euro 2000, unless disater happens.

I reckon he didn't get sent off as it was only about 2 mins to go and a friendly, mind if he had been sent off it might have livened up the game a bit.....we play like that in Euro 2000 and we are in for a good arse kicking.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

There are two possible scenarios here Galaxy:-
1) we really are rubbish - truly as bad as several recent performances have suggested
2) we went out there just to have a gentle run out, fly the flag, and play at 75%, and met an opposition playing at 101% for their national pride.
It the latter happens to be the case then whoever decided to take the fixture should be summarily shot at dawn.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Clarky, I hope, in fact, suspect that it`s the 2nd scenario. But I also agree that the concept is not a good one. You really want to be going into a tournament on a high, not off the back of a game like that!(:o)

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Quote of the new Millenium in the Sunday Sun this morning from KK:-

"We must improve, fast!

Never one for understatement Wor Kev!!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Far too much respect....ball speed was lousy....no urgency....no width. The Football Unlimited said beckham had a good game at set pieces, he was crap.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Tm,
You comment on the ball speed. My son and I were also commenting during the game on how slow passes were being hit.
When The Toon were at their best during the KK era, the players would really ping their passes to each other with an expectation that they could be brought under instant control. We had players who were comfortable with that style, which is very important in breaking forward fast, and I understand this was a key feature of training in those days.
During the last season it was noticeable how reluctant the present Toon players were to really hit their passes - indicating a lack of confidence in their colleagues to instantly control the ball. This was also very apparent with England yesterday.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

utter sh*te , i agree .. Wise was bliddy awful .. his weight of pass was appalling .. not looking good in the centre of midfield either . Were bot the Neville's playing .. they were anonymous for chrissakes . Galaxy me and you both worried , and Auntie Al injured to boot . Of course the cat calling has started with Al taking the flak , and the 'cockernees' saying that elbow was deliberate . Funnily enough just before the game it was announced that the Maltese fella had been voted Maltas best looking man ... hmmmmm i wonder if Al heard the announcement too ? ; - )

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000