Well Aaron captained a side stuffed 5 nil at home and YKD didn't exactly set the world on fire did he? Given and O Brien at least were on a winning side. Anyone know how they played?

YKD seemed a bit subdued and isolated on the left wing as Shearer pointed out on Sky (did you see his war wounds!) Wonder if he'll be in Sven's squad - I reckon so anyway, despite tonight.

Had to laugh at post match interview with Gerrard and Owen. Asked by Sky person if he had thanked Gerrard for setting him up for the first goal, Owen said he'd already thanked Gerrard in the showers. Oooh er!

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Answers

hmgph hmpgh hpmpgh....

Roughly translated means....good, i'm glad he didn't play too well, maybe now he'll get dropped and not go to the world cup and concentrate on playing for us....after all, he's done fuck all this year and really doesn't merit a place in the international squad...

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Didn't see it all but at the end of the Scotland game they were drooling about Kanu's performance .... "although when Gary Caldwell came on and did a man to man marking on him we did see less of him".

I think Gary Caldwell could well be Aaron Hughes in disguise

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

I think Bridge and YKD fell out before the match. Every time Bridge got the ball he cut in and played it right. After half time, the first three balls he played were straight down the left touchline.

Having said that, YKD missed a flippin' sitter and did little of note. I can only assume that he is going to be in Sven's squad because you don't play a bloke for 45 minutes out of position then tell him to b*gger off do you?

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

God.. how on earth did Paraguay qualify for the world cup?? They were terrible...N Ireland should have tried them - Maybe even they would have got something from the game.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Paraguay qualified by beating Brazil and holding Argentina to a draw. They were also missing their captain and keeper Chilavert who I would have loved to see play.

However, considering they flew in only yesterday you can't expect much from them, although they were poor. Gavilan's long ranger over the bar was probably their best attempt on goal which is saying something.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

I think the problem with YKD was Bridge seemed intent on running past him and delivering the crosses - he wanted to show his attacking ability so Dyer was basically a spectator.

When he did move infield his runs were ignored by the playmakers in midfield, but overall I think he'll be a little disappointed by his performance.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Did that match tell us anything we didn't know already ?

As far as I could tell, all we got from it was a reminder not to allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security.

Mind, Hargreaves and/or Cole being left behind will take some justifying.

If I was Bobby, I'd break the bank to try and tice either/both of them to Tyneside.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Jacko, I think he was just giving YKD a taste of what it is like to play LMF in a team that has not had one for years.

Now what other team do we know in that position?

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

O'Brien looked pretty good for Ireland. He definitely didn't make any big mistakes. He only played in the first half, and the Irish were all over the US for the first 15-20min. All the players were probably holding back a bit because conditions were dreadful. Heavy rain in the first half, massive puddles all over the pitch. They probably should have traded their boots for flippers! No point in anyone going all out and risking injury so close to the World Cup in a friendly. 2nd half was more disjointed as both sides made alot of substitutions.

Given played the full 90min, but didn't have a great deal to do. Though did make a fantastic save from Clint Mathis' Robert impression (rocket shot from long range). Shay turned it over the cross bar in full backwards dive.

Overall, I thought the teams were fairly evenly matched though the Irish just edged it with skill in passing. It would be interesting to see them play each other in dry weather to see what they can really do. Both times I've seen this match up it's been in monsoonal conditions, though at least this time I got to watch from the dry comfort of my living room! I think my boots have only just dried from Foxboro 2yrs ago! ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

ciara - I only saw the first 30 minutes of the Eire v USA game, plus ca.10 minutes during England's HT break.

The USA team seemed very similar to when I've seen them in the past - well organised (as you'd expect), and they pass the ball and retain possession well. These are basically the skills that can be honed through extensive practice. What they lack is real penetration in the final third of the pitch and a natural goalscorer - ie. natural skills.

I guess you probably just need to wait for such players to come along - however, perhaps there needs to be a greater emphasis on identifying such players and then allowing their natural skills to develop rather than over- coaching them - always a danger given the US phsyche.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

Worryingly I'm in agreement with Gav (nurse! my pills, please). Dyer is undoubted quality, but we need him concentrating on consolidation of United's European qualification.

I starting to feel uneasy every time one of our lads steps out for an international. Is there any way for players to be awarded honourary international places (as a mark of quality) but not have to actually play?

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

How did I know that posting was from Gav even before I saw the name?! Tend to agree, we need our players fit so was glad he came off at half time.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

Clarky, Bruce Arena intended to concentrate on defense last night after the disasterous showing in Germany last month and general lapse since the qualifying campaign. He's tried to find tougher opponents for all these friendlies to get the players(esp US-based ones) used to the higher level they'll face at the World Cup. You are right about the team needing a natural goal scorer. We've got alot of players who can score, but to me there's not really any 1 or 2 who are consistent, at their peak, and not injury prone. Though young players like Landon Donovan(2nd half sub and relatively anonymous last night) and Clint Mathis look to be the future and will probably be in the WC squad. They've got lots of talent, but not alot of top level international experience.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

ciara - I still think the US have done tremendously well to make the progress they have in World 'soccer' considering their starting point. It must be incredibly difficult for them, given the prevailing winning culture, and their domination of most of the pro sports that they participate in.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

Actually, they aren't under any real public pressure as most people have no idea what the World Cup is or it's importance in world sport. Time difference means games will be shown live, but conveniently(for the networks) in the middle of the night, so won't conflict with 'more important' things like Little League Midget Auto Wrestling World Bowl Championships. ;-))

Though I think among those who follow the game here, there is an expectation of a good performance, at the very least, and realistic hope of getting past the first round. Certainly US Soccer won't want to see the kind of spineless performance exhibited in 98. I don't think that will happen, though, as we've now got an excellent coach who the players respect(massive improvement over 98), and the players themselves often talk about the team spirit being the best ever. They believe in their ability to beat anyone on their day. It will be interesting to see what happens.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

Changing the subject - I thought Dyer was hopeless last night.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

Aye he was, it was so unlike him when you compare him with recent matches for the Toon. I don't buy the "playing against weaker opposition" argument for him as we know fine well he can firstly do the business against top sides and secondly Paraguay were nowt special last night.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

I thought YKD did alright actually

The problem was he was making some great runs but gerrard kept humping the ball up to owen......a couple of balls for YKD to run onto would have made all the difference IMHO

Drop the ginger mank tw@t I say as he's crap and give YKD a free role in midfield - hargreaves on the left

cheers

Jonboy

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

Dyer would do better in centre midfield, but we'll have to see some injuries for that to ever happen.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

Extract from article on FootyMad:

Kieron Dyer has admitted that his long awaited England return last night was an anti-climax.

"It always seems to happen, you get a big build-up and then have a stinker, but that's football".

"I won't dwell on it though. I am extremely confident that if I stay fit and do the business for Newcastle I have a great chance of being on that plane".

"I just started off poorly and couldn't get into the game. I gave a couple of balls away and just couldn't get myself out of it".

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002

Being Mr Versatile won't guarantee a starting role so he needed to show what he could do on the left. He'll be left counting yellow cards and being brought on to turn losing games now. I still marvel at how someone with such a quick football brain gets so scared in front of goal. He went into slow-motion on the edge of the box. I still hope that playing with Bellamy teaches him that if you don't hit the target you won't be jeered off the pitch (unless you are French or called Carl Cort).

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2002