grodscorp@grods.com
Another dull England match took place in the early hours of Monday morning. I am a big supporter of England and the England squad and am 100% behind Sven’s tactics and team selection. Although I have been critical of them in the past and recognise that they are turning neutral fans of the beautiful game away from watching them, I refuse to get on the bagging bandwagon. Listening to the interviews with Gerrard, Beckham and Lampard after the game, they are well aware that they are playing below par, but are swift to point out that they are in the last eight of the World Cup. They are also getting considerable pressure from the British media, while most Australians are not happy with staying up to watch another pathetic game involving them.
My decision to get behind them vocally comes as I hear another woeful analysis from Craig “talc my hair, eyebrows and lips” Foster, the SBS Senior Big Tie Wearing Analyst. His display on the 7pm World Cup Show last night (26/6/06) was appalling and not what I suspect he gets paid for. He shook his head as if he couldn’t be bothered to discuss the match and then proceeded to randomly criticise England without providing any examples of their poor play. To be honest, he did no more analysis than a drunk would have done at closing time. If England’s performance was poor, Fozzie’s performance matched it completely. Bring back the two old geezers that can’t speak a lick of English or even the relaxed Ned Zelic, if he can be propped up long enough.
For all you Australians who have got on the Socceroos’ tails (apologies for the true Socceroo fans among you) football can be a dull, tactical and a slow game. Only Pele and the PR people call it the beautiful game. Yes, we would all like to see 22 Ronaldinhos on the pitch, but if you can say you’ve seen Millwall vs. Palace on a waterlogged pitch in the middle of February then you know that the game is not beautiful 99% of the time.
Results matter, not style. So bring on Portugal and get behind England the entertainers.
Tuesday 27 June 2006, 3:07 pm #The Editor
Did you see that cross to Fozzie at half-time last night where it looked like he was sitting in the alleyway outside the dunnies?
Tuesday 27 June 2006, 5:37 pm #Greeny
Fozzie, like the rest of us, is getting caught up in the emotion of the whole event and not doing his job properly.
Man, you should see some of the shit work I’ve been churning out in my 9-5 lately.
Wednesday 28 June 2006, 8:38 pm #The Editor
Yeah but Greeny, I’ve listened to you talk and know that you’re quite handy with the articulation.
Wednesday 28 June 2006, 11:49 pm #jLo
I’m sure there’s a PhD grant out there for some keen bean who wants to do an economic analysis of the impact of northern hemisphere sporting tournaments on Australian productivity.