Lanky, but skillful
I'm too tired to write the post I really want to write about Peter Osgood, Peter Crouch and England.
Even though he played for Chelsea, Ossie (Os-good is good) gets respect from Donutball. Like Crouch he defied the stereotype of a traditional physical centre-forward who is only an aerial threat. As the footage shown last night proved, he had a soft touch for a tall man. Of course, he was a huge physical presence in a pretty robust Chelsea side of the late 60s and early 70s.
Osgood never got a decent run in the England side. Like his teammate Alan Hudson he was a non-conformist in an age when the England manager was as concerned about conformity as he was about talent. See also Jimmy Greaves, Frank Worthington, Tony Currie.
So sad that Osgood passed away yesterday.
As for England's performance last night, 2-1 against a side knocked about that less than great soccer power Australia is no great shakes. That said, Uruguay were well organised and for 75 minutes well disciplined. Once they started substituting and getting shirty about robust English challenges, they lost their shape and two goals.
Crouch proved again that he is Plan B for Germany. "Johnny Foreigner doesn't like it up him."
As the papers no doubt exclaimed - I only saw an early edition Guardian report - Joe Cole was en fuego. Michael Carrick (one of five Spurs players on the pitch at the end!) put in a creditable show, and is the injury option to Gerrard-Lampard. I thought David Beckham was a spare peg and Shaun Wright-Phillips once again showed that in 15 minutes he can do more damage than "Becks"(tm) can in 90.
Darren Bent hardly got a kick and ran offside in nearly every attack. Message to Sven: stick with Defoe, Michael Owen's fitness or not.
The defence gave me the jitters in the first half. Rio Ferdinand looked like he was cruising through the match with his head plugged into an iPod. John Terry was a rock, as usual. Ledley King, as a second half replacement, was passable but his positioning and ball watching are worries. Jamie Carragher, for the injured WAyne Bridge, again proved that he's an invaluable utility player. However, he's probably now the No.1 left back choice.
And, I've now run out of steam.
Addendum: I see Germany got pasted 4-1 by Italy. That makes me all the more determined to go down the bookies and place an each way bet on Germany in the World Cup. The price must be great. And, I beleive that old chestnut: "never right off the Germans."
Even though he played for Chelsea, Ossie (Os-good is good) gets respect from Donutball. Like Crouch he defied the stereotype of a traditional physical centre-forward who is only an aerial threat. As the footage shown last night proved, he had a soft touch for a tall man. Of course, he was a huge physical presence in a pretty robust Chelsea side of the late 60s and early 70s.
Osgood never got a decent run in the England side. Like his teammate Alan Hudson he was a non-conformist in an age when the England manager was as concerned about conformity as he was about talent. See also Jimmy Greaves, Frank Worthington, Tony Currie.
So sad that Osgood passed away yesterday.
As for England's performance last night, 2-1 against a side knocked about that less than great soccer power Australia is no great shakes. That said, Uruguay were well organised and for 75 minutes well disciplined. Once they started substituting and getting shirty about robust English challenges, they lost their shape and two goals.
Crouch proved again that he is Plan B for Germany. "Johnny Foreigner doesn't like it up him."
As the papers no doubt exclaimed - I only saw an early edition Guardian report - Joe Cole was en fuego. Michael Carrick (one of five Spurs players on the pitch at the end!) put in a creditable show, and is the injury option to Gerrard-Lampard. I thought David Beckham was a spare peg and Shaun Wright-Phillips once again showed that in 15 minutes he can do more damage than "Becks"(tm) can in 90.
Darren Bent hardly got a kick and ran offside in nearly every attack. Message to Sven: stick with Defoe, Michael Owen's fitness or not.
The defence gave me the jitters in the first half. Rio Ferdinand looked like he was cruising through the match with his head plugged into an iPod. John Terry was a rock, as usual. Ledley King, as a second half replacement, was passable but his positioning and ball watching are worries. Jamie Carragher, for the injured WAyne Bridge, again proved that he's an invaluable utility player. However, he's probably now the No.1 left back choice.
And, I've now run out of steam.
Addendum: I see Germany got pasted 4-1 by Italy. That makes me all the more determined to go down the bookies and place an each way bet on Germany in the World Cup. The price must be great. And, I beleive that old chestnut: "never right off the Germans."
posted by pete at 9:39 pm
2 Comments:
And you've got Keane with Spurs for the forseeable future... nicely done there.
bad spelling and grammar courtesy of 4:45am start.
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