Those of you who know me well will understand that, although a fan of Robert Green as West Ham's keeper, I have always harbored doubts about his international credentials. Long term adversaries on the Mordant Org will also remember that, ahead of anybody else, I predicted that Carlton Cole would collect more England caps than Beano Ashton. My doubts about Green provoked vehement condemnation amongst the Claret and Blue Klan whilst my advocacy of Cole for England was met with near universal derision.
Well, another England game and another cap for Cole. No goals yet but The Sun were certainly impressed with Carlton's performance. I was en route from New York (seven hour delay!) so missed the game but was pleased to see Cole assessed positively.
Green, on the other hand, was deemed "too casual with his passing" and the following 'verdict' was given: "Needs to make better decisions on crosses." Now isn't that what I've been saying for the last three years whilst the Klan have been insisting Green is England's indisputable number one? Still as Grumpy dictates, "You can't believe anything you read in the press".
The Sun were far too harsh on green. His passing was not international standard but he made several good saves and can't be blamed for either goal, despite what they say. He delivered a solid performance if not an outstanding one.
ReplyDeleteHis weakness at crosses is still visible but improving, and whilst I would agree he's not the standard of keeper we would like to be between the sticks for our national team, he is comfortably on a par with the current crop of English shot stoppers and on that basis worthy of his place in the starting line-up.
Confidence is key when it comes to keepers so it would be nice if more people would back him or whoever Capello chooses for the No.1 position. Obviously that will not happen in the national papers mind...
Opposite way round in the star! Typical tabloid rubbish
ReplyDeleteWhat the fu*k did Green do wrong? He isn't a bloody winger so he isn't meant to cross, and if you mean his distribution well sorry if he didn't realise the defence were going to faf about for a decade on the ball. Capello obviously told him to play it out from defence and he did precisely that. He made two good stops and made all of one mistake which went unpunished. Anybody criticisng him is pathetic!
ReplyDeleteRob Green just needs to settle ... as a goalkeeper you need to be the drivinig force behind the back four and our national defence has three of the biggest premadonna's going in Terry, Rio and Cole. So once they have total confidence in him he will thrive. Distribution for a keeper tho is only as good as the availability of the players in front of him and had they just row z'd any poor balls we would have won the game and nothing more said. I am quiertly confident he will go on and retain the number 1 shait for South Africa next year
ReplyDeleteThe Sun never give our players any credit, so no surprise there. Green didn't do a lot wrong TBH and certainly can't be blamed for the two goals conceded. The first goal was down to Rio and Terry, I think. The second was thanks to Barry who blindly in a very lazy fashion back passed it to Green which put Green in a very awkward position, but all the same did very well to save the first shot and was unlucky on the parry. Carlton Cole was superb as he imposed himself on the their defence and really gave the Dutch a shit load of trouble as he was a real handful. I was very proud of him last night, once we get another striker on board at UP, we'll be alright, mark my words.
ReplyDeleteFanno, you really should see the game before you antagonise the 'klan'!
ReplyDeleteNormally, a good keeper gives his defence confidence.
This was the opposite, the defence were giving the goalie the jitters, right from the off.
If you get to see the game, you'll see what I mean, the defence were the worst I've seen under Capello and Green did excellently given the situation.
As far as I can remember, there was just one cross that he started to come for and then changed his mind, but the defence didn't track the attackers and Green ended up making a good save anyway.
Seriously, this game, the England defence would have made any keeper nervous!
To 18:44 - i think 16:48 means Green's weakness to deal with the other team's crosses, not crossing the ball himself...!
ReplyDeleteTo be fair Rob does look a bit uncomfortable when the ball is played back short, but this is not unusual in a keeper, more to the point why is it that full backs, Glen Johnson in this case receive the ball from the centrehalf, 'panic' and proceed to give it back to the keeper from whence it came, only now putting the GK under pressure, for him to pump it forward into the welcome arms of the opposition This is not the way to play possession football and is unfair on the GK who is made to look bad. Given time that can put their foot on the ball and distribute well. RG found Carlton often enough in the second half. When will our teams learn how to play positive controlled fottball.
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