Thursday 15 October 2009

Carlton Is International Class, Beckham is World Class


Great evening yesterday, at Wembley to watch a brilliant second half England performance featuring an awesome Beckham and a very impressive Carlton Cole. My double on Newcastle to go down and England to win the World Cup is still looking quite healthy.

We started superbly and had numerous chances in the first 15 minutes but then we seemed to switch off. Barry was excellent and Lampard did ok, but neither of the wide men were in the game enough and, apart from his role in the goal and that run and shot, Gabriel Ivebonkedawhore did not look up to the job. I like him as a player so hope he gets another chance but he didn't do himself any favours last night because his basic ball control looked poor. At the back we were also untidy. Johnson, Ferdinand and Terry all gave the ball away carelessly at least once over the 90 minutes and quality opponents will make us pay if we do that in the Finals.

How good is Beckham? People moan about his "gimme caps" but the guy oozes class. The whole stadium rose to him when he came on and, first touch, he set up Wright-Phillips' goal. His pass selection was awesome and, for the time he was on the pitch, the game revolved around him. Is his role as a sub or does Capello have to start thinking about how he can include his talisman from the start? I know we were up against modest opponents but Beckham was playing like the old style playmaker, collecting the ball and pinging defence stretching passes at every opportunity. His legs may not be up to a full 90 minutes of hurly-burly international football but, as he demonstrated when he stripped off at the end, he remains an incredible physical specimen! If anybody can cope at Beckham's age, then Beckham can.

And Carlton? Myself and my son tried, on our own, to reproduce Beckham's reception when he came on but, for some reason, nobody else stood up with us! I loved the run and shot - all that fear of having a go has evaporated. The close control when receiving passes with his back to goal was also superb. Playing up top alongside Crouch was not ideal because they went for the same ball a few times but Carlton did enough to prove, once again, that he is genuinely international class. Crouch, Heskey or Cole - only two can go so who will miss out?

One last thought - with that beard, is Becks looking for a part in True Blood?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Gabriel Ivebonkedawhore"

Ahahahahahaha, that's funny.
Not.
Grow up for f's sake man.

Beckham is class but you've clearly spent too much time dwelling on those adverts with him in pants.

Anonymous said...

I think you'll find that he has grown the beard so that he can appear in the new PG Tips adverts they are thinking of bringing out because of fears of the degradation or abuse of live monkeys whereas Beckham wouldn't know the difference. As for you and your son being the only ones to stand up to give Carlton a reception. Doesn't that tell you something? If he'd hit that shot properly instead of rolling a daisy cutter reminiscent of a scandulous cricket match he might have scored instead of Crouch.

Hammersfan said...

Very unfair. Carlton's shot was on target, stretched the keeper and resulted in Crouch's goal. How can you criticise that? Also lovely run and cross doen right and good run, followed by less impressive cross, down left. Points to mobility of Cole. He operates right across the front line. Crouch stayed down the middle all game.

Anonymous said...

Don't believe for one minute you were at Wembley, how many games is it now? If you were I feel sorry for your son

Hammersfan said...

Why do you feel sorry for my son? He had a great night. £8.50 for fish and chips inside the ground though - bloody rip off! Couldn't even find salt and vinegar! One fantastic thing was the reception given to the soldiers. They were cheered as loudly as the players and, outside the ground, they were clapped and streams of people were shaking their hands. Good that the country still understands what makes a genuine hero!

Anonymous said...

The reason you don't understand why I feel sorry for your son is the sole reason I feel sorry for him. Any cheap thought process could come up with the little fishy soldier story to try and prove you were there, only proves you weren't though. How many games you going to get to this season then? ha ha ha

Hammersfan said...

You are a very sad individual aren't you?

Anonymous said...

That you are