EssexVilla

Kaneria dropped as well. Released back to Essex who might not even play him anyway.

With the injuries we have and his natural ability I doubt that very highly. Remember he is still a test match bowler, just not on good form atm, which is

a step up from first class cricket. Also remember that Essex like to play at least 1 spinner an dour other one is Tim Phillips who is useless.

No shit Sherlock - superb series - for me to be interested in a 1.5 hour TV programme is rare

I agree completely surprised there isn't a thread about it actually.

No,the point I'm trying to make is,why does he cost more because he's English?.

Because he's played and delivered in the Premiership. David Silva may not even know a lick of English. Silva could take a few seasons to settle and many, many foreign players like him have failed to settle in the Premiership. Milner on the other hand has years of experience playing in this league for multiple clubs in multiple formations and positions, that's the premium and for a player of his talent, age and potential is easily worth another 5-6 million.

Also Milner will be a 'home-grown player' with each club needing to reach an amount of these 'home-grown players'. They don't necessarily need to be English but they need to have come through an English clubs academy.

Ah I see, hadn't made the joke connection!

What do you mean what's the point of goalkeepers? The clue's in the name

Yeah but what differs them from the ordinary player? They can both use their hands.

Oh and congratulations Chindie.

Whats the point in goalkeepers in that sport?

I just think that if you stuck him in the Real Madrid or Barcelona side, he'd be found wanting.

I accept that he is an exceptionally effective player, but the question was "Is he over rated" and if we're talking about the British Media who said on more than 1 occasion that "Englands whole world cup hopes rest on his shoulders" then yes, he is very much overrated. Hes never going to win a world cup on his own, he'll never turn in the maradonna-esque performances required to drag his team kicking and screaming to a world cup final. No ones disputing that he's a fine player, but when you consider the acclaimation he gets from the british press, he is undoubtedly over-rated.

Englands world cup hopes did rest on his shoulders. He played badly and England go out in the 2nd round. I think he must have had an injury for the world cup and the reason he played was because England needed him to play well. He nearly won the premier league on his own. He nearly got united to the semi finals of the champions league on his own. He 's a different type of player to Maradona so comparing them is foolish. He is not overrated. He is world class but that doesn't mean he is anywhere near as good as Messi.

If he was half as good as you make out he would be able to both comfortably, world class players such as Messi and Ozil are adaptable

You think Messi and Ozil are adaptable? I'd like to see Messi playing a disciplined right midfield role or on the last man looking to getin behind at evry opportunity. Likewise with Ozil he can only play in that role behind the striker. He stayed in that role against Serbia despite Germany being a man down because that is his sole position. Rooney used to be a link up striker or someone who could play out wide but hes a different player now due to the last season in which he carried one of the biggest clubs in world football.

Didn't think Honda was a striker, he looks like the Japanese David Beckham to me.

As others have said we should not just be buying players based on what they have done in the WC there are so many other things to consider and probbaly reasons why they have not moved to England earlier.

He isn't, he is a midfielder. Japan only play him up front as they are strong in midfield and weak up front. He is their best midfielder so goes up front.

Just heard on FiveLive that there are reports from Sth Africa that some French players have refused to play in tomorrow's game against Sth Africa.

France == shambles.

It's embarrassing. But there is no chance of the game not going ahead. With 23, well infact 22 now in their squad, they can easily find 11 who will play. Cisse and a few others have stated that they are not part of the whole strike to support one player thing that is going on. If I was in this situation I would not strike even if it was a close friend, because playing in a world cup is the pinnacle.

Especially as Anelka was clearly in the wrong. You'd get sacked if your boss told you that you did something wrong and should do something else instead and then you turn around and call him a son of a dirty whore. And its even ruder in French.

I would rather take a chance on ryan babel, right price and he has more to his game than Kuyt, although his attitude or percieved attitude maybe a problem.

Babel? Christ no. I'll take Kuyt every single time. Babel has precious little to his game.

Agree about Babel but what do you think Kuyt has to his game except for an astonishing work rate.

Is this only on PC?

Do you mean killjoy?

I remember them letting us come into school at 7 to let the us watch the England-Brazil game.

As if that if that was 8 years ago!

I remember my school doing that and telling us they would tape the part which went into school time and let us watch it at lunch. However, when they tried to set up the tape recorder it had miraculously broken since they told us and they let us watch the rest. Events in the library took a turn for the worse when Ronaldinho scored leaving the teachers to calm us all down. We were also allowed to listen to England-Nigeria (I think) in a lesson.

Hmmm, really good question, TSV....

I suppose if the best foreign players are allowed to ply their trade in England, then perhaps officials should too.

However- officials make **** all compared to players, so you'd be really affecting the livelihood of many English officials and their families, so...

It's sounds good in theory, but I think officials should be homegrown.

Well they shouldn't be so incompetent then. I thought it was a worldwide problem but looking at the world cup it isn't. It's just us.

Take it Varun Chopra hasn't done well then.

Loving the game as well, finding the visuals pretty amazing.

Found it funny the guy further down the track having a nice leisurely stroll across the train tracks as the train is about to hit him.

Morgan makes test debut confirmed.

So is that the highest level of School football over there Dom. I don't really know or understand the system you have out there. Great work getting them there.

Anyone see that "Acorns" Villa shirt in the crowd againt pakistan ? Worn by a lady I think. Good victory for England (even though there were no Warwickshire players )

I saw a villa shirt but it was definitely a bloke.

Can someone explain to me why when they lost wickets the target score for the Windies didn't increase?

I've been catching up with a few noses on facebook this afternoon. They've been ripping it out of me for weeks now, he who laughs last and all that eh!

Whatt were they taking the piss out of you for? (assuming its villa related)

I think the hatred of spurs come from the fact that a lot of spurs fans think they are better than they are Joey55. I know a lot of spurs fans who consistently try to impress upon me how their players are so much greater than ours and everyone else's. For example many say that if it weren't for his injuries King would be the best centre back in the world and they actually believe that. Another example is Huddlestone should be in the England team as well as Dawson, Defoe and Lennon with all other English players in that position not as good. Generally, in my experience Spurs fans think their team is going to title challenge at the start of every season, their fans as of right outsing others and that they play perfect passing football at all times to a standard of Arsenal.

Has anyone else considered how Owen might not have actually been on the pitch due to being subbed for a defender to score their first goal?

Yes but the point I was making was that his main strength is his running and we are just not utilising it enough.

Why does Care play, he is an awful scrum half? And why on earth does johno insist on pick ing players like monye and armitage, both strong runners but aren't strong under the hicg ball, and then not use them offensively?

How much is the ultimate team?