Gary Neville

The Breen Machine · 9th October 2011, 01:10 PM

Laying the boot in a bit here

He's spot on like.

Quote:

Gary Neville believes England are not good enough to win Euro 2012, saying they lack mobility and invention.

After Friday's 2-2 draw in Montenegro media coverage focused on Wayne Rooney's red card but Neville argued that England had more pressing worries.

"What we should be talking about is the spine of a team that has no mobility and can`t keep the ball," he wrote in the Mail on Sunday.

"The real issue is that the spine of the team is not good enough."

The defender, who won 85 caps for his country, pulled no punches in his assessment of Fabio Capello's side.

"When I look at it coldly, a team that has John Terry, Gary Cahill, Scott Parker, Gareth Barry, Darren Bent and Rooney in its central positions is nowhere near good enough to take on the major nations such as Spain.

"I"m not having a go at individuals; there are some very good players among those names. [But] Rooney aside, there is hardly any pace, very little invention and hardly any rotation of positions. Compare that with the spine of Spain: Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, David Villa and Fernando Llorente."

England take on Spain in a friendly at Wembley next month with Neville keen to see a number of younger players given a chance.

"Let's be clear, England are not as good as Spain but you can't just accept they're better," said Neville.

"You have to find a way to stop them, to disrupt the rhythm and to hurt them going forward — because England need to believe that, in a one-off, they can beat Spain.

"The rest of Europe is watching and if Spain do what most people think they will do and destroy us, just like France did in February 1999 at Wembley when they were world champions, then England will go into Euro 2012 thinking they have no chance.

"There are younger players — Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker, Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck — who are mobile, talented and not tainted by previous failures.

"Somehow, Capello has to mould those with the more experienced players into a team to compete with Spain because the team that played on Friday would be well beaten. It's now time for Capello to be brave."

flusheding · 9th October 2011, 02:22 PM

surely the youngsters would get spanked just as much as the senior players. The main good thing is get them playing together as early as possible and then don't worry about their loses

Chromacolour · 9th October 2011, 02:26 PM

Well someone needs to say it. Sooner of later, the players and the media will have accept that, at best, we're mediocre. At least the recent farce might stop all the ridiculous claims that we're capable of winning it.

BrucesBentNose · 9th October 2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flusheding

surely the youngsters would get spanked just as much as the senior players. The main good thing is get them playing together as early as possible and then don't worry about their loses

Well i think fergie once said "You'd be amazed in what young people can do if you can just trust them"

Spot on imo. Play Welbeck, Play Walker, Jones, Smalling etc.. Look at the freedom Rooney played with at euro 2004. Breath of fresh air. Owen in the 98 world cup, Mix them with the experience and you can have a fresh team full off drive again.

redandwhiterob · 9th October 2011, 02:38 PM

Bit luck and the right draw and any team are capable of winning it including England

redandwhiterob · 9th October 2011, 02:39 PM

Bit luck and the right draw and any team are capable of winning it including England

Wise Man Says · 9th October 2011, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redandwhiterob

Bit luck and the right draw and any team are capable of winning it including England

Not IMO, we're just not good enough at the highest level. There is no "right draw" because at some stage to win a major tournament you need to beat the best quality nations i.e. Spain, Germany and England IMO aren't good enough.

Batdad · 9th October 2011, 02:48 PM

Wow, I actually agree with Gary Neville.

Wise Man Says · 9th October 2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batdad

Wow, I actually agree with Gary Neville.

He's a very good pundit TBF.

redandwhiterob · 9th October 2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wise Man Says

Not IMO, we're just not good enough at the highest level. There is no "right draw" because at some stage to win a major tournament you need to beat the best quality nations i.e. Spain, Germany and England IMO aren't good enough.

Neither were Greece but they had that bit luck so if it can happen to them it could happen to us