tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261081762024-03-07T04:49:30.164+00:00World Cup Ranter - NOW EURO CUP RANTER 2012I DON'T LIKE THEM, THEY DON'T CARE. English Ranter's alternative guide to the shit side of the 2006 FIFA World Cup was a failure, the 2010 Fifa World Cup was a disaster but his John Barnes rap piece did pick up some good SEO. NOW HE'S BACK FOR THE 2012 EUROS, WITH A SHOP FULL OF NEW SHITUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-34190463252558949272012-06-03T14:31:00.003+01:002012-06-03T14:31:37.564+01:00ENGLAND 1 - BELGIUM 0 - PRESS REACTION TO THE GAME<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The press appear ambivalent about Roy Hodgson's England side after their 1-0 victory against Wembley yesterday.<br />
Expectation is low, but none the less Roy can boast an unbeaten record going into the Euros with two solid, if uninspired, victories.<br />
The Sun is perhaps the most unsure about Roy - but can't stop itself being optimistic. Their report opens that no one will be scared playing England after these performances, but that you couldn't fault the work rate or defensive solidity off the ball that will surely give them a chance.<br />
The Guardian is upbeat, claiming the victories have been solid and that the squad should feel positive going into the Euros after another victory.<br />
Perhaps most telling is Uncle Roy's summary, who admits we worked hard defensively but were uninspired offensively. It's good when your manager sees what you see. Roy and England have enough to get out of the group stage, yes?<br />
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VISIT WORLD CUP RANTER'S NONSENSE EMPORIUM AT http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-21102416478176508762012-06-02T17:03:00.003+01:002012-06-02T19:08:50.123+01:00ENGLAND V BELGIUM - LIVE WITH EURO CUP RANTER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
LIVE ACTION FROM THE ENGLAND V BELGIUM GAME AT WEMBLEY. PLEASE REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE LATEST NEWS.<br />
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19.07 94 minutes of hard working average football. That should get us to the final 8, can't see much further than that. I like the attitude. Hard to beat maybe?<br />
<br />
19.06 A break by Lukaku is judged offside with the final seconds ticking down. Belgium could consider luck wasn't on their side, but they weren't great.<br />
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19.03 An England break ends with Defoe and Walcott combining with a Defoe shot, off target. Theo has looked ok, but England look unthreatening.<br />
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18.57 Still England 1-0 up with six minutes to play. England get a corner from nothing.<br />
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18.55 Henderson comes on for Gerrard. Let's hope we don't hear that too often this summer, unless it's because we are 5-0 up.<br />
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18.54 On 81 minutes, quick feet by Walcott create a chance for Defoe. A sharp shot comes back off the inside of the post, and Belgium clear. Unlucky.<br />
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18.53 Lescott is back on with a headband and clean shirt. The game is opening up in the last ten minutes. Two shots from Belgium are either blocked or wide.<br />
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18.52 With 13 minutes to go, Gilet puts one wide of Joe Hart from 20 yards, and it clips the outside of the post and goes wide. An escape for England. Hart looks ruffled at present.<br />
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18.49 The bloke who looks a bit like Adebayor, Lukaku, has a chance but his shot is blocked. Lescott looks like he has been in a car accident after a collision. There is blood everywhere. It's like the 9th minute of an episode of casualty. I hope he's ok.<br />
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18.47 Defoe breaks, cuts it back, but cannot find Gerrard's run. England looking a bit brighter, but control on the ball and passing are still little better than average.<br />
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18.46 Hazard has looked average today. Somewhere between Nasri and Paul Dixon.<br />
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18.43 It's been comfortable for England but because they've worked hard and not given Belgium any time on the ball. However, there is a distinct lack of composure on the ball and the calm of Lampard or Barry is missing from the mix. Mertens is replaced by someone who looks a bit like Adebayor but isn't.<br />
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18.42 John Terry apparently carrying a knock and is brought off on 70 minutes. Jagielka replaces him. <br />
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18.39. With 25 minutes to go, Young is brought off for Defoe, while Walcott replaces Oxade Chamberlain after a bright but ultimately unimpressive debut.<br />
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18.37 Nothing much happened for half an hour. Rooney is on for Welbeck. Dull.<br />
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18.02 Everyone wants the half time whistle, including me. AND HERE IT IS. AT HALF TIME ENGLAND 1 BELIGIUM 0. We have no experts in the studio, no video, no replays. SEE YOU IN 20 MINUTES AFTER A WEE AND STUFF.<br />
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17.58 Wellbeck breaks well from half way, but hogs the ball and is finally tackled in the box. But I think he's having a good game. Cole and Fellaini clash, with the ref and assistant ref discussing punishment. The Wembley band plays H-A-P-P-Y and all is well here right now. England break again, Gerrard has two shots blocked, Vermaelen doing well.<br />
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17.55 Five minutes to half time and I fancy a snack. 1-0 England.<br />
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17.51 GOAL!!! Danny Welbeck breaks and latches on to a great pass slotted through the defence by Ashley Young. Calmly lifts it over the keeper.<br />
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Great work, not a convincing game so far, but that should settle some nerves.<br />
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17.44 Scott Parker is booked for a lunging silly tackle. Then Ashley Cole fouls Eden Hazard. The free kick was rubbish, England break, but it falls apart with a foul on the half way line. A free kick for a foul on Ashley Young.<br />
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17.42 Who knew Fellaini played for Belgium. Whatever next? A bit like when Graham Le Saux played for England. Normandy chancer.<br />
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17.41 We cut to a view of David Beckham, sitting near Peter Shilton. Compared to Peter, David's head is tiny, like it has been shrunken by Posh in an evil witch ceremony. It is however normal size.<br />
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17.38 The Belgian bloke had a really good shot, just wide.<br />
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17.32 Cahill and Hart collide protecting the ball from a Belgian attacker. Cahill winded and wounded, Joe Hart looks on like a worried big brother. Cahil looking a bit embarassed. Julian Lescott stripping off. It's all getting a bit fruity. Lescott replaces Cahill.<br />
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17.29 Wellbeck makes a good run and loses Vermaelen, he pulls it back for the Ox from about 25 yards and while the shot is sweetly struck is goes like a rocket high above the bar. It would have been a great conversion.<br />
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17.27 Belgium look like they could break down the England defence is they just improve their short passing a little. England getting impatient, and Ashley Young drifts offside.<br />
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17.22 The ball is pulled back from the right wing and Oxlade Chamberlain scuffs it like a David Beckham penalty kick and the ball sort of flops over the bar like a bad tennis shot.<br />
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17.20 Belgium's attack breaks down. Then England's game breaks down. Hazard looks lively.<br />
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17.17 Wembley is noisy, and in a positive mood. Wellbeck chases a clearance. Nothing happens.<br />
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17.12 Steven Gerrard has his 'I've poo'd my pants' face on again <br />
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17.10 The referee is called Rasmussen. No sign if he is related to the great Greenlandic explorer.<br />
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17.07 David Beckham is in the audience sporting a new trim. Bobby Charlton sitting next to him has the same hair as always.<br />
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17.05 There are some royal lookalikes in the crowd, including a Queen with a crown.<br />
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16.59 I've arrived at the sofa. Here are the sides - for England a 4-3-3 formation, no Andy Carroll, and this looks like Roy's 'need a win' formation. We get to see Eden Hazard, Chelsea's new talent.<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>England: </b>Hart, Johnson, Cahill,
Terry, Cole, Milner, Parker, Gerrard, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Young,
Welbeck. Subs: Green, Jones, Baines, Lescott, Jagielka, Henderson,
Downing, Defoe, Rooney,<br />Carroll, Walcott, Butland.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Belgium:
</b> Mignolet, Guillaume Gillet, Kompany, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Hazard,
Fellaini, Witsel, Mertens, Mirallas, Dembele. Subs: Renard, Simons, De
Camargo, Pocognoli, Chadli, Benteke, Vossen, Lukaku, Odoi, Nainggolan,
De Ceulaer, Defour.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
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<a href="http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21" target="_blank">VISIT WORLD CUP RANTER'S NONSENSE EMPORIUM AT http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-80769436639109901742012-06-02T14:25:00.001+01:002012-06-02T14:32:57.035+01:00ROY HODGSON GLEE AS EURO CUP RANTER ARRIVES FOR 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Roy Hodgson was a picture of joy today after hearing the news that Euro Cup Ranter would be covering the 2012 European Football Championships. "Up yours Ranter," Roy told us when we rang him up in the middle of the night and asked him if his hair hero was Patrick from EastEnders.<br />
"The rumours that I use curlers to maintain my impeccable hair style are untrue," said Roy, audibly groggy, and trying to keep his voice down so as not to wake the wife. "It is true I visit a traditional Jamaican barber."<br />
We rang late at night because of Roy's owl ancestry - everyone knows the animals operate best at night, but it appears Hodgson's human traits are also strong parts of his make-up. "Of course I was fucking asleep, it's 3-45am!" he exclaimed, and was very non-plussed by our questioning about his nocturnal habits. "We have got one or two mouse traps in the garage, but no, I do not go out on so-called 'night flights' hunting small mammals, and if you are going to call at this time I would rather talk about football," he added, just before we hung up.<br />
Good luck Roy! Ranter thinks you'll need all of it, but at least with most of the ego squeezed out of this England side, you have a chance. But oh dear, John Terry. WHY UNCLE ROY, WHY? I knew there was another question we had to ask him...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21" target="_blank">VISIT WORLD CUP RANTER'S NONSENSE EMPORIUM AT http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-13865975410081164052010-06-29T21:25:00.000+01:002010-06-29T21:25:17.969+01:00I love to say it. I told you so.While most of England's media is enjoying the humilation, World Cup Ranter is not happy that the England side is out of this year's tournament. But I think that just as I did on June 11, the night before our first game, we all needed to calm down a bit.<br />
<br />
The World Cup Squad we took would have been much more effective with an inform David Beckham and Theo Walcott - we were rarely effective on either flank (or anywhere else) with penetration that Walcott may have given us, or crosses which is one of the few parts of Beckham's game to justify his inclusion.<br />
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A fit and in form Rio Ferdinand would probably have stopped two of Germany's goals, though not have scored at the other end. I think we, like Manchester United, have missed the workrate that Owen Hargreaves gave us.<br />
<br />
There are probably one or two other players who Capello might have picked ahead of those he took, if injuries weren't an issue (though I can't think of many more that would have made the games played). But World Cup Ranter put this tournament's disastrous performances down to no one but Fabio Capello, the manager that finessed us to the World Cup finals and then pissed our chances down the drain from the moment we qualified.<br />
<br />
Here's WCR's guide to where the man who has managed more successful sides than I have blog posts, fucked well and truly up. Many are on <a href="http://worldcupranter.blogspot.com/2010/06/england-world-cup-squad-looks-bit-shit.html">the original assessment I made of the squad on the eve of the first game</a> (unlike most of the English media), and a few were only able to be determined from the reports of our time in South Africa.<br />
<br />
1) Gareth Barry - looked out of game practice and unfit. While our midfield was pretty terrible across the board, I still don't understand why Capello took Barry, and if he was going to take him, why he didn't he know who would already be his understudy. Carrick? Well, if it has to be him, play him in that position for the four games Barry was injured for rather than prat about during the tournament.<br />
<br />
2) Not sticking to his self declared rules. "No one unfit and no one out of form" was bullshit. It might have got him respect during the qualifiers because the decisions were easy ones. But just like Steve McClaren before him, Capello sucked up to the players' egos and they repaid him with immaturity and lack of focus. While I agree for the captain you can bend the rules, so Rio is forgiven, and out of form Lampard and Gerrard are still pretty hard to set aside, but Barry (who was both unfit and out of form), Sean Wright Phillps (unpicked by Mancini), Carrick (out of form), Ledley King (permanently crippled who got the sympathy vote from commentators who should have known better for a tournament of 7 games in a month), Defoe (out of form), Joe Cole (out of form and unpicked) are those I can think of, and I bet there were one or two more.<br />
<br />
3) The prisoner of war camp atmosphere at the Croydon-style accommodation was encouraged by Capello and the FA. Here is a man who was told it was the players' egos that had been at fault for the previous two managers' lack of success. Sven is a star fucker while Stevie was easily ignored by players who knew they deserved better and could have had better if the FA hadn't messed up signing that Brazillian who made a mess at Chelsea. Capello was the third way, a better record than Sven and no desire to mix it with the pretty wives and girlfriends of his youthful players. Obviously he was just better than Stevie Mac, in every possible way and we shouldn't forget that. But he was a miserable bastard that didn't stick to his own ever so stricked rules, let the players stew in their own lack of success, and thoroghly misjudged the difference of a five-day stay and a European qualifier and a trip a quarter of the way around the world in deserted luxury hide outs in Austria and South Africa for the best part of five weeks (including the warm ups and longer if we had gone further).<br />
<br />
4) The reason we kept on losing is because once you see someone fail so badly at these fucking basics, and then watch him fiddle while Rome burned during seven halfs of football, the players knew that once again the FA had picked the wrong manager for England.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-84244982457179945122010-06-20T11:29:00.000+01:002010-06-20T11:29:28.229+01:00WHERE HAVE ALL THE SONGS GONE?Can't understand why the brilliant songs thought up by club fans never get transferred or adapted to England players so they can be sung at England games<br />
<br />
Here's a facebook group. It won't make any difference.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=130625013626489">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=130625013626489</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21">VISIT WORLD CUP RANTER'S NONSENSE EMPORIUM</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-77305727616206065242010-06-19T20:27:00.000+01:002010-06-19T20:27:21.836+01:00BUY ENGLAND MEMORABILLIA BEFORE THEY START SELLING IT OFF CHEAP. NOW WITH VUVUZELAS.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoMK61m7rt5Ve98u5ijbFazz6hQgUaZdi_qxYfDufGzeYnesA5tzMwEme3AR_Ld7MYsFWGqMhsJeLkxtEygRk2FfTffmnGB3L7DlF8vEPRElRMnGAOrE1R4025kEEzIgYx8ti/s1600/21Ap6FANezL__SL125_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoMK61m7rt5Ve98u5ijbFazz6hQgUaZdi_qxYfDufGzeYnesA5tzMwEme3AR_Ld7MYsFWGqMhsJeLkxtEygRk2FfTffmnGB3L7DlF8vEPRElRMnGAOrE1R4025kEEzIgYx8ti/s200/21Ap6FANezL__SL125_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21">VISIT WORLD CUP RANTER'S NONSENSE EMPORIUM</a> <br />
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-86474994262422745782010-06-19T19:46:00.001+01:002010-06-19T19:49:24.450+01:00DETAILED ANALYSIS IN SLOW MOTION OF ALL THE BEST ACTION FROM LAST NIGHT'S ENGLAND V ALGERIA WORLD CUP GAME<object width="580" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sX_iE8ZxvnA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sX_iE8ZxvnA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="580" height="360"></embed></object><br />
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<a href="http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21">VISIT WORLD CUP RANTER'S NONSENSE EMPORIUM </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-22658600706280790142010-06-15T23:41:00.000+01:002010-06-15T23:41:36.622+01:00ELANO AND ROBINHO "JUST ABOUT GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN WORLD CUP" AFTER TAKING COMMIE SCALPBut not good enough to get in the Man City team. Make of that what you will.<br />
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VISIT WORLD CUP RANTER'S NONSENSE EMPORIUM AT http://astore.amazon.co.uk/englishranter-21Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-54241023070988008772010-06-13T14:57:00.001+01:002010-06-13T15:00:25.738+01:00New World Cup Ranter storeAll you could possibly need for the next four weeks. And then some.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yRvwDuUN6FcCrGBEw_BtZQY2odpju3_d0f3KL8ijDajllPeoXp12Rrlewyv2TKpcKN-p6zocUGNxJnBsOzwY807lAOM7UobSnnIYRdFROZw8GjPaPKSq4RxFbEgFqVMufAzr/s1600/41E9gJwN%252BnL__SL210_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yRvwDuUN6FcCrGBEw_BtZQY2odpju3_d0f3KL8ijDajllPeoXp12Rrlewyv2TKpcKN-p6zocUGNxJnBsOzwY807lAOM7UobSnnIYRdFROZw8GjPaPKSq4RxFbEgFqVMufAzr/s320/41E9gJwN%252BnL__SL210_.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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thanks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-38377420581637394032010-06-13T12:32:00.000+01:002010-06-13T12:32:05.365+01:00"The players I choose will be fit and will have played a lot of games" - Fabio Capello, December 2009, Five LiveRio wasn't fit. King wasn't fit. Barry wasn't fit. England look short in defence without a partnership that understands each other in the centre. King was a risk, Carragher a bizarre choice, Rio poor luck. There's still plenty of time to pull this back, but it is starting to look like a shower of shite.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-63785907538899601152010-06-13T12:16:00.000+01:002010-06-13T12:16:07.301+01:00CAPELLO'S TACTIC TO NAME TEAM LATE BLAMED FOR ENGLAND DRAWGreen was only told he was in goal at half time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-25046289116823255702010-06-13T12:12:00.000+01:002010-06-13T12:12:57.345+01:00USA SHOCKED BY LATEST SPILLAGEGreen vows "Oil be back", but no one believes him.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-38245395881372957512010-06-11T02:34:00.000+01:002010-06-11T02:34:40.750+01:00England world cup squad looks a bit shit, now I come to think of it<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCxSS9jN4jw4WhqfQPCZlYtWbwYxLbRtXn9YuBjzmTE8iqEAPSVnwzAdv8gV99twC6nC2Gk4i_5ccP3Jm9KQ7yusACAbuol5wNLRmbH917bNNVdxB2KahirH7poOPIfqrGKLq/s1600/Soccer+-+FIFA+World+Cup+2010+-+Qualifying+Round+-+Group+Six+-+Ukraine+v+England+-+Dnipro+Arena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCxSS9jN4jw4WhqfQPCZlYtWbwYxLbRtXn9YuBjzmTE8iqEAPSVnwzAdv8gV99twC6nC2Gk4i_5ccP3Jm9KQ7yusACAbuol5wNLRmbH917bNNVdxB2KahirH7poOPIfqrGKLq/s320/Soccer+-+FIFA+World+Cup+2010+-+Qualifying+Round+-+Group+Six+-+Ukraine+v+England+-+Dnipro+Arena.jpg" /></a><strong>Now don't get me wrong, on their day, this bunch of English hopefuls deserves to be compared with the best in the world. </strong><strong>But let's take a look at the facts.</strong></div><strong>I am prepared to ignore the warm up games, they always remind me of boxing movies, but I think there are a few things we are ignoring in the mists of our hopes. Here's World Cup Ranter's paranoid English fan's guide to brush away those English rose tinted glasses.. forever...</strong><br />
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<strong>Steven Gerrard.</strong> Yes, I think he's great. I wanted him to be captain more than Ferdinand. But he's looked a bit desperate recently, and I am worried he'll be overworked and underused just as in the bad old days.<br />
<strong>Ferdinand.</strong> Without doubt a form worry if he had played, but without doubt an out of form Ferdinand is still better than a less than outstanding performance from his possible replacements. A big loss.<br />
<strong>The Barry obsession.</strong> He is absolutely the right player for the job, but it feels like Pele has his leg up by the way the England manager has reacted. No one out of form, no one unfit, those were his rules. For a captain or a Rooney I can understand bending the rules. A Barry that hasn't played for months? Sorry, but he isn't good enough to hold up your team picks, planning, consistent formation and team spirit for.<br />
<strong>Rooney.</strong> Looks brilliant. In the winter months.<br />
<br />
<strong>Cole/Johnson</strong> - a pair of truly brilliantly skilled outstanding committed game-winning clowns.<br />
<br />
<strong>Carrick/Carragher/Upson</strong> - bunch of arse.<br />
<strong>King/Milner/SWP/Lennon/Heskey</strong> - Can't remember. Computer almost certainly says No.<br />
<strong>Chelsea boys</strong> - depends if they've got their end away/would quite like to see Joe Cole is playing. Terry starting to look like competitive dad being beaten by his child.<br />
<strong>In goal</strong> - There are bold pilots, and there are old pilots. But there are no, old, bold pilots. Anyone got a coin?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-51300274132927061852010-03-27T14:32:00.001+00:002010-06-13T15:20:44.376+01:00Theo looking "quite good" while Beckham, Lennon and the rest look injured<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex8pfpDcugrD-bVH0JjXBxPxEW3SB1pn66GRA2h7_AWdz4sviwxDmYUe4smfaiL7olxmGBLaQprN-j9hrWGUFppXLdFpxXSThO2539mItG_KJ1ow3rVBL7tZPLvHlwT8yY3FE/s1600/AchillesDeath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex8pfpDcugrD-bVH0JjXBxPxEW3SB1pn66GRA2h7_AWdz4sviwxDmYUe4smfaiL7olxmGBLaQprN-j9hrWGUFppXLdFpxXSThO2539mItG_KJ1ow3rVBL7tZPLvHlwT8yY3FE/s320/AchillesDeath.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Beckham's injured achilles' tendon has made the line-up for the right hand side of the midfield a little bit of a more straightforward prospect. But with Lennon still injured, SWP erratic, Theo not quite there andUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-65319387780468110842010-03-27T14:28:00.001+00:002010-03-27T14:29:55.501+00:00Where is South Africa anyway? Let's take a look a this nuclear proliferation map to find out...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTRgSDkDZJZ21kCioaLW2M0X_YOrAG2Xdqr2kX8Xnvg8R0-T2lymRBJ0qVJSKGQfj-Nv1YgwXdst4Vtd_DPEav8beQYFoJ7hBNUSGzQWvdWMVKJ5g436cR1PllGnrQPrt9NNI/s1600/map-nuclear-world.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTRgSDkDZJZ21kCioaLW2M0X_YOrAG2Xdqr2kX8Xnvg8R0-T2lymRBJ0qVJSKGQfj-Nv1YgwXdst4Vtd_DPEav8beQYFoJ7hBNUSGzQWvdWMVKJ5g436cR1PllGnrQPrt9NNI/s400/map-nuclear-world.gif" width="372" /></a></div><br />
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Oh yes, there it is between the nuclear cake and the rabbit islands.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-43797889621186680102010-01-24T21:41:00.001+00:002010-01-24T21:42:04.945+00:00THEO WALCOTT NOT REALLY VERY GOOD AT THE MOMENT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSNVK1Q-GfUamdefI7UCvz26XJNhAShjoBXG6dDaU0B-eAwDuwneu7AL_mkdUJP8kPzdhdPEouu-D6YjJYiyXh9J7a8uuzsVxlB375Ok6IeVMPdVZ32Oi-MVWCdSNTHeKLDuf/s1600-h/SladeWallcot2MOS_468x379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSNVK1Q-GfUamdefI7UCvz26XJNhAShjoBXG6dDaU0B-eAwDuwneu7AL_mkdUJP8kPzdhdPEouu-D6YjJYiyXh9J7a8uuzsVxlB375Ok6IeVMPdVZ32Oi-MVWCdSNTHeKLDuf/s320/SladeWallcot2MOS_468x379.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>As an Arsenal fan I hate to say it but Theo Walcott's odds of a World Cup appearance this year must be getting bigger by the match. Young Theo was suffering from dislocated shoulders every match before his big op, and then after picking up a knock he's had only a handful of games. But anyone who has seen those games, will tell you Theo was a non entity in all bar one.<br />
We are only half way through the season, and there is still time to turn it around - but not much. The next dozen premiership games will bring us right up to crunch time for Capello's world cup squad choices, and if Theo's world is to set into motion he needs to make sure that he's played a key part in keeping Arsenal in and amongst the top three.<br />
Only the Gunners woeful injury list is likely to give Theo that chance, as right now about three other players that head him for that position in the Arsenal side if they are all fit (Nasri, Rosicky, Arshavin and Bendtner would probably all be picked ahead of him right now).<br />
Here he is with his girlfiriend Melanie, celabrating her three A Levels. The way things are going she's likely to have a longer career than he is. Come on Theo!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-25927597150644362472010-01-24T21:26:00.000+00:002010-01-24T21:26:52.669+00:00Need a really cheap SEO solution?Great to see that World Cup Ranter is riding high in the SEO search term charts, despite being dormant for almost four years. Oh yes, you may mock, but there are a few keywords which you'll really struggle to take me out of the top 10 google search term results of.<br />
For instance, I am sure that my blog has been overloaded with seekers of the John Barnes' rap in New Order's World in Motion. Well, indeed I am right. For the search terms "barnes rap lyrics" or "john barnes song lyrics" you'll find it number one.<br />
Coming number two for "World in Motion Rap" isn't bad either.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rD2iNdLjVI_tRpbaZYne91b-_5XL-YBrjgypYDrjo2Y0xPYmLkwEkQWID6WI1H20yjjKeOG8GvcTuHjoHAGyMcp0irCiYRl2OMiVnHAJ19UmMpOKrLq8BLX8IO5PEzn_dwdA/s1600-h/seo_lifecycle_Chart.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rD2iNdLjVI_tRpbaZYne91b-_5XL-YBrjgypYDrjo2Y0xPYmLkwEkQWID6WI1H20yjjKeOG8GvcTuHjoHAGyMcp0irCiYRl2OMiVnHAJ19UmMpOKrLq8BLX8IO5PEzn_dwdA/s320/seo_lifecycle_Chart.gif" /></a><br />
</div>So I'm sure the new updates won't need publicising, eh?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-1150456096395466282006-06-16T12:05:00.000+01:002006-06-16T12:08:17.390+01:00THE ONLY ENGLAND FOOTY WORLD CUP SONG AND VIDEO WORTH WATCHING<a href="http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/footy/" target="_blank">Click here for dancing badgers</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-1148640898165360542006-05-26T11:53:00.000+01:002006-05-26T11:54:58.270+01:00FA: ROONEY WILL FLY OUT ON JUNE 5That should shut Fergie up then.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-1148604679934316382006-05-26T01:31:00.000+01:002006-05-26T11:36:35.100+01:00ALEX FERGUSON: THE SCAB THAT JUST WON'T HEALListening to Man Utd manager Alex Ferguson is a bit like picking a scab off.<br />It always hurts, and sometimes you feel that the pain was worth it, because, underneath the skin has healed - and you feel quite pleased with the result.<br />Sometimes though all you do is open up the wound again, and wish you'd never bothered after revealing a load of blood and puss.<br />Fergie is a daunting opponent, and for that, he has the respect of W.C.R.<br />Right now, Ferguson's face goes from strawberry to plum at the very mention of Rooney.<br />Two days ago, news came out that he'd sacked the head physio at Manchester United. Talk is that it wasn't about the fact that the physio was on good terms with the FA, and giving them updates about the most famous foot in English soccer.(<em>tmffies</em>)<br />But it probably didn't help.<br />Then yesterday he was back at it. I can't give you the exact quote but it went along the lines of "there is no footballer in the world that can be ready to play after just two weeks back on his foot, not even him."<br />To qualify this, the foot guy who examined <em>tmffies</em>, said that it would be two weeks before he can resume full training, and four weeks before he could back in the contact sport that is football.<br />Rooney may still be named in the squad, but WCR is not convinced that it's a good idea for Sven to look like he's hopeful of his return. If he is really lucky, Rooney might make it if England qualify for the last 16.<br />Today Manchester United confirmed what the foot guy said, but that he will have a further scan on June 14 <em>which could</em> reveal <em>tmffies</em> has healed completely.<br />But WCR thinks the side has to start thinking Rooney won't be there, rather than he might.<br />Though Ferguson has admitted he puts Man Utd before England, maybe his realism is what the England squad needs.<br />Without Rooney we may not be good enough to win the World Cup, but if that's the case, are we doing damage to the psychology of the squad who may have the hope of Rooney returning in the back of their minds if we struggle through the qualifying group?<br />Because of the allure of playing in the world's greatest soccer tournament, and the pressure on the England unit to take Rooney along, it just may be that Ferguson's scepticism is actually worth a second look.<br />If it were a Champions League semi-final and final that Manchester United were waiting to find out if Rooney were fit for, I believe Ferguson would have still been as sceptical.<br />Because he knows it's better for the team to believe in themselves, rather than wait for someone to come and save them.<br />Rather than go head to head with Fergie, Sven and the England camp should play down Rooney's hopes of being fit - and pull him out as a wild card if the recovery really is possible.<br />But an unfit, and chubby Wayne Rooney that hasn't kicked a ball for six weeks isn't going to stand a chance in the World Cup.<br />No matter how good he is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-1148593982558780522006-05-25T22:45:00.000+01:002006-05-25T22:53:02.846+01:00DID THE "B" STAND FOR BALLS UP? (That's what it looked like)England's B team lost 2-1 in a friendly against Belarus tonight.<br />But it was a night of good and bad for the England side...<br /><br />Good<br />Michael Owen ran around for an hour not doing much, but at least he didn't get injured. He did set up the goal with a header (just don't mention he was three yards off side when the ball was played).<br /><br />Bad<br />Robert Green, the number 3 goalie in the squad, fluffed a goal kick and sustained a groin injury that means he's out of the World Cup.<br /><br />Good<br />Aaron Lennon was man of the match, and looked good despite some tight marking. He set up Crouch for a goal (though it was disallowed for off-side) and hit the bar with a chip.<br /><br />Bad<br />England gave the ball away all over the place and looked pretty shit.<br /><br />Good<br />The 2-1 scoreline is deceiving - one of the goals came while Green was lying on the ground holding his bollocks.<br /><br />Bad<br />Belarus only had ten men for the final 20 minutes and still scored the winner in that time.<br /><br />Good<br />Sven's got a nice new sun tan.<br /><br />Bad<br />Michael Carrick looked shit, as did most of the B team midfield.<br /><br />Good<br />Scott Carson will replace Green in the World Cup Squad<br /><br />Bad<br />Belarus are pretty shit. Their star player, Arsenal's Hleb, was on holiday, strangely, in Germany.<br /><br />Good<br />Er, that's it. Actually it was fucking awful. Theo Walcott came on and looked "lively". Very fast, and definitely alive.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-1148247438705627442006-05-21T22:33:00.000+01:002006-05-21T22:37:18.856+01:00SVEN: "WE WILL WIN"Amazing the boost of confidence you can get by knowing you are leaving your job after the tournament...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-1148069980625917482006-05-19T21:19:00.000+01:002006-05-19T21:41:26.213+01:00SEND FOR ONE OF THESE FREAKS<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/225/9949/50/group-photo01.1.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff 2px solid; MARGIN: 2px; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 2px solid" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/225/9949/400/group-photo01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Now that's what I call a mascot.<br />News that Goleo, the official World Cup mascot - a German <em>lion </em>(hmm, I can see something wrong with that already) has already sent the toy company that bought the rights to make the toys of him bust - made WCR think that maybe it was time to send for a sub.<br />(For this vital news and other shit see our brother site <a href="http://www.englishranter.com" target="_blank">www.englishranter.com</a>).<br />Even though these are American baseball mascots, we reckon they'd do better than a fucking lion in what look like oversized golf shoes and a talking ball.<br />Our vote goes for the Clam in the middle - his head can be a walking talking old fashioned football.<br />Nominate who you think the World Cup Mascot should be and send us a link.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Thanks to the rather lovely scientist </span><a href="http://www.ldbug.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:85%;">www.ldbug.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> for the tip of where to find these fearsome fellows.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-1147911569755475072006-05-18T01:19:00.000+01:002010-06-13T15:20:43.648+01:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/225/9949/50/DSC01618.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #FFFFFF; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/225/9949/200/DSC01618.jpg'></a><br />...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26108176.post-1147911516724720202006-05-18T01:18:00.000+01:002010-06-13T15:20:43.651+01:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/225/9949/50/group-photo01.0.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #FFFFFF; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/225/9949/200/group-photo01.0.jpg'></a><br />...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0