Castiel

Funny how Rooney never catches the same stick for the same reasons. I'd go so far as to say Rooney's temper is worse than Drogba's strop. Look at this world cup nonsense of International Reffs learning English swear words just for Rooney. But when he loses it for United (and England to the English media), he's passionate and cares about his game. The double standards bother me - even if he does act like a brat sometimes.

It must be a South African football thing then because I'm a huge Rugby Union fan and the South African Springboks, as much as I hate to admit it, being one of the best international sides in the world pull an enormous following there - none of which bring their Vuvuzela's to the games.

I wouldn't throw all hope out the window. This is Germany we're talking about, 3 time world cup winners and most recently, European finalists (only losing to Spain.) They're an extremely tough side to beat for anyone.

They don't bother me that much to be honest. I've gotten used to them. I can see how they'd be annoying and it'd probably help if ITV and other broadcasters lowered the ambient volume like the BBC does. Banning them would put a black mark on the competition though.

I think the last time the Wallabies met Germany the scoreline was 108-0. I do agree with your point. Certainly not a red card in my opinion.

You're getting your wish, Germany look clinical and quite capable of a Wigan-esque trashing of the Aussies. In another league to England from what I've seen so far.

As far as Green goes I think he wasn't concentrating. I'd bet anything as the ball was coming towards him he was thinking about who he's going to throw it to in order to get a quick counter going and in that moment he misjudged his grip. I'm just happy we're getting these blunders out of the way in the group stage. I'm not holding it against him because everyone knows he shouldn't be out there to begin with. He's just not an international first choice keeper. Can you go manage England please? I've always thought managers have failed to exploit Rooney, Gerrard AND Lampard correctly when it really shouldn't be that hard. Those three should give England one of the most formidable attacking options in the world when usually 2/3 are completely out of the game. Also, in fairness to Gerrard, I thought he was the best white shirt on the pitch. Not just for scoring the goal, but he seemed to be trying the hardest and made the least mistakes. Seeing him step up from his Liverpool season was the best news that game brought me.

Teachers red pen!

Its really starting to frustrate me how the best talents in the England squad are being deployed. It wasn't Lampard's fault that he had a poor game, nor was it Rooney's that he was constantly locked down. Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney are England's 3 world class attacking players and it wouldn't be difficult to build the offence around them. Rooney is played deep where its easy to isolate him, Lampard is played in the holding role (this is why he's nowhere near as good for England as he is for us) and Gerrard, best suited as a second striker, is floating around CM in some obscure position that seems to change several times a match. I also noticed that A.Cole wasn't make any of his runs forward and the wings were completely ineffective in finishing. J.Cole should have started over Milner.

I love how all the good players turn City down, they must be sooo pissed at Spuds I rate Silva, good deal I say. Only possible concern is if he can reproduce his game in the premiership.

For a neutral or maybe an American perspective yes (idk what the Americans expect), but it just feels like a misfire. I don't expect to win the world cup but I thought we'd be comfortable getting into the round of 16. Rooney looks completely ineffective up front because the other team completely locks him down. Even Messi wasn't locked down that badly today and made his magic runs. Just felt like a very restrained performance. Credit to the USA though, that keeping in particular was committed.

What an anti-climax that game was.

If we're still in with a shot of signing him I hope he doesn't get much game time, because if he goes on and steals the show in a team with those stars it'll just drive his price to even more unreasonable levels.

Messi stated his case in Argentina's match today with a spectacular individual performance. Lets hope Rooney lives up to the reputation too.

Messi has been completely unmarked for practically the whole game and its 1-0. But yes credit to Enyema, cracking keeping so far. I'll have to wait and see if England is shocking too later today, but so far this is raising my hopes.

Nobody is denying your point, it is crazy money, but in context to the peak in player value at the moment its the price I expect to see paid to drive Torres out of Anfield. It wont just be Torres either, Aguero is quoted in the 30+m area, I don't even remember what Pato's estimated price was. ALL of our targets will cost a lot more than they should this summer, if we do what United are doing and refuse to partake in the overpriced market we'll find ourselves understrength or taking risks on unknowns. Its times like this where its great to have an owner like Roman. :D All that said I'm still not convinced he's coming here.

Not really impressed with Argentina either, considering the squad they have.

They should play in the old 18th century red tunics to add to the theatrics. It'd also be hysterically funny. England to win 2-0. Can someone injure Gerrard to continue the captaincy curse for wrongfully disbarring Terry? We're not going to win anyway so lets see everyone in line for the captaincy get hit by a series of unfortunate events until the right man for the job gets his armband back. (Unless Lamps gets next crack at it) :P

I only know that if he wants to stay in England, I'd rather him here than anywhere else. Remember how good he was for Liverpool back in the day? Now imagine him being managed by someone who isn't completely inept - and in a team that isn't full of failures. If he doesn't come here I hope he goes to Italy.

You've got to come to terms for the fact that we're in a highly inflated market. £80m for Ronaldo, 70M for Kaka... How much do you reckon Messi's worth? Torres is up there with these people and until the market regains some kind of sanity these are the figures you're looking at for world class players. The papers consistently quote £70m for Torres which I wouldn't be happy with the club paying. But this is what Real and City have done, I have no doubt in my mind that City have or will make an astronomical bid for Torres (papers say that they already have and he turned them down because he wants CL football), which will only drive his price up further.

For someone like Torres who is certainly in the top 3 strikers in the world, that'd be a reasonable price. For pure goal scoring ability I'd rate him above anyone. Unless he has a giraffe at the world cup, £50m is probably going to be the minimum they'd sell him for.

ZOMG thats it I'm supporting Real

Own Goal would be 100m at lest, we'd be better off going for Rooney. Maybe we should send a scout for fergie time? My hopefuls: Aguero/Torres, Hamsik/Dzagoev, Kakuta promoted or Pato. Don't expect any of it to happen though just a wish list.

I'd take a Domenech/Maradonna love child managing England over the British media.

Watching France v Uruguay now, commentary said Malouda had to be restrained by Gallas because he had a go at Domenech!