England v Kazakhstan 11/10/08 KO:17.15

[Ian Royal]

"Gerrard ignores Lampard"

Good choice.

LOL

[cmonurz]

So the Gerrard-Lampard partnership works then?

Two goals in 19 minutes, and then Ashley Cole sets up their striker.

You're better than shifting the focus of this entire performance on to two players.

70 minutes gone, I'd argue Crouch and Defoe deserve some time on the pitch.

[TFF]

[cmonurz]

There's just no passion, is there. It would be good to see a player risk a booking, really put their feet in. Or when a decision goes against them, actually complain about it. This isn't rugby, ffs. Wright-Phillips just had a foul given against for a shoulder-barge, he just looked around, and trotted back. At Man City, there would have been 3 or 4 players screaming at the ref.

[Ian Royal]

So the Gerrard-Lampard partnership works then?

Two goals in 19 minutes, and then Ashley Cole sets up their striker.

You're better than shifting the focus of this entire performance on to two players.

70 minutes gone, I'd argue Crouch and Defoe deserve some time on the pitch.

2 goals from a team that should really be winning easily do nothing to cancel out all the other insipid performances from that partnership.

[kwik-silva]

3-1 rooney

[cmonurz]

3-1, baldy scores.

[papereyes]

So the Gerrard-Lampard partnership works then?

Two goals in 19 minutes, and then Ashley Cole sets up their striker.

You're better than shifting the focus of this entire performance on to two players.

Actually, I don't think the personnel change would have made the slightest bit of difference. There's been no noticeable improvement except that England have got a corner and put the ball in with some level of quality.

I think Agbonlahor must be close to a cap - and he's less of a cahnt than Defoe.

The Kazakh No. 9 is UGLY ...

[cmonurz]

FWIW, Lampard stood out as the better attacking threat in the first half, whereas since they were played together in the second, Gerrard has stood out head and shoulders above Frank, both in attack and defence.

Beckham about the come on.

[Chaney]

walcott should be nursed into the international circus..well below par tonight

[papereyes]

[soggy biscuit]

Kukeyev is man of the match for me. A lot of Enlgland players would do well to take note of his work rate.

[kwik-silva]

4-1 Rooney

[papereyes]

Quality assist there.

Another set piece, another goal.

[cmonurz]

It's a long time since Beckham caused this many problems on a football pitch. Form is temporary (Walcott), class is permanent?

[kwik-silva]

5-1 Defoe

[cmonurz]

So the Gerrard-Lampard partnership works then?

I'd say they've done alright.

5-1.

[The whole year inn]

Kukeyev is man of the match for me. A lot of Enlgland players would do well to take note of his work rate.

LOL

[papereyes]

So the Gerrard-Lampard partnership works then?

I'd say they've done alright.

That was kind of the point I was thinking people would have the wit and brains not to make.

More important factors, imo, were the Kazakh inability to deal with set pieces and the fact that they got tired and clearly so at about 60 minutes.

I think it would have been a comfortable win, eventually, with whichever midfield pairing in a 4-4-2.

[cmonurz]

So because Kazakhstan are shit, and can't deal with set pieces, Gerrard and Lampard were shit, because they have been before, and they only care about Liverpool and Chelsea etc etc.

Neither were brilliant, but I think both were competent enough in the second half, and kept the ball moving, Gerrard especially.

I'd still go for Gerrard and Barry in Belarus, Fabio surely can't risk 4-3-3 again.