Yes Sir, I Bite my Thumb at You!!

In response to my last blog i would like to respond to a few comments that got my goat.

1)"last World Cup Nicky Butt was considered by many as our best player in a holding midfield role akin to Hargreaves'" Nicky Butt never put in a performance for England like Hargreaves did vs Portugal.

2)"Pretty sure you were like the majority of the population and a Hargreaves doubter on more than one occasion". In fact before the WC i was in favour of Carragher in the holding role, and yes, i didn't give Hargreaves the time of day. link.

3)"I honestly think it is easier to have a good game in this position than any other position, or that people in this country are just amazed at all the short range passes they are required to make. You just have to sit back and not be too daring, cover the full backs and English people like the unsung hero, someone behind the scenes who, in the glitzy English midfield, takes a back seat, says 'Go on then Stevie, have a run, i've got it covered'." The defensive midfield position is 'easy', well thats just poopoo. Roy Keane, Edgar Davids of old, Makalele, Mascherano, Gattuso, Vieira, were/are all arguably the most important players on their team. If England are to play any three/four or Gerrard, Lampard, Joey Cole or Lennon, the the defensive midfielder will be the most important position in the team. The fact that Hargreaves did more in one game than Carrick and Carragher did in their two put together shows the difference between playing well and playing badly in that position.

4) "I think McClaren would be a fool to drop Beckham straight away, he assisted or scored three of our five goals at the World Cup, the phrase 'kneejerk' comes to mind when daring to think of Lennon"Unfortunately by relinquishing the armband Becks did not do enough. Yes he got some assists and a goal, but like Shearer before him, his syle is that in which the team is sculpted, and has been one of the major factors inhibiting England over the last few years. Who wants to be pinging 40 yard balls to little Wayne and Owen, regardless of how inch perfect they are. Beckham is dead, long live Aaron Lennon (or SWP if he gets better)

5)"I'd also like to point out that bar some really shakey moments during the Sweden game I was thrilled with our two centre halfs" Rio was excellent, Terry was good but not up to his Chealsea standards. Actually the shaky moments vs Sweden coincided with Campbell coming on. Either way our biggest problem is Paul Robinson, who despite being a marvellous shotstopper did not command his defence and looked nervous throghout the WC. Needs to grow bigger balls..compare him to Kahn opr Lehmann or Schmeical etc...bit of a worry this one.

Aaaaaaaaah, thats better. By the way, the two playa haters getting my back up were the co-stars of Malking Tovies, a really very good movie podcast. If either of them want a fight i'm well up for it...