Tag Archives: pearce

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Gerrard in ’100 Club’

Ahead of England's friendly against Sweden tomorrow, Steven Gerrard looks set to claim his 100th England cap. We take a look back at his international career.

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Steven Gerrard could reach 100 caps for England tomorrow night

Steve Gerrard, Gerrard, He’ll pass the ball forty yards, he’s big and he’s ******* hard, Steve Gerrard, Gerrard.

As Steven Gerrard approaches a century of England caps, none can question these gratuitously explicit lyrics taken from the immortal chant heard not only from Liverpool fans, but England supporters as well – as long as they’re winning of course.

But the lad from Merseyside didn’t start off his career as a renowned hard man; in fact, his old Liverpool teammate Robbie Fowler claims quite the opposite.  “When Stevie first joined the first-team training at Liverpool he was a small, quite skinny lad” he recalls.

Since making his debut for England twelve years ago – a pre-Euro 2000 friendly against Ukraine in which England won 2-0 – Gerrard has not only grown physically but he has also matured into one of England’s finest ever centre midfielders.

His first international goal came in the historical 5-1 drubbing of Germany in Munich in September 2001 and he was named captain for the first time by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in March 2004; coincidentally, a friendly against Sweden which England lost 1-0.

Watch that memorable goal against Germany here: http://bit.ly/PlayUpGerrard

The England captaincy merry-go-round has seen the armband passed around like a hot potato, which means Wednesday’s friendly against the Swedes will be his twenty-fifth appearance as skipper.

Despite his somewhat quietly foreboding nature, Gerrard holds an incredible air of confidence and determination; something of which critics have deemed the exact qualities needed for the role as leader of the Three Lions.  His official naming as captain under Roy Hodgson came a lot later than many thought was deserved, with former bosses Fabio Capello and Stuart Pearce seeing his modesty as a negative attribute.

After being passed fit enough to travel to Sweden, Gerrard will be hoping he can be the 6th player join the exclusive ‘100 Club’ along with Peter Shilton (125 caps), David Beckham (115), Bobby Moore (108), Bobby Charlton (106) and Billy Wright (105).

Also not far off the milestone are fellow England veterans Ashley Cole (99) and Frank Lampard (93) but injuries have ruled the Chelsea duo out of the squad for this fixture. If all goes well for Gerrard in Stockholm, he could mark the occasion with his sixty fifth victory in an England shirt.

Mini-Stat Pack 

  • The 1099th player to appear for England
  • Won England Player of the Year 2007
  • Appeared in 123 England squads
  • Made 99 appearances (including 36 friendlies); making 96 starts and 3 substitute appearances
  • Pass completion: 79%
  • Yellow cards: 12
  • Red cards: 1
  • Played a total of 7604 minutes, scoring 19 goals (14 in competitive games)
  • 24 appearances as captain – 54% win ratio

 

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Pearce’s hunt for Gold lacks balls

David Beckham's exclusion from the Team GB squad looks to be a worse decision with every goal he scores and every Olympic football seat left unfilled

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Beckham's form for LA Galaxy suggests he would be an asset for Team GB

We want David Beckham. That is official. 78.5% of people in our PlayUp poll claim that they think it was a mistake that the ex-England captain was not selected for Team GB. Judging by the general opinion towards Olympic football, with stadiums barely half sold out, the event could have done with a sprinkling of stardust from Golden Balls himself.

The nickname ‘Psycho’ was given to Stuart Pearce as a term of endearment, but it is taking on a more negative connotation if the apathy to Olympic football continues. Pearce is hardly the most popular man in English football, and the decision to deny the nation a final chance to see Beckham playing on these shores looks like another step on an outcast’s Lear-like decsent into madness.

Pearce claimed that the axe was a footballing decision based on selecting players that were performing well. This argument perishes before it has even begun. Anyone who saw Beckham’s two weekend stunners for LA Galaxy can attest that this is a man who can still play scintillating football. A further goal on Wednesday evening confirmed the continuation of his never ending Indian Summer.

By the time the Games start it will be three months since any of the squad played competitive football. As we saw with Wayne Rooney at Euro 2012, you can’t just waltz back into the game and perform.

In Beckham, Pearce had a man who had not only been playing regularly but performing well. If he refused to pick Beckham as an act of defiance, then he is cutting off his nose to spite his face. Are we seeing just a hint of Psycho’s testosterone-filled ego?

Beckham skeptics, the likes of Dai Greene and the more cynical members of the media, cited his potential inclusion as a commercial imperative to put bums on seats. With just 7 days until the opening football contest, bums on seats is exactly what they don’t have. Not only did we want Beckham, but we needed him.

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Olympic football: showcase or irrelevance?

The Olympic football tournament has always sat a little uncomfortably within the Olympic canopy. The 2012 games potentially mark a change in pace for Olympic football and will showcase some of the most outrageous young talent the world has to offer. But is it serious?

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messi aguero.jpg

Messi and Aguero showcased their talent on an Olympic stage

Football is no Olympic newcomer. It has been played in every Games since 1900, except 1932. But Olympic football has always been viewed by football’s authorities and fans alike as a poor cousin to major club and national competitions.

A poor cousin of a tournament that can’t even demand and receive the services of its top players. FIFA has not made it mandatory that players are released by their clubs for their national teams. FIFA isn’t reallly playing the Olympic game.

Olympic challenge: Play The Insider: Choose the starting XI of any country playing in the 2012 Olympic football competition.

Even so. the past couple of decades have seen a growing interest in Olympic football, and the London games will ratchet that interest up a notch with the inclusion of Team GB. Sadly no Beckham factor, but Pyscho’s predominantly English team has the capability to steal all the headlines.

At London 2012, the men’s football is an under-23s competition, plus three wild cards (over-aged players) per side. This system has been in place since 1992 and has coincided with an upturn in quality of play and players. The decision to permit professional participation in 1984 was the first catalyst for change.

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Argentina won gold in 2004 and 2008, propelled by Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez. Spain won silver in 2000 with a side that included the now all-conquering Xavi and Carlos Puyol.

Italy also medalled in 2004 prior to their World Cup victory in 2006; Alberto Gilardino and Daniele De Rossi starred.

Argentinian forward Hernan Crespo moved from domestic side River Plate to Serie A side Parma after top-scoring at the 1996 Games.

The gold-winning Nigerian side of the Atlanta Olympics also secured moves from native leagues and upgrades; Tijani Babangida signed for Ajax and Kanu moved from the Dutch side to Inter Milan.

The big names are there, they just might not be big yet.

Evidence that the 2012 tournament is not just a sideshow is in the squad lists. Brazil are fielding some of the hottest properties in world football in Neymar, Ganso, Pato and the Hulk. Spain are coming with Juan Mata, Jordi Alba and David de Gea. Luis Suarez will be with Uruguay. And Team GB have Ryan Giggs, Micah Richards, Craig Bellamy and Aaron Ramsey. Not a shabby cast list for the Olympic show.

So is the Olympic football a side show or a main attraction? You decide. Take part in our poll on PlayUp Football at http://www.facebook.com/PlayUpFootball

Coming up: Read part 1 of the PlayUp guide to the footballers to watch Friday 20 July.

Select your ideal Games XI with The Olympic Insider

 

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Team GB can still glitter without Goldenballs

by Mary Meyer

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The return of a British men’s football team to the Olympic arena after a hiatus of over half a century has been met with little fanfare. The eighteen man squad, which includes thirteen English players and five from Wales, has been disregarded because of the absence of a certain thirty-seven year-old midfielder hailing from Leytonstone adjacent to the Olympic Park in Stratford. However, Team GB manager Stuart Pearce has announced a squad brimming with potential and, even if the omission of ex-England captain David Beckham is a glaring oversight, we should not discount our medal chances.

Have your say on PlayUp, the leading mobile social network for live sports and get connected with like-minded fans around the world in the PlayUp mobile App. Follow all the games live during Euro 2012 and get involved with the banter. Download the iPhone and Android App today or visit www.playup.com to play games and for more information.

The side’s Olympic campaign kicks off with a friendly against Brazil on 20 July before three group games against Senegal, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay at Old Trafford, Wembley and the Millennium Stadium respectively, from Thursday July 26 (the day before the opening ceremony) to Wednesday August 1. Here are the players to watch.

The Veterans

The trio of over age players selected alongside the under-23s will give Team GB experience and proven quality across the pitch from defence to attack. Manchester City right-back Micah Richards, who is the junior member of the triumvirate at twenty-four, will also provide cover at centre-half; he will be keen to make an impact after being controversially left out of Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad. Welsh duo Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy will provide offensive flair and a sustained goal threat.

The Manchester United legend is the elder statesman of the squad at thirty-eight but the midfielder has defied age to elongate his Premier League career and should start on merit; he made 33 appearances for his club last season and remains an integral member of the Old Trafford squad. Compatriot Bellamy will compete for the captaincy after a stellar return season at Liverpool which saw the thirty-two-year-play a pivotal role in the side’s dual route to Wembley in the FA and Carling Cup Finals.

Champions League Contingent

Pearce has the luxury of being able to call upon a number of players from England’s Champions League representatives, including Ryan Bertrand of holder’s Chelsea who started in the final against Bayern Munich in May. Stamford Bridge team-mate Daniel Sturridge was poised to start for Team GB after just missing out on selection for the Euros in Ukraine and Poland but the forward has been struck down by meningitis so his involvement is in doubt.

Tom Cleverley of Manchester United should make the Olympic first eleven after an injury hit season. The attacking midfielder is tipped as Paul Scholes’ heir apparent for club and country and could make his name this summer. He started four consecutive games at the start of last season, including the 8-2 annihilation of Arsenal, before being sidelined with injury which saw him make only one further start.

Wales captain Aaron Ramsey will also hope to be named in the starting line-up; the Gunners man had an inconsistent 2011/2012 season and will be keen to re-establish the reputation which saw Arsene Wenger compete with Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes for his signature in 2008.

The Goalkeeper

Jack Butland of Birmingham City is the only member of England’s Euro 2012 squad to be included in Team GB and should claim the Number 1 jersey. The 19 year-old is widely tipped to be Joe Hart’s successor for the senior side even though his only professional experience to date has been in League Two with Cheltenham Town. Butland has made six appearances for the England under-21s and attracted interest from both Manchester City and Tottenham. Newly promoted Southampton have already had a bid turned down by The Blues this summer.

Swansea Clan

Joe Allen, Neil Taylor and Scott Sinclair of Swansea have all been included by Pearce alongside Spurs defender Steven Caulker who was on loan at the Liberty Stadium last season. The Welsh club is the most represented in the Olympic squad and the trio’s section is recognition for their individual and collective excellence throughout the 2011/2012 season which saw the promoted side finish eleventh in the Premiership.

The Team GB boss will hope his side can replicate the free-flowing football of Brendan Rodgers’ men and garner support from The Valleys as well as throughout England. The absence of Scottish and Northern Irish names may have been another own-goal from Pearce but he has a squad at his disposal which should medal and, in turn, cover up his own mistakes.

PlayUp is the leading mobile social network for live sports, cover 23,000 live games across nine sports. Keep up-to-date with your favourite sport atwww.playup.com/blog/uk/ or for more information, to play games or download the App visit www.playup.com

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Hoddle’s declaration shows that the great England manager race needs clearing up – and quickly

So Glenn Hoddle wants the England job. Alan Pardew has ruled himself out of the running. Harry Redknapp is flattered at being linked but doesn’t want to discuss it.

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The Hoddle-Beckham relationship was strained throughout France '98

Every other manager would love the job but thinks that Harry is the man for it. Stuart Pearce is apparently not ready for the job, but, wait for it, says he has the experience of major tournaments to do it. Confused? Overwhelmed? Frankly non-plussed? Join the club.

It is high time, with just three months to go until the start of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, that the Football Association showed some sort of willing in at least beginning the planning process that will see who is named England’s next manager.

As things currently stand, despite having Redknapp as clear favourite, every man and his dog seems to be in with a chance of snagging the top job, on a temporary basis at least.

The FA must come out and state their intentions. Are they seeking to appoint someone just for the tournament, or for the tournament and beyond? By doing this, we can at least establish some of those candidates who won’t be getting the job. For example, Hoddle’s case could be laughed off if we knew they were looking well into the future.

And as much as he has been derided for voicing his opinion on his suitability, Hoddle has the credentials for the role on a temporary basis. During his spell as England manager, he had the team playing some excellent football. They had a great blend of youth and experience and, save for a flick of David Beckham’s leg or an Alan Shearer foul, England could have gone all the way in the 1998 World Cup.

That the wheels came off slightly in the subsequent qualifying campaign is unimportant. Hoddle was well regarded by many, and it was only his unwise voicing of his views on reincarnation that cost him his job. His coaching cannot be questioned and the style of play he encouraged is to be admired. But as a manager of men, Hoddle’s skills do not stand up to scrutiny, which is why he would not be a long term option.

One must only look at the way Beckham was treated during France ’98 as an example. Informed that he had been left out of his country’s opening match against Tunisia despite having played every qualifying match, Hoddle selected a 21-year-old Beckham to sit in a press conference and face questioning. And who can forget his use of supposed faith healer Eileen Drewry, with players looked upon unfavourably if they remained skeptical to her methods.

Which is why, if the FA come out and say that the next appointment is for the long term, that Hoddle’s interest becomes irrelevant. The next man must be someone that, especially given the questionable relationship that the last two England managers have had with their players, is able to unite a group of egos that can be bruised with even the slightest criticism.

That, of course, leads us once again to Redknapp, who has endorsers within the playing fraternity country-wide. Many will say the FA are being respectful of Tottenham by not declaring their interest, or making a move for Harry, before the end of the season. But if anything, with the cloud of his impending departure hanging over White Hart Lane, Spurs season has hit the skids.

Tottenham fans might even thank the FA, if it helps them gain Champions League qualification.  It is time for a bit of transparency. Let’s put an end to the rumour mill and give England some semblance of stability heading in to Euro 2012.  Hoddle, as well as the rest of the nation, will be waiting by the phone.

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Robben saves England from delusions of grandeur

Late winner heaps perspective on troubling England showing

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Arjen Robben’s injury time winner stirred a strange emotion. Normally when the team you support concedes a late goal, expletives are shouted, fists are clenched and cats are swung. But last night’s goal elicited none of those things. All I could muster was a knowing sigh, more in relief than disappointment.

The build up to the game suggested a new era for English football. Everything about the occasion, in fact, was new. New manager, new players, new kit. New hope? No chance. This England team, despite the vastly different personnel, could have been any side since 1999.

The reaction of the general public to the game has been positive. While the fight back to 2-2 was encouraging, if we had completed the draw it would only have served to mask the deficiencies of the performance. Slow in the build up, lacking a final ball, scared of pace at the back. Something in the English psyche cripples any confidence that a player might have previously been lucky enough to have.

This was an alarming display by a set of players conforming to expectations. It was a team picked because of it’s youth, belief and effervescence. The only thing bubbling after last night will be the Alka Selzer that Chris Smalling was required to take to shift his headache.

Smalling and Cahill proved to be far from impenetrable at the back, admittedly in the face of some good Dutch forward play. Communication and organisation were sorely lacking, making you pine for a fully fit Rio Ferdinand in possession of a Delorean type time machine. Adam Johnson, potentially an international match winner, didn’t seem to want the ball. Danny Welbeck barely got a touch, even if he did want it.

It is harsh to criticise young players in a team that is largely experimental, especially when they come up against such an experienced team as the Holland one last night. But questioning the performance of more regular incumbents on international team sheets is much easier.

Arjen Robben's late goal quashed English hopes

Joe Hart flapped throughout, although he is in credit because of his obvious talent. So is Steven Gerrard, who last night added little. Manchester City’s Gareth Barry was at his ponderous worst – how he was Fabio Capello’s most used player one will never know – while Stewart Downing’s continual involvement in the England squad must perplex even the most passionate Liverpool fan.

In fact, the inclusion of Downing in any England side ensures that the team falls way below any other Three Lions squad in the past 15 years, seeing as 90% of his crosses fail to beat the first man. Whatever your negative opinions on the likes of David Beckham, Steve McManaman and Joe Cole, (and there were plenty) they cannot be accused of a lack of quality or imagination in that area.

How much can we read in to this match? Hopefully not much. It was, of course, a friendly. This robbed the contest of any urgency from the outset, meaning the sort of pace that players brought up in English football thrive on was negated. This sorely highlighted our inability to adapt successfully. England have been urged, quite rightly, to attempt the passing game mastered by Spain in the last five years. Some of the passing last night suggested that it might be 2018 at least until that is tried again.

Stuart Pearce is in all likelihood just keeping the managers seat warm for Harry Redknapp, who will no doubt have his own ideas for the team and squad. With senior players to come back in – admittedly the same senior players who have failed in the past – there will at least be a sense of experience and cohesion on the pitch. The fact that England were operating with a rookie coach and rookie players was shown up by a lack of direction on the pitch. What formation were England even playing last night?

There were positives to take – the fight back, Ashley Young’s finish, Daniel Sturridge’s rousing performance in his hour on the pitch – but England, whoever the next manager is, must lose the fear of failure and be more adventurous.

The move that summed up England’s match came in the first half.  A one-two was attempted on the edge of the Holland box. Welbeck played the first pass and, almost refusing to believe that the crazy idea would come off, looked genuinely shocked and flat-footed when the ball came back. Chance missed.

A bit of positive thinking would go a long way to improving English performance. These youngsters are talented, and in conjunction with the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard, England could spring a few surprises.  But we must remove the climate of fear first.  And the fast-tracking of Stewart Downing back to club football couldn’t hurt either.

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Pearce is a true lion, but must not be England manager

A combination of a lack of experience and past success stack up against interim choice

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The thought of Stuart Pearce as England manager should fill the heart with pride. He is the embodiment of the Three Lions, the last bastion of Englishness. Pearce, in his playing career, made you proud to be English. That should in theory translate directly into management, but unfortunately, it does not.

For all the memories Pearce gave us a player – the blazed penalty, bloodied heads, Euro 96 spot kick exorcism – he fails to capture the imagination as head of the England team post-Capello.

When he was announced as the interim replacement for the Italian, a sense of dread overcame me. Although the appointment is set to only be a short term thing, the worry is that the Football Association will settle on Pearce for the summer finals as well. If this fear is realised, England’s chances of any success will be reduced to a bare minimum.

Pearce undoubtedly feels honoured to be in the position that he is. He didn’t ask for the role and now he has it, he will do it to the best of his ability. Unfortunately, his track record doesn’t deserve such promotion. He may have got to the final of the under 21’s European Championship in the tournament before last, but in one just gone the team performed woefully, with Pearce’s skills being called into question for example his unrelenting backing of Michael Mancienne defied all logic.

Pearce would prove an able deputy, but not head coach

Add to this his catastrophic second season at Manchester City, when his team failed to score a home goal from New Years Day onwards, and you hardly have the makings of an England manager. Thankfully his transfer market credentials won’t be called upon, given the signing of Georgios Samoras during his spell at the Etihad.

Of course Pearce has learned since then. He has experience of tournament football as previously outlined, and that would make him a more than able deputy for a head coach. However, it should not be enough to get him the top job in 2012.

The promise of Harry Redknapp as the man to bring the swashbuckling football that Tottenham play to the national team may have blurred my vision, but choosing Pearce as an alternative would be a bleak option.

A better option, if Redknapp does not want or is not offered the post, would be Brendan Rodgers, the Swansea manager whose side have won so many plaudits this season. We should be actively encouraging our England team to play good football, to at least try and imitate the likes of Spain and Germany. Rodgers is a disciple of this philosophy.

Pearce, for all he may have learnt over the years, is more likely to revert to stereotypical English type when the chips are down. Overly physical, overly direct, overly English. All those heroic images that are conjured you think of Stuart Pearce are well and good, but they should be a leg up to the England job. Pearce should enjoy tonight, and the FA should show him their appreciation, but let’s hope it doesn’t go on beyond this evening and on to Euro 2012.

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