How long before The Sun and Daily Star start with their usual pseudo-racist digs at Germany ? They'll not be able to resist doing it at all no doubt.

Podolski, Klose, Ozal, Trabowhski, Boateng and maybe a few others not born in Germany.

I'll give it till tomorrow

There may be a penalty if they do.

Maybe already on the online editions.

Euro 96 was terrible for The Sun doing it and I believe the Spanish FA sent unsold tickets back as their fans were afraid of what might have happened.

I couldn't give a toss if he's claimed to be the re-incarnation of Jesus Christ. Rooney should have buried the chance and there'd have been no criticism of the keeper at all. It was Rooney's miss-hit shot into the hand of an already diving keeper which meant it was a save rather than a goal, and nothing special that the keeper did.



My point is that putting Rooney through one-on-one with the keeper, where he has time and space to control the ball and pick his shot, should result in a goal no matter who the 'keeper is.



And even the top rated forward in England can miss a sitter, which Rooney did. If Heskey or Crouch had produced that shot there wouldn't have been this desperate attempt to paint it as a fantastic save, they'd have been loading the gun to shoot them for being so krap at their job.



I watched it again before I posted. I still stand by what I said. The only remarkable thing about the save was the fact it was pushed over the goal instead of to Banks's left or in front of Banks.

I think the cross from Brazil was excellent, I think Pele's leap to win the header was text book perfection, the power Pele got on the header was okay, the direction of the header - down so the ball bounced in front of the keeper was the right choice. I don't hold the defender in any way to blame as it was a great cross and a great challenge by Pele. I think Banks made a very good save from the header. I just don't think it's worthy of all the tugging that it's had over it. It was a very good save from Banks after very good play from Brazil. Applause all round from me. I just don't agree with the accolades it gets as one of the best saves ever.



It's got **** all to do with tribal loyalties.

John Terry's ridiculous pass in the first half that got us in trouble was extremely annoying. As someone who watches JT in every club match I was staggered he came out with that pass as he is usually rock solid.

Lampard's shot from the edge of the area was pi55 poor and I probably looked away with just as much anger as the scousers and Mancs that hate him.

Wasn't really watching Ashley Cole enough to take note of whether he was playing well or not.

I've been one of the few people on this forum who's been saying what a dreadful season Joe Cole has had and wasn't surprised in any way when he produced nothing of any note whatsoever when he came on.



Didier Drogba outscored Rooney last season. Didier Drogba had a lot more assists than Rooney last season. Didier Drogba led Chelsea to the league and FA Cup double while Rooney came second in the league and won the Carling Cup with United.

But somehow finishing second to Drogba in the scoring charts, finishing way behind Drogba's assists, finishing second in the league to Drogba's side, getting knocked out of the FA Cup by Leeds U****ingnited at home is somehow worthy of getting PotY without any discussion?

What I will say is that Drogba was immense last season and played a major part in CFC winning the double. Even though he's an utter tvvat at time I love the guy for the good he brings. And in his best season he's only just ahead of Rooney shows that Rooney is a fantastic player. But there's no real justification for lauding Rooney for last season other than England is just too far up Yanited's ar5e for it's won good.

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Well at least if Coleen decides she no longer wants to give head you'll be an eager stand in for her.

If the game was paused when Rooney took that ball pretty much 100% of all coaches, critics and supporters would have said Rooney should score.

If you look and rate Rooney's connection with the ball, it simply wasn't hit well enough.

The keeper got lucky in that his dive was right where Rooney placed the ball, because if that happened again Rooney could have taken an extra touch and just rolled the ball into an empty net with the keeper on the floor.

If Frank Lampard had produced that shot in that position no one on here would be lauding the keeper for it.

Italy in '06 played kinda long ball stuff. They played quite defensive, whilst they tried to get it out to Toni as early as possible, with players like Perrotta and Totti supporting him, he was able to knock it down/hold it up for them to allow the tactic to work. They weren't necessarily a long ball team, as they would sometimes utilize Pirlo and pass it around, using the likes of Grosso and Zambrotta as wide outlets.

Looking at the England formation, we are, in ways, trying to get something similar from our side, the difference is: Italy have players like Pirlo and Gattuso; Gattuso - the ball winner, and Pirlo - the dictator/playmaker. England have nobody who is a pure ball winner, we have nobody who excels in this department; we have nobody who is a playmaker, somebody who can up the tempo when we need to and slow things down when we need to. Additionally, Italy used Totti as their player to play off the targetman, Totti likes to drop deep and play with his back to goal, he's a great passer and shooter over long and short distances, he wasn't excellent in '06 but he had far more influence than Rooney, who I feel isn't operating in 'the hole' anywhere near enough or effective enough. I know some will say 'he isn't that player, he scores goals now, he's a pure striker', well, if that's the way it is, we either play him as that with somebody who can operate in 'the hole' behind him, or we don't play him at all.

Not a bad thought Paul, he has been off the pace in the last few matches, especially yesterday where he put us under pressure on a few occasions with poor passes and decisions.

Which just highlights your ignorance of the game.



And yet World Class players at the peak of the game are regularly denied by goalkeepers. Which kind of undermines your point - terminally.



If it were only a "very good" save it would not be highlighted by the greats of the game - including Pele himself - FORTY YEARS later as a textbook example of perfection. I mean, you are entitled to your opinion - but I'm afraid it's a faint cry in the deep, deep wilderness.



LOL - of course not.



ROFL! Even when you're TRYING not to assert your tribal loyalties you're - asserting your tribal loyalties. You just can't help yourself.



What!?! The ALL-SEEING Oracle not WATCHING the players? Or is it that - in the main - you only really take notice of the non-Chelsea contingent so that you can give them a good pasting in forums such as this when they don't play well?



Yes - you are certainly putting aside your tribal loyalties. Presumably - through your filtered specs - praise should be awarded on a last-man-standing basis with only one player receiving all the accolades and the rest - nothing. Or is it that only players from the team that wins the Premiership should be recognised? Ridiculous (especially when you remember that the people voting for Drogba, Rooney or whomever had to choose BEFORE the title race was decided). In any case - I'm fairly certain Drogba's achievements this season were well received. I certainly can't recall too many people saying he played a stinker this season. If Rooney's performances were promoted over Drogba's by all the various critics (I'm not sure they were) it couldn't have been by much.



Whinge. Whinge. Whinge. Whinge. Whinge. Do us all a favour and change the record Mr. I'm Not Bitter (Honest Guv!)





On and on and on.



I'm sure they would. You're right. Rooney SHOULD score. But that's not saying Rooney WILL score. Should implies the potential to fail - with failure taking the form of Rooney blazing over the top, missing the goal entirely or - being saved by the goalkeeper. QED.



Oh Boo Hoo Hoo!