England must avoid letdown
Thu Jun 04 11:47AM
England's double-header against Kazakhstan and Andorra does not exactly set the pulse racing, because the expectations are that England will win, and do so comfortably.
However, they need to be on their guard to make sure there is no reduction in intensity after the end of the club season.
A large number of squad members have come directly from a Champions League or an FA Cup final and there is a possibility they may be slightly flat, especially considering the mediocre quality of England's opponents.
It is part of human nature that after a high you can sometimes have a bit of a lull. The manager needs to make sure it doesn't happen and we have a strong man in Fabio Capello who will not let anybody get away with giving less than 100 per cent.
England are still building, and they need some good performances to continue their progress.
We constantly overhype our national team, and when you see the outstanding quality of Xavi and Andres Iniesta for Barcelona and Spain, it makes a mockery of our claim to have the best midfield in the world.
We have some very good players who excel in the Premier League, but the Spanish play as a team whereas our stars tend to act individually.
The ability to combine supreme technical ability with teamwork is what makes players like Xavi and Iniesta truly world class.
Injuries to David James and Ben Foster mean Capello is without his two best goalkeepers, and I'm not sure who I would go for now if I were him.
Robert Green seems to be flavour of the month with a lot of people, but is not the most consistent goalkeeper and there is a reason he has only played two games for England.
Capello might also be tempted to try out younger players like James Milner, but in my opinion it is more important to ensure the core group of players are performing at their best and that means giving them as much time as possible to play together.
Even though there should be no excuses if we fail to beat Kazakhstan, it is slightly odd that England have to travel 3,500 miles to play a team that are supposedly part of Europe.
It is part of modern international football. There are so many teams from weird and wonderful countries following the fragmentation of Eastern Europe.
When I played, you only had four teams in your group and none of them would be a pushover.
Nowadays you might have one or two decent sides in your group but the rest are not of a great standard.
It makes qualification a long, laborious process, but at the same time there are not as many high-pressure matches against quality opponents.
For how long will fans pay over the odds to go and watch England at Wembley if they are playing the likes of Andorra, Kazakhstan and Belarus?
It is not very attractive, and not conducive to the atmosphere and intensity England need.
Nevertheless, a couple of convincing wins will allow us to move closer to South Africa and go into the summer break in high spirits.
First!
From random_access88 on Thu Jun 04 11:58AMSecond!
From random_access88 on Thu Jun 04 11:58AMHave to say, not a bad article for once.
Fully agree with you about the midfiled situation and the lack of gloss in playing teams like Andorra...
However, it would have been good to add that the general level of these teams has also increased to a state where there is no easy games any longer when you were expecting to win 10 nil.From laurent_alex2000 on Thu Jun 04 12:01PMOh pleeze!!! Paul Parker stating the bleeding obvious again. I am more upset with myself reading your drivel than with you for writing it. I really should learn my lesson.
C'mon you England!!!
From ethan.cooper on Thu Jun 04 12:09PMMr Parker Would you make a clarification by saying "weird" countries? Maybe those countries keep low profile in international arena and you do not get to hear a lot about them. But it by no means makes them "weird"!
From random_access88 on Thu Jun 04 12:11PMWell summed up paul excellent
From graeme_a_j on Thu Jun 04 12:17PMIts not that Parkers observations aren't on topic that make his articles drivel. Its the fact that he states the obvious, whilst not really any in way of a view or opinion. More or less he just states the facts then talks about how it was different in his day. I am getting more and more annoyed with myself for actually reading his articale, as after the title and the first paragraph, not very much more is forthcoming.
Parker certainly has no real background in writing articles or offering insight. No offence to Paul, but your not suited to being a pseudo-journalist.
From trebe123 on Thu Jun 04 12:24PMIts not that Parkers observations aren't on topic that make his articles drivel. Its the fact that he states the obvious, whilst not really any in way of a view or opinion. More or less he just states the facts then talks about how it was different in his day. I am getting more and more annoyed with myself for actually reading his articale, as after the title and the first paragraph, not very much more is forthcoming.
Parker certainly has no real background in writing articles or offering insight. No offence to Paul, but your not suited to being a pseudo-journalist.
From trebe123 on Thu Jun 04 12:24PMI agree that our midfield isn't good enough at the moment, but I would go one step further. Simply playing together more often won't help because the likes of Gerrard and Lampard simply don’t have the ability to play the kind of football that the likes of Spain are playing. Their touch and passing is not good enough and that is why we struggle to score goals in open play.
From adestimothy on Thu Jun 04 12:26PMPaul I have no idea why people have a go at you for you just doing your job, writing as a sports commentator. Stating teh obvious...well that has to be done sometimes. I think you do a great job and as ex Manchester United (and yes we fans do remember your contribution) player I think you can talk about the Devils all you want. Sheesh, some people just like to moan don't they? well thought out and written Paul, nice one.
From rachel_louise33 on Thu Jun 04 12:35PMPP, I am loathed to criticise your blog, but can we clear up a couple of things.
You mentioned Xavi & Iniesta being 'more of a team' when playing for Spain. Well, given that they combine for both club and country might have just a little something to do with it?
Robert Green - you say there is a reason he only has two caps. It would have been a little fairer if you had pointed out his catalogue of unfortunate injuries that seem to have invariably combined with possible England duties. (One of which he incurred ON England duty.)
Finally, how are these 'weird and wonderful' nations supposed to improve, if they are not exposed to football at the highest levels, from which to gain much needed experience.
Be a little fairer please. Sorry, I usually cringe reading some of the attacks aimed at you on here, but for the first time, I think this article deserves it!!
From s_grey595 on Thu Jun 04 12:43PMMore like England must avoid getting shot !
I hear from the new fangled yahoo ticker thing that Paul Parker is set to leave us and take over at Portsmouth. Congratulations really enjoyed your blogs Paul, good luck at Pompey 
From arttidesco on Thu Jun 04 12:45PMWho many England players played in the Champions League and FA Cup final ? err... none, who many played in one or other ? Does Scholes still count as an England player ?
From arttidesco on Thu Jun 04 12:48PMVery disjointed article.
You satrt by saying the expectations are that England will win, then criticise people for overhyping England's players! Hypocrite.
Of course England are 'still building'! It is a national team, and national teams never have a set starting 11, otherwise it would be the same as a club with contracted players (look at england cricket for example). The idea of a national team is that the best players in form at the time should be playing, we as a nation do not do that, and continue to play players who underperform week in week out for their clubs, but are guaranteed starters for England (Wayne Rooney in the Champions League final springs to mind)
Also, you criticise Robert Green, but fail to back up your claim
And why always compare everything to yourself? Shows you have a massive ego!
Rubbish as alwaysFrom rwlwhite1 on Thu Jun 04 12:49PMThese so called wierd teams will at least have a opportunity to participate in the tournament. U neva kno they mite be a STAR in these teams and the way Englands performance is at the moment u neva kno wat to expect.
From bca_bradford on Thu Jun 04 12:54PMThe point you make about Xavi and Iniesta is spot on, they are head and shoulders above any England midfield pairing, although s_grey595 makes a good point, the transition from club to country is seamless for them. This, however, should not detract from the fact that they are simply better than Gerrard and Lamps/Barry/whoever.
C'mon England!!!
From jeanpierre1mann on Thu Jun 04 01:00PMHow can you state that David James (gaff prone) and Ben Foster (Who?? when does ever play) are our best 2 keepers?
Rob Green is a solid and dependable keeper and should number 1.Paul Robinson is also better that James and Foster... get a grip Parker!!
From deshills on Thu Jun 04 01:08PMYOU HORSE DUNG SHOULD GET A LIFE ITS NOT THAT SIMPLE AND IF IT WAS WHY DIDN'T YOU QULIFIY FOR THE EURO 08!!!!!
From lesleyanneprice on Thu Jun 04 01:15PMHow can you claim that Foster and James are our best 2 keepers??
Fair enough James had a great season (07/08) for Pompey, but was has he done in the season just gone??? Nothing!! As for Foster...who is he?? When does he ever play.... Have a word with yourself Parker!!Rob Green is the most consistant English keeper in the league but will never get the praise he deserves until he plays for a so called "big club"....
The best 3 English keepers are Green, Robinson and Kirkland, in that order.My advice to Parker would be to maybe try catching Foster in action before making daft comments!
From deshills on Thu Jun 04 01:17PMarttidesco, do you know who playes for England? Man U, Chelsea and Everton all have English Internationals playing for them
From jeanpierre1mann on Thu Jun 04 01:18PMWhat kind of bonehead wants to be first on this site. Get a job!
From garneralan267 on Thu Jun 04 01:20PM#23 Kirkland would be best if he could stay injury free for a while.
From saschavanpraagh on Thu Jun 04 01:31PMI am sure I speak for most when I say we would like to distance ourselves from Post 27. It's 2009 fella, there is no place for that kind of behaviour in today's society. Disgraceful.
From s_grey595 on Thu Jun 04 01:55PMHi s_grey, your right, but even idiots have com ps now, so nothing can be done, unless yahoo starts blocking idiots like that.
From saschavanpraagh on Thu Jun 04 02:04PMIf people dont like Paul Parker or his articles, why do they read them?? What a pointless waste of time !!
From kit00009 on Thu Jun 04 02:04PMDefinitely, Post 27 needs to stand back and ask himself what his problem is and begin to sort out some definitely worrying issues that he's got!
From aaronrogers21 on Thu Jun 04 02:06PMPost 27, how dare you, who do you think you are, disgraceful. There is no need to write material like that.
If you disagree with the article in question, make a valid comment.. You are on your own pal.. If I was you, I would be ashamed to call myself English.. @#$%
From ken.treherne1 on Thu Jun 04 02:09PMkit00009, the point of being able to make comments is exactly that. Feedback, be it negative or positive, is always worthwhile. If people don't want it they won't ask for it. I hate reading posts that just criticise PP for the sake of it, however my comment was more directed towards substance and not style.
And Post 27, sadly you are indicative of all that is wrong with human kind. I'd invite you to come and spend a few days with me where I live, however given your stunted intelligence and the fact that they carry the death penalty here for that kind of behaviour, I doubt you'd leave the country alive. In fact, I'll pay for your ticket, moron!!!!
From s_grey595 on Thu Jun 04 02:19PM#24 Not really as a German it does not really matter because England have not competed in the final round of any competition since erm.... 1966 ! And England has knocked Germany out of a competition since erm... 1966 ! To summarise Germany usually wins and England usually loses !
From arttidesco on Thu Jun 04 02:45PM#36 remeber 88, and yes i know, we're not english!
From saschavanpraagh on Thu Jun 04 02:49PM
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