Or to put it another way, maybe championship footie isnt so bad.....

I thought we looked unable to keep good possession throughout the game, and although we had many chances, fizzled out badly. We were playing basically a mid-table champ side, so a dreadful result.

Terry, Johnson, Gerrard, Heskey had good games.

Lampard was OK.

King was crocked (shock horror). Carragher was slow and exhausted and nearly conceded.

Milner, Wright-Philips, Lennon - where were you?

Rooney looked well out of form.

Crouch seemed to be still quite tall.

Not a good start and a performance like that against a side capable of converting possession into good chances means certain exit.

Roll on the fixture list I say.

If it helps Italy drew 1-1 with the US and then went on to win the World Cup.

Can honestly say for first time in a while I have been excited about football, maybe I am buying into the hype of the importance of it being staged in Africa, but I think this is shaping up to be the best WC in my living memory (Although I consider 98 my favourite).

Maybe its Duncs infectious positivity rubbing off on me again whenever he posts but I think they were more positives out of the USA game then bad. Johnson showed he can defend if necessary, Gerrard looked every bit a captain, Heskey silenced his critics by proving his worth to the team and as for the performance itself we carved out enough chances to win the game easily, the gaffe changed the momentum of the game.

My tip for the winners will be Argentina or Spain.

Sorry Djaffo but I really didn't see what you saw. (I really MUST get myself a pair of those Duncan rosy specs).
For me Johnson looked a liability, and Heskey proved once again what a great shot he'd got (if it'e the keepers tonsils you want hit of course!) He was left on 20 mins too long, Crouch would have done more damage with better service. The wingers crosses in were woeful, why can't they do what Germany do, send the crosses in diagonally backwards, creates absolute mayhem for defenders, and advancing midfielders dip their bread.
Why was Rooney playing most of the game so deep? At least 10 yards behing Heskey on two or three occasions - crazy.
Possibly the most worrying thing, the manager has spent all this time assessing the keepers, he goes and picks the worst - and we all saw what happened - now what? Will he admit he got it wrong? Or will he just stick it out and hope he improves?

My positivity?

Read it again. I used a lot of words but I actually said 'They're crap'.

;)