With Big Al & Softie confined to paternal duties, there seems to be no enthusiasm for England's friendly tonight versus World & European Champions (ptuh!) France.
So, I thought I'd pander to this vast indifference by predicting a 2-0 defeat for the motherland.
KK's team/formation appears to be, although the formation is not entirely clear:

Seaman
Keown....Adams....Campbell....Barry
Anderton....Beckham....Wise....Barmby
Scholes....Cole

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Answers

Of course, it could also be:

Seaman

Keown....Adams....Campbell

Anderton...........................Barry

Beckham....Scholes....Wise....Barmby

Cole

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

WHAT an interesting formation!! Unfortunately David Seaman got stuck in the toilet - allegedly locked there by Nigel Martyn. Nigel has now reluctantly released him from captivity, so the true formation could be:

Seaman
Keown....Adams....Campbell
Anderton............................Barry
Beckham....Scholes....Wise....Barmby
Cole

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Can`t stand seeing you talking to yourself like this (been there too often myself recently!) So, I`d go along with your first game plan - but I have to admit, I am finding it difficult to imagine England without Big Al!(:o)

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

I wouldn't mind watching the game, and Ireland's. But pubs around here are charging $20 for the privilege. I'm not that interested. Actually...it's just money I can't spend now as I've just been informed my landlord has given in to mass eastern MA greed and jacked my rent up an add'l $150/mo. :-(

Anyone know if the England game will be webcast?

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

I never realised that Seaman played that far to the left!

Ciara....don't know about an FA webcast, but Radio 5 Live are broadcasting it live over here, so you could check out their website to see if they are streaming it.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Thank you kindly ladies for joining me - I don't know what's wrong on here, but its not been very illuminating recently. Perhaps Softie's paternal preoccupation could be affecting things.
I'm not sure whether their is a web-cast of the England game ciara, or even how to find out. If you miss out I'll post a summary after the game.
I would expect KK to play 4-4-2, but Keown and Barry are not full-backs and could be exposed, depending on France's line up.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Must be Softie's illuminated knob glowing brighter these days. Or something. ;-) I'll check out radio 5, though they have an annoying habit of blocking webcasts of nearly all their footie coverage. Looking forward to updates. Should be an interesting game.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Thank you kindly ladies for joining me

I beg your bliddy pardon!

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

I seem to keep upsetting you Ken.

On this occasion I was composing while you were posting, but thanks for joining me anyway, pet!!!

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

So? Any updates? Must be about half time by now. 5 Live's not webcasting. ho hum...guess I'll go out to the supermarket and get some stuff to make a pizza.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

HT 0-0. England doing pretty well, although France were turning up the heat towards HT. Both sides had a few half chances and a reasonable penalty appeal each, but Lamas was probably the busier keeper overall.
England vastly imporved over their shambolic Euro2000 performances, passing the ball much better, but still giving away possession too much for my liking.
I'll be back at FT.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Thanks, Clarky. Glad to hear England seem to be holding their own

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Well, I have to say I thought that was a pretty good performance tonight. Much as I hate to admit it, cos I loved Big Al being captain of England, I thought the team had a brighter more fluid game than I`ve seen for a long time. I felt that this was a pretty important game all round. A great test, and they rose to the occasion. Bit concerned about Seaman`s new Dick Turpin look - maybe he is getting ready for the pantomime season.(;o)

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Very interesting game, and a really satisfying performance from England.
We took the game to the Frogs for the first 15 miutes of the 2nd half, but they came back at us strongly after Viera and Le Poof replaced Deschamps and Blanc in an sick-mkaing, exagerrated 'international retirement' celebration that lasted 3-4 minutes, during which they each kissed what seemed like very bloody Frog in the stadium. Not surprisingly, England seemed to lose concentration, the Frogs turned the control, movement and passing and ultimately took the lead from My Little Pony.
For about 10 minutes thereafter they ran England ragged. However, KK replaced Scholes and Anderton with YKD and YMO and we gradually got to grips again.
It actually got pretty sparky from this point. Keown and Desailly had a confrontation after Desailly had pitifully dived in the PA to attempt to get a penalty - the resulting scuffle finished with Desailly pointing towards the scoreboard. Froggy tosser!
YKD had made several good runs down the RW and finally beat his FB, and hit in a absolute peach of a ball into the box. YMO got across Le poof and turned the ball in - YEEESSS!! Excellent result against let's face it a very good side, and a very promising team performance - totally unrecognisable from the horrible mess of Euro2000.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Galaxy and I both inadvertantly omitted to state it, but the final score was 1-1.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

OOps!(:o)

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Listened to the match on R5L and have just watched the highlights.

Thought initially it sounded a reasonable game and then watching the highlights just about bears that out.

First half was pretty evenly balanced with neither team having a hell of a lot to write home about, although having said that, if Gareth Barry's looper had just dropped a little earlier and slid under the bar instead of onto the back of the net, I reckon it would have been classed as one of the best goals seen in international football. The build up work was brilliant, and he was unlucky to miss.

There was a fifteen minute period in the second half, round about the time when they scored that we didn't look as though we had a clue how to keep up with them, and the were playing Ole football, but holding it down to 1-0 seemed to give us confidence, and when Owen and Dyer came on, they changed the face altogether, and in the last ten minute we were unlucky not to win the match.

YKD pulled down the ball and held it up brilliantly before delivering a superb ball to the near post for a brilliant Owen equaliser.

YKD's second run to the by line, a couple of minutes later, was again superb and the delicate chip was fabulously weighted for Cole to get his head onto, shame the defender just scrapped in ahead of him. A bit heavier chip and Southgate(?) coming in clear on the back post would certainly have put us ahead.....but a 1-1 draw was probably on reflection a good result.

It's hard to say, and sticks in the throat a bit, but ANDYCole played probably the best match he has ever done for England.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000