Alexander Hawkins

Sundog - thanks for the link - I'll check it out!

Let me backtrack slightly. Thinking about it, calling him the villain was a little harsh. I stand by my view that he was inept, but I don't think he was significantly more inept than a number of others. I thought Ashley Cole was poor; likewise Robinson, Crouch, Rooney, and Lampard. I though Hargreaves didn't do too badly; Joe Cole was IMHO excellent. Terry and Campbell were OK, though nothing more...

Next question...(from someone who is equally technically at sea)... I'm looking at buying a hard-disc recorder (perhaps the Tascam DS01), and am interested as to what would be good microphones to have...I'm interested in a budget stereo pair, I guess. People have suggested a pair of AKG C1000s, or alternatively Rode NT3. How are these? Could I get something of similar quality for less? Or should I really be spending more if at all possible? Thanks in advance!

Red, judging from this and previous comments, it is obviously hard for you to be objective whan it comes to Beckham. For me, he has been one of the better English players so far. Without him, we may well have drawn all three games. Trust me, not as hard as it was to be objective when he was playing for United I should say, I don't actually dislike him particularly, but I genuinely think he's been poor for us. There's a fair bit of debate over here as to whether he should be dropped (of course, Sven wouldn't dare). A few things: 1) I believe he hasn't scored from a set piece for 4 years 2) He only really plays well for England when he's got (his mate, so it's understandable to some degree) Gary Neville down the right with him. 3) His long ball game is part of the reason for England's midfield looking so ineffective, despite being choc-full of seriously talented players. He simply passes over the top of them. 4) His positioning is awful...watch him against Ecuador - he'll constantly drift into the middle, leaving huge holes down the right in midfield. Now, I can't deny that in the past, he has given stunning performances for England. That game against Greece 4 years ago (where he got the last gasp free kick) was lost without him, and there are other examples. However, none from the recent past. Granted that his crossing is superior to Lennon's, as is his dead ball delivery (obviously), but apart from that, I don't think he has anything to offer. Need an inspirational captain? John Terry, nailed on.

Jonas Kulhammer apart, the names here are mostly American...great stuff coming from all over the world (as per the thread title), remember!

Absolutely. Although I guess a stuffed cat would be marginally harder to injure in training, and would make defenders feel good about themselves. Poor Jermaine Defoe.

True - England were poor. Owen doesn't look good. At the risk of being insensitive, however, it may have solved a problem for Sven - he now has a decent excuse to drop the guy...But obviously I wish Owen well, it looked really nasty, and you don't wish it on anyone. Great goal from Cole, as you say! p.s. the villain of the piece for me? The utterly useless Beckham IMHO. I counted 1 good cross... p.p.s. [...and perhaps I'm being a little harsh here, given that Owen's injury so early rather changed things] WTF did he take Walcott if he's not going to blood him in the group stages?

I'd imagine you're right - I don't really fancy the Swedes at all this time around - although England do have a pretty poor record against them.

I see those tapes were discovered in Hawaii... Can there be many better jobs than working in record vaults in Hawaii?

Germany looking good at 2 - 0 (HT). So a Sweden win is looking like it'll set up England v Germany...

Fortunately (whether you're an England fan, or just a fan of fair play), Crouch won't be starting. Sven's going with Rooney and Owen.

I remember listening to an old double LP of my dad's endlessly when I was younger of the John Kirby group. I'm definitely a fan (especially love Charlie Shavers)!

Yeah - I remarked to my friend that the only way to enjoy that song was probably to be there! Mind you, in fairness, they're pretty indiscriminate. That song alternated with 'Three Lions', 'Vindaloo' (if you don't know that one, likewise, don't ask ), and Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy'... I actually thought Togo looked quite good. It was an entertaining game, although they were denied an absolutely cast iron penalty. Quite agree about Spain - you could certainly see it coming.

I was there. It was awesome! The Korean supporters were fantastic - the best atmosphere of any game I've been to. None of the macho posturing bullshit we get here in England - just 43,000 people having a great time.

Portugal 2 Iran 0. Iranians showed nothing, Portugal not much more. Nice goal from Deco though!

Certainly from xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo. Save your money for other stuff you don't have. well, thats just it- I don't have it at all, and it appears that the vinyl may be cheaper than the CD That's different...you MUST have this music!

I have to say, it's performances like Argentina's which make me want them to win. Aesthetically, they were amazing. I don't care who wins the cup as such; that's a performance which simply won't be forgotten (like e.g. Eusebio v South Korea in '66, or France v Brazil twenty years later). There's a lot of good football played everywhere in the world, and throughout the year, but it's wonderful when, every 4-5 years, you see some performance which you know will be remembered as truly historic.

It really was a thing of beauty. The only goal which compares which I can think of is Carlos Alberto in 1970.

And the second goal...Surely one of the greatest team goals ever scored?

BTW - some tasty games coming up today!!!

FWIW I thought England were, by and large, appalling. Gerrard was diabolical apart from his (admittedly fine) goal. Lampard was only marginally less bad. Beckham delivered one or two good balls, but when not playing the long ball, is out of his depth. I agree in part with the comments made about the substitutions. I applaud Sven being - for once - a little bit attacking. Lennon clearly had to come on, and Rooney undoubtedly lifted the affair. But a couple of points. 1) Why on earth take off Carragher? If you're going to 3 at the back, Beckham CANNOT be one of them; neither can A. Cole. Beckham was the logical swap for Lennon - but Sven bottled it here. Lennon, IMHO, was far more potent down the right that Beckham. He actually took on, and beat, players, for a start. 2) Why on earth did Sven bring Walcott, if not to bring him on for Owen? Is Sven waiting for a 'dead rubber' to blood the guy? If so, what was his inkling as to his talent in the first place? Does he not trust him? If I were Defoe, even Fowler or Johnson, I'd be sick at not being taken.

Yeah - I was out, but was VERY impressed with what I saw on the highlights. Interesting point about the marking - not one I've heard made before - but it certainly makes sense. BTW, great strike from Torres for that 4th goal. Team goal of the tournament so far?

No, no, no - you simply are failing to understand. During the World Cup, EVERYONE is an expert. Too right!!! On which note, let me be controversial - or maybe not? Thierry Henry is not a good player at international level. Part of this is that he routinely bottles it on the big stage (something which applies equally to his Arsenal career), and part of it is that - as said by various people above - the team isn't set up sympathetically to his style of play.

Some kind of miracle it's not in e minor...

Not sure of release date for Nonaah - depends on cash flow. Next in line is Charles Tyler's Saga of the Outlaws and maybe Wadada's Spirit Catcher. Fantastic, on all three scores. Was in London earlier, but before my gig (and so had NO money on me whatesoever). Saw a really nice 2nd hand copy of Nonaah, which given the bread, I'd have snapped up in a second!