"He's A [Vote Of No] Confidence Player"

(And oh, that such largesse might have been granted poor Clive Allen..)

he holds the ball up better than any other player England have got, and better than most of other countries, if our midfielders aren't getting up in support to receive balls from him then it's not his fault. I am quite tired of al;l the Heskey bashing lately, he's been working bloody hard, receiving the ball regularly with three player s around ghim and simply getting no back up, couple this with the fact that he tracks back all the time and has been useful defending corners and I feel that he has been rather hard done by.

I may be a Liverpool fan and a little biased here though, but not much.

I agree that he tracked back well vs Argentina.

But 'all the Heskey-bashing'? Where? Haven't you heard that everyone tells him he's the greatest player in the world, 24 hours a day, or he refuses to turn up?

after, I think, The sweden game, on the Guardian website the comment on Heskey was "we're not even going to talk about Heskey"

The papers have been slating him somewhat I feel.

Isabel knows even less than me about football (i.e. close to nothing) and we were discussing this this morning - why does everyone inside football rate Heskey while he seems to have become a byword for rubbishness outside and in the press? But she doesnt read the press and even she groans when his name comes up.

He is constantly criticised by supporters, that's for sure. The fact is, the things Heskey does very well are not always quantifiable, holding up the ball well, winning possession for example. Often he'll start a move by winning the ball and then lay it off. In fact he does this several times per game, usually on the counter attack.

In many games this season, he hasn't scored but has still been fantastic. The best example I can think of is the Man United game, the second one. Heskey held the ball up the whole time and shoved defenders around the place. He may not have scored alot this season but he still is worth a place in the England squad and worth a place in the team I feel with the competition that's there.

I think Sheringham being in the squad this time around makes me feel the same way Tom did when I suggested the Pet Shop Boys should be in the FT pop focus group.

Cabbage: I am not especially anti-Heskey, really. He probably does 'offer an option'. Whether that option should be unquestioningly used every game is another matter.

What does irk me is the panel rhetoric about him - which works as a defence for his failings. Surely you can't suport that?

Sheringham = one of England's best attacking players so far.

Fowler = interesting option that I always hope will come good one day.

Heskey smells of cat sick and chimp hair

hmmm, comedy addition from my mate G, he's a west ham fan so obviously has had part of his brain removed.

I don't support some of the comments about him by the Panels at all PF, it's been bordering on the patronising.

G did make a sensible point to me just now though, he's supposed to be a striker but doesn't get enough goals, hmm, for England definitely, but for Liverpool his goals were invaluable. Maybe midfield is his best position????

The panel defending him has to be alot to do with that Martin O'Neill fellow surely?

Or have ITV been doing the same?

Did anyone see "The Opera Babes" on ITV at the weekend? Townsend and Earle were ogling and Lynam's leering almost recalled the days of Bob Wilson. Honestly, nu-lynam is terrible. I suspect it's the terrible clothes the wardrobe people are giving him. Ruud Gullit calling him "the sexiest man on television" seems so absurd now.

>>> the days of Bob Wilson

You mean - those days are OVER? [sob]

The panel this morning were ultra- patronising, I think they're the source of the quotes in PFs original post. McCoist is constantly proving himself a bit of a fuckwit, and I really could live again without hearing Graham Taylor punditing, humourless, dull, brainless.

I think so. Has he been around?

Jim Rosenthal is like Motty without the good bits. I remember one fantastic Formula One broadcast from Monaco. ITV had hired a boat, and it was like "and now over to Jim from our luxury yachy". Cut to a pale faced desperately sick looking Rosenthal standing in the rain complete with dodgy raincoat and the boat lurching wildly. I bet he hadn't banked on that one.

Yes, Wilson's around: the GK's Union insists upon it.

Cabbage: one thing we can agree on, then, is Taylor: a real turn-off in every match. Very dulling.

Ronan is right in his general view that Heskey has had some great games for L'Pool this season - I think he was outstanding in the Barcelona 0-0 game - holding the ball up, tracking back, tackling...

PF is also right that Heskey is just one of several options. He was the right option for *today* where we had to stay compact and hold the ball in their half. I think he is possibly the wrong option for Denmark where we need to expose their lack of pace by running at them and getting behind them. Owen can't do it all on his own - Vassell might play half a game there, but we have to make sure we don't give it away. I'm encouraged by Butt's improving passing - if he and Beckham can hit the runners we'll make chances.

I have a certain amount of sympathy for Heskey having played a lot of football as a target man, albeit at a very low level. You have to get in the right positions to receive the ball in space, have decent control and be able to stand up while a thug centre back is kicking your arse. Heskey does these things admirably for England especially in tight games - in the last two games he's been dragged deep to win ball, and it's asking a lot for him to do this kind of work AND be in the box all the time.

I think the reception he got when he came off showed that the England fans in the stadium had seen how hard he'd worked and were acknowledging this.

Don't worry = in Germany WC 2006 it will be Peter Crouch 6ft 7 playing alongside Michael Owen - in a new strikeforce.

Watch out for PC in a full season for Villa, he just keeps getting better each Month.

>>> I think the reception he got when he came off showed that the England fans in the stadium had seen how hard he'd worked and were acknowledging this

The same England fans who I'm sure I heard singing Teddy's name earlier?

Heskey the new Sheringham.

Teddy= better than heskey. When he's around the unexpected can really happen but would he able to do it for 90 minutes under the heat? Probably not.

Fowler and Owen never really clicked when playing for liverpool did they? Vassel is a recent addition to the squad, I think he is a better prospect for 2006.

Which leaves heskey. His passing isn't terrific but he has strenght and uses it in the field. But i have to say he isn't 'world class' and if he England are down with half hour left he'll be the first to come off.

The only way to slence his detractors would be to score the winning goal against, say, the Danish. The media (and the fans) will change their attitude towards him very quickly.

Julio hits the nail on the head, this is *exactly* the situation.

Yes, Julio is right, and I don't think we left anyone behind who was a better option. When Andy Cole moved to Blackburn, I thought he might make a late run, proving himself a very good linking option, but it didn't happen. Much as I don't care for the man, it's a shame Shearer retired, as he can do most of what Heskey does well but he scores loads more goals.

If Peter Crouch is a serious tip, I think it's a very funny one. I realise that these words may come back to haunt me, but I find the existence of a giant who isn't much good in the air quite funny.

''When Andy Cole moved to Blackburn, I thought he might make a late run, proving himself a very good linking option, but it didn't happen. Much as I don't care for the man, it's a shame Shearer retired, as he can do most of what Heskey does well but he scores loads more goals.''

I never thought Andy Cole was anywhere in anyone's plans for the world cup. The guy just takes too many chances to score. At the latter stages we should see tight games decided (if not on penalties) by one goal. I wouldn't bet on Andy converting the few oportunities available.

Shearer? Come on, we all saw Euro 2000. The guy just lost a bit of the pace he had. His peak was Euro '96 obv.

Goalscoring isn't a deptartment I'm worried abt really. Owen is there and I can see goals from midfield. I'm worried by the back line though its been good so far.

**Goalscoring isn't a deptartment I'm worried abt really**

I am. Very.

I agree with Chris and Ronan. Heskey links the midfield and the attack well by holding the ball up. He also gives Owen some excellent flick-on headers. But I can see why PF is seething.

Most of the time when England cross, Heskey's standing in the box, with his weight on the back of his feet, waiting for the ball to come to him. He should be looking for space, attacking the ball, and anticipating that it will get to him. His mental attitude is shit.

If only Leicester's other favourite son, Gary Lineker, could give him some lessons.

you know why i hate heskey? that stupid permanent blank little boy look in his eyes