England vs Brazil and Estonia

[Gilps]

Ferdinand and Dawson have both pulled out of the squad injured. Bet Carra still has to play full back though.

[Stevie H]

it'll be woodgate in alongside terry.

 

get your money on beckham first goalscorer now.

[Gilps]

Woodgate isn't in the squad. Presumably injured again. It'll be OK though, Wes Brown's in there.

[Cobs]

  Steve H said:

get your money on beckham first goalscorer now.

 

[Tosh]

Amazing

 

Nothing like a friendly to test out new players for the squad. I don't know why SGE didn't think of doing this. He might have had some success if he had

[Rimbeux]

So here it is, for Brazil, SCS will play King in midfield behind Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard and Cole, with Owen up front alone. He'll then switch King to the bench to bring in Smith up front againt Estonia.

 

It's almost funny. SCS is such a by numbers coach is shocking he's got this far. Misinterpretation of the holding role as a purely defensive one to the extent that a defender with limited passing skills and a large truning circle is placed in the pivotal distribution role. It should be about chess like positional sense and keeping possession ticking over, not an extra physical presence that will just sit back. Should be a midfield player in there.

 

Will be interesting to see how Owen is not isolated. at least one of the wide players will struggle get ahead of the ball, let alone up to Owen in support. Beckham who's main purpose is crossing, and from deeper and deeper with just a shortarse to aim for. Who's going to get between the lines and link play through to Owen, and is King going to find them, cos there's no chance playing 40 yard balls up to Owen to hold up and wait for midfield support is going to work.

 

It will be better against Estonia simply because at least the front line and defence will have balance. But this is the same old lets fit the most popular players in regardless of shape so the coach can claimed to have picked the best players as a defence when it goes wrong. Oh for a coach with some balls and some appreciation of how to put a team together!

[Florist Cinema Pond Goal]

  Rimbeux said:

Will be interesting to see how Owen is not isolated. at least one of the wide players will struggle get ahead of the ball, let alone up to Owen in support. Beckham who's main purpose is crossing, and from deeper and deeper with just a shortarse to aim for. Who's going to get between the lines and link play through to Owen, and is King going to find them, cos there's no chance playing 40 yard balls up to Owen to hold up and wait for midfield support is going to work.

 

Totally agree, this was our problem against Portugal in the WC with Rooney only supported once Lennon came on.

[Stevie H]

  Rimbeux said:

So here it is, for Brazil, SCS will play King in midfield behind Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard and Cole, with Owen up front alone. He'll then switch King to the bench to bring in Smith up front againt Estonia.

 

that's f***ing comical.

 

1. ledley king isn't a holding midfielder. he's a f***ing centre-back mclaren you tool.

 

2. mclaren will play phil neville, a holding midfielder, at right-back.

 

3. gerrard and lampard still cannot play in the same central midfield. lampard will hog the forward space and gerrard will end up taking 5 yard passes off king.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

it might work....

[surf]

  Steve H said:

that's f***ing comical.

 

1. ledley king isn't a holding midfielder. he's a f***ing centre-back mclaren you tool.

 

2. mclaren will play phil neville, a holding midfielder, at right-back.

 

3. gerrard and lampard still cannot play in the same central midfield. lampard will hog the forward space and gerrard will end up taking 5 yard passes off king.

 

don't really think a further qualification is required

[stressederic]

  surf said:

don't really think a further qualification is required

 

Aye, 'nuff said.

[San Diego Red]

Phillis Neville will play -- because he's crap and can play in any position.

Fat Frank will play -- because he's a fat c***.

Wayne Rooney will play -- because he can't score a goal.

[Stevie H]

  KPatel said:

Wayne Rooney will play -- because he can't score a goal.

except he can but he won't.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

  Steve H said:

except he can but he won't.

 

obstinate fecker.

[Gilps]

BBC saying England's full backs tonight will be Jamie Carragher and Nicky Shorey. In order to rest Phil Neville and Wayne Bridge for the Estonia match. Is it just me, or does that sound like its the wrong way round?

[cymrococh]

  Gilps said:

BBC saying England's full backs tonight will be Jamie Carragher and Nicky Shorey. In order to rest Phil Neville and Wayne Bridge for the Estonia match. Is it just me, or does that sound like its the wrong way round?

Carragher must just go along for the love of playing football, the amount of insulting decisions that have been made against him is staggering.

[Cobs]

sounds incredibly feckin stupid to not be picking the exact team against Brazil that he's gonna line up with v Estonia

 

 

so it may well be true

[Jarg Armani]

i'm looking forward to this, because it's been a while since i watched england so i've forgotten how awful they are.

[crisps]

Bet it wont even be a patch on the 'B' match last week

[Maldini]

  Paul Caruso said:

Carragher must just go along for the love of playing football, the amount of insulting decisions that have been made against him is staggering.

 

The England chapter is his book is going to funny as f*** I'd say

[Guest paisley81]

it's a complete insult that jamie is not next in line for the centre back spot after waiting so long for his chance behind rio and terry. either play him in his rightful position or don't play him at all.

[Cobs]

  Paul Caruso said:

Carragher must just go along for the love of playing football, the amount of insulting decisions that have been made against him is staggering.

 

he loves playing for his country

 

the strange man

[Gilps]

Carra's managed to get to 33 caps (be 34 tonight) without ever getting to be first choice in his own position. Could well end up with 50 caps without ever having had a run in the side.

[Maldini]

Phil Neville has 56 caps

[Cobs]

  Gilps said:

Carra's managed to get to 33 caps (be 34 tonight) without ever getting to be first choice in his own position. Could well end up with 50 caps without ever having had a run in the side.

 

He's unfortunate in that his best position has also been England's strongest position for some considerable period of time.