so they beat greece 4-0. I have not seen the natch but heard that the midfield played well. Some are saying that with becks out they are not playing the long hoof football depending on his long distance placement of the ball on striker’s feet.
Its a shame to not have becks in the squad. I can see why in 2 senses first off he will be getting old around euro and especially next world cup, so why build the team around him, secondly if midfield can have hargreaves, gerrard, lampard etc in atatcking and passing role, a much moe fluid midfield it can make the difference.
in my view jury is still out, I will see how they play against croatia and see if mclaren has a better tactical mind than eriksson.
I like the fact the venebles is back supporting mclaren, He was pretty good even though FA dinn think so.
with or without Beckham, England have a very talented side. Problem is that they lack good tactics and game plan. Basically, they just have all-out attack or play with a 'just don't lose'-mentality.
compare that to for example the mentality of the French during the WC after the first round: even after falling behind against spain, they played their own game and did not overreact to the situation by attacking all-out.
Same with Italy: they showed great composure throughout the tournament: a game is won over 90 minutes, and not 1 minute. It can only be lost in 1 minute.
compare that to the helplessness England had versus T&T
Mclaren has taken some courageous decisions. None more difficult than dropping Beckham. Although I dont really agree with that, It was seen as a fresh start. I doubt that a player of Beckham's ability will sit out for too long. A good spell with Real will see him bounce back n the team. However, Mclaren want a pacey squad thts why he has picked up players who are speedy.
Jury is still out but if he can make his team play the English football (which relies mostly on pace) then he will do a good job.
Even though Beckham is servicable for atleast a couple of more years, the concept behind not choosing for him to be on the side is simple. Mclaren wants the entire team to develop chemistry so that going into the next WC, they wouldn't be missing more than 2-3 guys from the current international squad. Besides, England looked so much better whenver Beckham got off the field even during the WC.
Beckham is on the downward spiral...now was the time...well done McLaren...
Finally England can put Gerrard on the right...the poition hes played for Liverpool for the last two seasons and England can have much more balance in the centre...Lamps and Stevie wasnt working...Hargreaves and Lamps will work a lot better and with Gerrard and Joey on the wings thats one crazy midfield...
Owens finished...hes lost it and its a shame but i dont think he'll be back...I hope Defoe does well in the friendlies...however i feel Crouchie and Rooney is a good partnership...Crouchie is a menace and can hold up the ball...rooney is explosive, strong, quick and has got a shot on him...these two are going to get better and better...
At the back Rio and JT is the best backline in world football no question...Ashley Cole besides Zambrotta is the best left sided player in world football and gary neville is ever dependable...
Robinson is a worry...Scottie Carson played well for Charlton yesterday so i hope he can give Robbo some competition cos he looked shaky in the world cup...
England have a top side...but like spain they are just potnetial...when it comes to the crunch they dont deliver...
I must say I am impressed by wolcott from what I have seen.he is NOT ready from prime time right now, but I think he would be a candidate for the next World cup.
neville is not going to be around for next world cup..or if he is, he would just not be the same.
I agree, owen is gone, a shame indeed, good player, but the injuries nagging him kinda remind me of another good player..well great player..bryan robson whose injuries just kept him from becoming what he could have become.
So Fraudia any suggestions for a new right back...Luke Young doesnt cut it for me...im hoping Glen Johnson has a good season for Portsmouth...like Shaun Wright Philips his career stagnated at Chelsea...other than those two i cant think of any other right back...
or..just have carragher take on that role..
perhaps ledley king..
tony hibbert
england has had a fairly solid right back in neville and finding a suitable replacement is going to be tough, but one of the key abilities neville had ws his chemistry wth becks,a nd the new rb will not really need that.
I dont think Gerrard best position is at the right and Liverpool played him there just because they didnt have a right winger. They still play him at the center of the midfield in important matches. But if Lampard and Gerrard have to play in same team, thats probably the suitable formation. Gerrard can cut inside, just like Cole does for Chelsea and England. Very impressed with Hargreaves. He is a tough nut to crack. Had a brilliant worldcup.
Problem with Carragher as right back is that he is not offensive enough. Means he is not gonna march down to other box like Neville does so often and gives his team attacking options. So defensively he is good but if Gerrard is to play at the right, he is gonna cut inside a lot and they will need an offense minded right back.
Carragher is not offensive enough but he could modify his style of play. I mean who else..phil neville is not going to cut it.. hibbert can be a good option, ahve u seen him in action lately
I definitelty dont think Carragher is up to it...hes a centre back...he doesnt have offensive qualities...I would definitely have Gary Neville over him...
And as for Lampard playing the centre this season...they have Xabi and Sissoko who he wont drop...Sissokos injured thats why hes playing there...Sissokos getting better and better so watch for Gerrard permanently being on the right...
Him and Lamps dont work together in the centre...Hargreaves or Carrick hsould partner Lamps...
And as for new right backs...watch Glen Johnson closely this year...Hes started well for portsmouth and i reckon he'll be englands next right back...hes good going forward and can cross but needs to work on his defensive qualities and he'll be good england player...
As for england team...looks like Andy Johnson might get a chance up front...
Glenn can be great if he just brings is game up a notch, he is a good player..but needs to be more consistent and more creative..stuff that sepeates great players from good players
The English players are naff these days, doesn't have anything to do with the manager. Although I am glad the Swede has gone.
Shearer should become England manager, I don't care if he was a dirty player at times, he still is the bestest English player ever. Oh and Gazza. Ye cannit beat the Geordies.
mclaerns honeymoon withthe press ended yesterday, that stupid grin is now gone, and reality has slaped him i the face. a handful of more displays like yesterdays and the same english press thats been on his side strangely is fully goign to be asking for his lynching and return of becks.
and if the honeymoon phase ended at the draw against macedonia, todays poor horrid performance is the beginnings of divorce proceedings. The back page sport rag jingosim may sell copies to yobs, but now the chants of having an english coach over the best coach may shut up just a little bit. I never liked mclaren, did not think he was a good choice, especially after sven is forced out cuz if u dinn like sven,...maclaren was his right hand man...wy pick him.
anyways..either he comes up with some miracle or he is toast, because teh nationalist rhetoric of the sports rags end too, and when that happens...