The England National team thread

[Seven8]

If just seen the goals....

WTF is James doing (yet again )
He looks poor for the 1st, 2nd and 4th goal - the 3rd was more a fault of the defenders/midfielders

He's definetly a starter in my Worst Ever England 11!

---

Thankfully the next games are just some days ahead now - and I'm still positive we can win both those games - aslong as their ir Robinson in goal and not James of corse

 

[WilliamFAlmeida]

England's problem has always beed and will continue to be: Sven.
He's NOT good.

 

[Yossarian]

Cap Pennant, please.

 

[Seven8]

hmm according to the press association on thefa.com Gerrard maybe will miss the 2 upcoming qualifiers.

Who'd you play in his place ?

I'd go for Carrick or P. Neville as holding midfield players.

 

[TheBlueBalla]

Jesus, calling up Phil Neville is taking a step back. Thats the same logic that keeps Owen Hargreaves coming back to the NT. Carrick has been quite decent for England, good for Tottenham, and he is still learning. One day I think that guy is gonna be a star. Pennant is looking damned impressive too: a more adventurous coach than Sven probably wouldve called him up by now

Hasnt James pleaded for one more chance at the starting job? Man, thats just sad....

 

[Daz]

well i think that calling up Phil is good, he's playing regular football now and he's as versatile as Hargreaves but better with far more experience.

 

[Seven8]

Jesus, calling up Phil Neville is taking a step back. Thats the same logic that keeps Owen Hargreaves coming back to the NT. Carrick has been quite decent for England, good for Tottenham, and he is still learning. One day I think that guy is gonna be a star. Pennant is looking damned impressive too: a more adventurous coach than Sven probably wouldve called him up by now

Hasnt James pleaded for one more chance at the starting job? Man, thats just sad....

Dazman is right about Phil.

He played fantastic in Everton's defeat against ManUtd, got plenty of caps, expirience and he''s versatile (RB, LB or DM)

as for James - WTF does he think!

IMO Robo is the clear number one and since his move to spurs he really improved. We should give the 2nd "gk spot" to young ones like Green, Cirkland - because how are they going to get expirience... when the granpa is keeping them out of the squad?

BTW it's nice to see "some posting action" in this thread.

 

[Callum]

phil neville, god no

carrick great player, got to watch him play vs USA and for tottenham lately, should be fantastic later on.

 

[treble41]

I remember rading an article on Soccernet stating how England should use a 3-5-2 and I agreed with it.

--------------Robinson---------------
-------Carragher-Terry-Ferdinand-----
SWP-Beckham-Lampard-Gerrard-A.Cole
------------------Rooney------------
------------Owen--------------------

It puts Beckham in CM where he want's to be and includes three great CB's. I think that Carragher is much better then Campbell after last season. There's still Woodgate and the rest. You could also use Hargreaves as a DM and Lampard as the LCM if Gerrard get's injured which he often does. Obviously though, Sven is unwilling to experiment. He's honestly the worst manager the country's had. McLaren would be a better choice and he hasn't even ever won anything. I honestly don't think they'll win the WC if it's up to Sven so the side has to rely on player talent. Exciting to watch though.

 

[pede54]

Phil Neville the midfield player is nothing like Phil Neville the defender.As a midfield player he is solid,determined and fights for everything, and his range of passing is excellent,and he is experienced.When Fergie moved him to midfield he became a completely different player.I wouldn't mind Phil being included ,as long as its not as a full back.

as for the worst England manager..........you gotta go some to be worse than Graham Taylor or Glenn Hoddle.......Give the job back to Venables.......

 

[becksfranksteve]

I remember rading an article on Soccernet stating how England should use a 3-5-2 and I agreed with it.

--------------Robinson---------------
-------Carragher-Terry-Ferdinand-----
SWP-Beckham-Lampard-Gerrard-A.Cole
------------------Rooney------------
------------Owen--------------------

It puts Beckham in CM where he want's to be and includes three great CB's. I think that Carragher is much better then Campbell after last season. There's still Woodgate and the rest. You could also use Hargreaves as a DM and Lampard as the LCM if Gerrard get's injured which he often does. Obviously though, Sven is unwilling to experiment. He's honestly the worst manager the country's had. McLaren would be a better choice and he hasn't even ever won anything. I honestly don't think they'll win the WC if it's up to Sven so the side has to rely on player talent. Exciting to watch though.

i really like gary neville but that formation is probably the best

 

[Help?]

I don't think that that 3-5-2 would work at all. As for Steve MacLaren not having won anything, he actually won the Carling Cup in 2004, that same won that Chelsea won the next year.

 

[Callum]

defoe would be wonderful to come off the bench and play for us.

 

[TheBlueBalla]

I remember reading, in the sunday telegraph not some rag, that McLaren was the obvious choice for the FA once Sven is out of contract/leaves/is forced out. In my opinion they could do alot worse, but the problem with English managers is that they are just unremarkable. If the FA were willing to give the job to a timid guy who hadn't really achieved much before he was appointed, then I think maybe chasing a big foreign manager wouldnt be too crazy. I think given what he managed to achieve with Korea (dodgy calls aside, their run was tremendous in 2002) Hiddink wouldve been a guy to look at, before Australia scooped him up.

Anyway, about Beckham back in the centre of park, I think that if he is thriving for Madrid out on the right then its in England's best intrests, as well as Madrid's, not to make him switch for the odd international. The 3-5-2 isnt that crazy, considering the wealth England have at CB, but in my mind Neville the Elder and Cole are too rich in skill and talent to be left out of the team.

I know its something of a hybrid solution, but Joe Cole has to be the best answer at the moment for the leftside. What I would like to see, though, would be more of a 4-3-1-2 which allows Either Lampard or Gerrard, preferrably Lampard, to sit behind the strikers in support, and hopefully with a primarily defensive CM behind him, give a bit of balance to the midfield.

Something like:
------------Robinson------------ (never James, ever again)
----Nev---Terry---Rio---Cole----
-Beckham---Gerrard----JCole----
-----------Lamps-------------
----------Owen----Rooney

But of course, all that is contingent upon Joe Cole getting time enough at the wing position to be internationally fit, and on Lampard recovering last seasons form. I hate to ice Carrick and SWP out just like that, but despite all his failings, Beckham is at the moment a must for the team just leadership wise. Would be kind of intresting, though, to see him left out for Sweep just once, and the armband given the Lampard or Gerrard, if only to see how England do

Anyway, its all food for thought, but as Seven8 said, this thread is really buzzing with good debate. Great to see

 

[Callum]

Something like:
------------Robinson------------ (never James, ever again)
----Nev---Terry---Rio---Cole----
-Beckham---Gerrard----JCole----
-----------Lamps-------------
----------Owen----Rooney

That can very easily work for us, I mean the back 5 are set, all great players, and yes james get tae f*ck out. The midfield would work with becks on the right, j cole on left, and gerrard being the sort of holding player, because he is very aggressive and fights for ever ball, and if he were to release, lampard could come back and help seeing as they both play very similar and can score at will but also put that crucial tackle in. Owen and rooney, enough said, they are both deadly and shouldnt have a problem scoring. As for subs, SWP can come in for beckham and give him a break if he isnt working out, gerrard to be captain, and if owen or rooney are having an off day, defoe is the man to come in and do the job. Also Carrick would be an ideal DM if gerrard or lampard, god forbid, get injured or suspended. Also Ledley King is always there and ready. Looking forward to WC, hopefully erikkson doesnt f*ck us over, and do the right things.

 

[Mikey]

England needs a holding midfielder, playing Gerrard in that position wastes his talents. Its just a shame England has so few quality DM. Other than Nicky Butt and Phil Neville, I cant think of any above average ball winners at your disposal. (im actually going through EPL club rosters and I cant find any quality DM's.) But holy crap, your league seriously has WAY TOO MUCH foreigners, even the smaller clubs like Fulham, Blackburn, Boro, Tottenham. This is gonna catch up to you guys quickly. People are getting excited about Englands chances, but if you continue to use Gerrard as your DM, than i see problems.

I think Englands strongest possible lineup would be:

:::::::::::::::: Owen ::::: Rooney :::::::::::::::::::::
::: A.Cole :::: Lampard :: Gerrard ::::: Becks/SWP ::::
::::::::::::::::::::: P.Neville / Butt ::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::: Carra ::::: Terry :::: Rio :::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::: Robinson :::::::::::::::::::::::::

 

[treble41]

Hargreaves should be the DM if you use one. You're right, Gerrard would be wasted as a DM. He can win the ball over but here's the problem. He's so used to blasting the ball and trying to single handedly win the game with Liverpool that he's not exactly the best passer around.

--------------Robinson---------------
-------Carragher-Terry-Ferdinand-----
P Neville/Hargreaves
------Beckham-Lampard-Gerrard------
------------------Rooney------------
------------Owen--------------------

Problem with that though is that there isn't much width but worth a try. I doubt that Sven will change the formation because he's too stubborn on the classic 4-4-2. I think that the 4-4-4 was the reason that Scholes retired. Being played as a LM wasn't that thrilling to him.

 

[TheBlueBalla]

The issue with Gerrard and his talents being wasted is that he and Lampard are in very similar roles for both of their clubs, and one would essentially have to break with that and become a two way guy in order to keep the whole midfield balanced. Personally, I would think Lampard would be best suited to playing the two way role, but the main problem is that the two are too talented to put either on the bench, yet with them both on the field, there can be no natural leftsider, and no true CDM.

But Callum has got it right: if one guy is going to be the chosen one for the holding role, it has to be Carrick. Neville, Hargreaves and Butt may all be solid, but I think if Carrick can be given the role for the next year in friendlies and qualifiers, and, hopefully, grow into it, he could be right at home backing up the midfield when Germany rolls around. By that time, I think he will be a distinctly better option than any of the other candidates.

If this is the richness of the debate on the midfield, the debate on Centerbacks will be a sight to behold

Edit:

Bull****, Gerrard can play the defensive mid position if he's told too... he can DEFINITELY win balls. Forget the CL final already? And Mikey, if you don't like Gerrard there.... two words: Scott Parker. And in a few years... Michael Carrick.

Man, how did I forget about Parker? Its been a long time since he has been capped for England with that injury from this last year, but he and Carrick are options I would definately look too over Hargreaves, Neville or Butt.


Then again, it is Sven

 

[Vagegast]

Bull****, Gerrard can play the defensive mid position if he's told too... he can DEFINITELY win balls. Forget the CL final already? And Mikey, if you don't like Gerrard there.... two words: Scott Parker. And in a few years... Michael Carrick.

 

[Callum]

carrick has a good long shot, he had a few crackers for tottenham. Scott parker! Good idea, Sven hopefully notices all of this.