egafd.com

Now that he's out on his arse SGE has decided to become the forward-thinking coach he was always meant to be... the problem is that he's gambling with the hopes of a nation without taking any persoanl gamble.

What the f*ck is Hargreaves doing in the squad?

If Walcott isn't yet good enough for Arsenal's first team, how can he be good enough for the England World Cup squad?

Let's forget about Rooney... we all know he won't really be fit in time, so that means bringing in either Defoe or Johnson. What if Owen gets injured? With no Rooney or Owen, is Walcott really expected to be the back-up to Crouch? Crouch should be the back up to the back up, not the alternative to Owen and Rooney!

Based on those selected who will probably be fit in time for the first game, my team would be:

Robinson
A.Cole, Terry (Capt), Carragher, Neville
Lampard, Carrick, Gerrard
J.Cole, Owen, Lennon

Based upon the assumption that Rooney and Owen are not fit it looks like Eriksson will paly 4-5-1 and lump long balls up to Crouch for others to run onto.

At least he's done the right thing and picked the in-form Lennon ahead of SWP, who has had a poor season at Chelsea (when he got the chance!)

Bob Singleton wrote:

>>


Two very good questions, Bob.

From the BBC website:

Asked how he came to the decision to omit the likes of Defoe and Bent in favour of Walcott, Eriksson confessed: "Probably not too logically."




He's certainly right there...

Apparently Shaun Wright-Phillips hasn't played enough Premiership games this season, so he's replaced by someone who's played none at all!

A player who has yet to score a Premiership goal is chosen as back up to two injured strikers and a bean pole whilst the highest scoring Englishman in the Premiership isn't even on the stand by list!



Nice one Sven!

I'm also presuming that Owen Hargreaves is in the squad because of his ability toplay badly in lots of different positions.

I understand where he's coming from.

During the last WC we were 2-1 down to Brasil. They had 10 men and were we had no-one one the bench who come change a game. Rooney was our answer but he looks doubtful.

Theo Wallcot has pace big time. He's unknown to defenders. All national teams can't play video's about Theo to tell them what space he runs into, what side he prefers checking to and what side he'll prefer on a one-one-one with the keeper. They'll not know what he does with his back to goal. Will he hold it up & play someone else in? Will he turn them and burst away towards goal?

We saw what Owen could do when he burst onto the scene, defenders were scared sensless. Nowadays they have an idea and Owen's suffered.

Sven now has some clever options. Lennon & Downing can bomb down both flanks if we need a goal. Putting Joe Cole in the Rooney role will draw defenders towards the middle due to his ability to dribble past defenders and Stevie G's/Lamps abilty to make runs in to the box will force opposing teams to go narrow at the back. This leaves even more space on the wings.

Crouch can produce 'flick-ons' for Owen or Wallcot who have pace. Owen never had this option before. Crouch can hold up play better than Heskey used to. This is important if we're ahead 1-0 and camped in our own half with the other team having lots of possession.

Though we have less experience, we do have more options and variety.

My main worry is possession and retention of the ball. We always lose possession too easily when we're winning. (Portugal 2004) (Brasil 2002) (Argantina 2000) We were winning all these games and hardly had the ball after getting in front. Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham hardly ever lose the ball at their own clubs yet have difficulty keeping it when England are winning. As soon as other teams 'press' when we're in possession we lose it. Why? because we try to play possession football until we realise we're getting caught out. We then try to hoof it upfield to release the pressure we're under. England need to attack with good passing and at a fast pace. Other teams can't live with us if we play that way. We usually do play that way until we score, then we slow the game down which suits the continentals style of play perfectly.

I can't however see the point of Owen Hargreaves. Phil Neville isn't the most talented but can play defensive midfield as well as both fullback positions. Micheal Carrick is great spraying the ball allover the park when he has time & space. I'm not sure he's that quick at decisions when he has half a second to react under pressure.

Maybe we'll need Rooney to come on for the last half hour in the semi final with Brasil when we need a goal?

My fingers are crossed !drink!

Robbery that spurs got lennon for 1 million, its how fucked up leeds board are, got pay 1 million for rickets to boro if we get promoted to! At least we wont be paying fowler wages come July anymore. Anyway think lennon could make big impact at world cup, come on england!

How is it Rooney is selected but King isn't? Campbell is not mentally fit to play according to my Arse mates. I'd drop Campbell and stick King in. King and Terry are the best defenders in the Prem, but King may not be properly match-fit when he recovers so he should be on the bench. I've seen King play every Spurs' game for the last two seasons. He's had two indifferent games that I can remember. Ferdinand is not even in the same class. Play Terry and Ferdinand, and have Carragher and King as back-up, leave Campbell at home to get his head right.

Walcott shouldn't be going. He may be a massive talent but he's not where Michael Owen was when he exploded on the scene. It should be Defoe or Bent. Even though Bent's on form, Defoe edges it because he's more lethal in the box. Personally I'd drop Rooney and take them both. He won't be fit. He's not a god. It's that simple.

Drop Hargreaves. Take Nolan.

Four strikers is too few unless he's playing 4-5-1. I can see Carrick in the holding role, allowing both Gerrard and Lampard to get forward and score. Michael Owen, if he's fit, would be alright at the apex of that system, although we'd have to play on the ground.

Alternatively, playing Cole in the hole, (there's a joke in there somewhere), could work if he has one of his on days. Problem is, he's so variable.

Peter Crouch? An international player? Don't make me laugh. It's humiliating. His one asset is height, and yet he's surprisingly poor in the air given his stature. His knock-downs are average, he has no strength, speed or real technical skill. A goal scorer he is not. Barrel. Scraping. Yes it's nice to have a big target man, but not if that man is a heron who's going to lose possession every time a puff of wind comes his way.

Rooney's loss is one thing. Selecting with your head up your arse is another.