anyone else BOO Sven yesterday?

[Les Biehn]

I would say during his tenure, the one thing that has been fairly consistent is his squad selection (I grant you a couple of the World Cup selections are a bit different), but the core has stayed the same. Very few Gordon Cowans, Keith Curle, Paul Warhurst type players suddenly appearing in squads.

The core has been pretty much the same but only becuase in most positions their is an obvious first choice but there have been a lot of dodgy selections in the rest of the squad. I mean Michael Ricketts for fucks sake!

 

[Uncle Buck]

The core has been pretty much the same but only becuase in most positions their is an obvious first choice but there have been a lot of dodgy selections in the rest of the squad. I mean Michael Ricketts for fucks sake!

With Ricketts it was a friendly he played in (which is what they are there for) and he had scored a bucket load of goals in the first half of that season.

 

[Les Biehn]

With Ricketts it was a friendly he played in (which is what they are there for) and he had scored a bucket load of goals in the first half of that season.

I just think in general he has made some poor choices, Phil Neville was another one who should have been no where near the team.

 

[Easy 10]

Every England manager has a few skeletons in their closet in that respect - the one-cap wonders didn't start with Eriksson. However, his complete failure to take friendlies seriously and actually USE them as an opportunity to try something different that he might actually use in a proper game, is the primary reason why England do not have a Plan B in backup when things are going tits up.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I just think in general he has made some poor choices, Phil Neville was another one who should have been no where near the team.

Neville could cover a number of positions. Other than his first game (Spain) I am not sure he has generally selected him as a starter.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Every England manager has a few skeletons in their closet in that respect - the one-cap wonders didn't start with Eriksson. However, his complete failure to take friendlies seriously and actually USE them as an opportunity to try something different that he might actually use in a proper game, is the primary reason why England do not have a Plan B in backup when things are going tits up.

With regards to the Plan B there does seem to be one now in Crouch, but that has come about more by luck than anything else.

 

[Easy 10]

With regards to the Plan B there does seem to be one now in Crouch, but that has come about more by luck than anything else.

Crikey. I think we're almost agreeing there.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Crikey. I think we're almost agreeing there.

I think it is accepted that has stumbled across the fact that if you chuck on Crouch for 20 minutes it does seem to unsettle defences.

I think the Rooney injury could also force his hand with regards to playing a holding midfielder.

 

[Easy 10]

Here's hoping.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Here's hoping.

I do think Carrick will come in and Cole will play the Rooney role.

However if Rooney comes back then he needs to work out which of the 3 midfielders gets dropped (especially if Carrick has had a decent tournament to date).

 

[Sid James]

Would it not be better to free Gerrard and have Cole continue to operate on the left ?

 

[Uncle Buck]

Would it not be better to free Gerrard and have Cole continue to operate on the left ?

Could go down that route, although Gerrards best role is running in late from the midfield.

 

[Sid James]

Could go down that route, although Gerrards best role is running in late from the midfield.

It does sound a bit too fluid for our Sven. I do fear that Crouch will replace Rooney.

 

[Easy 10]

His past record would suggest he'll stick with 4-4-2 and just swap Rooney for Crouch (gulp). Remember Rooney going off v Portugal and he bought on......Vassell.

Ideally Cole should stay on the left, Beckham on the right, then have Lampard and Gerrard closely supporting Owen up front, with Carrick holding. Far too sensible for Sven though, surely.

 

[Uncle Buck]

It does sound a bit too fluid for our Sven. I do fear that Crouch will replace Rooney.

I honestly think Carrick will come in for Rooney and he will play something along the lines of 4-1-3-1-1.

 

[Uncle Buck]

His past record would suggest he'll stick with 4-4-2 and just swap Rooney for Crouch (gulp). Remember Rooney going off v Portugal and he bought on......Vassell.

Ideally Cole should stay on the left, Beckham on the right, then have Lampard and Gerrard closely supporting Owen up front, with Carrick holding. Far too sensible for Sven though, surely.

He has made comments that Cole could play the Rooney role.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I like the way Gerrard feeds off Crouch. Crouchy didn't have the best of games on saturday, but he provided some valuable service to Gerrard. I guffawed when he did his bicycle kick though. I thought of the NSC crew sharpening their knives.

The World Cup holds no fear for me, even if we are Rooney'less'.

 

[Les Biehn]

Would it not be better to free Gerrard and have Cole continue to operate on the left ?

I agree with that. Think Gerrard is more direct and more disiplined in that role (no 40 yard passes to no one) while Cole is better on the left because he is also more disaplined there (less of a tendency to go up his own arse).

 

[Uncle Buck]

I agree with that. Think Gerrard is more direct and more disiplined in that role (no 40 yard passes to no one) while Cole is better on the left because he is also more disaplined there (less of a tendency to go up his own arse).

But Cole started club football in a freeish role, just moving to Chelsea has meant a role out wide.

 

[Easy 10]

He has made comments that Cole could play the Rooney role.

Which would then bollocks up the left side of our midfield, where Cole has been excellent for England all season. I know Downing could come in there, but Cole has the experience and we now KNOW he is very effective down the left for us. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.