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Has Defoe just secured his place to South Africa?
- Thread starter sam86
- Start date
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,093
I think the fact Owen isn't in the running sort of confirms that the "pacy striker" squad berth has already gone to Defoe.
I'd like to know what Cappello's Plan B is if Rooney gets injured.
I'd like to know what Cappello's Plan B is if Rooney gets injured.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Good as Defoe was yesterday, lets just remember there won't be any Titus Brambles at the sharp end of the WC.
The same Titus Bramble who was a mainstay of the team with the best defensive record in the Premiership last year?
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,093
Good?? Defoe's treatment of 57-cap Edman was the football equivalent of anal rape, and England haven't beaten Sweden for 41 years.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Yes, thats the one.
Good all-round comedy value. At one point, Defoe literally ran an entire 360-degree ring round him before firing one over the bar.
I'm sure there's a Bramble montage on YouTube somewhere.
Exactly why don't you think Crouch is going? Doesn't he have a very impressive goal scoring record? Doesn't he offer something the others don't?
Defoe should clearly go. And will.
Capello does seem to rate Heskey over Crouch, but unless Heskey leaves Villa in January, he's just not going to play enough, and Crouch will pip him for the place. Its a really tough call between them - Crouch's record is SO much better, its ridiculous, but England DO play well with Heskey, and Rooney likes him there.
Capello does seem to rate Heskey over Crouch, but unless Heskey leaves Villa in January, he's just not going to play enough, and Crouch will pip him for the place. Its a really tough call between them - Crouch's record is SO much better, its ridiculous, but England DO play well with Heskey, and Rooney likes him there.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
If the World Cup was tomorrow, I would take Crouch, Heskey, Defoe, Owen and Rooney.
I will look to find it, but there was article near the start of Capello's time that was blatantly saying he was only using Crouch because he had to, and referred to him as his 3rd choice for the target man role. I will try and find it.
He is cracking against teams of the standard of Burma. I have never seen him put in an above average performance against an above average team. Perhaps he hasn't had the chances? Who knows. Seems to me he is always quiet up against a good defence though.
Last edited:
Capello does not rate Crouch highly
London, Apr.1 (ANI): England football coach Fabio Capello does not rate forward Peter Crouch highly, but admits that he will have to play him tonight against Ukraine only because he has run out of alternatives.
Capello said: “We have to play Crouch because he’s now the best we have who can play.
“My first idea was one style and one particular forward, fast and with movement. Crouch has a different style. He is not Darren Bent and not Emile Heskey. He can’t do the same movement as Heskey and can’t press like Heskey,” The Sun quoted Capello, as saying.So far, Capello has given Crouch, 28, eight appearances, all as sub, and it is clear Bent would have played in tonight’s World Cup qualifier had he been fit.
London, Apr.1 (ANI): England football coach Fabio Capello does not rate forward Peter Crouch highly, but admits that he will have to play him tonight against Ukraine only because he has run out of alternatives.
Capello said: “We have to play Crouch because he’s now the best we have who can play.
“My first idea was one style and one particular forward, fast and with movement. Crouch has a different style. He is not Darren Bent and not Emile Heskey. He can’t do the same movement as Heskey and can’t press like Heskey,” The Sun quoted Capello, as saying.So far, Capello has given Crouch, 28, eight appearances, all as sub, and it is clear Bent would have played in tonight’s World Cup qualifier had he been fit.
If the world cup was tomorrow I'd take Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Heskey and Walcott.
Ironic that. I was at Wembley that night, and Crouch was quality. Held play up brilliantly, and scored a good goal, too.
And we were playing who? Ukraine. Sounds about right. Can you REALLY imagine Crouch getting anywhere against an Italian or Spanish defence, or even a German or Dutch one? Crouch will go his whole career causing havoc for defences the level of Ukraine's.
Don't want to go the Beckham route again but name me one good performance from Crouch against a top defence.
It's not that I think Bent or Agbon are quite worthy of their inclusion either, at the moment. I'd rather take an extra midfielder (Young, Lennon, Milner, Joe Cole etc) than have 5 strikers. We have a huge strength in depth in midfield, compared to upfront.
Don't want to go the Beckham route again but name me one good performance from Crouch against a top defence.
It's not that I think Bent or Agbon are quite worthy of their inclusion either, at the moment. I'd rather take an extra midfielder (Young, Lennon, Milner, Joe Cole etc) than have 5 strikers. We have a huge strength in depth in midfield, compared to upfront.
I never get this argument. The thing is, we won't be playing Spain or Brazil in every game. To get out of the group, for starters, we'll have to beat two teams no better or higher ranked than Ukraine. And harking back to 06 when we struggled to beat both Paragusy and T&T, its no given that we would do so, easily.
If you've got a player with a GREAT record against these teams, then you need him there. If the first choice two do the business in every game, that's terrific, but a 23 man squad is all about OPTIONS. Crouch is exactly that - something different.
sten_super
Brain Surgeon
The only one that I remember was this cameo
BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Argentina 2-3 England
where he came on and scared the bejesus out of the Argentinian defence. And, if he went to the world cup, that's how I'd use him. The danger is that, if you take four strikers (Rooney, Heskey, Crouch, Defoe) two of them are little more than impact subs.
A very good point you make there.
Hasn't he used crouch in games since then when he hasn't had to? Games where his other options have been fit and available, yet he still picked Crouch? Perhaps he has changed his mind, seen something in Crouch he never saw before.