saafend_seagull
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Jenas May Fill In For Beckham
Jermaine Jenas has emerged as a surprise contender to replace David Beckham as Sven Goran Eriksson ponders his formation against Azerbaijan.
Eriksson has been debating whether to return to a 4-4-2 formation, with Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right and Ledley King in contention to start at left-back, with Ashley Cole in midfield.
However, he was also experimenting in training on Tuesday with 21-year-old Jenas, who has yet to start for his country, rather than Owen Hargreaves in Beckham's right-sided role within a midfield trio.
That would mean Jermain Defoe keeping his place up front alongside Michael Owen, who will replace Beckham as captain in Baku, with Wayne Rooney in behind.
Eriksson, however, was giving little away as he insisted: "We deserved to win against Wales and, for the next game, you try to change as little as possible.
"We dominated that game all the time so we might do that system again, maybe. It depends. We will be practising one or two different things.
"If I want to play Shaun Wright-Phillips, I think we should go back to 4-4-2. Otherwise, I would have to pick another player if I wanted to keep the same organisation as against Wales."
Asked about the possibility of King coming in at left-back, he added: "It's an option. To play a natural 4-4-2, you want a left-sided player with pace who can beat people and provide good crosses.
"Jamie Carragher can do it, Phil Neville can do it and Ledley King can do it. We have got three options, but maybe Ledley King has more pace than the other two."
England (if 4-3-3): Robinson, G Neville, A Cole, Ferdinand, Campbell, Butt, Lampard, Jenas, Rooney, Defoe, Owen.
England (if 4-4-2): Robinson, G Neville, King, Ferdinand, Campbell, Butt, A Cole, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Rooney, Owen.
i cant see why he cant go for the 4-3-3 with wright-phillips in? even though it may be more attacking than beckham, we are playin a mediocre side for god sake!
Jermaine Jenas has emerged as a surprise contender to replace David Beckham as Sven Goran Eriksson ponders his formation against Azerbaijan.
Eriksson has been debating whether to return to a 4-4-2 formation, with Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right and Ledley King in contention to start at left-back, with Ashley Cole in midfield.
However, he was also experimenting in training on Tuesday with 21-year-old Jenas, who has yet to start for his country, rather than Owen Hargreaves in Beckham's right-sided role within a midfield trio.
That would mean Jermain Defoe keeping his place up front alongside Michael Owen, who will replace Beckham as captain in Baku, with Wayne Rooney in behind.
Eriksson, however, was giving little away as he insisted: "We deserved to win against Wales and, for the next game, you try to change as little as possible.
"We dominated that game all the time so we might do that system again, maybe. It depends. We will be practising one or two different things.
"If I want to play Shaun Wright-Phillips, I think we should go back to 4-4-2. Otherwise, I would have to pick another player if I wanted to keep the same organisation as against Wales."
Asked about the possibility of King coming in at left-back, he added: "It's an option. To play a natural 4-4-2, you want a left-sided player with pace who can beat people and provide good crosses.
"Jamie Carragher can do it, Phil Neville can do it and Ledley King can do it. We have got three options, but maybe Ledley King has more pace than the other two."
England (if 4-3-3): Robinson, G Neville, A Cole, Ferdinand, Campbell, Butt, Lampard, Jenas, Rooney, Defoe, Owen.
England (if 4-4-2): Robinson, G Neville, King, Ferdinand, Campbell, Butt, A Cole, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Rooney, Owen.
i cant see why he cant go for the 4-3-3 with wright-phillips in? even though it may be more attacking than beckham, we are playin a mediocre side for god sake!
