Barry will start on Friday...

[Rookie]

Later in the tournament I agree, but playing one striker against Algeria seems wrong to me

Don't think you can just swap formations half way through a tournament. Get your first choice team out (not available on Sat because of Barry) and preferred formation and only change if player injuries/suspensions calls for it.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Don't think you can just swap formations half way through a tournament. Get your first choice team out (not available on Sat because of Barry) and preferred formation and only change if player injuries/suspensions calls for it.

Seemed to work for us in 1990. If we wanted to keep the same way of playing throughout we would have swapped Barry for Carrick against the US

 

[HP Seagull]

Put Gerrard behind Rooney (unfortunately means dropping Heskey despite the fact he played well on Sat and I like him when he plays for England) and put Cole on the left instead of Milner. Job done.

This is the only way to play. We have to make the most out of the players we have and that means chosing a formation to suit the players, not the other way round.

Unfortunately Capello is so stubborn with a rigid 4-4-2 that I can't see him dropping it. Would love to be proved wrong though.

 

[strings]

I would drop Green but not because of his mistake.

It has been made clear in the run up to the tournament that the defenders prefer James' communication with them throughout the match. I was willing to persevere with Green, who has earnt his place in the qualifiers, all the time we had a first or second choice centre back. However, whoever comes in for King will be our third choice, which is why I would put in James - we need someone who can direct the defence.

In summary, I would pick James, rather than drop Green.

 

[Common as Mook]

The drop Lampard bandwagon is almost as bad as the "Heskey is shite" bandwagon

 

[HseagullsH]

Wonder if he's tempted to drop Lampard.

Why would he?

Had a far, far better season than Gerrard so he's going to drop him off the back of one average performance?

Wonder if he's tempted to drop Rooney.

 

[seagullsdaz]

Hart

Johnson Dawson Terry A. Cole

Lennon Barry Lampard J. Cole

Gerrard

Rooney

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

This is the only way to play. We have to make the most out of the players we have and that means chosing a formation to suit the players, not the other way round.

Unfortunately Capello is so stubborn with a rigid 4-4-2 that I can't see him dropping it. Would love to be proved wrong though.

Rigid 4-4-2? As opposed to the 4-2-3-1 that Capello likes playing, with Gerrard on the left that resulted in successive 5-1, 3-1, 4-0, 2-1, 4-0, 6-0 and 5-1 victories during qualifying?

Every single one of those games had Walcott or Lennon on the right, Lampard and Barry in the centre, Gerrard on the left, Heskey up front and Rooney in the hole.

Then we have one iffy-result, with Gerrard playing in the middle, which leads to people wanting to drop heskey, keep gerrard in the middle, recall Joe Cole, drop lampard?

Come on folks, get a grip

 

[HseagullsH]

Hart

Johnson Dawson Terry A. Cole

Lennon Barry Lampard J. Cole

Gerrard

Rooney

I go with that too except perhaps Milner for Joe Cole.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I go with that too except perhaps Milner for Joe Cole.

Why does everybody want to change what worked for us in qualifying? why?

 

[perth seagull]

As expected - Dawson to come into the centre with Terry, I take it he has been picked for mobility. I think Carragher would be a mistake against better teams.

Agreed, Carragher is an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Mellotron]

Why are people so anti-Gerrard playing on the left? He was SUPERB there throughout qualifying, linked up perfectly with Rooney.

 

[Mellotron]

Rigid 4-4-2? As opposed to the 4-2-3-1 that Capello likes playing, with Gerrard on the left that resulted in successive 5-1, 3-1, 4-0, 2-1, 4-0, 6-0 and 5-1 victories during qualifying?

Every single one of those games had Walcott or Lennon on the right, Lampard and Barry in the centre, Gerrard on the left, Heskey up front and Rooney in the hole.

Then we have one iffy-result, with Gerrard playing in the middle, which leads to people wanting to drop heskey, keep gerrard in the middle, recall Joe Cole, drop lampard?

Come on folks, get a grip

Excellent post. Glad Capello isn't as flaky and fickle as most England fans.

 

[Simster]

I like the idea of Gerrard out wide, Mellotron, but think we have more cover there than we have options up front with Rooney. Gerrard works well either wide on the left or just behind Rooney, so it's a case of horses for courses.

 

[ROSM]

having just seen Don Fabio's interview on ITV it seems he's not decided between Heskey and Defoe and Green or another Keeper. he says he wont name the team but Barry will start (if back's okay). he umm'd and arrr'd a bit about his centre halves when asked if he was set on them yet.

Desailly put out a plea to play Rooney and Gerrard just behind. Will we see a picture of capello looking on a bridge (a la Robson in Mexico 86) before he stumbles across the right formula to progress or will it take player power like before the dutch game in 1990?

 

[Mellotron]

I like the idea of Gerrard out wide, Mellotron, but think we have more cover there than we have options up front with Rooney. Gerrard works well either wide on the left or just behind Rooney, so it's a case of horses for courses.

Except Rooney and Heskey has worked excellently for the last couple of years?...

 

[Simster]

Except Rooney and Heskey has worked excellently for the last couple of years?...

I don't need convincingof that, remember? But you have to accept that Gerrard just behind Rooney also works well.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I don't need convincingof that, remember? But you have to accept that Gerrard just behind Rooney also works well.

Does it? When did that work then?

 

[Mellotron]

I don't need convincingof that, remember? But you have to accept that Gerrard just behind Rooney also works well.

Have we ever seen Gerrard behind Rooney as lone striker? Cannee remember...

 

[Simster]

Does it? When did that work then?

Apparently so.