England v Mexico

[Mellotron]

I think Huddlestone deserve to start tonight after the season he has had, Milner will go so why not give Huddlestone a chance tonight

Part of me agrees with you, and yes Milner will go but he has barely EVER played as a holding midfielder so he needs some in-game practice in that position before the USA game SHIRLEY?

I'd love Huddlestone to play a blinder, he's a fantastic passer of the ol' football.

 

[HP Seagull]

Hart

Johnson King Ferdinand Baines

Lennon Carrick Milner Johnson

Gerrard

Rooney


Swapping Huddlestone for Carrick at some point during the evening.

 

[Mellotron]

We've tried Rooney up top on his own before. It doesn't work. Otherwise a good line up although I don't think Capello rates Carrick that much.

 

[WhingForPresident]

Hart
G.Johnson King Dawson Baines
Lennon Huddlestone Milner Carrick A. Johnson
Crouch

May as well give something new a bash?

 

[sten_super]

Part of me agrees with you, and yes Milner will go but he has barely EVER played as a holding midfielder so he needs some in-game practice in that position before the USA game SHIRLEY?

I'd love Huddlestone to play a blinder, he's a fantastic passer of the ol' football.

I don't know where this idea of playing Milner as the holding midfielder has come from. It does very much smack of the old Gerrard/Lampard days of 'pick the best four midfielders and let them sort it out' and we all know how well they did. IF Milner is going to start in central midfield I think it would have to be in place of Lampard. At the very least, there's no way that against someone of the ilk of Brazil or Spain that I'd start with a central midfield of Lampard and Milner.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Swapping Huddlestone for Carrick at some point during the evening.

I think this will happen, I believe its between Carrick and Thud for the final midfield berth

 

[Simster]

Huddlestone over Carrick for me. I agree with Capello on Carrick - flatters to deceive and goes missing on occasion.

 

[Mellotron]

I don't know where this idea of playing Milner as the holding midfielder has come from. It does very much smack of the old Gerrard/Lampard days of 'pick the best four midfielders and let them sort it out' and we all know how well they did. IF Milner is going to start in central midfield I think it would have to be in place of Lampard. At the very least, there's no way that against someone of the ilk of Brazil or Spain that I'd start with a central midfield of Lampard and Milner.

Not at all. Look at Barry's attributes as a holding midfielder. What does he actually have that Milner hasn't? Have a think about it.

Milner is:

Combative
As good a tackler as Barry
Much quicker
Better engine
Good passer
Discplined positionally

I would argue that Milner is more similar to Hargreaves (our best holding midfielder) than Barry is.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Huddlestone over Carrick for me. I agree with Capello on Carrick - flatters to deceive and goes missing on occasion.

Carrick really has gone down hill in the past few seasons, he was an outstanding prospect.

 

[sten_super]

Not at all. Look at Barry's attributes as a holding midfielder. What does he actually have that Milner hasn't? Have a think about it.

Milner is:

Combative
As good a tackler as Barry
Much quicker
Better engine
Good passer
Discplined positionally

I would argue that Milner is more similar to Hargreaves (our best holding midfielder) than Barry is.

Milner certainly has a lot to his game, I agree, but for me it comes down to;

Milner will go but he has barely EVER played as a holding midfielder

I don't want him learning to play the position at the World Cup finals, thank you very much. One wrong defensive position against Spain and that's us out in the quarter finals again.

For Villa he plays in midfield alongside Petrov, and Petrov does a hell of a lot more defensively than Lampard will.

 

[Mellotron]

I don't want him learning to play the position at the World Cup finals, thank you very much. One wrong defensive position against Spain and that's us out in the quarter finals again.

For Villa he plays in midfield alongside Petrov, and Petrov does a hell of a lot more defensively than Lampard will.

This must be the most mature "debate" regarding the relatives merits of different players on NSC ever.

You make good points. I just can't quite see Carrick or Huddlestone being part of a successful side.

 

[Wozza]

England v Mexico? Not intere... Oh, corporate hospitality, you say? Leaving now...

 

[sten_super]

This must be the most mature "debate" regarding the relatives merits of different players on NSC ever.

You make good points. I just can't quite see Carrick or Huddlestone being part of a successful side.

In the (assumed) absence of Barry and Hargreaves we lack someone who can really do the role. Carrick and Huddlestone both strike me (from what little I have seen of them) as deep-lying playmakers rather than true defensive midfielders, and I agree, certainly in the case of Carrick, that I'm unconvinced by him for England anyway. It may be that Milner is the best of a bad set of options. I would like to see Parker given a chance, but I think it's more likely to be Huddlestone. If so, lets just hope i) Barry is fit or ii) Huddlestone has the tournament of his LIFE.

 

[Spun Cuppa]

I saw a pre-98' WC warm-up match against Uruaguay at Wembley that finished a foreseeable 0-0 (with the added bonus of me having a tenner @ 7/1 on it ), so not expecting much tonight tbh

And what is this talk of 3-5-2 old bollocks? Ten players running round a field unsure of what they are supposed to do FFS!

Ho hum

 

[Marc]

Milner should play on the left

 

[dingobruce]

Would like to see...

........................ Hart

...G Johnson ... King ... Ferdinand ... Baines

Lennon ... Lampard ... Milner ... A Johnson

.............. Bent ........... Rooney .........

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Do not play Rooney or Milner. We can't afford to have them injured. Also do not play Lampard.

thank-you.

 

[Springal]

Didn't Capello so no players involved in the FA cup final, will appear tonight ?

 

[Marc]

Didn't Capello so no players involved in the FA cup final, will appear tonight ?

is correct, James and 4 from Chelsea will not play

 

[HP Seagull]

We've tried Rooney up top on his own before. It doesn't work. Otherwise a good line up although I don't think Capello rates Carrick that much.

Surely this is where he's been playing for Manchester United all season though, scoring 30+ goals in the process? It would also allow Gerrard to play in his best position and where he plays for Liverpool.

For too long England have been accomadating players in our side because we believe they are the best players, but playing a system that doesn't suit them. For this Gerrard would have to be best example (although I'm not using that as an excuse for his occasionally dire England performances). It would also mean we don't have to accomadate Heskey in the side, as much as he is a good squad player to have.

If we play my line-up tonight it would also allow us to have a look at Milner in central midfield, and see if Huddlestone and Johnson are ready for international football.

The point is we have to give ourselves a plan A, B and C, which we haven't always had in the past, and tonight is the perfect opportunity to experiment.