If Cappello has balls and really is different to previous

[British Bulldog]

Hart
Richards Ferdinand Terry Cole
Hargreaves
Gerrard Lampard
Walcott Ashton Cole
​

That looks a good line up but it's getting Lampard and Gerrard to actually perform alongside each other in England shirts.

 

[Mellotron]

Yeah come on we've done Gerrard & Lampard together for quite long enough I think. It's ONE of the two based on form.

Carrick, Barry, Ashley Young, Jimmy Bullard. Plenty of replacements waiting in the wings for whichever out of Lampard/Gerrard isn't performing.

 

[Scotty Mac]

I assume this is tongue in cheek

you are correct sir - it just gets my goat how people WHEEL out all these excuses as to why beckham should be playing

the fact of the matter is that he is playing at roughly the same standard as the players that strutt around the pitch at withdean - in a side that hasnt won for ELEVEN games. god knows what michael owen must be thinking when beckham is getting called up, yet owen who is still scoring goals in the premiership cant get a look in

beckham proved he was past it with his performance against the czechs. he was annonymous for virtually the entire game, except for setting up the goal from a set piece. but we cant really afford to go to croatia and effectively play with 10 men in the hope beckham will do something from a set piece

but as i said, if we lose then whatever decision capello makes he will be crucified for

 

[Napper]

the arguements for Beckham are based on a containing game.

My point was that for him to have balls , he will say , f*** it, lets not worry about them, lets take it to them , be on our a game and have faith.........ie Walcott.

The reserved option of Becks or whoever would just be so typical of all the previous England boss's and their short comings

 

[Easy 10]

you are correct sir - it just gets my goat how people WHEEL out all these excuses as to why beckham should be playing

the fact of the matter is that he is playing at roughly the same standard as the players that strutt around the pitch at withdean - in a side that hasnt won for ELEVEN games. god knows what michael owen must be thinking when beckham is getting called up, yet owen who is still scoring goals in the premiership cant get a look in

beckham proved he was past it with his performance against the czechs. he was annonymous for virtually the entire game, except for setting up the goal from a set piece. but we cant really afford to go to croatia and effectively play with 10 men in the hope beckham will do something from a set piece

but as i said, if we lose then whatever decision capello makes he will be crucified for

If he drops Beckham and we lose (but lose trying something different), he'll get a fair hearing.
If he picks Beckham and we lose, then he'll be fair game for a right good kicking, as we WILL effectively be playing with 10 men.

 

[Scotty Mac]

If he drops Beckham and we lose (but lose trying something different), he'll get a fair hearing.

he will get a fair hearing from most people who understand football

whether he will get a fair hearing from the media or people who still think it is 2002 and beckham is the best player in the best team on the earth remains to be seen

 

[Easy 10]

Who cares what Beckhams acolytes think ?
They're clearly idiots.

 

[Knotty]

I'm not as anti-Beckham as some because I think a lot of the criticism is down to him being ex-Man U as much as his actual current abilities.

The big problem, for me, is that Capello should never have played Becks in the recent friendlies. They were the perfect opportunity to start a game with Bentley or Walcott and see what they can do in 60-90 minutes rather than 10-20 minutes. The same should also have applied in other areas - just like Becks, we know what James/Lampard/Gerrard/Rio/Terry can and can't do.

Now we have the situation where any choice for the right midfield is going to be a gamble in a game when we shouldn't be gambling. Walcott against Andorra showed great pace for a while but he created very little after 20 minutes even against such a poor side. I really don't know about Bentley but I have not been impressed with his distribution. As for SWP, I have never been a fan and really can't see him as the answer; he simply doesn't do it against quality defenders.

On balance I would start with Walcott, with Becks to come off the bench if t's not working. But, as I say, it's a huge gamble and one we shouldn't be taking for his game. We should know by now who is first choice for that position but we don't.

 

[sten_super]

I'm not as anti-Beckham as some because I think a lot of the criticism is down to him being ex-Man U as much as his actual current abilities.

The big problem, for me, is that Capello should never have played Becks in the recent friendlies. They were the perfect opportunity to start a game with Bentley or Walcott and see what they can do in 60-90 minutes rather than 10-20 minutes. The same should also have applied in other areas - just like Becks, we know what James/Lampard/Gerrard/Rio/Terry can and can't do.

Now we have the situation where any choice for the right midfield is going to be a gamble in a game when we shouldn't be gambling. Walcott against Andorra showed great pace for a while but he created very little after 20 minutes even against such a poor side. I really don't know about Bentley but I have not been impressed with his distribution. As for SWP, I have never been a fan and really can't see him as the answer; he simply doesn't do it against quality defenders.

On balance I would start with Walcott, with Becks to come off the bench if t's not working. But, as I say, it's a huge gamble and one we shouldn't be taking for his game. We should know by now who is first choice for that position but we don't.

Apart from your opening sentence I agree entirely. I'd guess that Capello wanted to see first hand how the players performed, and to get a sense of the dressing room, but it does now look like a lot of wasted time, when he's having to try players in qualifiers.

I honestly wouldn't have Beckham anywhere near the starting line up on ability alone, which is a massive pity, as he's one of the very few players that actually cares about playing for his country.

 

[Marlton & Hove Albion]

How about for the rest of the WC Qualifying campaign

James

Shorey
Ferdinand
Terry
Richards

Ashley Young
Barry
Gerrard
Joe Cole

Agbonlahor
Crouch

Squad: Owen, Hargreaves, Rooney, Walcott, Luke Young, Campbell, Bentley, Lampard, Carson, Ashley Cole, Milner

Blend of experience, youth, speed, options, creativity. I for one can't stand watching an current ENGLAND team with no better than average players like Lescott, Downing, Defoe, Brown. Even Ashley Cole is not really impressive any more.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

How about for the rest of the WC Qualifying campaign

James

Shorey
Ferdinand
Terry
Richards

Ashley Young
Barry
Gerrard
Joe Cole

Agbonlahor
Crouch

Squad: Owen, Hargreaves, Rooney, Walcott, Luke Young, Campbell, Bentley, Lampard, Carson, Ashley Cole, Milner

Blend of experience, youth, speed, options, creativity. I for one can't stand watching an current ENGLAND team with no better than average players like Lescott, Downing, Defoe, Brown. Even Ashley Cole is not really impressive any more.

Not bad but I'm not convinced about Shorey. I'd like to see Bridge or even Gareth Barry played at left back. Hargreaves is a better ball winner in the centre of mid too and it's hard to see past 40 international goals Owen.