Owen/Vassell debate...

[Uncle Buck]

I would start Hargreaves, Dyer and Vassell against Croatia in place of Scholes, Beckham and Owen. None of the latter three have performed well and dropping them could give them the kick up the arse they need.

We need direct players who will run at people and take them on, committing them and opening up space for team mates. Look how much more exciting and creative Spain have looked using traditional wingers.

OK, so you suggest dropping 3 of our main players and dare I say it 3 of our 4 world class players, for a game that we have to get a result in, for Hargreaves, who in honesty the jury is out on, Vassell who often impresses as a supersub, but when he starts looks pony (Sweden in the World Cup) and Dyer who have never performed for England. Yes Richie that will work, not.

Out of interest why change a winning side? Teams have a habit of starting tournaments slowly, but as they gel things start to happen.

 

[Marshy]

You have to stick with Owen.
Hes playing up front on his own a lot of the time with Rooney so deep.
Sven doing it right, Vassells pace for the last 20 mins when defences are tiring in the heat is ideal.

When Owen clicks and he will, we will be awesome, Rooney and Owen firing on all cyclinders, is a frightening thought for any defence..

Beckham too, you just cant drop these players.

Think about it people please.

 

[Albionite83]

Stick with Owen. He is 1 of the few world class players we have and will come good.

 

[Simster]

vassell is far more affective as a sub.

Totally agree.

I'd start with Hargeaves ahead of Scholes though. Hargreaves has really impressed me and Scholes is struggling to find any space meaning he is being limited to short ineffective passes.

 

[Marshy]

Keep the Faith, Owen Beckham and Scholes will come good.

Still 3 of the first names on the team sheet in my book.

 

[Skaville]

You just cannot afford to drop players of the pedigree of Owen and Beckham, especially when the alternative is Darius Vasell. That's a gamble that Sven is not daft enough to make. It makes you wonder whether anyone on here has ever seen Villa play. He is an asset off the bench when defenders are tired (after tracking Owen's runs all game)

I'm a Hargreaves fan and would like to see him start ahead of Scholes to add a bit more steel in the midfield. Scholes does not look happy playing out of position and I think that Gerrard is the only player in the squad that has the ability to run with the ball and worry people. I'd have Beckham on the right, Lampard and Hargreaves in the middle with Gerrard on the left.

At the end of the day I have total faith in Sven. He knows what he is doing and has the support of the team. He'll make the right decisions.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

i'd prefer hargreaves ahead of scholes on the left,
scholes looks very uncomfortable there, so he plays very central,
hargreaves doens't mind playing anywhere and will try to play it as a left winger, a very useful player in my eyes
the debate is then whether to have scholes in the middle ahead of lampard or gerrard?

 

[Hove&Albion F.C]

Vassell does better when he comes on off the bench, IMO. Owen hasn't done much yet but we all know what he's capable of if he gets his game going. Is it just me or does he seem a bit slower than he used to be though?

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

Vassell does better when he comes on off the bench, IMO. Owen hasn't done much yet but we all know what he's capable of if he gets his game going. Is it just me or does he seem a bit slower than he used to be though?

aye he's definately lost a bit of pace, compare france '98 to now,
owen needs chances on a plate, but he will put them away, rooney & vassell work for their chances but might not necessarily put them away

the most worrying thing is that owens not getting any chances, i can't remember one so far

 

[Marshy]

Scholes must play people. Keep the faith, he is truly one of the best players we have had in years.

 

[Skaville]

Owen didn't have a sniff against France, but he had a tame shot yesterday and got nearly got on the end of that Cole cross in the first half. If we keep putting balls in like that one and the cross from Neville for Gerrard's goal, Owen will score.

You have to ask yourself who you want on the end of this type of ball, Vassell or Owen. If you are thinking Vassell I suggest you go see a doctor...