Zamora for England?

[Mellotron]

Imo i think Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, are all nalied on to go to the world cup the 1 place i think is up for grabs is heskey or cole.

Heskey = Started EVERY single game under Capello when fit.
Crouch = NEVER started a game for Capello when Heskey has been fit.

Oops. Crouch is definitely NOT nailed on. Capello is not a fan. What's the point in taking Crouch if we can only use him in the Algeria and Slovenia games?

 

[Timbo]

Interesting piece on the BBC this morning with Chris Baird (admittedly not one to really take too much notice of!) the latest to be banging the Zamora drum.

CAPELLO'S OPTIONS: Striker goal/games ratios for 2009-10 season
J Defoe: 17/21 (81%)
W Rooney: 14/25 (56%)
D Bent: 10/18 (56%)
B Zamora: 9/21 (43%)
G Agbonlahor: 9/23 (39%)
C Cole: 7/19 (37%)
P Crouch: 8/22 (36%)
M Owen: 7/22 (32%)
E Heskey: 3/22 (14%)

 

[Stat Brother]

Those 5 goals against Wigan don't half make Defoe look impressive.

 

[Mellotron]

Surely most of those Owen appearances are as sub, which completely skews the stats?

 

[Simster]

Those 5 goals against Wigan don't half make Defoe look impressive.

OK, but replace 5 with a more normal looking 2, and his ratio is still 67%, streets ahead of the rest.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Those 5 goals against Wigan don't half make Defoe look impressive.

Almost as impressive as the fact he scored 5 in one game

 

[Silent Bob]

Heskey's not in for goals, obviously. The thing is that Zamora has been doing what Heskey does for England better for ages now, arguably his whole Fulham career, but he's only getting (slightly) noticed now - because he's scored a few goals.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I think for the first time ever the "Bobby For England" debate has gone national.

The fact that he is a Heskey-style striker in terms of bringing other players into the game and setting up chances HAS to put him in with a shout because playing Rooney and Heskey is Capello's first-choice option.

Secondly, Bobby has a current goalscoring ratio Heskey can only dream of.

Thirdly, Bobby is 28 and probably at his peak. Heskey is 4 years older and the facts are his goals AND assists are diminishing with age.

Hodgson says Bobby's more of a technical striker than Heskey and Capello will appreciate that. As for Darren Bent, he is prone to missing the high pressure chance and, personally, I think he's a product of the Premiership (big and powerful) not suited to the more cerebral international arena.

I'd say one more squad injury to an England striker and its when, not if, the "Bobby for England" situation is discussed on MOTD.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I think for the first time ever the "Bobby For England" debate has gone national.

The fact that he is a Heskey-style striker in terms of bringing other players into the game and setting up chances HAS to put him in with a shout because playing Rooney and Heskey is Capello's first-choice option.

Secondly, Bobby has a current goalscoring ratio Heskey can only dream of.

Thirdly, Bobby is 28 and probably at his peak. Heskey is 4 years older and the facts are his goals AND assists are diminishing with age.

Hodgson says Bobby's more of a technical striker than Heskey and Capello will appreciate that. As for Darren Bent, he is prone to missing the high pressure chance and, personally, I think he's a product of the Premiership (big and powerful) not suited to the more cerebral international arena.

I'd say one more squad injury to an England striker and its when, not if, the "Bobby for England" situation is discussed on MOTD.

Zamora is a much better player than Bent, Bent really is an average striker who cant stand the Pressure of playing for a mid-large club like spurs, no chance for England.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Bent has been used by Capello and because of the dearth of decent strikers and the fact he picks up Prem goals he'll be on the list.

I'd say Crouch and Agbonlahor are ahead of Bobby, although I buy the argument that quality defenders at international level will jostle and frustrate Crouch and reduce his effectiveness.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Bent has been used by Capello and because of the dearth of decent strikers and the fact he picks up Prem goals he'll be on the list.

I'd say Crouch and Agbonlahor are ahead of Bobby, although I buy the argument that quality defenders at international level will jostle and frustrate Crouch and reduce his effectiveness.

I would say that Crouch linking up and playing well with JD this season has improved his chances of going.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Another factor with Crouch is Beckham. If you take Beckham then it makes sense to take Crouch to get on the end of his crosses. However, if you DON'T take Beckham and play a different way there's less reason for Crouch.

 

[Mellotron]

Another factor with Crouch is Beckham. If you take Beckham then it makes sense to take Crouch to get on the end of his crosses. However, if you DON'T take Beckham and play a different way there's less reason for Crouch.

AGAIN, that's all very well for playing Algeria and Slovenia but what about games against half decent opposition (ie all the other games)?

 

[Pavilionaire]

It's easy to be sentimental when coming to England selections but you have to ask yourself what's the most likely to happen:

1. Lennon skinning the full-back and crossing for Defoe to score, or:
2. Beckham skinning the full-back and crossing for Crouch to score.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Has Beckahm ever skinned anyone?

 

[Pavilionaire]

I think we all know that Heskey's inclusion brings the best out of the players around him, so the question is what do we do if he's injured or suspended? It would seem to make sense to try and find another player in that Heskey mould, unless Capello is already comfortable that Crouch is that man.

Certainly, Crouch will get game time at Spurs, but if Fulham could go deep into the Europa League and, say, Crouch or Heskey got injured then who knows?

 

[Simster]

AGAIN, that's all very well for playing Algeria and Slovenia but what about games against half decent opposition (ie all the other games)?

It's easy to be sentimental when coming to England selections but you have to ask yourself what's the most likely to happen:

1. Lennon skinning the full-back and crossing for Defoe to score, or:
2. Beckham skinning the full-back and crossing for Crouch to score.

Beckham has never needed to skin his fullback. He pings the ball to the strikers forehead from midway into the attacking half of the pitch.

 

[Mellotron]

Beckham has never needed to skin his fullback. He pings the ball to the strikers forehead from midway into the attacking half of the pitch.

Exactly. And a top international defence are NEVER going to have any problems with predictable crosses from deep like that.

Algeria will. Slovenia will.

Not having a go but when has Beckham ever taken apart a top class team with his crossing?

 

[beorhthelm]

Another factor with Crouch is Beckham. If you take Beckham then it makes sense to take Crouch to get on the end of his crosses.

but Crouch is not good in the air, he wins it but his heading direction/control is woefull. for me its a liability as it will make us play the Beckham long ball onto fowards head which is so easy for defenders to predict and cope with. we become 1 dimensional.

2. Beckham skinning the full-back and crossing for Crouch to score.

i think if Zamora keeps up a goal rate, he has every reason to go, especially as cover for Heskey if we want to work to a game plan. all the other candidates, while better in the goal department, dont fill that important role. It releases Rooney and wingers, stretches defenses. In the event of hesky + rooney injured, Zamora + Defoe would work very well too, in the hesky owen style (and then Beckhams long cross over the top might have more potentcy too). Bent, Agbonglahor, all the others are really chasing a spot as cover for Defoe, who isnt even the likly first choice.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Did you see Spurs 2nd goal vs City this week? f***ing text book headed lay-off from Crouch, one touch Defoe and Given was left helpless.

It reminded me of the Quinn / Phillips Sunderland heyday...