England vs Spain

[loz]

It would appear there is not a huge amount of interest in tomorrow's game on here. Maybe because it is a friendly, maybe because most football fans care more about their club than their international team (I know I do) or maybe because McLaren has picked a poor side, in a stupid pointless formation.

Personally:

1. I would have stuck with Robinson in goals purely because he is going to be the first choice keeper going forward so we may as well take the chance to play him through his average form.

2. I would not be playing 4-3-3 becuase there is no way in hell we are going to play that in any of our competitive matches so we may as well allow the players more time to play the formation that they will be asked to play most often.

3. So I would have gone with the 4-4-2 that McLaren will play in future and I would have played Barry on the left side of midfield, Defoe up front, G Neville at left back, Richards at right back

 

[The Moos]

We (Sweden) beat Spain 2-0 and that was without some of our best players.

Now England might not be a great team and with the injuries you will be worse than usual, but I think you should win. Lampard will score.

 

[BlueBeard]

The reason that I've not taken an interest in England's game against Spain is that I don't give a flying f*ck how England do......apart from the Chelsea lads of course

I think that dropping Robinson is the correct decision - friendly matches are the only time to evaluate fringe players properly. Though I'd have picked Carson ahead of Foster.

I agree with going 4-4-2, Loz - though I doubt we'd agree on the team

Carson

Richards - Woodgate - Terry - Baines

Wright-Phillips - Barton - Parker - Barry

Harewood - Defoe

That's assuming that they are all fit. I'd have SWP in there simply so that he gets game time.

I read somewhere that JT wasn't in contention, so maybe replace him with Ferdinand (not on ability, purely in the hope that he gets a horrendous injury)

England are especially weak up front, even when everyone's fit. How that clown Crouch keeps getting selected is totally beyond me

 

[loz]

Interesting that you would go with Barton and Parker and drop both Lamps and Gerrard (is this a long term thing or are you just menaing for this game so as to rest Lamps?)

I don't disagree with your backline (given that Bridge is not fit, although Baines is also not fit)

If fit Rooney must play but as he isn't I would probably go with Defoe and Crouch - not so much because I rate Crouch that highly (but more because playing with a 4-4-2 and with SWP and Barry playing will mean we should get the ball out wide often and hopefully see a lot of balls crossed over. If there is one thing Crouch is good at it is knocking the ball down to other players and this this would be somethign Defoe could feed off.

 

[g3.7]

harewood- you really, really don't like england, do you?

crouch keeps getting selected, because, let's be fair, he's scoring a fair amount of goals and like him or not, he causes problems. he's worth his place in the squad for me, certainly moreso than the likes of defoe (he's less talented, but he uses everything he's got whereas defoe seems to stupid a footballer to ever get beyond the level he is at now- fighting for a place at spurs)...

I'd have gone with baines and barry on the left side though, amazed that barry (form left sided player in the country IMO) didn't get the call to start. even in the formation that idiot mcclaren is playing, you'd think barry would get a go at left back to give some width there...

 

[BlueBeard]

Interesting that you would go with Barton and Parker and drop both Lamps and Gerrard (is this a long term thing or are you just menaing for this game so as to rest Lamps?)

Just for this game, though to be honest, if they played well together I'd certainly consider keeping them in. Neither McClaren or Eriksson have got the best out of Lamps for England, and Gerrard is an over-rated c*nt.

If fit Rooney must play but as he isn't I would probably go with Defoe and Crouch - not so much because I rate Crouch that highly (but more because playing with a 4-4-2 and with SWP and Barry playing will mean we should get the ball out wide often and hopefully see a lot of balls crossed over. If there is one thing Crouch is good at it is knocking the ball down to other players and this this would be somethign Defoe could feed off.

I don't agree with Rooney having to play if fit - he's prone to loss of form, same as anyone else, and again, I think he's vastly over-rated. He's good, can't deny that, but a worldbeater (as the press would have you believe)? Do me a favour!

harewood- you really, really don't like england, do you?

Erm, no I don't

That's not the reason I'd select Harewood though - I rate him far more than Crouch. F*ck, I rate Robert Fleck far more than Crouch!

crouch keeps getting selected, because, let's be fair, he's scoring a fair amount of goals and like him or not, he causes problems. he's worth his place in the squad for me

That comment alone has destroyed any credibility you might have had

Crouch has scored a fair amount of goals for England, mainly because the opposition have been piss-poor. Any pub team striker would be able to grab a few goals in his situation

 

[g3.7]

he's also scored goals in the premiership, the CL, and caused damage to sides like us and united in the past... you saw how scared essien and ferreira were against him- okay, they aren't central defenders but no-one even contested headers with him. he's useful. people give him too much stick because he's tall- so what, he uses it well.

 

[BlueBeard]

he's also scored goals in the premiership, the CL, and caused damage to sides like us and united in the past... you saw how scared essien and ferreira were against him- okay, they aren't central defenders but no-one even contested headers with him. he's useful. people give him too much stick because he's tall- so what, he uses it well.

Sorry, G4, don't agree - I think he's a total w*nker

 

[g3.7]

your selection of marlon harewood means that doesn't matter.

 

[BlueBeard]

your selection of marlon harewood means that doesn't matter.

That's nothing, I was gonna pick Chris Sutton but I think he's injured

 

[dkw]

hasnt sutton been called upto the england `b' team?

 

[loz]

All I have to say is that I am beginning to wish JT had not been given the England captaincy. To be international captain is indeed an honour but to be captain under McLaren is a cloud with a black lining!

 

[g3.7]

mmm- without being malicious, he is rubbish.

comfortably, worse than eriksson (okay, this was obvious as an all round football manager, but even as an international manager, which takes some doing).

 

[sweet waffle]

I didn't watch the game as I guessed it would be rubbish and from what I've read I was right. (I watched Garth Marenghi's Dark Place instead, much more entertaining) I have seen Iniesta's goal though and I must say it was rather tasty.

Out of curiosity I did have a look at the 606 message board on the BBC website, and well what suprise, it was full of the same old sh*t being spouted again on Lamps and St. Stevie G not being able to play together and that consequently Lamps should be dropped for Hargreaves/Carrick allowing Gerrard to be the diving sorry driving midfielder!! It's like a broken record after every England game.

Also is it just me or has Joey Cole become the forgotten man of the England team. He never seems to get a mention when there's talk of missing players, especially when it's concerning England's lack of creativity and players who can make something happen out of nothing.

Also my mate told me that if he wasn't mistaken he heard Mark Lawenson refer to England as Liverpool at one point. What a tw*t. (That's Lawro not my mate)

 

[loz]

I didn't watch the game as I guessed it would be rubbish and from what I've read I was right.

Yes you were right. For about the first 15 minutes we looked like we gave a monkey about the result and then after that it was back to the England friendly performances of old.

The only England players I had any sympathy for tonight were:

1. Crouch (yes Crouch) - I think the ref must have been stalked by a tall thin man as a schoolboy because he definitely had a height phobia. The vast majority of times Crouch tried to win the ball in the air he was penalised and most of the decisions were awful

2. Barton (yes Barton!!) - he ony got the last 15 minutes but in that 15 minutes he showed more desire to win the ball and drive the team forward than Gerrard, Lamps and Carrick combined did.

3. Foster - had a decent game bar one moment where he had no idea what to do with a Torres cross - no chance with the goal, Iniesta was left with more space than Jimmy books for his buttocks on a trans-atlantic flight.

 

[BlueBeard]

Also is it just me or has Joey Cole become the forgotten man of the England team. He never seems to get a mention when there's talk of missing players, especially when it's concerning England's lack of creativity and players who can make something happen out of nothing.Also my mate told me that if he wasn't mistaken he heard Mark Lawenson refer to England as Liverpool at one point. What a tw*t. (That's Lawro not my mate)

Joey did get a mention during commentary, when they were bemoaning the lack of a left sided player - conveniently ignoring the fact that Gareth Barry & Stuart Downing were both on the bench.

And yes, at one point Lawrenson did indeed refer to England as Liverpool - the bloke is an utter prick

Then again, most ex-players/managers who sit in on commentary are just as bad, David Pleat being the obvious candidate for worst of the lot.

1. Crouch (yes Crouch) - I think the ref must have been stalked by a tall thin man as a schoolboy because he definitely had a height phobia. The vast majority of times Crouch tried to win the ball in the air he was penalised and most of the decisions were awful 2. Barton (yes Barton!!) - he ony got the last 15 minutes but in that 15 minutes he showed more desire to win the ball and drive the team forward than Gerrard, Lamps and Carrick combined did

I agree with you on Barton, I'd have played him from the start - he's a player in the Scotty Parker mould.

As for Crouch??? Every time a cross came into the box, Crouch either leant on the defender or held him down with his hands all over the bloke, clearly fouling him - every time!.

I honestly think the ref got it right, and not just because I hate Crouch and think he's probably the worst striker I've ever seen in an England shirt.

Could be worse, he could have been Scottish

 

[sweet waffle]

"We were missing half a squad. We were without the likes of Owen Hargreaves, Wayne Rooney and John Terry - they're big players that can win you big games."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6331715.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 331715.stm

Since when has Hargreaves been a match winner?!?

Hargreaves has somehow built up a big time reputation built on being average, yes people will go on about him having a good World Cup, that was because the games we played suited his style and even then I don't think he was THAT good.

 

[Nibs]

Totally agree with G4 on Crouch. Okay, he might not be an ideal candidate in most people's England line up, but you can't knock his record and he is always worth a place in the squad. When everyone is fit, he should be on the bench ready to come on for the last 25/30 minutes if need be.

Only caught brief highlights so cannot comment too much (and so glad I didn't sit through 90 minutes of what sounds like pure boredom).

I have heard a couple of pundits saying how much we missed Rooney & Joe. I think when fit, Joe is a nail on starter for England now. It's noticeable just how predictable England are without a player that can run with the ball / do different things (and SWP is NOT the answer).

In the past we've had the likes of Gazza & Waddle at the moment it is just so boring to watch. None of the players look over comfortable on the ball - most get rid of it after 1 or 2 touches. What are they being coached for Christ sakes?

All they went on about on talk sport this morning was that Lamps & Gerrard doesn't work and we need to get Scholes back at the expense of Lamps (needless to say

)

 

[yorkleyblue]

OK - I'm agreeing and disagreeing with various people here about this

1. Crouch (yes Crouch) - I think the ref must have been stalked by a tall thin man as a schoolboy because he definitely had a height phobia. The vast majority of times Crouch tried to win the ball in the air he was penalised and most of the decisions were awful 2. Barton (yes Barton!!) - he ony got the last 15 minutes but in that 15 minutes he showed more desire to win the ball and drive the team forward than Gerrard, Lamps and Carrick combined did

1. I'm with Bluebeard here - The freak is an embarrassment and was all over his marker EVERY time last night - I wouldn't pick him for a pub team.

2. Barton may well have showed more desire (displayed by kicking and running through people regardless of what colour shirt they were wearing) but has simply no talent or ability. Christ knows why he was even picked, other than perhaps a touch of Sweep-syndrome (looking goodish in a mediocre team)