England Team Thread

[rmoxon]

Young has been consistenly good this season EXCEPT against the best teams in the league, agaisnt the worlds best fullbacks he seems to struggle to beat his man, so theres probabaly a few years to go yet before he deserves to be a regular in the england squad.

[merf]

couldnt agree more with both him and lennon on the other wing we would have some serious pace, just need to get lennon to get a few lessons from beckham on delivery.

but pace alone isn't good enough, Lennon has an incredibly flakey final ball and frequently chooses the wrong option (as does Walcott but his Croatia performance bought him some time).

Young is a decent premier league player at present but still looks short of being top drawer (as does the useless Downing).

We aren't overblessed out wide, Wright-Phillips is very good I believe & Wenger had the measure of Bentley several years when offloading him.

In terms of team contribution for the next few games I still think Beckham on the right offers far more than any of the alternatives.

[Casshern]

Personally i think cappello has it right with Beckham at the moment im not doubting hes an amazing player but i think he works better as a sub. Maybe Walcott/Lennon in the first half playing more aggressive trying to get the goals before half time the bring Beckham on at half time to protect the lead and bring disipline to the team.Definatly both Lennon and Wallcott nead help on their final ball but with Beckham training with them i feel both will definatly have improved by the world cup. Really rate wright philips aswell hes really playing well now hes getting regular games at city but out the 4 i dont know who id chose. Managed to get tickets to the game on Wensday so is gonna be good seeing the team playing, shame Heskeys out though not really sure i put any faith in Bent at all how long before Defoes back anyway? he could work well if anything happens to Rooney.

[abigsmurf]

Beckham, even with low fitness, can still put amazing balls in. Something that's all too rare from Wright-Phillips who's never really learnt to look up when doing crosses.

Personally I still think it comes down to a lack of striking options. Rooney to me, isn't good enough in a lone striking role, he gets goals but he doesn't change matches, particularly for England. To be fair though, that does play a bit towards our strong midfield but sometimes you need someone to get that wonder goal or to really frighten defenders.

We're also much better without Gerrard doing the 'play anywhere' style that so many pundits seem to think he should do for England. He loses the ball far too much and leaves us horribly exposed when he does.

[rmoxon]

Beckham, even with low fitness, can still put amazing balls in. Something that's all too rare from Wright-Phillips who's never really learnt to look up when doing crosses.

Personally I still think it comes down to a lack of striking options. Rooney to me, isn't good enough in a lone striking role, he gets goals but he doesn't change matches, particularly for England. To be fair though, that does play a bit towards our strong midfield but sometimes you need someone to get that wonder goal or to really frighten defenders.

We're also much better without Gerrard doing the 'play anywhere' style that so many pundits seem to think he should do for England. He loses the ball far too much and leaves us horribly exposed when he does.

Gerrard really needs to play off a striker but him and Rooney were not linking up well on saturday and the team actualy looked far more of an attacking threat when Gerrard was subbed at half time and Rooney played a bit deeper. The reason gerrard is doing so well for liverpool right now is becuase him and Torres play so well together, Gerrard dosent really seem to have that kind of partnership with anyone on the england team.

[Adrock]

There is nobody in the mould of Torres for Gerrard to play off of. Rooney does a similar job to Gerrard in dropping deep and collecting the ball from midfield, but Gerrard is much better at that job.

I would try to get an out and out striker to work alongside Gerrard if he is to play behind the striker. I dont think Rooney is an orthodox striker, which is the kind Gerrard needs to work with.

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

Makes me laugh at how the commentary team harp on about Englands second goal when it was that cock end that gave away the free kick for the equaliser.

[ezee ryder]

He scored though so all is good

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

No, he nullified his mistake.

[Pilotwings]

Think I heard them saying he got man of the match.

[abigsmurf]

Giving away a free kick is hardly an equal counter to scoring a goal.

But meh, couldn't watch the second half. Was amusing how the commentators went on endlessly about Gerrard and Rooney only for Crouch to score in the first half.

[ezee ryder]

No, he nullified his mistake.

If he scored an own goal I would agree, but he gave a free kick away which still had to be defended.

Took his goal nicely though, nice turn and finish.

England look a much more focused and solid side under Capello, still not at that top level (like Spain) but much better than when McLaren was in charge. They are very hard to score against (unless someone an individual makes an error) which is of paramount importance at the international level. The attacking play isn't mind blowing or anything but is pretty good at times. The side will make it to the World Cup but I don't expect great things.

[Casshern]

Just got back from the match was far from impressed from the majority of the players in the second half Ashley Cole being one of the worst had a shock gave the ball away so many times and endlessly hoofed it downfield. Really think we needed more organisation in the second half we really wernt penetrating i think the game on Saterday showed the Ukraine how to play against us sticking closly to lennon, gerrard and rooney. Think Barry got a rough time had to keep tracking back for cole sure i like him running down the wing but he needs to get back quicker. Supprised no Carrick action tonight hes been really strong for united and hes shown hes excelent linking with Barry think they would be strong than lampard in midfield.He played well tonight but i think carrick would be better holding up giving barry less to do.

[Pilotwings]

Crouch just gets used and abused for england. Remember he scored nearly every game and then got dropped for nothing.

[Casshern]

Crouch just gets used and abused for england. Remember he scored nearly every game and then got dropped for nothing.

apart from his goal though he added very little to the game and in the second half he just looked nackered, cant wait to get Defoe back in the squad think his pace can add alot and he can run onto alot of balls from rooney.