England 0-1 Spain (friendly international)

I enjoyed that, Forza Iniesta Great goal to win a match ....................but the thing which is blowing my head is what is the problem with the English coaches, they have 2 of the most dynamic midfielders of the world (Lampard & Gerrard) and yet their midfield sucks, plus I just wonder abt their formation with which they play???? I cant figure it out , its 4-4-2, 4-5-1 , 4-3-3 or 4-3-1-2 Plus why on earth I would pick Carrick in midfield and Phill Neville in defence, when I have Lampard, Gerrard and Bridge??? Also Dyer as a winger??? Now thats really beyond my imiginations

If I was the coach of Engish team, I would have picked this team

------------Any Good Gk, which Eng lack ------------

---Neville--------Carreger----------Terry---------Bridge-------

---SW Phillips----Gerrard----------Lampard-------Joe Cole-----

-----------------Rooney----------Dean Ashton-----------------

this was certainly not the thread i was expecting from you, which makes a pleasant surprise.

unfortunately Bridge, Rooney and Terry were deemed not fit enough to play, while Ashton & Joe Cole have been injured for many many months now and are not really close to recovery.

Barton, Barry and Richards all should have started. Foster did ok in goal. I'd like to see us convince Agbonlahor (sp?) to play for England and Crouch should just be used as a sub. Having said that i don't think Defoe, Bent, Johnson or Beattie would be much better.

yeah, it clearly wasnt our best side but with all the injuries and withdrawals it was about as good as could be assembled. The point of friendlies is to try new players and tactics so its no surprise the formation was a little unorthadox at times.

Our best side in my opinion is:

----------------Robinson------------------

--Neville------Rio------Terry--------A.Cole--

--Lennon---Hargreaves---Gerrard---J.Cole---

----------Rooney---------Owen------------

But most of those guys were unavailable. Its harsh on Lampard but for the sake of balance either he or Gerrard has to be sacrificed. Personally i'd pick Gerrard but to be honest either would be fine in that lineup. The other thingn is to get the best out of the midfield Rooney needs to be used as an out and out striker.

Even with the players they had on field, they should have had secured a draw. They don't seem to be motivated.

Jim,
England lost; its party time and you weren't expecting this thread from mzk?

rahul.acm i was expecting a thread on this subject, however mzk's constructive criticism was a pleasant surprise which made it a good post.

I don't think i'd be motivated if i had Mclaren as a manager, he doesn't seem to be the right person to inspire confidence or motivation.

P.S. I would also add that i hope it's a long time before Downing & Carrick play for England again. Sorry Steza but Carrick was woeful (though he wasn't the only one to be fair), i don't think he's the answer to the midfield holding role. I'd like to see McSheffrey given a try on the left, i think he could do a job there, he's inventive and can deliver a decent cross.

michael owen certainly i agree with steza i would have owen

*** edited ***
theres strikers like peter crouch , jermaine defoe , darren bent and owen waiting and shyte and you think of him why dont you just put chris porter in strike .. he scores a lot of goals

P.S. I would also add that i hope it's a long time before Downing & Carrick play for England again. Sorry Steza but Carrick was woeful (though he wasn't the only one to be fair), i don't think he's the answer to the midfield holding role. I'd like to see McSheffrey given a try on the left, i think he could do a job there, he's inventive and can deliver a decent cross.

Carrick suffers when in midfield alongside Gerrard and Lampard because they like to occupy his position. If he was left to get on with the role he'd be fine but everytime he looked up to pick a pass he had Gerrard or Lampard demanding the ball 5 yards away from him Its the same problem that drove Scholes from the side, Lampard and Gerrard both want to make and score the goals...

Downing can be highly effective if used right but to be honest England will never use him right because it would mean playing 2 big aerially dominant strikers and giving him a free role from the left. Because we'll never do that i agree, theres not much point giving him a place, but Carrick has a use as long as we sort out the midfield imbalance.

mzk, DEAN ASHTON !!! ...

Actually im surprised mzk knew about Ashton as he is certainly a player i'd have in the England squad we need variety and Ashton is a very decent allrounder, he can finish, he is strong and he has excellent vision too. His only problem is a lack of pace but as most defences play very deep against England anyway i dont think that'll matter.

That's all very well about Carrick Steza, but he still needs to be able to pass the ball and do things with it. When he was given time on the ball he done very little. Now half of that is down to the other players not doing anything in front of him, however his passing was atrocious all night.

When Downing first burst onto the scene i thought he could be something decent, but he's stagnated to say the least. He stops the plays, he hardly ever drives past his man/marker, he's not the guy who caused havoc in his first season a few years ago. Maybe it's a confidence thing, like swp, but you have to say that right now he's only there because of the Mclaren boro connection.

If Ashton was fit i'd pick him, he has displayed alot of the qualities associated with a strong/powerful centre-forward. I'd certainly pick him ahead of Crouch.

That's all very well about Carrick Steza, but he still needs to be able to pass the ball and do things with it. When he was given time on the ball he done very little. Now half of that is down to the other players not doing anything in front of him, however his passing was atrocious all night.

Fair enough on the Spain game, though the makeshift attack was neutralised very easily by Spain. The only time any of our midfielders made a decent pass was Gerrard's to Crouch in the first half, and the only reason that pass was available was because we were hitting them on the break and they had left gaps for the only time in the game.

Maybe im being unfair in judging him on what he does at Utd instead of for England but i like to think that its within England to play with the mobility of Utds forwards but to do so would mean dropping one of Lampard or Gerrard. If Englands current squad is ever to win anything that is going to have to happen sooner or later.

if am the Manager, i would have to drop either lampard or Gerrard depending on the type of game that i am going to play

If Kaka, Pirlo and Seedorf can play in the same midfield then why not Lampard, Hargrreves and Gerrard??? But If I have a choice to pick two of them, then I would go for Lampard and Hargrreves becoz Harrgreves has the Europeon pedigree and Frank Lampard is the best football player of the world at the moment , ahead of Kaka. Buffon, Ronaldinho and Henry

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

this was certainly not the thread i was expecting from you, which makes a pleasant surprise.

Expect the unexpected from me

Originally Posted by Stezagud

Actually im surprised mzk knew about Ashton as he is certainly a player i'd have in the England squad we need variety and Ashton is a very decent allrounder, he can finish, he is strong and he has excellent vision too. His only problem is a lack of pace but as most defences play very deep against England anyway i dont think that'll matter.

Since I am the best football pundit of MM so I have alot footballing knowledge from most of the members here
I even know abt Jakjeilka of Shefeld Utd , who can play in defence, as full back, in midfield and even as a goal keeper, u dont belive me??? ask any Arsenal fan here, they must know him as he played in all these positions against them this season a couple of months ago & guess what Arsenal lost 1-0 , which was great to see Plus he is a regular spot kick taker for Sheff Utd. Such a great all round player
I want that fellow at AC Milan

Jagielka is a decent player, he used to captain England U-21s (in the same team as Ashton), but he isnt Milan quality. The fact that he can play in a few positions shouldnt be overestimated, top clubs buy specialists, lower clubs need versatility because they havent the depth in the squad to cover adequately. For top clubs versatility should be seen as a bonus, not a talent in itself

Originally Posted by mzk57

Expect the unexpected from me

Wanting Jagielka to be a Milan player was certainly unexpected.