Archive FTBL/0003/REC/HPOO

Yeh i agree Crouch provides a different option for England - i.e. a target man which is what every team needs, at least as an option. I still don't think Crouch is that good, but he's the best England have for that role.

Yes but thats because they have a ton of wingers as it is (and enough cash to buy a few more)
Not many well known natural wingers in England now methinks?

England's main problem is that they dont have anyone who can take the ball past people. Cole likes to think he can but he cant, Rooney losses it more time than he gets past people and Owen hasnt done it for years. It a tough decision in the midfield. Personally i'd go with Becks - Gerrard - Lampard - Cole even though it hasnt worked in the past and Cole isnt good enough to play for England in normal circumstances. I'd like a 3-5-2 but it wont happen . When does everyone think England will find a solution to the left side problem. It seems as if we have accepted that we will always be crap attacking from the left even though Ash is more than useful.

Cole can take on opponents, and to some extent Gerrard can aswell, but not so much for England.

Problem with the 3-5-2 is that no-one in England plays it which means it will be very hard for the players to get used to the formation and adapt to it. Sure it may get rid of the left side problem but then you just create a right side problem since England has no right wing back (please don't say Gary Neville). It also doubles the DM midfield problem since you ideally need 2 DM in the formation. This also means only one of Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham can play. Also the fact that no ther top nation uses the formation anymore says something.

Cole can take on opponents, and to some extent Gerrard can aswell, but not so much for England.

Problem with the 3-5-2 is that no-one in England plays it which means it will be very hard for the players to get used to the formation and adapt to it. Sure it may get rid of the left side problem but then you just create a right side problem since England has no right wing back (please don't say Gary Neville). It also doubles the DM midfield problem since you ideally need 2 DM in the formation. This also means only one of Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham can play. Also the fact that no ther top nation uses the formation anymore says something.

Cole and Gerrard can run at players but can take it round them if you see what I mean. We dont have any skillful players as such.
I take your point about the 3-5-2. At the start of the season it would have been more suitable since Terry, Campbell and Rio were at the time 3 of the best defenders in the world. They would be a brick wall but since Rio and Campbell have been really poor its no longer an option. I felt with they we could perhaps operate with only 1 DM.

As for the right wing back it would be Gary Neville or SWP but both are contrasting and neither really that suitable although I still think it would work.

My take on it is that JC, SG and WR are England real dynamic player; the former using a bit of guile to get past. The other two speed and sheer strength; you won't see them doing any step overs for example. If any players are powering into the box with the bal at their feet you want it to be them. As such, they need to play, and play their free roles, no matter how. Now they can be accomodated into the same team, without launching into some silly formation that will not work.

The simple answer is either to drop FL to push SG further on (perhaps a backwards step), or to place SG on the right side. How? By moving DB to the centre or, less popular but perhaps more reasoned, drop him altogether. Let's face it, although he is captain what has he offered the team purely in footballing terms? He hasn't been able to take people on in years, rarely gets to the byline, and seem games hardly chalks his boots. What he does bring, however, is excellent delivery (albeit from the channels) and he is indeed useful in dead ball situations. Wait a minute; what can SG and FL also do? No, perhaps not necessarily to the same extent, but weigh up the benefits for yourself. I honestly believe 4-4-2, and slightly variations therefor, to be the best option for England.

Becks should be 1st on the team sheet imo. He isnt the best player we have but he is a leader and a top player. People sort of forget about him but he is a quality player at Madrid. I just dont think you could replace him.

i think its true england are a completely different team when beckham doesnt play.. he slows the play down.. helps balance out play a little using width and so on... but.. when he doesnt play i reckon england will play faster more skilful football (depending on his replacement...) and that way we could exploit the like of lampers and rooney more...
so beckham should play when we need to slow the tempo down... and not otherwise

Yes but your team have won it enough times. Can you let other British teams have a chance please?