McManaman

[Clan]

Scores twice for Real madrid in their 2-2 home draw tonight...but somehow ain't good enough in the middle for the National team.

Is it just me?

[Mattinho]

It's not just tonight. He's been good for the last ten years. True, he had a couple of poor showings for England, but that's because they still play ugly football. Get Macca in a team with players who have technical skills and he will shine(like Real).

[Clan]

Well, thats what i was geting at.
He has been good for quite a while and i always thought that it was a case of others around him not being on a par with him that often made him look out of place as he would put balls through to space..where he though a player should be going to...and it would end up as a give away as said player would have run into a crowd.Crap like that.

[kopiteinkc]

It's certainly time Sven gave him another look.

How could he do worse than our recent midfield?

The team is crying out for his skills and creativity. Yes, the style we play has to change some too.

[ferrari77]

nice to see someone started this thread, i was just about to,
what exactly does svennis have against macca apart from that albania game, sure he looked out of sorts but Fcuking hell so does seamo and let me not get started on nicky barmby,
but what ticks me off a tad is svens excuse for leaving macca off the wc squad, - does not play much for real madrid, right after macca puts in a quality performance in the Cl finals. Give Macca another chance sven.

[Pigs]

I hope Sven doesn't pick Macca again. He might put in good performances for Real, but not for England.

[rymannryan]

I think he should be given another chance. I've been impressed with him the times I've seen him.

[rymannryan]

I remember when he left for Real from Liverpool but why did he do it? Was it a life long dream or money or what? I can't remember. I thought I remember him saying he has always wanted to play in La Liga.

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by Pigs
I hope Sven doesn't pick Macca again. He might put in good performances for Real, but not for England.

So who would you pick who can provide some creativity and can beat people? Two things we are sorely lacking at the moment.

[nowhere]

Originally posted by Pigs
I hope Sven doesn't pick Macca again. He might put in good performances for Real, but not for England.
He wasn't that bad in Euro '96

[Gar7]

I'd like to see Macca back in the England lineup. I think he just might be the missing piece(apart from 'keeper) that England need to qualify and win Euro 2004 and Germany 2006.

I know that England may have fared somewhat better against Brazil if Macca(and later Robbie Fowler) were on the pitch. I do not know what Sven's problem with Mcca is. He is getting first team action and he is not always coming off the bench. He went 81 minutes today and scored two goals. What else does Sven want?

[Prenn]

Originally posted by Mattinho
It's not just tonight. He's been good for the last ten years. True, he had a couple of poor showings for England, but that's because they still play ugly football.

err yeah..

Macmanaman hasn't played well for England since Euro 96. Since then he's played for England under Hoddle... did you ever watch Hoddle's England?

[Prenn]

I'd like to see McManaman back in the England squad and given a chance in the more central role he has for Real.

However we must not forget that for all Steve's heroics at Real he nearly always fails to turn it on for England...

[Matt Clark]

Originally posted by rymannryan
I remember when he left for Real from Liverpool but why did he do it? Was it a life long dream or money or what? I can't remember. I thought I remember him saying he has always wanted to play in La Liga.

I can give you 67,000 reasons. And I can give you another 67,000 reasons next week. And the week after that. And the week ...

As to England and Macca, I've been one of the most consistent proponents of his return to the fold. But let's not get carried away with his two goals yesterday. Against Athens. Only last weekend the Spanish daily Marca, normally surreally indulgent of Macca because he is so damn popular with the Merengues it's untrue, offered the opinion that "McManaman is a nice English gentlemen, but as yesterday's game showed [his first start of the season for Real in the loss against Santander], he is better suited to the life of an English country gent than he is to the Real Madrid midfield".

He hardly ever plays. When he does, he occasionally does well against the more limited opponents like AEK Athens. Take nothign away from him, he is a talented player. Always has been always will be. But is he really a better proposition in the England midfield than any of the present incumbents in our strongest 11? I have long argued that he is, but even I have bowed to reality and accepted that the current (largely inactive, inarguably ineffective) McManaman is not the answer.

[gerr18]

I feel Macca should be given a run in the side...not just a match here and there and a few minutes here and there...but a honest run in the side. I think the reason he's so inconsistent is because his appearances have been so spotty...he hasn't had a solid string of appearances since Euro 96. If Sven would let Macca have his roaming role, he would be his best...Macca tied down to a specific area of the pitch is like telling Becks he can't use his right foot...you're taking away his most lethal asset, his ability to pop up where others least expect it.

Sure people say he is England's answer to the left sided spot in midfield. But I say allow him to do what he does best...float and find the areas he deems dangerous.

Also...obviously playing in Spain has hindered his chances a bit. He doesn't have any club ties right now to any of the players...apart from his old 'pool mates...but it'll take him a string of matches to get that "understanding" that the others already have.

[Pigs]

Everyone says that Mcmanaman doesn't shine for England coz he's out of position on the left. But who seriously believes that Mcmanaman should get Beckhams, Gerrards or Scholes position?

Sven could put Scholes on the left, having the midfield something like:

(RW) Beckham - Gerrard - Macca - Scholes (LW)

But I'd rather have Gerrard and Scholes in the middle and leave Macca out of the team. The truth is that Macca isn't good enough to play in his strongest position for England, and so the leftwing is open to him, but......He isn't good enough to play there either.

[Mattinho]

Originally posted by Pigs
Everyone says that Mcmanaman doesn't shine for England coz he's out of position on the left. But who seriously believes that Mcmanaman should get Beckhams, Gerrards or Scholes position?

Sven could put Scholes on the left, having the midfield something like:

(RW) Beckham - Gerrard - Macca - Scholes (LW)

But I'd rather have Gerrard and Scholes in the middle and leave Macca out of the team. The truth is that Macca isn't good enough to play in his strongest position for England, and so the leftwing is open to him, but......He isn't good enough to play there either.

If he can play right wing, he can play left. There's really no difference if you aren't going for a left footer which is what England's been doing.

The question is why hasn't he played his best for England even though it seems he could make a huge impact? I would have Macca on the left over Scholes anyway.

[Pigs]

Originally posted by Mattinho


If he can play right wing, he can play left. There's really no difference if you aren't going for a left footer which is what England's been doing.



Wayne Bridge (left footed player) was used against Macedonia on the leftwing and Sven has said that he will pick him again.

I'd rather have Wayne Bridge on the left than Macca, and him and Ashley Cole are about 22 years old, so they could form a good partnership.

[cosmosRIP]

So he shouldn't be in a 1st choice starting line-up, but Sven seems to have him behind behind Murphy and Sinclair!

[Pigs]

Originally posted by cosmosRIP
So he shouldn't be in a 1st choice starting line-up, but Sven seems to have him behind behind Murphy and Sinclair!

I remember Sven saying a few months before the world cup that "moaners" will not be picked for England no matter how good they are. He didn't mention any names, but he might have been referring to Andy Cole, and Mcmanaman.