BBC Article: Vassell for England.

[dustcowpoke]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4849108.stm

His energetic and impressive displays for City show he is in form - and if Eriksson opts for the tried and trusted then it wouldn't be an earth-shattering surprise if Vassell sneaked in as the final striker.

His performance at Stamford Bridge indicates he is a more than capabale replacement if called upon but the metatarsal injury curse may need to strike again.

Fair assessment. Vassell hasn't been scoring much lately but he has improved since moving to City. I would take him over Defoe because he is more experienced. He's been on a big stage before (Euro 2004).

"If Darius plays like he has at times this season it would be impossible to keep him out of the squad," Pearce said.

"His pace and strength were major reasons why we earmarked him during the summer and things have worked out well for him and us."

Pearce is adamant that an on-song Vassell has all the attributes to shine in Germany - as he has done with a number of match-winning performances for City this term.


His club manager seems pretty confident. I say we give Vassell another chance, he could bring big rewards.

[The Potter]

Strikers should be able to finish imo.

[dustcowpoke]

He can finish and he has scored six goals for England. Crouch? 1 goal

Defoe?

I say bring Vassell.

[The Potter]

He can finish and he has scored six goals for England. Crouch? 1 goal

Defoe?

I say bring Vassell.

Defoe has just as many competive goals.

[schafer]

How is Vassell only 25? He's been around forever. Anyways, given that he always seems to play better for England, and that he's improved alot since Euro 2004, he might not be a bad choice. That being said, it seems very unlikely.

[JinJin]

wasn't Vassel the one that missed the PK against Ricardo to end England's euro2004?

[schafer]

wasn't Vassel the one that missed the PK against Ricardo to end England's euro2004?


Yes, and it was a piss poor penalty. But I doubt that will have any bearing on whether or not he gets selected.

[Colm]

To be fair to Vassel he has scored goals when needed for England, but i can't see him getting picked.

[dustcowpoke]

Assuming Owen comes back and recovers then we have:

1) Owen
2) Rooney
3) Crouch
4) Open for debate. Bent was poor vs. Uruguay. Defoe is having club problems and isn't in form right now. Vassell hasn't been finishing as much for Man City but he is experienced and has been to Euro 2004.
5) What if Sven takes a 5th striker? That means Vassell has to be the last option.

[gaijin]

The 4 strikers for Germany will be;

Owen
Rooney
Crouch
Defoe

Enough said, Sven will go with tried and trusted.

The backup will be Bent or Vassell. I think Sven may go with the young Addicks forward than Darius however. Simply because I feel Bent despite looking a bit shakey against Uruguay is a much more complete forward than Vassell.

[three lions]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4849108.stm



Fair assessment. Vassell hasn't been scoring much lately but he has improved since moving to City. I would take him over Defoe because he is more experienced. He's been on a big stage before (Euro 2004).



His club manager seems pretty confident. I say we give Vassell another chance, he could bring big rewards.


Vassell.... the same guy that choked the penalty kick against Portugal on the "big stage" at Euro 2004...? Nope I don't think we need him ahead of Defoe, or Bent for that matter...

[Leto]

Vassell has always seemed to perform well enough for England (6 goals?!), but how is a mystery to me. He's a decent but very limited striker.

[dustcowpoke]

With Rooney out and Owen uncertain, and Sven turning to Walcott. Vassell is needed more than ever.

Imagine having Vassell and Walcott paired with each other in the semi-final. Walcott is marked by his teen counterpart Freddy Adu and he scores the winning goal. Adu is a bust and Walcott makes it big.

[Placid Casual]

With Rooney out and Owen uncertain, and Sven turning to Walcott. Vassell is needed more than ever.

Imagine having Vassell and Walcott paired with each other in the semi-final. Walcott is marked by his teen counterpart Freddy Adu and he scores the winning goal. Adu is a bust and Walcott makes it big.


Are you insane? Vassell is needed more than ever? Must be the first time someone has put those words together in a sentence.

[BridgeMonkee]

Gerrard----Lampard-----Joe Cole
all supporting wonderous and well rested Michael Owen

Beckham in the middle spraying the ball all over the place - for Steve, Frank and Joe, Carrick his minder covering all his mistakes and his loss of possession


Defoe on the bench, Rooney at home watching the telly with his feet up

Walcott, Lennon on the bench to add some pace later on in the game

Nev---Rio--Terry---Ashley
Carrick---Beckham
Gerrard----Lampard-----Joe Cole
Owen

England win the World Cup :D

[Alan D]

I think that this is a fair assessment of Vassell:

I believe that he will be back wearing an England shirt at some point and I think that, had Andy Cole been fit, Vassell would have had more of a shout for the England world cup squad because he plays well off a proven goal-scorer. The reason he hasn't played brilliantly because he has had to play as a lone-striker recently because Cole and Samaras have been injured. Vassell will not score loads of goals when he is playing on his own and he has been playing with an injury lately, hence why he needs a hernia operation. However, when he plays along a goal-scorer he will score goals and he will always provide chances for other players. Guaranteed.

He always played really well for England because he always played up-front with a goal-scorer, whether that be Owen or someone else. At Man City, they haven't had a goalscorer for the majority of it because Cole and Fowler were injured and Fowler left which meant that Vassell's chances to shine were always limited. Samaras is still learning but I hope he forms a good partnership with him. He was Man City's best player in my opinion and I would of liked to to head off to the world cup had he not been injured.

[Alan D]

Vassell scored 10 goals all season and is in the top five assists in all competitions so he has had a pretty good season.

[dustcowpoke]

For the lad who said that Vassell isn't a very good choice would you rather have Walcott (0 goals for England) and Crouch (1 goal for England) up front?