Lampard twists ankle, doubtful for Portugal

[WizardOfTheDribble]

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article1147048.ece


So, if he doesn't make it, should the replacement be.....

Crouch in a 4-4-2
Carrick in a 4-5-1

?.

[sinner78]

lennon on the right and beckham moved to centre.
preferably.

[BridgeMonkee]

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article1147048.ece


So, if he doesn't make it, should the replacement be.....

Crouch in a 4-4-2
Carrick in a 4-5-1

?.

Lennon?

Hargreaves----Rio---Terry--Ashley Cole
---------------Carrick
Beckham-------Gerrard
Lennon---------------------Joe Cole
-------------Rooneh

[BridgeMonkee]

lennon on the right and beckham moved to centre.
preferably.

or just leave Beckham on the right and push Lennon further up? Keep Becks out of trouble while he waits for the Free kicks. It makes the team a little lop-sided, but why not?

[sendorange]

3 possibilities, assuming Gary Neville plays, which seems pretty much certain:

1) 4-4-2 with Crouch partnering Rooney. Gerrard and Hargreaves in the centre.

2) 4-5-1 with Carrick stepping in for Lampard to play alongside Gerrard and Hargreaves.

3) 4-5-1 with Lennon on the right, Beckham moving infield for Lampard as Sinner says.

[sinner78]

Hopefully sven has the brains to see the lennon/beckham option and not panic by just picking crouch.

[three lions]

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article1147048.ece


So, if he doesn't make it, should the replacement be.....

Crouch in a 4-4-2
Carrick in a 4-5-1

?.

First of all, I don't think his injury is severe enough to keep him out of this game.. Lampard wouldn't want to miss this game, so he would probably tell Sven he is ready to go, even though he might be feeling some discomfort to his ankle..

Second, Carrick is already in on the 4-5-1, so it would be Lennon coming in to replace Lampard, or I wouldn't put it past Sven to bring in Downing to play on the left and slide J. Cole over to help service Rooney..Keeping Becks on the right..Hopefully, that will not happen, but like I said, I wouldn't put it past Sven, and you know McClaren loves Downing..

I would like to see Lennon coming in and playing on the right and sliding Becks over..

[WizardOfTheDribble]

I've got a feeling he'll revert to 4-4-2, with Hargreaves partnering Gerrard in the middle.

[B Rock]

lennon on the right and beckham moved to centre.
preferably.

Northern Ireland anyone?

Excuse me if I'm absolutley gunshy of the idea of Beckham sitting in the middle trying to spray long balls all over the field, fashioning himself as a field general and the best passer in the world.

No, Beckham in the middle completley underminds any potential tactics and, realistically, makes the team dependent upon either A) A ridiculous defensive ********up from the Portugese or B) PKs (no thanks!)

Beckham will be out right, thats fine, England can overcome it and he does have a penchant for contributing to goals off of set pieces.

What it means; however, is that we might actually get to see a midfield that makes sense with Carrick in charge of distribution, Hargreaves playing the destroyer role he has shown so well at, and Gerrard allowed to float freely into good positions that he (unlike Lampard) should be able to finish.

Neville---Ferdinand---Terry---Cole
-----------Hargreaves------------
Beckham------Carrick--------Cole
-------Gerrard-------------------
-------------------Rooney-------

Hargreaves should take significant defensive responsibilities off of the midfield as a whole and hopefully would bring the best out of J. Cole, Carrick, and Gerrard.

[three lions]

I wouldn't put it past Sven to bring in Downing to play on the left and slide J. Cole over to help service Rooney..Keeping Becks on the right..Hopefully, that will not happen, but like I said, I wouldn't put it past Sven, and you know McClaren loves Downing..

I am telling you guys, it's crazy, but don't think it couldn't happen with Sven at the helm...

[three lions]

[QUOTE=B Rock]Northern Ireland anyone?



QUOTE]

Becks was playing holding midfielder in that game, and he wouldn't be required for that with Carrick playing back...

[sendorange]

I like option 2) the best to be honest. Let's Gerrard have the main attacking responsibility in support of Rooney and Carrick will be free to just pass the ball.

3) is interesting but the team would need a bit more time and training to practise it imo.

[schafer]

I wouldn't put it past Sven to bring in Downing to play on the left and slide J. Cole over to help service Rooney..Keeping Becks on the right..Hopefully, that will not happen, but like I said, I wouldn't put it past Sven, and you know McClaren loves Downing..

I am telling you guys, it's crazy, but don't think it couldn't happen with Sven at the helm...

Especially given how he seems to dislike Carrick. If that happens, A. Cole will have to have one hell of a game in order for anything to happen down the left, otherwise it will be up to Gerrard, Rooney, and J.Cole to make something down the middle. Or England can hope to snatch something off a set piece. Because with Beckham and Downing on the wings, England have nothing on the left or right side of midfield during open play.

[sendorange]

[QUOTE=B Rock]Northern Ireland anyone?



QUOTE]

Becks was playing holding midfielder in that game, and he wouldn't be required for that with Carrick playing back...
Yes, the Northern Ireland game is no comparison, there Rooney was stuck out on the wing, Owen was isolated as a lone striker and Beckham was trying to play both playmaker and ballwinner at the same time when he was capable of neither.

[BridgeMonkee]

Well I like the idea of pushing Joe Cole up to play alongside the Rooneh, but Downing should not be allowed near the pitch for obvious reasons. I'd rather see Lennon on the left (sure he can play there) or a Bridge/Ashley Cole duo.

[schafer]

Yes, the Northern Ireland game is no comparison, there Rooney was stuck out on the wing, Owen was isolated as a lone striker and Beckham was trying to play both playmaker and ballwinner at the same time when he was capable of neither.


I still don't think Beckham in the middle is a good idea tbh. He'd still be over ambitious with his long balls, and given that Gerrard and Rooney both like the ball to feet, it wouldn't suit either of them to be chasing hopeless balls into the corners. If Rooney were a bit sharper, and Beckham could play him over the top, then it wouldn't be bad, but right now I don't think Rooney is up for it, and it doesn't suit him anyways. Keep Beckham on the right IMO.

[three lions]

All this is a mute point, because you know Lampard is not gonna miss this game..

[BridgeMonkee]

--------------------Hargreaves
Beckham--------Gerrard-------Lennon
----------------Joe Cole
-----------Rooneh



--------------------Hargreaves
Beckham--------Gerrard-------Joe Cole

-----------Rooneh ------Theo



--------------------Hargreaves
Beckham--------Gerrard-------Bridge/Ashley Cole

----------------Joe Cole
-----------Rooneh

[Colm]

Carrick will probably come in for Lampard or he'll go back to 4-4-2

[sendorange]

There is more chance of Michael Owen playing this game on crutches than Theo Walcott making an appearance in the starting lineup.