Maybe then --------James----------- ----Richards---Terry----Ferdinand--- --------Carrick-----Hargreaves---- Beckham----Gerrard-----J.cole ---------Rooney------------- -------------------Owen--------- PERFECTO!
--------------------CARSON-------------------- --------------TERRY--------KING--------------- -RICHARDS-----------------------------A. COLE- -------------------HARGREAVES---------------- -LENNON-------------------------------J. COLE- --------------------GERRARD------------------- -----------ROONEY----------------------------- ----------------------------OWEN-------------- Subs: Foster, Woodgate, Shorey, Wright-Phillips, Lampard, Bent What's wrong with the Lennon-Hargreaves-Gerrard-Cole midfield diamond?
Nothing, it seems to be an okay formation, just not many people have used this one. I feel that SWP may be on instead of Lennon.
i think ----------------James-------------------- ------------------------------------------ Richards----Terry-----Ferdinand-----Bridge ---------------Hargreaves---------------- ------Gerrard--------------Lampard------- ------------------------------------------ W-Phillips---------------------------J.Cole ------------Owen/Rooney/Crouch--------- Maybe DB instead of SWP but if he keeps getting injured also downing
I would nominate Wright-Phillips over Lennon too, but only on the condition that his current Chelsea form continues for another month or so. Lennon has already proven himself a regular danger on the right flank.
Given the recent Villa performance versus Chelsea I say this: -----------Agbonlahor----Moore------------ Young-----Barry------Gardner---------RM LB-----------Cahill---Z. Knight-------Davies ---------------Carson---------------------
yeah right would be interesting to see it in real for England, Mclaren should do it for a laugh next friendly, go on mclaren, we'll back you
--------------------carson-------------------- --------------terry--------king--------------- -richards-----------------------------a. Cole- -------------------hargreaves---------------- -gerrard-------------------------------j. Cole- --------------------lampard------------------- -----------rooney----------------------------- ----------------------------owen--------------
I remember watching him playing there against Mexico a few years back when Beckham was injured and he was absolutely terrific. IMHO his crossing is as good as Beckham, (i.e. terrific), and his tackling and energy levels are better. IIRC we won 4-0. Mind you, that's a few years ago as I say but I don't think his standard of play has gone down. Quite the reverse.
Gerrard on the right just isn't right. Listen to the man. He doesn't like to play out there. You can also ask Rafa B. how well Liverpool did at the beginning of 06-07 campaign when he was playing out there.
But they did fine in the 05-06 campaign with him out there. I don't think it's his optimal position, and he cuts in far too much to maintain width if J.Cole is played on the other side, but he can definitely be a force to be reckoned with even on the flank.
I agree he can be effective out there but why play him where he is not optimized? It makes even less sense when England have natural right wingers like Beckham, Lennon and Pennant all out there. Even with the injuries I don't think it makes sense to play somebody out of position.
I would like to try J.cole on the rght and if Downing can live up to full potential, ten stick him on the right
And that is the weakness of the whole formation. Better, I reckon, to select a true wide player. SWP ought to provide genuine width on the right as can Lennon, Bentley and, if stretched, James Milner. By the way, England did try Gerrard on the right against Croatia and Israel and look what shambles those were.
I don't know if those can be placed on Gerrard being on the right (3-5-2, ffs), but I do agree with you that a true wide player is preferable. It's worth noting, however, that part of the reason Gerrard wasn't as effective on the right for England as he was for Liverpool was that Rooney/Lampard were occupying the same positions as him when he drifted inside. If there was going to be a successful foray for him on the right side of midfield for England, it would probably be with those 2 out. Not that I'm proposing that, mind. I also think Milner is actually very close to being in real contention for the right hand side but as you said, Bentley deserves a shot first.
New look England, -----------Carson Richards--Lescott--Terry---A.Cole -----------Hargreaves Bentley-----------------J.Cole Rooney----Owen-------Ashton
Good shout. Ashton using his blazing speed, trickery and superb left footed delivery (pretty much the perfect winger, IMO) to bamboozle defenders and put in cross after cross to the aerially-dominant Owen, who will of course use his amazing strength to hold the ball up for the runs of England's two best central midfield players, Cole and Bentley. And Lescott over Ferdinand is a no-brainer.
Im not talking immediate, i am talking By the euro's, we should be looking to bring in the youth and Ashton would not serve as a winger but as a strikjer in a 4-3-3. Its better than what England finished with against Israel. Robinson Richards Terry Rio Cole Bentley Neville Barry Cole Owen Johson