Concerned about Butt

This is defo something Sven has to think about. Butt looked class at the world cup and was sound in the qualifiers, although in the last game in Istanbul early on this season he wasn't as good as he had been. I think the lack of regular first team football has started to affect him now, one the one hand it's a good thing he hasn't been playing as at least he'll be fresh and not jaded like some of the others, but I think it's maybe gone too far. I'm hoping he's experienced enough to get past it, and that Sven will get him into shape over the next few weeks.

I don't think Parker would have been an alternative just yet, he still needs more experience to get more defensively sound. I imagine if he needs to Sven will either move Gerrard back there and put Dyer or Joe Cole on the left, or put Hargreaves back there, either one is fine.

 

I have mixed feelings about Butt because I don't think he should really be in the squad for Euro 04 beings as has struggled to get into the United team this year but he can be a great player on his day. His performance against Argentina 02 was great but sometimes his passing can be terrible and we don't want to keep losing possesion like we kept doing at Euro 2000 for example.

 

He's not good enough, the week link in an excellent midfield, but Sven's golden boy after a good World Cup, and also plays in a style in keeping with sven's defensive mindedness. Shouldn't be in the team, not sure about the squad. No way should Hargreaves replace him, he's just as bad imo. Dyer has thrown his career away on his wannabe playboy lifestyle, so I'd leave him out too. Gerrard back of the diamond, Lampard on the left, Becks on the right, Scholes at the front.

 

When?
He's been great all season, and I reckon we need to fit him in the team. But you can't drop Scholes or Beckham (well, maybe Becks if you make Neville captain). I can't remeber him playing on the left, please jog my memory.

 

I hope Butt seriously doesn't get a game in Euro 2004. he's not that great at the moment because he's not playing many games

 

i cant believe Butt doesnt get more playing time at club level.
Its not like manyoo's midfield is brimming with talent at the moment .
kleberson and Djemba-djemba havent exactly shined as well as keano being past it .

 

I know England started a midfield of Butt, Scholes, Lampard, and Beckham against Portugal in that farce of a friendly. I don't recall who was pushed out left in the diamond but I believe it was Lampard. Unimpressive to say the least. Didn't have a chance to show it off against Sweden but who knows, perhaps Sven will make the bold move and put Lampard in, his form was absolutley superb this season, although not for the Nats. Can't imagine moving Gerrard out to the left with Butt's form and fitness this season.

 

Thank's. I missed the Portgal game as it was on a weekday morning over here, so I couldn't slope off to the pub. Hope Lamp's can sort it out to play on the left, he's much better than Butt. And God forbid P. Neville should get a look in.

 

Thanks Travis i thought for about an hour after its a football asked me when,and realized just how difficult it is to tell all those meaning less friendlys apart esp the further back you go with all those subs (try it yourself it aint easy).All those subs and normally a change to formation at half time dificult to tell one game from another,but im pretty shure lampards been tried there a couple of times all be it not for the whole game (please dont ask which games ).

The point is i think EVERY one would chose to put Gerrard in the base of the diamond,and think thats where youll get the MOST out of him 100/100 and if you played him on the left youll only get 75/100 out of him.Its just that even getting only 75/100 out of him on the left is much better than anyone else who's been tried on the left.The diamond is sort of a half way house to solve our problem on the left,on a flat 4 Gerrard would be out of position on the diamond he's only half out of position .

Lampard dosent realy suit the diamond as it stands BUT if he was to come on for Scholes and Rooney droped back closer to the midfield,that might work sort of a squashed diamond or a Triangle even with Lampard somewhere on the line between Gerrard and Beckham.


P.S as for P Neville a lot of people are saying this player that player should be in the Squad of 23 over P Neville,i say id rather have a Squad of 22 and leave Neville behind than have a Squad of 23 with him in it

 

Its infuriating that we have so many great midielders at the moment but can't shoe horn them into an effective unit.
As for P. Neville, I sometimes get the feeling that Gary is like the Kid I used to know when I was about 12, who wouldn't go and stay the night away from home unless his brother came too. Can't explain his inclusion at Man U or England any other way.