So Sven says that tonight (Tuesday 30th) he will play his full-strength A-team against Hungary. Excellent....wait a minute.....why is Jamie Carragher in midfield? Why take 9 midfielders - two of whom play the holding position week in week out, and then play Jamie Carragher in midfield? Carragher, a man who says himelf that he isn't good enough to play that position, in midfield? Can it get worse?
Oh look....Hargreaves is a right back? Walcott is a winger? Christmas tree formation?
Ok, is it me or has Sven lost the plot?
No it's not you. Yes he has lost the plot.
Well Carrick certainly did not impress in the B friendly.
Why Hargreaves doesn't play there is beyond me though.
Evening all!
This is my first post, so I'd just like to say it's great to be here; I've looking for an ex-pat board for a while now and look forward to discussing and sharing all things British in a way that my Australian friends just don't get wink
So, let the posting begin, and what better way to start than with all-important World Cup talk
Now personally, I don't think a 4-5-1 formation is such a bad idea myself. With no Rooney, there's no point trying to play Crouch in his place, so why not let Owen go it alone and bring the likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Cole and Beckham up behind him? Chelsea also play 4-5-1 and it hasn't done them any harm this season, and who was their top scorer? Lampard, with Cole coming in fourth. Liverpool came third in the Premiership and who was their top scorer? None other than Gerrard.
So I'm actually really looking forward to seeing what they'll do to be honest, and hey, friendlies are all about trying new things and seeing what works and what doesn't, so it should be interesting I reckon )
And on another note, it doesn't look like SBS will be airing the match tomorrow morning (5am I think), so what other options do we have? Anyone know of any sites that'll stream it live? It doesn't have to be free, I'll gladly pay for it if I know it'll work!
Sven must have attended the "Graham Taylor School of Experimentation" at some point.
Well, although England won fairly convincingly there, it looks like you guys were right; it didn't sound like (I could only listen via BBC Five Live) the 4-5-1 formation worked that well and made it quite hard going for them in the end, so hopefully Eriksson will revert back to 4-4-2 with Owen and Crouch up front in the next match and going into the World Cup.
I know it sounds crazy, but I'd really like Eriksson to give Walcott at least 45 minutes, or maybe even the full match against Jamaica, just to see what he can actually do in the team. I think given enough time he could really surprise, and it would be a shame if he's sitting on another Rooney but doesn't give him the opportunity to show it.
We have an unfortunate situation here. We have too many good players.
Owen can't play on his own up front, and should not be dropped = 1
Crouch is superb in hold-up play and has proved it of late = 2
Gerrard and Lampard cannot be dropped for their sheer determination = 4
Beckham for all his faults cannot be matched in the England team for free-kick delivery when he is on form (which seems to be the case now) = 5
None of those 3 midfielders play on the left, so we need a leftie. Enter Joe Cole, who also earns points for determination = 6
Then we need a holding midfielder, which should be Hargreaves as it is his day-job = 7
Add two full backs - A.Cole and Neville, and two centre backs - Ferdinand & Terry = 11
Add Robbo in goal, =12
Oops.
Then add the possibility of a fit Rooney. 13.
Then add the lightning pace and skill of Walcott and Lennon. 15.
Add the solid play and heart-on-sleeve determination of Carragher = 16.
Whatever Sven does from now on will be wrong. Cos he'll have to leave 5 of these guys on the bench.
I think he should have had all his players positions and tactics sussed out by now. It's way too late to be messing around seeing what will happen. Picking a 17 year old that hasn't even played in the preiership is just plain daft. Maybe he is good and maybe he'll do great things for us but it's a heck of a gamble and waste of a pick in my opinion.
I saw the first Bayern game of the Bundesliga this last season and I think Hargreaves was the best player on the pitch....I seem to remember he played on the left side of midfield then...good position for him. Playing his at right back seems daft as does playing Carragher in midfield. If he wanted to do that you ahve to think that someone like King would have to get that place.
I watched the game last night - we did ok. The formation (4-5-1) was alright but Owen isn't sharp and can't hold the ball up. Carragher did surprisingly well I thought. It seems almost a given these days that "Beckham isn't playing well" but considering he's been Real's best player all year I find that to be more about selling newspapers than fact. After all - some of the papers this morning are calling for him to be dropped after yesterday and saying he was average and only good at free kicks. The back 4 did very well, and nice to Ashley Cole get a full game. He is a very special player. Joe Cole has, as the Match of the Day guys said, solved the left side problem. It's not even an issue - and he polayed superbly. In midfield I thought Lampard looked tired - he got a little better but for England he always seems a bit reserved. Gerrard did fairly well but I'd much rather see him in his position. I don't understand why Sven pushed Carragher to right-back when Neville went off, and then brought Hargreaves on. Evidently Carrick will only play in an emergency. Hargreaves was fairly poor. It's a shame - he's phenomenal for Bayern but consistently poor for england. Walcott looked lively but barely saw the ball. I have to say that Crouch always gets bad press but his touch is fantastic. Everything he touched last night came off and he scored a great goal.
All in all I thought it was ok - took too long get used to that formation tho. I can't see Owen succeeding on his own up front - especially not against anyone over 5 foot 4.
I've got to give it to Crouch, his goal was superb and had lots of great touches. I'm not cinvinced on Joe CoOle though. I think he's a bit overrated and it seems that he keeps hold of the ball far too long and trys to overelaborate. Ok so one time that led to Crouch's goal but on far too many occasions, it led to him running into 2 or 3 magyars, falling over and losing the ball. He needs to learn to pass sooner.
They should put Defoe in for Owen. Carrick for Beckham, Dawson for Ferdinand. And leave Jenas at home.
Why did we need Jenas? Surely Defoe or Bent would have given us more options?
Madness.
Jenas' inclusion baffled me. Although if it was Beckham and Gerrard or Lampard who were injured we'd be glad of the cover there too. Sven can't have a crystal ball and predict injuries.
Although he can play the players he took with him...
So Sven says that tonight (Tuesday 30th) he will play his full-strength A-team against Hungary. Excellent....wait a minute.....why is Jamie Carragher in midfield? Why take 9 midfielders - two of whom play the holding position week in week out, and then play Jamie Carragher in midfield? Carragher, a man who says himelf that he isn't good enough to play that position, in midfield? Can it get worse?
Oh look....Hargreaves is a right back? Walcott is a winger? Christmas tree formation?
Ok, is it me or has Sven lost the plot?
Did my ears deceive me but did I hear on Sky Sports News that Sven is going to make a change for the Ecuador game?
I heard that Sven is starting Carrick as a holding midfielder, playing Hargreaves as a defender and moving Gerrard alongside Lampard in a 4-5-1 formation with Rooney as the lone striker. Ferdinand will be fit to start and Neville will be on the bench. I think I heard it was going to be Terry, Ferdinand and Cole as the other three defenders with Carragher being left out.
Yep that has been all over the radio too - sounds good to me. Apparently Carragher gets the bench because Ferdinand isn't 100% and Sol Campbell played like a twat on Tuesday so is needed as cover.
Of course, Sven also said England played better in the 2nd half against Sweden than the first, had complete control of the game, and have looked good all through the tournament. AND he has Stewart Downing and Jenas in the squad.