Defoe set to partner Rooney against Slovenia

[mawspurs]

Source: ESPN

Jermain Defoe is set to start England's do or die Group C clash against Slovenia after Fabio Capello paired the striker with Wayne Rooney in a crucial training session. Joe Cole and James Milner are also fighting for a starting berth ahead of Aaron Lennon.

England coach Capello is set to ring his biggest changes of the World Cup as Lennon and Emile Heskey are dropped to make way for fresh faces, with captain Steven Gerrard expected to be given more license to attack.

Capello is turning to Plan B in an effort to improve his side's goal threat and is hoping the new line-up will fire England into the second round with victory over Slovenia.

It appears that the Italian has taken on board the opinions of the players, but there is little doubt he made up his own mind, with no player power involved in Capello's remarkable u-turn on tactics and selection.

All the indications are that Capello will play Rooney in an advanced role with Defoe supporting him, which means the misfiring Heskey is discarded.

Either Milner or Cole will play on the right with the ineffectual Lennon axed, although nothing has officially been confirmed yet.

A source inside the England camp informed Soccernet that this is the most likely formation as Capello worked on the new team line-up and personnel in a vital training session in Rustenburg on Tuesday.

"All the nonsense about the players not knowing the team until two hours before the match - the players know what the team is likely to be," the source said. "Anyone watching this training session should have a fair idea of what Fabio has in mind, certainly the players do.

"Fabio used Milner and also Joe Cole on the right side in the training session, Defoe partnered Rooney up front, and it is clear that Gerrard will be given more freedom to attack.

"The key is to unlock the best from Rooney and with four attacking players to support him, the manager is giving this new look England every opportunity to come good and score goals in the critical final match, which everyone knows England must win."

The only enforced change is Matthew Upson, who will step in to partner John Terry as a replacement for the suspended Jamie Carragher.

[tcyrus]

Defoe to be the next scapegoat,in this sorry saga !

[DiscoD1882]

Defoe to be the next scapegoat,in this sorry saga !well you wouldnt want to blame one of the golden boys would you. far easier targets! i cant wait for all this lot to retire from international football. over paid over priced knobs! Lennon was clearly told to back up johnson. thus rendering our quickest player useless. and then when he doesnt do the job going forward gets hauled off and they bring on SWP and push him up front.

[nferno]

if he doesnt play lennon, i cudnt give a toss if england get knocked out tbh. he's lost his marbles if he thinks milner, swp or cole offer more. id rather axe heskey and go 4-3-3 with joe cole on the left.. its such a simple decision to undertake.

[rashisdaman]

The ineffectual Lennon?! Are they Stupid?! Lennon is one of the very few positives to come out of both games. Me and my mate was cursing when he was taken off against Algeria. Why?! Its ridiculous... The England team is run by the FA and they employ twats that believe that in their beliefs. They will never ever pick a manager that picks a team based on form, its media bullshit.

Form... Rooney has done fuck all in the last two games and I didnt even realise Lampard was playing in them. But they wont get dropped. I was screaming for Rooney to come off against Algeria as he was so shit. Sooooo shit. But th manager didnt have the balls to take him off...

451 and 433. These two formations work together. Back 5 can be whoever they want as I dont even know who to trust back there, although FORM would tell you that Dawson and King should play together. Barry holding, Gerrard and Lampard in front (since they cant be dropped) then Lennon on right, Cole on left and Rooney up top.

But Im not the gaffa... Im not the FA.

Sorry... My bitching is done but I just want an England manager that will pick players that are gonna play well together, its that simple. The boys in the last 2 games... Dont.

P.S. Crouch is Englands best Goalscorer. Do the Maths.

P.S.S. I Love Tottenham!! :D

[spurs_viola]

Incredible comments from press about Lennon being "ineffective" in the last game - one of only a couple of players who actually did create something and worked hard to cover the less than solid Johnosn in defence against the pacy Ziani who cleverly pulled Johnson inside time after time, exposing the hole on the right side at the back - which Lennon had to take care of.

On another note, for all of us who are baffled by the continuous absence of Joe Cole, perhaps we should all remember the semi-official reasons we were given to believe when Pav and GDS were ignored - yes, the easy-way-out cliche of "not doing enough in training", "poor attitude off the pitch" etc. When some of us questioned those explanations, we were heckled with retorts about a highly experienced, successful (well, kind of) manager knowing much better, especially as he sees his players every day in training etc etc.

For some reason, the same reaction is not applied to Capello, Joe Cole and England. Logically, we should assume there is some problem with Cole's application/attitude there.

But for me, this is just another example of manager's personal preferences and ego getting in the way of the team's best interests on this occasion.

[Brewster]

If he drops Lennon hes a madman

Just tell him to play how he wants, run when he feels suitable, pass when he feels suitable etc Fabio will get the best out of him

Joe Cole can play on the left, Milner can be benched. Wright Phillips only in an emergency.

[Spurs_Bear]

For all of us who are baffled by the continuous absence of Joe Cole, perhaps we should all remember the semi-official reasons we were given to believe when Pav and GDS were ignored - yes, the easy-way-out cliche of "not doing enough in training", "poor attitude off the pitch" etc. When some of us questioned those explanations, we were heckled with retorts about a highly experienced, successful (well, kind of) manager knowing much better, especially as he sees his players every day in training etc etc.

For some reason, the same reaction is not applied to Capello, Joe Cole and England.

For me, this is just another example of manager's personal preferences and ego getting in the way of the team's best interests on this occasion.

It's the close season for fuck sake, come back in August. People are having a rest from biting at your usual vitriolic shit.

[Black]

Crouch should be starting

[DiscoD1882]

incredible comments from press about lennon being "ineffective" in the last game - one of the only a couple of players who actually did create something and worked hard to cover the less than solid johnosn in defence against the pacy ziani who cleverly pulled johnson inside time after time, exposing the hole on the right side at the back - which lennon had to take care of.

On another note, for all of us who are baffled by the continuous absence of joe cole, perhaps we should all remember the semi-official reasons we were given to believe when pav and gds were ignored - yes, the easy-way-out cliche of "not doing enough in training", "poor attitude off the pitch" etc. When some of us questioned those explanations, we were heckled with retorts about a highly experienced, successful (well, kind of) manager knowing much better, especially as he sees his players every day in training etc etc.

For some reason, the same reaction is not applied to capello, joe cole and england. Logically, we should assume there is some problem with cole's application/attitude there.

But for me, this is just another example of manager's personal preferences and ego getting in the way of the team's best interests on this occasion.yaaaaawnnnn!!!!

[DC_Boy]

i think ineffectual is exactly right about lennon - i've been saying for days now he should be dropped

he hasn't done it since his injury for club or country - this seems to pass a lot of spurs fans by

milner deffo a step up on aaron ATM - just hope he hasn't lost his edge and killer pace forever

prefer crouch to defoe myself - but can england cross the ball?

it seems teams are beginning to get to grips with the jabulani now - maybe england can too

[newbie]

Lennon has been pretty quite but who has not ?