England -v- Croatia
- Thread starter ChRiStOpHe
- Start date
ChRiStOpHe
It's a piece of cake to bake a pretty cake
- Dec 14, 2004
- 12,813
- 331
- Thread starter
- #42
There you have it guys and girls:
Carson
Richards - Campbell - Lescott - Bridge
Barry
SWP - Lampard - Gerrard - J.Cole
Crouch
Richards - Campbell - Lescott - Bridge
Barry
SWP - Lampard - Gerrard - J.Cole
Crouch
:-( :-( :-(
llamafarmer
Well-Known Member
- May 4, 2004
- 10,775
- 1,055
Crouch as the lone striker?! Have a day of Steve! :duh:
Flatters
Racist Troll
- May 4, 2005
- 27,001
- 50
England drop Beckham and Robinson
Robinson and Beckham are poised to spend Wednesday on the bench
England v Croatia
Wembley, London
Wednesday 21 November
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC One & BBC Radio 5 Live (commentary on BBC Sport website for UK users only); Coverage on BBC Sport website
Steve McClaren looks set to gamble on goalkeeper Scott Carson and drop David Beckham for England's vital Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday.
The England boss is believed to have opted for the inexperienced Carson, with Paul Robinson on the bench.
Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is tipped to replace Beckham at Wembley.
Gareth Barry is expected to join Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole in a five-man midfield, with Peter Crouch on his own up front.
News conference: England manager Steve McClaren
The back four is tipped to be Micah Richards, Sol Campbell Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge.
England need a point to seal qualification for next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland, and a big win could see them overhaul group leaders Croatia.
And the spirit in the camp is determined.
England captain Steve Gerrard said: "We can't afford to have any slip-ups. We've got to give everything we've got and die out there for the result."
McClaren said he would tell the players his starting line-up on Tuesday at 1830 GMT.
"I know my team and I have done since the weekend but I am not going to reveal it and I am not giving any clues," he said.
606: DEBATE
I would give David Beckham his 99th - and final - cap on the right
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty
McClaren did say he valued experience - but not necessarily in the starting line-up.
"Experience is key in big games - not just playing but on the bench and around the team," he said.
McClaren has stuck by Spurs keeper Robinson throughout a rocky Euro 2008 campaign, but gave Carson his first start against Austria last Friday and may keep faith with the 22-year-old.
BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent Mike Ingham said: "Steve McClaren is still confident enough despite being without his first-choice back-four to finally drop the man who has been in goal for the last three years, Paul Robinson, preferring Scott Carson.
"He is still confident enough to exclude Owen Hargreaves in favour of Gareth Barry and most unexpected of all perhaps he is backing Shaun Wright-Phillips ahead of David Beckham
"So whatever the outcome this evening McClaren can hardly stand accused of shying away from bold and tough decisions.
"England will play 4-5-1 when they're defending and 4-3-3 when they have the ball and Beckham cannot play in a 4-3-3 because he doesn't play high enough up the pitch."
One player who will definitely not feature is John Terry, although the England captain did take part in training on Tuesday.
"There has been a great uplift with the players coming in on Sunday and especially with John Terry coming in and training with the boys," said McClaren.
"It's always important to have all the players together. We'll have John, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney with us on Wednesday. "We've started together and we'll finish together."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7103110.stm
England v Croatia
Wembley, London
Wednesday 21 November
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC One & BBC Radio 5 Live (commentary on BBC Sport website for UK users only); Coverage on BBC Sport website
Steve McClaren looks set to gamble on goalkeeper Scott Carson and drop David Beckham for England's vital Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday.
The England boss is believed to have opted for the inexperienced Carson, with Paul Robinson on the bench.
Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is tipped to replace Beckham at Wembley.
Gareth Barry is expected to join Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole in a five-man midfield, with Peter Crouch on his own up front.
News conference: England manager Steve McClaren The back four is tipped to be Micah Richards, Sol Campbell Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge.
England need a point to seal qualification for next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland, and a big win could see them overhaul group leaders Croatia.
And the spirit in the camp is determined.
England captain Steve Gerrard said: "We can't afford to have any slip-ups. We've got to give everything we've got and die out there for the result."
McClaren said he would tell the players his starting line-up on Tuesday at 1830 GMT.
"I know my team and I have done since the weekend but I am not going to reveal it and I am not giving any clues," he said.
I would give David Beckham his 99th - and final - cap on the right
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty
McClaren did say he valued experience - but not necessarily in the starting line-up.
"Experience is key in big games - not just playing but on the bench and around the team," he said.
McClaren has stuck by Spurs keeper Robinson throughout a rocky Euro 2008 campaign, but gave Carson his first start against Austria last Friday and may keep faith with the 22-year-old.
BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent Mike Ingham said: "Steve McClaren is still confident enough despite being without his first-choice back-four to finally drop the man who has been in goal for the last three years, Paul Robinson, preferring Scott Carson.
"He is still confident enough to exclude Owen Hargreaves in favour of Gareth Barry and most unexpected of all perhaps he is backing Shaun Wright-Phillips ahead of David Beckham
"So whatever the outcome this evening McClaren can hardly stand accused of shying away from bold and tough decisions.
"England will play 4-5-1 when they're defending and 4-3-3 when they have the ball and Beckham cannot play in a 4-3-3 because he doesn't play high enough up the pitch."
One player who will definitely not feature is John Terry, although the England captain did take part in training on Tuesday.
"There has been a great uplift with the players coming in on Sunday and especially with John Terry coming in and training with the boys," said McClaren.
"It's always important to have all the players together. We'll have John, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney with us on Wednesday. "We've started together and we'll finish together."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7103110.stm
Flatters
Racist Troll
- May 4, 2005
- 27,001
- 50
Seriously... What a shite looking team. Fair enough, we're down to the "bare bones", but leaving out Robinson, Beckham and Defoe/Bent is just idiotic. I thought Ashley Cole was fit by now as well.
I would play...
________
|Robinson|
Richards -- Lescott -- Campbell -- A. Cole
Beckham -- Gerrard -- Barry -- J. Cole
Crouch -- Bent
|Robinson|
Richards -- Lescott -- Campbell -- A. Cole
Beckham -- Gerrard -- Barry -- J. Cole
Crouch -- Bent
donny1013
Well-Known Member
- Nov 4, 2005
- 5,646
- 946
To play a lone striker they have to be in the mould of Drogba or Eto'o, strong quick and good in the air. Crouch is crap in the air and some seem to think that just coz he is tall that he has great aerial ability. IMO under the right management this side could play some great football but not under McClown. As for dropping Robbo, should have done it sooner when he had a proper reason to, now his confidence is going to be even lower, great.
Actually, I have changed my mind slightly from my post yesterday or the day before.
I like this formation, probably apart from Lescott, I’d say this was a good strong team and gives the right impression to fans and opposition who may be watching.
Now its down to the players to use this formation to their advantage.
Now bare with me whilst I explain my reasoning of the formation and why it beats a standard 4-4-2 formation.
I’m not going to bother with the centre backs, but the full backs will be bombing forward and backwards and will be supporting those areas. Richards has shown he is a great threat going forward.
Barry holding is the key. Gives Campbell and Lescott that added cover.
Lampard plays best when he ahs a free role, he covers more ground than most people, believe that or not, but he covers the whole pitch, so Barry being there will give him the chance to roam and get into the box on the break to maybe score a goal – in fact, I’m going to predict that Lampard will get a goal tonight.
Gerrard, is more effective in the opposition half, but again he covers a lot of ground similar to Lampard. Barry being there will give both the license to roam and do what they do best.
Wright Phillips and Cole – again, both skilful quick players who can link up with the forwards and both are good at battling back.
Both of those players are best suited to this formation as they have experience of playing in that position with Chelsea, under Morinho.
Crouch up front, he is great at holding the play up, and awesome at getting on the end of crosses, his goal tally for England is very very good, and deserves this chance.
He will get support from SWP and Cole, along with both Gerrard and Lamps bombing in from his hold up play.
I actually predict a comfortable win, 2-0 (Lamps and Crouch), maybe even 3 with Cole or SWP popping up.
Actually, my mate has won a fair bit of money putting a tenner on England to win 3-0 with SWP to score first, its happened twice recently, fancy a third chance
One thing you cannot say is that McClraen hasn't got bollocks, to drop Becks and Robbo is a huge decision, but one that might just pay off.
A big chance, but he is putting a lot off trust into the players to go with this formation.
I like this formation, probably apart from Lescott, I’d say this was a good strong team and gives the right impression to fans and opposition who may be watching.
Now its down to the players to use this formation to their advantage.
Now bare with me whilst I explain my reasoning of the formation and why it beats a standard 4-4-2 formation.
I’m not going to bother with the centre backs, but the full backs will be bombing forward and backwards and will be supporting those areas. Richards has shown he is a great threat going forward.
Barry holding is the key. Gives Campbell and Lescott that added cover.
Lampard plays best when he ahs a free role, he covers more ground than most people, believe that or not, but he covers the whole pitch, so Barry being there will give him the chance to roam and get into the box on the break to maybe score a goal – in fact, I’m going to predict that Lampard will get a goal tonight.
Gerrard, is more effective in the opposition half, but again he covers a lot of ground similar to Lampard. Barry being there will give both the license to roam and do what they do best.
Wright Phillips and Cole – again, both skilful quick players who can link up with the forwards and both are good at battling back.
Both of those players are best suited to this formation as they have experience of playing in that position with Chelsea, under Morinho.
Crouch up front, he is great at holding the play up, and awesome at getting on the end of crosses, his goal tally for England is very very good, and deserves this chance.
He will get support from SWP and Cole, along with both Gerrard and Lamps bombing in from his hold up play.
I actually predict a comfortable win, 2-0 (Lamps and Crouch), maybe even 3 with Cole or SWP popping up.
Actually, my mate has won a fair bit of money putting a tenner on England to win 3-0 with SWP to score first, its happened twice recently, fancy a third chance
One thing you cannot say is that McClraen hasn't got bollocks, to drop Becks and Robbo is a huge decision, but one that might just pay off.
A big chance, but he is putting a lot off trust into the players to go with this formation.
Don't get me wrong, I do think Bent or Defoe could do a good job, but in that formation Crouch won't be a lone striker as 3/4 midfielders also convert into support strikers - I did try and explain it, seriously the decision isn't as bad as we think.
Problem most people here will have with it, is that its two spurs strikers that have been overlooked again.
Problem most people here will have with it, is that its two spurs strikers that have been overlooked again.
haxman
Well-Known Member
- Jan 14, 2007
- 16,935
- 8,179
Carson
Richards - Campbell - Lescott - Bridge
Barry
SWP - Lampard - Gerrard - J.Cole
SWP - Lampard - Gerrard - J.Cole
Crouch
Thats a team selection that reeks of a fear of losing, instead of a wanting to be positive and go win the game. A standard 4-4-2 would get the job done, instead of trying to flood the midfield with 5 in there. I suppose one of Lampard or Gerrard would push forward to support Crouch if need be. I do still think England will win, and win comfortably, Croatia have qualified and lost 2-0 to Macedonia at the weekend.
The bookies have it
England 8/15, Draw 15/8, Croatia 7/1
and they're seldom wrong.
Is it though? Is it really? Answer: no.
kishman
Well-Known Member
- Apr 22, 2005
- 10,575
- 771
To be fair Bent has only had two caps for England. Crouch has had something like 25 caps.
Flatters
Racist Troll
- May 4, 2005
- 27,001
- 50
Yes. Robinson looks as if he's finally getting some form back, and I still think Beckham is one of the best players we have, whether it be on the right or in the middle.
ChRiStOpHe
It's a piece of cake to bake a pretty cake
- Dec 14, 2004
- 12,813
- 331
- Thread starter
- #58
Crouch has scored goals for England, yes, but usually in the 4-4-2. He also plays at a club where he always has a strike partner in attack.
Bent on the other hand has played a few seasons up front by himself, and finished his first season at Charlton (as a lone striker) as the top scoring Englishman in the league. He scored 31 in 68 for Charlton (most of those games playing the lone striking role), which isn't too far off the sacred 'goal every other game'. His reward for these exploits? 2 England caps :| can you blame him for not proving himself at International level given that kind of a chance?
Robinson doesn't have form! He's just a notverygood 'keeper. All this bullshit about the airkick knocking his confidence... it's bullshit. It's merely opened people's eyes to exactly how bad he is. But ignoring that, he was apparently rubbish in training, so you know...
