England -v- Croatia

[MattyP]

I don't think I could do the England manager's job any better (well maybe a bit, bye-bye Fat Frank for a start)

You say that Bobs, but answer me this please

1. Would you stick with a keeper for 11 games, then drop him for the crucial final game
2. Would you play a centre back at left back against Russia, despite having a specialist left back in the squad
3. Would you experiment with new formations against Croatia home and away, despite never playing that way in friendlys
4. When you only have to draw to qualify, would you play a five man midfield including two players that can't play together, in Lampard & Gerrard, rather than arguably our best player in WC2006 in Hargreaves.
5. Would you play our best goalscorer, Owen, in a meaningless friendly played in temperatures of minus five, rather than saving him for an important game a few days later.

Management is easy from the sidelines, stands or pubs, but I fail to see how anyone can excuse what we have seen this qualifying campaign

 

[Has1978]

I'd pretty much agree, although the 4-5-1 (or alleged 4-3-3) was, predictably, a disaster; if Crouch had had Defoe or Bent to lay off to (i.e., if we'd gone with a 4-4-2 from the start)
we might have done rather better. Incomprehensible tactics were compounded by technical inferiority.

And could those who thought Gerrard had a good game post me what they were smoking?[/quote]

Has Gerrard taken a game by the scruff of the neck for England since he stopped being a specialist holding player (2001)? Has he ever passed to a teamate, to feet? World class my arse.

 

[Michey]

Thank goodness we have finally been put out of our misery. And by that I mean the inevitable removal of McClown and Teflon Tel.

Watching the game yesterday and not really having to care about the result besides hoping for a good performances from Spurs players it was like watching a game from the seventies....and a tragic sight seeing dinosaurs like Maclaren and Venables coaching a team.

The only reason they sat there was that they were born in England.

 

[Shanks]

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.

What a crock of old shite I wrote yesterday eh...

 

[Bonjour]

...

He is exactly right. It wasn't switching from 451 to 442 that got England back in the game as their tactics didn't change. They just kept whacking the ball towards Croatia's area.
...

We wouldn't have scored the two goals had we not switched to 4-4-2.

 

[Shanks]

I doubt we would have scored 2 goals if we hadn't changed tactics.
I feel for Carson though.

First competitive game for England, such an idiotic choice, I just don't get it.
You need experience, the kid crumbled after that goal.
If McClown was going to drop Robbo, he should have put in James, but we didn't and fortunate for us, he will pay with his job now.

Moving forward, I would like to see us get a manager who knows how to win, a manager who has actually won some top competitions.
I'd like the manager to come in and make all the decisions.

Not having to play people because of marketing decisions, and not having to play people to help them get a certain amount of caps.

Lets hope the new manager picks people who are actually playing on form, and not because of their names.
Lets also play players in their correct positions, ones they are used to playing for their clubs.

I don't want to see Andy Johnson on the right wing.

As for last night, Crouch done ok, probably our best player.
Becks set him up, even Crouch named him at being able to provide him the ball, its what Becks does.
At least when he came on he had some urgency about him, so Becks, legend, thank you for everything, you've been awesome for us...

But I do think its time for a new era now.

 

[seany]

Steve mcclown has officially been sacked.

 

[Bonjour]

I agree that if anyone was to take Robinson's place for last night's game, it should have been James.

Although it was a decent enough shot, I have a feeling James may have saved the third goal. He's one of the best shot stoppers around.

 

[Shanks]

I agree Bonjour, it was a decent enough shot, but not unstoppable by any means.
Hell I feel confident enough that Robbo would have got a finger tip to that shot.

I understand that the ground was sticky and hard to move in, but it looked like Carson just fell over towards the ball, not actually diving.

ANyway, can't nitpick about Carson, poor fella shouldn't have been on the pitch in the first place.

 

[Insomnia]

What a crock of old shite I wrote yesterday eh...

you got the lampard scoring bit right,dont be so hard on yourself shanksey

 

[Shanks]

Cheers buddy
I tried to be positive, and thought the boys might deliver, but I should have known better

 

[The Apprentice]

Well well well. What a fucking surprise. Seriously pissed off this morning.

None of our players can keep hold of the ball and find a team mate. From 20 mins we were just lumping the ball forward. Other teams must laugh at us. Where were World Class Stevie G and Fat lampost? Nowhere. Kick and rush like always. No composure.

Poor old Robbo. Cracking call Mclown. Carson was like deer in the headlights. Defoe/Bent are a mile away from international class. Get yourselves back and warm our bench boys.

Crouch was our best player :rofl: :rofl:

 

[Insomnia]

Cheers buddy
I tried to be positive, and thought the boys might deliver, but I should have known better

lets face it boysie,us spurs fans should know better

 

[yiddotilidie]

Macdonut - lets study the facts!!

You decided to play one up front when at least a point was needed.
You played 5 in the middle, Gerrard, Lampard and Barry, with Barry the non defensive midfielder playing as a defensive midfielder!!

You had a run of 3 games before hand with Gerrard and Barry in the middle where we played well, then the last two games we have been pants with Lampard back in the side.

You put/heaped pressure on young Carson

You quite frankly - deserve to be sacked!

 

[teddyboy]

Well well well. What a fucking surprise. Seriously pissed off this morning.

None of our players can keep hold of the ball and find a team mate. From 20 mins we were just lumping the ball forward. Other teams must laugh at us. Where were World Class Stevie G and Fat lampost? Nowhere. Kick and rush like always. No composure.

Poor old Robbo. Cracking call Mclown. Carson was like deer in the headlights. Defoe/Bent are a mile away from international class. Get yourselves back and warm our bench boys.

Crouch was our best player :rofl: :rofl:

Cracking gaol as well, that alone should have inspired those halfwits to come up with the goods.. FFS

 

[SpurSince57]

Not that it had any bearing on the result, but the pitch was an absolute disgrace, like something back in the 60s and 70s. When you think what the old Wembley pitch was like, and how good the top Premiership pitches are nowadays, there is no excuse. Sack the ground staff too.

 

[Fatcat]

Feel embarressed to call myself and england fan today.
Least we have got rid of possibly the worst england manager in history.

Saw that someone said that the players still get a bonus FFS.
Players should not be paid to play for there country, it should be an honour and if they do get any cash then it should only be for a win.
I am really struggling to think of anyone to take over. Don't think we have a good enough english manager. only choice would be P.Taylor but think it will have to be a foreign coach again.

 

[Shanks]

COuldn't agree more SS57, I mentioned the pitch in McClaren sacked thread.
Aweful pitch, I have no idea how the FA can sit there happy in the knowledge that its probably the worst pitch in the whole of the British Isle's, and I would even go as far to include non league pitches being in better condition.

 

[Bonjour]

It didn't help playing gridiron on the pitch just 4 days previous..

 

[Insomnia]

Feel embarressed to call myself and england fan today.
Least we have got rid of possibly the worst england manager in history.

Saw that someone said that the players still get a bonus FFS.
Players should not be paid to play for there country, it should be an honour and if they do get any cash then it should only be for a win.
I am really struggling to think of anyone to take over. Don't think we have a good enough english manager. only choice would be P.Taylor but think it will have to be a foreign coach again.

Phil the power Taylor it is then,couldnt do any worse than mcclown