England Squad Discussion

Agooner wrote:I find the ommision of beckham very ridiculous. He posses some qualities which no england player has, so i don't know why he isn't included in the squad. I don't think he should be an automatic starter aymore but i think he can still be a usefull member of the squad.

Having just thought about it, i think Macca is doing exactly what he knows the press like/want without actually considering some tactical//technical issues.

to be fair i think it's a good thing

gerrard,lennon,SWP and pennant in that order will all be more use than beckham in 2 years time on the right wing...

I am sad for beckham he wont get 100 caps, but the decision is correct not to include him. glad to see brown back, he should of been in world cup not campbell.
richardson also slightly surprising but good. carrick not in because he is injured?
p neville i really dont understand but everything else is very good, mclaren has started very well.

Why is Phil Neville in the squad he may be versatile but we should look at the future now.
And why is Jenas there.

Now is the time for McClaren to try a few things without going nuts.................... Gary Neville and Ashley Cole can sit out a game. Both Lennon and Joe Cole can do a bit of covering down the wings why not see how weak England could be at the back playing 3 Center backs. Guessing is not good enough practical games will show if it is worth looking at..
Good controll in midfield can really be measured by how long they can impose its position in the last third after all football is about gaining territory and scoring goals. ....With the squad McClaren has picked our weakest proven area at this time is up front.......So giving the attack maximum support with a 5 man midfield will also show how capable these players can be.

I'd like to post something someone sent into the Teletext sports letter page.

Re Wright-Phillips & Lennon. Is this football or Athletics?

I couldn't agree more. Whilist SWP and Lennon are fleet-footed their delivery is woeful, to replace Beckham with one of these two is wrong. McClaren then decides to leave out IMO the best right sided midfielder England have in Pennant.

but Beckham wasnt delivering enough at the world cup...only about 3 times did his free kicks/crosses actually come to anything

How are people like Lennon and SWP ever going to improve if they never get given a chance?

Pennant will probably get a chance now he's moved to a bigger club...as long as he performs consistantly well for a change.

i think it was wrong to drop beckham in footballing terms. although he didnt produce at the world cup he got the only goal against paraguay, only goal and equador and crossed to crochy. he is better than jermaine Jenas. although it does show that mclaren is brave witch is a good sign.

BilalShah wrote:Why is Phil Neville in the squad he may be versatile but we should look at the future now.
And why is Jenas there.

I don't know why people hate aginst Phil Neville. He was one of Everton's best players last season. Agree about Jenas, would have preferred to have seen Nolan.

@ samba - I wouldn't say their delivery is woeful.

Its not bad and Lennon can whip in a ball - its not what they are there for though - rather than whip a cross in from the byline they tend to cut inside and run to goal-line and cross it low and hard

Tweedledum wrote:@ samba - I wouldn't say their delivery is woeful.

Its not bad and Lennon can whip in a ball - its not what they are there for though - rather than whip a cross in from the byline they tend to cut inside and run to goal-line and cross it low and hard

I agree but its the whole mentality of the english game. Running at a defender and getting a corner/throw in is applauded rather than a pin-point cross into the box.

but Beckham wasnt doing that anymore anyway.

Samba De Baiano wrote:

Tweedledum wrote:@ samba - I wouldn't say their delivery is woeful.

Its not bad and Lennon can whip in a ball - its not what they are there for though - rather than whip a cross in from the byline they tend to cut inside and run to goal-line and cross it low and hard

I agree but its the whole mentality of the english game. Running at a defender and getting a corner/throw in is applauded rather than a pin-point cross into the box.

beckham was a nightmare for the team in the WC... he provided very little outlet on the right and actually made the long ball problem worse by coming deep and hoofing long balls himself... this will not happen with lennon and SWP and pennant...the difference when lennon came on in the WC end product or no end product was drastic... having an attacking player instead of beckham also allows the rest of england's midfielders to get higher up the pitch which is where cole, gerrard and lampard are most effective

Beckham never has bombed forward it was Gary Neville's job to go on the overlap. The midfielders (Gerrard & Lampard) didn't get up in support because they are tactically stupid. Did you see how Frings & Ballack covered each other almost seamlessly. IMO Hargreaves has to start instead of Lampard or we're going to have this problem for another four years.

In regards to Lennon, yes he does make a drastic change as a sub but if you put him up against a world class left back he'll have him in his pocket.

I'm not sure on that - Lennon is a very good player, not only does he has pace but he has great agility AND skill - IMO there aren'y many players that would have him in their pockets

No way will they have him in their pockets, cant see how you can come to that conclusion as its yet to ever happen.

Isnt he still only 19 aswell? Delivery can improve with age.

Actually the coin is flipped on he other side now. Playing Lennon and Joe Cole to start from a 5 man midfield stand point there will make more outlets for Gerrard and Lampard(if he is back to form) to pressure and pass.....If the team is not getting a result during a game, specialist like Beckham and Crouch and Owen would be more usefull for the last 30 to 45 minutes.......

England need grafters with speed and ability not specialists.....this is one reason way our midfield and attack have not been potent enough in big games......
Add to this Take Germany. Over the years they always had good players but only a few that were considered great. There best teams are full of grafters, real hardworking players that make the side that much more formidable. Best players for certain positions is important but not necessarily if it hurts the hardwork the speed and tempo of a team. Joe Cole may not he the best person to play on the left but brings more to the game than any average winger......