England v. Greece Friendly Thread - 4-0 at the moment!

McClaren holding a press conference right now. Dean Ashton is injured and will not participate. McClaren is playing Gerrard on the right of midfield with Hargreaves and Lampard in the centre. Defoe and Crouch are starting up front, although Ashton would have started if he was fit.

shame for ashton..i was looking forward to seeing him...

I hate him already!

Peter '11.4 conversion rate' Crouch and Jermaine 'I can't see anything but the goal' Defoe starting ahead of Bent!!!!

What planet do all footy managers live on!

Starting team is:

Robinson
Neville
Ferdinand
Terry
A. Cole
Gerrard
Hargreaves
Lampard
Downing
Defoe
Crouch

11.4 for england? it's more like 1 in 2 for england.
here we go downing plays, if he plays well the place will be his

Tweedledum wrote:

I hate him already!

Peter '11.4 conversion rate' Crouch and Jermaine 'I can't see anything but the goal' Defoe starting ahead of Bent!!!!

What planet do all footy managers live on!

isnt bent with the U21s?...and who came in for ashton...dafoe or crouch?

Gerrard on the right

I would have gone for that team.

l r d wrote:11.4 for england? it's more like 1 in 2 for england.
here we go downing plays, if he plays well the place will be his

- in the EPL last season he had 88 shots on goal and he scored 8 goals - so a strike conversion rate of 11 - one of the worst in Europe

dont panic! wrote:

Tweedledum wrote:

I hate him already!

Peter '11.4 conversion rate' Crouch and Jermaine 'I can't see anything but the goal' Defoe starting ahead of Bent!!!!

What planet do all footy managers live on!

isnt bent with the U21s?...and who came in for ashton...dafoe or crouch?

In the main England squad as well

I wouldn't have gone with that team.

I would have played Lennon on the right, Gerrard in the centre and Bent instead of Defoe

Tweedledum wrote:I wouldn't have gone with that team.

I would have played Lennon on the right, Gerrard in the centre and Bent instead of Defoe

Me too. And dropped Lampard.

No doubt he'll tinker at halftime, expect Lennon will come on.

I want to see how England play with 2 speedy wingers in Lennon and Downing - will give england the penetration that Mclaren has been banging on about

Hope Lennon and Downing do themselves justice.

I do worry though that Downing lacks that final bit of pace to succeed against the best opposition (sorry coop!)

The Real White Pele wrote:

Tweedledum wrote:I wouldn't have gone with that team.

I would have played Lennon on the right, Gerrard in the centre and Bent instead of Defoe

Me too. And dropped Lampard.

No doubt he'll tinker at halftime, expect Lennon will come on.

I want to see how England play with 2 speedy wingers in Lennon and Downing - will give england the penetration that Mclaren has been banging on about

Surely Defoe and Crouch are the worst two strikers to play in this situation though? Crouch is suited to the long-ball game and can't head the damn thing and Defoe tends to pick up the ball from deeper. If Bent was playing he could burst into the box to get onto the crosses flying in and Ashton is the best striker we have who has the physical presence to get his head on the ball

Why are people moaning?

We already knew Bent wasnt starting, he's playing in the U21s and on the bench for the proper team.

People wanted Gerrard on the right a few weeks ago...now its wrong...

Downing was obviously going to start on the left, he's the best English left winger.

Crouch obviously had to start now as Ashton is injured.

Lennon can still be used as an impact sub.

The only thing worth questioning is Lampard still being in, but he might have a better game in this team.

Thats the thing. With that line up I can see Lampard given loads of freedom to get forward and he could get a goal.

Its the exact midfield formation most people would have said when the squad was announced.

Personally I think Lampard shouldnt be in the first team, he got outplayed by Bolo in the Charity Shield and had a poor, poor, poor world cup.

YEY!! Lampard is in the team!

I'm a Derby and England fan, it's my job to moan!

Also i didn't realise Ashton was injured. Absolutely gutted for the guy, he was the person i was most looking forward to seeing in this friendly. Wonder if he will get another chance to prove himself considering after this friendly we get straight into competitive games?

Bend It Like Idiakez wrote:I'm a Derby and England fan, it's my job to moan!

Also i didn't realise Ashton was injured. Absolutely gutted for the guy, he was the person i was most looking forward to seeing in this friendly. Wonder if he will get another chance to prove himself considering after this friendly we get straight into competitive games?

I would have thought so, he deserves another chance and there arent many other players who would get picked ahead of him.

I expect he'll be in most squads from now on to be honest. Assuming his league form is good.

i can see a draw 1-1 Gerrard scoring and as usual i can see Robinson getting beaten from 30 yards(i go for Karagounis) .

Lampard aint been dropped yet?

Replacing who? When Owen, Rooney come back in they will obviously be the starters. Do you think it will then be Crouch, Ashton and Defoe?

Dont forget Frannie Jeffers has said his new chance at Blackburn will get him in the England squad........

E.M. wrote:

Lampard aint been dropped yet?

For who though?

Carrick is injured and Gerrard is being used on the right. As much as I'm not a fan of Lampard, he's still better than Jenas.

Clergyman Superstains wrote:Replacing who? When Owen, Rooney come back in they will obviously be the starters. Do you think it will then be Crouch, Ashton and Defoe?

Dont forget Frannie Jeffers has said his new chance at Blackburn will get him in the England squad........

Owen shouldnt be back in for a long while yet...

so I would have thought the strikers will just be

Defoe
Bent

Ashton
Crouch

for quite a while.

Sir Parks Lives wrote:

E.M. wrote:

Lampard aint been dropped yet?

For who though?

Carrick is injured and Gerrard is being used on the right. As much as I'm not a fan of Lampard, he's still better than Jenas.

PARKER GODDAMNIT!!!

Ashton has broke his ankle. What terrible bad luck for him

Kimbo wrote:

Sir Parks Lives wrote:

E.M. wrote:

Lampard aint been dropped yet?

For who though?

Carrick is injured and Gerrard is being used on the right. As much as I'm not a fan of Lampard, he's still better than Jenas.

PARKER GODDAMNIT!!!

Lampard may play much better with a dm and him as the only am.
Parker isnt good enough for england

Sheffield gunner wrote:Ashton has broke his ankle. What terrible bad luck for him

Are you sure it's broken???

Kimbo wrote:

Sheffield gunner wrote:Ashton has broke his ankle. What terrible bad luck for him

Are you sure it's broken???

Its just come on breaking news.

Gutted for him.

Kimbo wrote:

Sheffield gunner wrote:Ashton has broke his ankle. What terrible bad luck for him

Are you sure it's broken???

Breaking news on Sky Sports News at the moment I'm afraid

l r d wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Sir Parks Lives wrote:

E.M. wrote:

Lampard aint been dropped yet?

For who though?

Carrick is injured and Gerrard is being used on the right. As much as I'm not a fan of Lampard, he's still better than Jenas.

PARKER GODDAMNIT!!!

Lampard may play much better with a dm and him as the only am.
Parker isnt good enough for england

He should atleast be in the squad ahead of Jenas and Phillis Neville.