STEVEN GERRARD.

I agree. Carrick is a potential playmaker but he needs strikers in front of him to pass to. With the exception of Crouch we don't have anyone with a decent goalscoring record at international level - hence we are tending to rely on the attacking midfielder - whether Lampard or Gerrard - for goals.

True. A pacey striker can do this and be more direct. Be interesting to play the same players first half 4-5-1 and in the second 4-4-2 with another striker. In the following game revearse the formation and let the 4-4-2 start with a pacey striker.....
Comes down to goals. If the middle started playing clever football and had many outlets to play creative footy and go direct at times I would lose a winger...

Dyer over Lennon for me. Lennon's still not there just yet, doesn't have Dyer's football brain


-----------Carrick------Hargreaves-----------

K Dyer ----------Gerrard-----------------J Cole

------------------- Striker*


* Either Rooney or Crouch.

england should play like this:

---------------Carrick-----------------


---Hargreaves------------J cole/lamps

---------------Gerrard-----------------

--------Crouch/owen-----Rooney----

Gerrard has a free role in that formation; can drop back in midfield or make runs into the box when he feels.

Rooney is Blacklisted...........

Until Owen is fit Defoe is a good at the moment. try other your blood also with Crouch...

Have to say two DMC would make England stronger and give Gerrard his free role better.

Brian2468 wrote:Have to say two DMC would make England stronger and give Gerrard his free role better.

True - but in order for a 5-man midfield to work (particularly with Gerrard's tendency to wander) you need 2 true wingers, otherwise the middle will just get congested. We have that on the right with Lennon, but not on the left.

Here's my take on it.

Probably the best strike partnership we've had in the last 15 years has been Shearer-Sheringham at Euro 96. That gave you all the options for delivering the ball - Shearer loved crosses from wide, but could also receive the ball with his back to goal, and either lay it off or turn a defender. If the ball came through the middle on the ground Sheringham could play through to Shearer, shoot from distance, or lay it off wide. They were both great in the air.

With those strikers you can play pretty much any midfield you want, because however you get the ball to them, they will make shooting chances.

With Rooney + Crouch, playing the ball through the middle is OK but they both want to be the link-man so there's no-one to receive the final ball and take the shot. If you start playing long-ball up the middle Crouch can hold the ball but he doesn't have the pace or strength to get around a defender. If you start crossing you're dependent on Crouch's heading ability - which can be great or awful depending on the day.

So the problem is less midfield balance and more the limitations of the strikers I think - because you end up trying to paper over the cracks at the front with goals from midfield.

Gerrard is a great attacking midfielder, but he's not a playmaker. He pops up and impacts the game, and if played in the right role (being allowed to burst to the edge of the box with 2 sitting midfielders behind him) he's absolutely devastating.


-----------Deep-lying Playmaker-----defensive Terrier
Goalscoring winger----Goalscoring midfielder---------Goalscoring winger
------------------------------Targetman.

*That's Gerrard's role

------------Carrick---------Hargreaves
Dyer---------------Gerrard--------------J.Cole
---------------------Crouch.

Least Gerrard gets a better role in these sides and that could be all the differance to the middle. Dyer so far has not been a player to rely on because of his injuries. For me the right is wide open and up for grabs and in a 4-4-2 so is getting another striker...
In a 4-5-1 McClaren's problems on paper look better. With 4-4-2 England can be more direct at times but seem not to be as strong...Getting the middle ticking has to be priority. Gerrard is the key if played in this new role in front of 2 DMC

TeamSpirit™ wrote:Gerrard is a great attacking midfielder, but he's not a playmaker. He pops up and impacts the game, and if played in the right role (being allowed to burst to the edge of the box with 2 sitting midfielders behind him) he's absolutely devastating.


-----------Deep-lying Playmaker-----defensive Terrier
Goalscoring winger----Goalscoring midfielder---------Goalscoring winger
------------------------------Targetman.

*That's Gerrard's role

------------Carrick---------Hargreaves
Dyer---------------Gerrard--------------J.Cole
---------------------Crouch.

Replace Dyer with Lennon, then I totally agree with you. Gerrard is brilliant at playing off Crouchy (see Gerrard last season), though my view on England does change sporadically every day. Maybe Rooney could be on the left and Cole on the right? I don't care.

Roger Hunt wrote:

Brian2468 wrote:Have to say two DMC would make England stronger and give Gerrard his free role better.

True - but in order for a 5-man midfield to work (particularly with Gerrard's tendency to wander) you need 2 true wingers, otherwise the middle will just get congested. We have that on the right with Lennon, but not on the left.

Here's my take on it.

Probably the best strike partnership we've had in the last 15 years has been Shearer-Sheringham at Euro 96. That gave you all the options for delivering the ball - Shearer loved crosses from wide, but could also receive the ball with his back to goal, and either lay it off or turn a defender. If the ball came through the middle on the ground Sheringham could play through to Shearer, shoot from distance, or lay it off wide. They were both great in the air.

With those strikers you can play pretty much any midfield you want, because however you get the ball to them, they will make shooting chances.

With Rooney + Crouch, playing the ball through the middle is OK but they both want to be the link-man so there's no-one to receive the final ball and take the shot. If you start playing long-ball up the middle Crouch can hold the ball but he doesn't have the pace or strength to get around a defender. If you start crossing you're dependent on Crouch's heading ability - which can be great or awful depending on the day.

So the problem is less midfield balance and more the limitations of the strikers I think - because you end up trying to paper over the cracks at the front with goals from midfield.

Good post... At the same time England need to set a standard for there strikers......you dont score your out.....Rooney is my favourite player but he has to be benched. Same as the others. Get the middle playing well will require Crouch and another goalscoring outlet. Gerrard has not always had two wingers to play with and width can be a problem. If you end up with a modern day winger like Beckham. we are no better off. If there is a true winger around like Ronaldo and Giggs then I would prefare England playing with two wingers but right now there does not seem to be any......

CT wrote:

TeamSpirit™ wrote:Gerrard is a great attacking midfielder, but he's not a playmaker. He pops up and impacts the game, and if played in the right role (being allowed to burst to the edge of the box with 2 sitting midfielders behind him) he's absolutely devastating.


-----------Deep-lying Playmaker-----defensive Terrier
Goalscoring winger----Goalscoring midfielder---------Goalscoring winger
------------------------------Targetman.

*That's Gerrard's role

------------Carrick---------Hargreaves
Dyer---------------Gerrard--------------J.Cole
---------------------Crouch.

Replace Dyer with Lennon, then I totally agree with you. Gerrard is brilliant at playing off Crouchy (see Gerrard last season), though my view on England does change sporadically every day. Maybe Rooney could be on the left and Cole on the right? I don't care.

CT I like Lennon but dont you think he needs to show more end product at Spurs before he is made an England regular..?

He doesn't have the football brain of Dyer yet. He'll do more exciting things in a game, but we need consistent impact.

Brian2468 wrote:

CT wrote:

TeamSpirit™ wrote:Gerrard is a great attacking midfielder, but he's not a playmaker. He pops up and impacts the game, and if played in the right role (being allowed to burst to the edge of the box with 2 sitting midfielders behind him) he's absolutely devastating.


-----------Deep-lying Playmaker-----defensive Terrier
Goalscoring winger----Goalscoring midfielder---------Goalscoring winger
------------------------------Targetman.

*That's Gerrard's role

------------Carrick---------Hargreaves
Dyer---------------Gerrard--------------J.Cole
---------------------Crouch.

Replace Dyer with Lennon, then I totally agree with you. Gerrard is brilliant at playing off Crouchy (see Gerrard last season), though my view on England does change sporadically every day. Maybe Rooney could be on the left and Cole on the right? I don't care.

CT I like Lennon but dont you think he needs to show more end product at Spurs before he is made an England regular..?

He should have to, but England has a distinct lack of quality on the wings. In my opinion, he is better than Dyer, and is a threat. He provides great pace, and with Gerrard and Crouchy in the middle, it's what we would need.