England vs Germany

[zico martin 104]

Robinson aside, and despite the unbalanced line up, I thought England played quite well.

 

 

didnt create many chances for owen or smith though after richards moved inside though. Big Sam for England!

[Fop 1]

England need to build their team around Gerrard tbh

Actually, I agree. The point about Lampard applies to Gerrard too. It's either one or the other and I'd go for Gerrard. It still doesn't solve anything like all the problems though, given a likely midfield would then still comprise Beckham - Gerrard - Hargreaves/Carrick - J. Cole. If you do that there's no pace in midfield so you have to go with flyers at full-back, ideally Richards and Ashley Cole. I'd actually be inclined to really bite the bullet and play Lennon or Wright-Phillips instead of Beckham. Unfortunately I can't see the manager dropping Lampard or Beckham, let alone both.

 

Really I suppose England should be happy with their strength in depth there, it's strange that instead they've just tried to hammer 2 pegs into 1 hole instead.

 

But then that might be as much about the teams ego as managers tactical nouse maybe.

[Guest alex]

England need to build their team around Gerrard tbh

Actually, I agree. The point about Lampard applies to Gerrard too. It's either one or the other and I'd go for Gerrard. It still doesn't solve anything like all the problems though, given a likely midfield would then still comprise Beckham - Gerrard - Hargreaves/Carrick - J. Cole. If you do that there's no pace in midfield so you have to go with flyers at full-back, ideally Richards and Ashley Cole. I'd actually be inclined to really bite the bullet and play Lennon or Wright-Phillips instead of Beckham. Unfortunately I can't see the manager dropping Lampard or Beckham, let alone both.

 

Really I suppose England should be happy with their strength in depth there, it's strange that instead they've just tried to hammer 2 pegs into 1 hole instead.

 

But then that might be as much about the teams ego as managers tactical nouse maybe.

If you really want to play them both, I think it can be done. But not both in the middle in a 4-4-2.

[Fop 1]

England need to build their team around Gerrard tbh

Actually, I agree. The point about Lampard applies to Gerrard too. It's either one or the other and I'd go for Gerrard. It still doesn't solve anything like all the problems though, given a likely midfield would then still comprise Beckham - Gerrard - Hargreaves/Carrick - J. Cole. If you do that there's no pace in midfield so you have to go with flyers at full-back, ideally Richards and Ashley Cole. I'd actually be inclined to really bite the bullet and play Lennon or Wright-Phillips instead of Beckham. Unfortunately I can't see the manager dropping Lampard or Beckham, let alone both.

 

Really I suppose England should be happy with their strength in depth there, it's strange that instead they've just tried to hammer 2 pegs into 1 hole instead.

 

But then that might be as much about the teams ego as managers tactical nouse maybe.

If you really want to play them both, I think it can be done. But not both in the middle in a 4-4-2.

 

That's kinda what McClaren tried initially I guess.