On the basis of last night, Carrick and Baines have played themselves out of contention for a spot.

Crouch will no doubt start against the US and I was impressed with Milner, given that he was playing out of position.

More problems for the Germans as well. Christian Träsch, who would have probably replaced Michael Ballack, has been [url=http://worldcup.partybets.com/2010/05/new-headache-for-low-as-trasch-ruled-out-with-ankle-injury/ruled out with an ankle problem[/url.

I'd go with that



Why, why, why? Couldn't get his head on most contested balls last night despite being the tallest player on the field by some margin. Was offside for his goal and an eagle eyed linesman could have spotted the handball that put it in. Awful, awful player.

Because if you don't pick Crouch (or Heskey) you need to find four midfielders who are all comfortable in possession, mobile and eager enough to work hard off the ball to get into space and can pick a killer pass for the front two.

Sadly, England don't show much sign of having one of those let alone four. Much easier for the back four to just hump it towards the big lad and play from there. I actually felt really sorry for Milner and latterly Huddlestone - their last real chances to stake a claim for a place in the 23 and they're watching clueless defenders launch the ball over their heads for most of the night.

The gulf in technical ability and movement between the two sides last night was comical. If you could combine that Mexican technique with England's workrate you'd have a side nailed on favourites to win the tournament.

Unfortunately possession of a pair of leather lungs is still seen as a more valued asset in the English game than what you can do with the ball at your feet.

I'd imagine the German midfield will look something like this now :
Ozil - Schweinsteiger - Khedira - Westermann - Podolski.
I can't see them going 2 up front. I reckon they bring Westermann forward to add some experience to and sure up the centre of midfield.

Carrick's had a woeful season and should not be at Old Trafford next season, and should not be in the England team.

If McClaren was still in charge the press would be all over the hoof ball tactics that England seem to employ.

I see the Gerrard-Lampard debate was ended last night - Gerrard is $hit for Ingerland. He was the main man in midfield, it was his to take control and he was invisible. I agree that Milner was very unlucky to be playing out of position in a midfield with as much bottle as the French.

Rooney playing out left, with a right winger incapable of getting the ball to him and a strike partner who can't head for $hit and needs to cheat to score. Although TBF to Crouch, his footwork was very good at times last night.

Adam Johnson and Lennon need to play at least 45 minutes on Sunday, it's pointless giving them 10 minutes when the game is over as they have no chance of proving themselves, and both are better than the alternatives.

Although he took his goal superbly, Johnson was caught out too many times positionally.

If England play like that, they won't get anywhere in South Africa.

Because his record is fantastic. Thats why.

Carrick had a very poor game last night and really got me praying that Barry will be ok intime for the world cup. I thought he looked sluggish without the ball(lazy infact) and when he had possession he was truely awful. I'm a fan of Leighton Baines aswell being a Wigan Athletic fan but he looked out of his depth last night. He looked edgy when defending and very nervous with the ball(although it didn't help having nobody infront of him to pass to on the left wing).

On the plus side last night Rob Green and Joe Hart both looked pretty good and that gives me abit more confidence that we at least have some options in goal. I'd still start with David James but at least the back up options are there. I thought Rooney and Crouch looked very sharp upfront aswell and they should form a super partnership in the world cup imo.

If I had to select the squad right now i'd go(starters in bold)-

James, Green, Hart

G Johnson, Carragher, A Cole, Warnock, King, Ferdinhand, Terry

Lennon, Walcott, Milner, Parker Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, J Cole, A Johnson

Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Bent

I'd use Milner as a central midfielder and take plenty of wide attacking options. I'm a defender lighter then most because Carragher can play anywhere across the back and if needs be King could push up into a role of defensive midfield.

I'd be inclined to agree with that line-up. Lennon proved last night with that one moment of raw pace, he is what England needs.

From memory, his scoring record against average teams is fantastic

In fact [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Crouchhere it is on his Wiki page[/url. Croatia and Mexico the only better than average sides there.

What other record does he have that is fantastic? Fantastically poor header of the ball?

I've said it before, but he only got into the England side in the first place because he signed for Liverpool

To my mind, the only way england can hope to do well in this tournament is to park a bus, nay, a plane in front of the goal, and play on the break.

We have players like lennon, walcott, milner, gerrard and rooney that can be absolutely devastating on the break.

But we are simply crap at trying to dictate games, keep the ball and create opportunities against well organised teams. So let them come onto us and we'll counter. That's our best bet.

We should play 4-5-1

carragher, ferdinand, terry, cole at the back.

Carragher may not be a good attacking right back but he's a fantastic all round defender.

In midfield, it's tricky. I'd have barry as the holding midfielder but he's injured. Carrick has been off the boil. Parker is perhaps too ferocious in his tackling for the world stage, and how often has he played for england recently? Is huddlestone are holding midfielder?

apart from that you'd have joe cole on the left, walcott/lennon on the right, lampard in the centre with gerrard playing off rooney up front.

This system provides great flexibility, theres so much scope for switching it around during a game.

Crouch has too many free kicks given against him. He just does. I remember 06. He'd jump for the ball, do nothing wrong......free kick against him. It keps happening again and again. Refs on the world stage don't like him.

He's a good scoring record in friendlies and qualifiers but I just don't think he's got the guile or the touch for a world cup. He's also very slow and for his height is relatively poor at headers. Also when crouch plays we fall into the trap of simply hoofing the ball up and it just comes straight back at us. The likes of bent, defoe and whatever other strikers are in the team offer more I think.

I posted some weeks ago, that england now are absolutely no better than they were under Ericksson. Sure we've improved.....because McClaren was in charge before Capello. The difference now is we have a better manager, but the performances are still the same as they were under Ericksson. Whether having capello instead of ericksson, who won't be a soft touch and will make better tactical decision in the crunch, will make a difference, remains to be seen.

It will probably mean a semi final, instead of a quarter. Which is good. We were never that bad under Ericksson, just people got carried away with expecting us to win.

Which isn't of course happening now



The Scum are just [udying[/u to put the extra star above the England badge...

For me after seeing that friendly against Mexico, my team for the first game would be :

1. Green

2. Johnson
5. Ferdinand
6. Terry
3. Cole

7. Lennon (raw pace is what we need to get at defenders)
4. Barry (Milner if Barry doesn't make it)
8. Lampard
11. Gerrard

9. Crouch (international record speaks for itself)
10. Rooney

So after the fantastic season Milner's had and winning young player of the year he wouldn't even be in your team? you prefer an overrated and unfit midfielder who hasn't played much of the season? Deary me, you'd fit right in at the FA, you should apply to join the other muppets.

Carricks preformence on Monday and the fact that Milner isn't a holding midfield player just adds to the importance of Gareth Barry to this England side.

Him being fit would be a huge boost to our chances imo because he allows guys like Gerrard and Lampard do their thing. I thought Carrick looked very sluggish the other night and didn't protect the back 4 or give the attacking players a licence to get forward at all.

Gareth Barry just gets the job done.

Thanks. Like I said if Barry isn't fit, then I'd play Milner. England need a holding midfielder, because Lampard isn't the type of player to sit back and protect the back and in my opinion Barry is the right man to do that.

Whilst Crouch and Rooney seems the most likely partnership up front, it has to be said Rooney plays much better with Heskey.

His performances for Man Utd suggest he plays much better on his own with attacking wide men.

Which is why we should play 4 5 1 as i suggested.

This means all our best players can play to their strengths, and not out of position to fit into the formation.

No way!

Milner and lampard the central midfielders? We'll get passed apart without a holding midfielder, and neither one of them are it.

James in goal instead of green. He's a better goal keeper and really doesn't have many brainfarts anymore.

Johnson isn't a good enough defender. Your defenders need to be rock solid, even the wing backs. They will be constantly tested.

Crouch is a free kick machine and doesn't score against the top nations.

I've said before England should play 4-5-1 with Gerrard or Lampard linking up with Rooney.

[url=http://worldcup.partybets.com/2010/05/maradona-ill-run-naked-through-buenos-aires-if-we-win/Stupid statements or actions from Diego Maradona: #356[/url

Then again, chance are he'll be keeping his kit on.

We're on the same wavelength.

That would also allow for a defensive midfielder to protect the back four and we'd still have the wide players to give us width.

The trouble is I don't think Capello is a fan of the system so I doubt we will use it.