Owen out

[Dazzza]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5100516.stm

Looks like the announcement will be little more than a formality tomorrow.  

I can’t see how you can get by with just two fit strikers at this stage especially with Rooney not yet fully match fit.  You only have to look at the amount of cards flying about or even worse one of the pair picking up a knock and we’re looking buggered.

In terms of a tactical switch I just can’t fathom how we can bring on Walcott at any stage other than being comfortably in front.  It was a shame the opportunity didn’t arise to give him a taster tonight but as it stands there is no indicator to just how effective he will be.

I can’t see any alternative other than to let him play some part against Ecuador.  The only way around it is to do the unthinkable and possibly look at starting with the option always there to, and pardon the pun, pull him off at a moments notice.

[Nomoreheroes]

I think that everyone realised that it was a serious injury the moment he crawled off. The final confirmation for me came the instant that they showed the slow-mo.

Think its got to be start with your best team against Ecuador. Get 3-0 up then bring on Walcott and continue to attack !  

NMH

[STFC Village]

Always thought it was a brilliant ploy of Sven's to take 4 strikers to Germany. One injured, one out of form and one untried. Brilliant.

Despite this, as long as Rooney and Croucho Marx-man are fit, we'll have a chance against anyone. It's not as if Mickey Owen was banging in goals was it? Would have been nice to have options.... but meh

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

well Sven should have taken 5 strikers then  :-))(

[kevjoycreed]

Owens injury could be a blessing in disguise, forcing Sven to play an atacking 5 man mid field.
Rooney up top to win and hold the ball, lets face it no one is better at chasing down a lost cause wining and holding a ball and playing others in.
Never though I'd say it but Hargreaves played the holding role well last night, and on the whole (last nights set pieces excluded) the defence has been solid, allowing Lampard and Gerrard to bomb on in support of Rooney.
Other options include dropping Lampard, pushing Beckham inside to distribute the ball from the middle and introducing an injection of pace with Lennon on the right wing. Or Push J Cole in and up alongside Rooney and putting Downing out on the left.
However you look at it the majority of the options open still provide strong atacking options. With the strength in depth of atacking mid fielders England have, only having a couple of strikers is not a disaster (I hope).

[Red Chris]

According to sky sports news it five months  :? A real shame

[strooood]

yeah for fucks sake there's millions of options and like village says its not as if he was setting the world alight.
nor were our perfromances, the amount people were complaining about how we were playing it seems a tad ironic that now they get worried when a striker who is yet to net gets injured.

i'd probably have a 5 man midfeild lampard and gerrard roaming with hargreaves holding and becks and joe cole wide and rooney upfront on his own. this might isolate rooney though so you could just have a straight swap crouch for owen.

another nice looking option is gerrard 'upfront' with rooney in the scholes role. lampard and hargreaves in the middle.

[Piemonte]

I'd play 4-5-1 / 4-3-3.

Drop Lampard (hes been shit) start rooney up front with Lennon and J. cole supporting from the wings. Beckham and Gerrard centre mid with Hargreaves holding.

I hope Neville gets fit soon as well, hes a far better right back than carragher.

[McLovin]

Replace Beckham with Lampard (he's bound to get a lucky deflection soon enough), and that's what i'd pick, PM...

[DV]

Svens an idiot...only taking 4 strikers....two of which are injured, one who has never played in the premiership and one that is shit....

Its no Shearer & Sheringham thats for sure!!