England Tactics v Ecuador

[Dazzza]

I think we should deploy the"get somewhere near the box and fall over and hope we get a free kick"policy

Do you think we could rush through a naturalisation (he's done his 5 years) appeal for Eric and then palm him off for Walcott?

[Ben Wah Balls]

Sven should've replaced Owen with Walcott against Paraguay and it is a bit stupid bringing him if he's not going to be played but replacing Owen in the 5th minute wasn't the time for his first appearance

[Ben Wah Balls]

Crouch was on the pitch for most of the game yesterday and we didn't really play much long ball, most of the long balls against Trinidad and Tobago were actually for Owen to run on too.

There was no space behind T&T for the whole 90 minutes, so where was Owen supposed to run on to?

Well that's why it was pointless trying it and generally just resulted in us losing possession but you can't blame Crouch.

[Kinky Tom]

I don't blame Crouch at all, that's what I'm saying.  It's the other players on the pitch that I'm blaming - I'm 100% sure that Crouch would much rather the ball into feet so he can bring other players into the game, but alas said other players seem content to play Sunday League football when he is on the pitch.  

If we were to use Crouch in the correct maner I wouldn't be against him being on the pitch at all, fact is though that we don't.

[Ben Wah Balls]

We have done at times. Against Jamaica we used Crouch well. To be honest I thought we played decent enough football yesterday, I mean it was better than Brazil have played so far and the goal was outstanding.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

i agree Ben. best ive seen of us in this tornie by a long way. other teams (with the exception of Argentina) have hardly set the world alight either so im confident particularly as we can avoid the argies if they draw or win tonight

[Kinky Tom]

We have done at times. Against Jamaica we used Crouch well. To be honest I thought we played decent enough football yesterday, I mean it was better than Brazil have played so far and the goal was outstanding.

Quite, there were patches of decent play - pretty much all of them involving Joey Cole - the man I earmarked before the tournament as our best hope.  

We really should be getting the ball to him more, and then hopefully we'll see better football as a result.

[McLovin]

After 45 minutes, Cole is then obvious to the opposition on the left, and is thus rendered ineffective (like the other night).  We need the same kind of outlet on both wings.

[TheKingCY]

Everyone seems to be forgetting Paul Scholes....

[Bogus Dave]

he cant see at the moment.and hes retired.

[le god cuervo]

--------------Robinson------------
Carragher---Rio---Terry---Cole
------------Hargreaves-----------
------Lampard------Gerrard-----
Lennon----------------------Cole
-------------Rooooooney--------

Hell yeah.

that would be a good team, but sven will never EVER drop beckham from the starting line-up.

I'd like to see us play with a 5-man midfield, keeping hargreaves in to let gerrard & lampard get forward more, but then who do you play up front? crouch is probably more suited to playing as a lone striker but you can't really leave rooney out.

maybe the solution would be 3 at the back? ie...

--------------robinson---------------
---carragher--ferdinand--terry---
-------------hargreaves-------------
---------gerrard----lampard--------
beckham-------------------------cole
-------------------rooney-------------
---------------crouch-----------------

only problem with that would be that beckham & cole might have to sit back a little bit more though

...and the fact that svens a boring predictable cunt mean he wont change from a flat back 4 anyway  :roll:

[Ralphy]

End of the day Mr Walcott, you've been picked for England, your a pro footballer, get out there and do it.

[Ralphy]

I'd start the match against Ecuador like this..

Robinson

Neville/Carragher
Ferdinand
Terry
A. Cole

Beckham
Hargreaves
Gerrard
J. Cole

Rooney
Walcott



Hargreaves would be the holding player with Gerrard pushing on. Walcott would start up front with Rooney and if it fails you could bring on Crouch or bring on Lampard and revert to 5 in midfield.

[DV]

End of the day Mr Walcott, you've been picked for England, your a pro footballer, get out there and do it.

....well he cant exactly, just get out there and do it....if the manager doesnt pick him

[Dazzza]

I still like the idea of playing Crouch in a slightly wide berth up front allowing Cole a slightly more central role and giving him an outlet wide left.

As good as he was the other night I couldn't help but notice a few times after a lot of decent work going past players he then opted for the safe option in the middle.  Crotch has looked quite good when he's chased out wide, beat a few players and kept possession.