Team for Russia

[Uncle Buck]

I think the knives are out for Robinson and we have two or three very good youngsters coming through....Heskey I think is a short term measure till rooney becomes fit and perhaps I was a bit premature with Owen ( I thiough he was older)

The knives might be out, but the problem is there is nobody to take his place. James would be a backward step and is more than capable of clangers that Robinson could not make.

With regards to the youngsters, they are either not ready or simply not fit.

 

[Badger]

I think Heskey played well on Saturday but you have to question his finishing ability, it's like he completely bottles it in front of goal and the ball usually ends up in row Z.

 

[Silent Bob]

If Hargreaves is fit bring him in for Gerrard.

I think Heskey played well on Saturday but you have to question his finishing ability, it's like he completely bottles it in front of goal and the ball usually ends up in row Z.

To be fair Crouch has missed his share of sitters too. I'd stick with Heskey, but to have Crouch a supersub is a good option as he can cause massive disruption off the bench.

 

[Easy 10]

If Hargreaves is fit bring him in for Gerrard.

Why ?

 

[Silent Bob]

Because Barry played better than him and doesn;t deserve dropping.

 

[Easy 10]

Because Barry played better than him and doesn;t deserve dropping.

I didn;t see the game, so I;m at something of a disadvantage. But I wouldn;t drop Gerrard lightly. From all accounts it sounds like Barry played a blinder so he certainly deserves to keep his place, but theres no way I;d replace Gerrard with Hargreaves unless his toe was giving him problems.

Sounds like the midfield functioned very well on Saturday, so I would not be inclined to piss about with it now.

 

[Stinky Kat]

Barry played well against Israel and supplied assists for 2 of the goals. I think McClaren may pick hargreaves against Russia because they may close the midfield down more than the Isreais did and he may want to take the defensive option and guard the back 4.

I would prefer heskey to start instead of Crouch as I think he is better in the air and hold the ball up better than Crouch.

Russia look pacey in the wing department so SWP and Joe Cole may be asked to track back more and gerrard will have the central probing role if Barry is not played. Cannot wait for the russia game

 

[Springal]

i thought our central midfield was shit on saturday

 

[Lokki 7]

I thought Barry was excellent on Sat, after a couple of mis-placed passes early on. Would be very harsh if he were dropped 4 days later for someone who was borderline fit. I'd leave the team unchanged, Hargreaves can be brought on if we need to close the game down and Barry can always be pushed out to the left.

 

[supaseagull]

ah...I tend to agree with UB...the Euro's could be the swansong for a few of our aging pro's....Neville x2, Beckham...possibly Lampard, Heskey ( if he makes it) Robinson and maybe Owen ( certainly if we dont make them then I see whosescale changes)

Robinson & Owen - aging - are you sure. Owen is 26 and you only have to look at Shilton & Seaman to see that keepers don't mature until their 30's.

Despite Robinson making a couple of errors, he's still a better keeper than what either of the above were at his age.

 

[beorhthelm]

Hargreaves is bound to start, but i can see Barry moving to the wing in place of JCole, who faded badly second half

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

The knives might be out, but the problem is there is nobody to take his place. James would be a backward step and is more than capable of clangers that Robinson could not make.

With regards to the youngsters, they are either not ready or simply not fit.

Or are just as error prone as Robinson

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Im not sure what message it send out to the squad if he does drop any of the side from sat, they may as well not bother turning up if they are going to be dropped after playing well because they are not a name

 

[Uncle Buck]

Or are just as error prone as Robinson

There is that as well.

Why is Kirland not in the squad?

 

[Uncle Buck]

Im not sure what message it send out to the squad if he does drop any of the side from sat, they may as well not bother turning up if they are going to be dropped after playing well because they are not a name

To an extent I agree, but if Hargreaves is fit I would play him instead of Barry as he is a better defensive midfielder and against Russia that role might be slightly more important.

Barry seems to have become another utlitity player.

 

[pasty]

Hargreaves is bound to start, but i can see Barry moving to the wing in place of JCole, who faded badly second half

Good call.

 

[Icy Gull]

I just hope he gives SWP the chance to prove he has enough to take Beckham's place permanently with Richard's at right back as I really don't want to see Beckham anywhere near the England squad again or Neville for that matter. Yesterdays' men ..get shot

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

There is that as well.

Why is Kirland not in the squad?

Because James is there I would have thought

 

[Uncle Buck]

Because James is there I would have thought

Is Carson now too old for the U21's?

 

[Silent Bob]

There is that as well.

Why is Kirland not in the squad?

Because he has looked about as steady as a butterfly in a hurricane since signing for Wigan? Injuries have taken their toll on him I think.

Hargreaves is bound to start, but i can see Barry moving to the wing in place of JCole, who faded badly second half

But in the first half we was along with SWP our best player, we're going to need creativity to beat Russia...