England squad vs Egypt announced

[Marshy]

Heskey's place in the team isn't just about his hold up play. He scares the life out of foreign centre backs. Croatia were doubling up on him and still losing the headers. Also he has the pace to get in behind so the opposition cannot push up as far as they would like. All this creates space for Rooney and Gerrard to work in.

Anyone who wants him dropped is mental.

Crouch scores goals. However he has a tendency to drop deep and take up the same space as Rooney. This goes back to the argument others were having earlier. You do not need a big man/small man partnership. You do need a partnership where one striker plays on the last defender, either big and strong or fast. The other player needs to be good at dropping off. Eg. Lineker/Beardsley, Shearer/Sheringham, Heskey/Rooney.

The only real argument about Bobby being in the squad or not is whether he is better than Carlton Cole. Right now he probably is, however maybe Capello wants to see Cole again since his injury. I also believe that at this point we won't be trying many things out as we have so few friendlies until the World Cup starts. The things we may try are different formations rather than different players, seems logical to me.

Finally a half sensible response. I like to see Defoe on the last man and Rooney dropping of every now and then.
I would have to disagree with you regarding Heskey getting in behind defences though, he really dosent offer that anymore, hance all i see him doing is challenging for headers..its the curse of our game the long ball up to the front man.

 

[beorhthelm]

Heskey is NOT essential to the team the sooner people realise that then our chances of actually doing something will increase greatly.

although he clearly is essential if Capello want to employ a target man to push back defenders and hold up the ball. which he has stated he likes as a tactic. Heskey creates arces of space infront of the opposeing defense for Rooney to operate in and Gerrard and others to move into.

that said, i really dont see room for Crouch or C.Cole over Zamora, and he is breaking his own rule on form being the cheif selection criteria.

 

[Marshy]

With a laboured England locked at 0-0 with Andorra in September, Capello made a typically decisive half-time move in bringing Heskey on in place of Jermain Defoe to partner Wayne Rooney in attack.

Four wins, 14 goals, and 12 points amassed... since his introduction in Barcelona Heskey has been a permanent fixture as England have banished the McClaren regime and left fans dreaming of South Africa.

In the 18 competitive games he has started, England have won 12, drawn five and lost only one - when Heskey gave a man-of-the-match performance as Brazil knocked them out of the 2002 World Cup.

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Selfless Heskey makes England tick

Would that be the game where Andorra had 10 men behind the ball and were camped on the 18 yard line....this is obviously when a target man in the Heskey mould would be used !
Im not set on erradicating it from our game its obviously needed at times like that, but against strong opposition who defend much much further up the pitcha andthere is space for playeres like Rooney and Defoe to run into then Heskey or players like him are a waste of space.

Good teams press us up the park and the long balls to Heskey just dont carry any threat hence we dont beat the stronger sides.

 

[The Wizard]

although he clearly is essential if Capello want to employ a target man to push back defenders and hold up the ball. which he has stated he likes as a tactic.

that said, i really dont see room for Crouch or C.Cole over Zamora, and he is breaking his own rule on form being the cheif selection criteria.

Not really, I know there is bias towards Zamora on here but C.Cole has scored the same amount of league goals even though he has been injured for months, Crouch, well, he's Crouch ain't he..

 

[sam86]

Rooney in doubt for friendly. Late call up for Zamora?

 

[Marshy]

although he clearly is essential if Capello want to employ a target man to push back defenders and hold up the ball. which he has stated he likes as a tactic. Heskey creates arces of space infront of the opposeing defense for Rooney to operate in and Gerrard and others to move into.

that said, i really dont see room for Crouch or C.Cole over Zamora, and he is breaking his own rule on form being the cheif selection criteria.

I agrre with much of what you say, expect against good opposition Heskey dosent push those defenders back. They push hijm back more and more to the half way line and then his game becomes far less essential at it were and less and less effective.
Against sides that camp in there own half against us there is definate merit to his inclusion but as i say when we come up against a top class side...

 

[The Wizard]

Why are we all arguing, Marshmiester clear knows tactics better than Capello (who has won tens of trophies btw) so we should bow down to his superior knowledge

MARSHY FOR ENGLAND MANAGER.

 

[Marshy]

Not really, I know there is bias towards Zamora on here but C.Cole has scored the same amount of league goals even though he has been injured for months, Crouch, well, he's Crouch ain't he..

So goals against Roma, Shaktah and Basle top European Club sides dont count... ? and as i said has been playing up front alone. None of the others do that.

Im a big Zamora fan, but even i realise he isnt really England material if im honest, but im also well aware that on current form...the last 6 months which is an extended period of time he has been better than Heskey, Cole and Crouch, therefore has to be included ahead of them

 

[Horsham Gull]

does anything think we might underestimate how good egypt are and field a weak squad? they did win the cup of nations afterall

 

[Marshy]

Why are we all arguing, Marshmiester clear knows tactics better than Capello (who has won tens of trophies btw) so we should bow down to his superior knowledge

MARSHY FOR ENGLAND MANAGER.

Hes an old man stuck in his ways...what can i say

 

[Marshy]

does anything think we might underestimate how good egypt are and field a weak squad? they did win the cup of nations afterall

mmm i see where your coming from. I dont know how well Egypt travel as a side to be honest, id guess not well.

 

[WATFORD zero]

To be fair Marshy, you've put your points over well.

Wrong, but well

And the tournament Egypt have just won is no pushover

 

[Mellotron]

Marshy, the fact you don't think Heskey played well yesterday shows how differently you and me watch a game of football.

We're coming at this from such different perspectives that I don't think we're ever going to see each other's point of view on this one.

 

[Marc]

I find it funny that alot of people "dont think Zamora is International material"...yet until he actually PLAYS at International level how can they/we be so sure he would fail? who's to say he wont bang in 2 goals a game against the top sides?

give him a go against Eygpt was a must IMO just to see what happens, its a friendly....its what they're used for!

 

[Marshy]

To be fair Marshy, you've put your points over well.

Wrong, but well

And the tournament Egypt have just won is no pushover

Thankyou..its all about opinions. I think in the end you will realise i am right.
But dont worry i wont expect an apology or anything.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

An Apology

I wrongly told a few people at the start of this thread that Bobby Zamora was injured, I wasn't aware he'd made a miraculous recovery to play yesterday, only realised when watching MOTD2 last night. My apologies to anyone who I wrongly informed he was injured.

Zamora for England.

(That is all)

 

[Pantani]

Finally a half sensible response. I like to see Defoe on the last man and Rooney dropping of every now and then.
I would have to disagree with you regarding Heskey getting in behind defences though, he really dosent offer that anymore, hance all i see him doing is challenging for headers..its the curse of our game the long ball up to the front man.

I would still stick with Heskey though. We are likely to be the better side in most of our games (until the quarters when we will lose). With that in mind Heskey allows us to keep the ball better than Defoe would. If we are/were trying to play on the break then Defoe would be my choice due to his pace.

On the long ball thing, this England team do not hoof it aimlessly. They play some longer balls but mainly try and retain posession through midfield. Playing Heskey does not automatically lead to a long ball game, when we do have lump it clear though he is most likely to be able to keep it.

 

[Marshy]

Well its been fun ive quite enjoyed myself but now its time for a spot of lunch and to chat up some nurses.

 

[beorhthelm]

Not really, I know there is bias towards Zamora on here but C.Cole has scored the same amount of league goals even though he has been injured for months, Crouch, well, he's Crouch ain't he..

fair point about Cole. However Crouch is poor as a target man, defender just back in to him and draw fouls and even though he wins headers there is little control. he's actually much better as a normal forward, but you wouldnt pick him ahead of Rooney or Defoe. Zamora is a much better target man. yes i know it a bit of a love in, but he is on great form and performs a similar role to Heskey + scores, so he should be getting a look in.

I agrre with much of what you say, expect against good opposition Heskey dosent push those defenders back. They push hijm back more and more to the half way line and then his game becomes far less essential at it were and less and less effective.

he can do that, which i think is in responce to his work rate and trying to get back into the game, he goes looking for the ball. Rooney does this too and it says more about the midfield than the strikers. Its down to to the manager to instruct both to stay forward and congest the midfield. if they cant follow that, adjust the palyers accordingly.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

According to the papers King is going to be called up.