Lampard

[London Calling]

Sven is not the man to drop any of his midfield players.

Beckham constantly boots the long ball missing out his midfield colleagues.

Until Lennon came on we had no width down the right side.

We are still aiming to recreate the dream goal scored against Argentina.

Lads everyone is prepared for Owen now, he is not so quick. Forget the long haul pass.


All our dead ball kicks come from Beckham, yes he is good but it is all predictable.

Lets get some variety in there. Lampard, Cole, Gerrard, Rooney and more can take great free kicks.

Get some variety in there, get the defence guessing. And Becks will score more than one goal from a free kick than every 3 years.

Basically we have got some great players in midfield, lets not forget Cole.

But pick the side for the team we are playing. If that means dropping Coile, then so be it.

If it means Lennon instead nof Beckham then fine.


But lets get some variety, innovation in midfield and we will suceed.

lC

 

[London Irish]

I can't really judge on that - a bit harsh on leading our form goalscorer out, especially for a bloke who isn't likely to be match fit. But I haven't seen a lot of ROONEY up front on his own

Greavsie writing in the Sun today/tomorrow is also calling for Owen and Crouch to be dropped and Rooney up front on his own, Carrick holding with Lampard and Gerrard released to get forward and support Rooney.

Whether this strengthens my argument, I'm not sure

 

[Silent Bob]

I don't think Rooney is a lone striker. He likes to drop deep not hold the line. WE need Owen fit, he must play the complete the Sweden game imo. I'd start with him and Rooney up front, Gerrard on the bench, Carrick in.

Another problem is that both Beckham and Joe Cole don't get to the by line, making us very narrow. I wish Cole would as he has shown he can and he is capable with both feet.

 

[hitony]

Greavsie writing in the Sun today/tomorrow is also calling for Owen and Crouch to be dropped and Rooney up front on his own, Carrick holding with Lampard and Gerrard released to get forward and support Rooney.

Whether this strengthens my argument, I'm not sure

And what does Greavsie know about scoring goals ?

 

[Icy Gull]

And what does Greavsie know about scoring goals ?

He knows plenty about not being picked for a World Cup WINNING team though

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

I think we have to go with one up front and play a holding midfielder. Sven needs to finally grow some bollocks and get the courage to drop someone if it's necessary. He's leaving anyway, so what does it matter if he pisses them off?

I would play:

• Robinson
• Neville (or Carragher if still injured)
• A Cole
• Terry
• Ferdinand
• Carrick
• Beckham
• Lampard
• Gerrard
• J Cole
• Rooney

This gives both Lampard and Gerrard room to bomb forward, and leaves us with some reliability behind them so we're not too exposed.

With this system we have room to change things round if we need to. Lennon/Downing can give us more width. We could go slightly narrower, lose Joe Cole or Beckham and bring on Crouch/Owen. Go 3 at the back to bring on a striker. So many possibilities.

Obviously Sven will stick to 4 4 2.

 

[blockhseagull]

I think we have to go with one up front and play a holding midfielder. Sven needs to finally grow some bollocks and get the courage to drop someone if it's necessary. He's leaving anyway, so what does it matter if he pisses them off?

I would play:

• Robinson
• Neville (or Carragher if still injured)
• A Cole
• Terry
• Ferdinand
• Carrick
• Beckham
• Lampard
• Gerrard
• J Cole
• Rooney

This gives both Lampard and Gerrard room to bomb forward, and leaves us with some reliability behind them so we're not too exposed.

With this system we have room to change things round if we need to. Lennon/Downing can give us more width. We could go slightly narrower, lose Joe Cole or Beckham and bring on Crouch/Owen. Go 3 at the back to bring on a striker. So many possibilities.

Obviously Sven will stick to 4 4 2.

Kinda like that side, Cole playing off Rooney i guess ?

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

Not really. Cole and Beckham staying wider, helping to take up space that the opposition full backs would try to exploit, and hopefully be able to play balls in to the box. Gerrard and Lampard getting forward to support Rooney.

 

[Beach Hut]

Room for both IMHO but it can leave us exposed - both score goals although Lampard looks out of sorts at present.

 

[Sid James]

Gerrard has never run a show in his life. On a better day Lampard would have had a hat-trcik against Trinidad, do people really want to take that out of the side? Remember he was our leading scorer in qualifying and joint leader with Rooney in Euro 2004.

Another hugely influential performance wouldn't you say ?

Take your pick which one I'm talking about.

 

[BensGrandad]

The commentator tonight said that Lampard has had the most shots at goal of any player in this World Cup so far.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Is it worth pointing out that despite playing two games where he had to sit back more than Lampard and only twenty minutes yesterday that Gerrard is our top goalscorer? And that Lampard, despite having a lot more opportunities than Gerrard, has exactly no goals?

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

The commentator tonight said that Lampard has had the most shots at goal of any player in this World Cup so far.

Seems to think that the nore shots he has the better he looks.

 

[Da Man Clay]

Lampard has been awful, I pray that it doesn't fall to him closer than 30 yards out as he will shoot and waste a good position, Drop him for Hargreaves Sven, you know it makes sense.

 

[Les Biehn]

I think Lampard looks alright, he has kept hold of possession well he just needs a goal.

 

[Sid James]

he just needs a goal.

On current form it's gonna be a long wait. Here's hoping it happens soon.

 

[Marshy]

I think Lampard has done ok, he does keep getting into the right areas and has opportunities, if he wasnt doing that i would be concerned.

If he had put a couple away weveryone would be raving about him.

Lampard is the least of our worries in my opinion.

 

[Silent Bob]

Another hugely influential performance wouldn't you say ?

Take your pick which one I'm talking about.

He played well in the first half, just not got his shooting boots on.

 

[Sid James]

He played well in the first half, just not got his shooting boots on.

I think he was OK in the first half but overall looks very subdued. This, I think, is due to him not being able to cope with the defensive responsibilities that come with being one of two central midfielders. He just doesn't look the same player, see the Barcelona Champions league second leg for another example.

Hargreaves should keep his place for the next game. If we play a five man midfield then fine, if not he has to / will be replaced by Gerrard.

This isn't a witch hunt. I like him and think he is a VERY good player, but only when he has TOTAL freedom and I'm not sure we can give him that for England. As an aside it will be very interesting to see how things go at Chelsea for him if they play two strikers next season.

 

[Silent Bob]

I think Sven will probably go for a five man midfield anyway.

----------Robinson----------
Carra--Terry--Ferdinand--Cole
---------Hargreaves--------
-----Gerrard---Lampard-------
Beckham----------------Cole
----------Rooney----------

Which will be interesting, 4-5-1 hasn't worked for us in the past and we haven't practiced it, but on paper that looks like a formation that suits us, especially after the sad loss of Michael Owen. It could see the best of Lampard AND Gerrard together for England.