Team for Russia

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REDLAND

Active member
Jul 7, 2003
9,443
At the foot of the downs
I'd get Hargreaves in if he's fit, its gonna be a tougher game so a bit more resilience in midfield is required

apart from that I'd leave it ..
 


hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
63,448
Chandlers Ford
I wouldn't change the defence, certainly.

the only two calls to make are Hargreaves / Barry and Heskey / Crouch.

I don't think I'd change it at all tbh. Just have the others on the bench if needed.
 








hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
63,448
Chandlers Ford
That isn't true of Crouch at all. He has been left out plenty of times when he should have played.
 




That isn't true of Crouch at all. He has been left out plenty of times when he should have played.

I've got an appalling memory, so I've probably just forgotten these... but the only times I can think of is when he's been dropped for Owen or Rooney, England's two "big name" centre forwards. Has he been dropped to allow Johnson/Defoe/AN Other to play?
 




Dave the OAP

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
47,270
at home
I would probably bring hargreaves in for Barry, but I see McClaren appears to have had a spat with Owen according to teh papers. Be interesting to see if he plays Heskey or Crouch in a fit of pique

Otherwise I would leave it as it is.
 


Easy 10

Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Jul 5, 2003
62,830
Location Location
If it ain;t broke...

What this HAS shown is what an absolute blessing it is to have Lampard and His Royal Beckness both crocked. Its forced Gingerflaps into picking a SUITABLE midfield partner for Gerrard, and its given SWP the chance to stake his claim on the right. Actually having some pace and trickery on the flanks changes the whole dynamic of the team.

Lampard and Beckham are squad players for sure. But they should not be automatic starters any longer. However, I fear McLaren will revert back to them the second they are fit again (or in Beckhams case, when he can at least appear to walk without a limp).
 


Dave the OAP

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
47,270
at home
If it ain;t broke...

What this HAS shown is what an absolute blessing it is to have Lampard and His Royal Beckness both crocked. Its forced Gingerflaps into picking a SUITABLE midfield partner for Gerrard, and its given SWP the chance to stake his claim on the right. Actually having some pace and trickery on the flanks changes the whole dynamic of the team.

Lampard and Beckham are squad players for sure. But they should not be automatic starters any longer. However, I fear McLaren will revert back to them the second they are fit again (or in Beckhams case, when he can at least appear to walk without a limp).


I actually think we have seen the last of Beckham. i was reading a report in the Observer that seemed to suggest that his knee injury is far worse than originally feared and he may not play again in teh USA this season ( it finishes soon anyway) If we do not make teh Euro finals, I think he and a few other will be gone from the england set up and we will start again ( with Guss Hiddink hopefully)
 




Uncle Buck

Ghost Writer
Jul 7, 2003
28,077
I actually think we have seen the last of Beckham. i was reading a report in the Observer that seemed to suggest that his knee injury is far worse than originally feared and he may not play again in teh USA this season ( it finishes soon anyway) If we do not make teh Euro finals, I think he and a few other will be gone from the england set up and we will start again ( with Guss Hiddink hopefully)

In fairness I would suspect Beckham and Neville will call it a day after next summer (if we qualify).
 


Tricky Dicky

New member
Jul 27, 2004
13,558
Sunny Shoreham
I actually think we have seen the last of Beckham. i was reading a report in the Observer that seemed to suggest that his knee injury is far worse than originally feared and he may not play again in teh USA this season ( it finishes soon anyway) If we do not make teh Euro finals, I think he and a few other will be gone from the england set up and we will start again ( with Guss Hiddink hopefully)

I think they'll let him get to 100 caps (rightly or wrongly) then that'll be goodnight.
 








Dave the OAP

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
47,270
at home
4 or 5 I think, not many.


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)
 


Easy 10

Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Jul 5, 2003
62,830
Location Location
I actually think we have seen the last of Beckham. i was reading a report in the Observer that seemed to suggest that his knee injury is far worse than originally feared and he may not play again in teh USA this season ( it finishes soon anyway) If we do not make teh Euro finals, I think he and a few other will be gone from the england set up and we will start again ( with Guss Hiddink hopefully)

The Disney season finishes October 21st I believe.
The whole LAG thing has been a complete disaster and a fiasco. I reckon they;ll be cutting their losses at the end of the season and packing him back off to England in the January transfer window. West Sham will probably \"borrow\" him for nothing from LAG, or Gillette, or Adidas, or whoever the hell actually owns him, and just pay some kind of secret rental fee to Posh or something.
 


Uncle Buck

Ghost Writer
Jul 7, 2003
28,077
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)

Well Owen is only about 27, Heskey is under 30 and Robinson is only about 25, so not really falling into the ageing pro's.
 




Dave the OAP

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
47,270
at home
Well Owen is only about 27, Heskey is under 30 and Robinson is only about 25, so not really falling into the ageing pro's.

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)
 




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