England Team for tomorrow

[Devil's Advocate]

Robinson, G Neville, R Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Gerrard (right wing), Lampard, Hargreaves, Downing, Defoe and Crouch.

Ashton pulled up with ankle injury in training.

Not a bad side for me.

And discuss.....

[Joe_Brett]

yeah i think that is the team, i just can't be arsed typing it all :D

[Jantje]

Is Ashton Deffo Out, I Thought Him & Bent Would Be Up Front

[Devil's Advocate]

Is Ashton Deffo Out, I Thought Him & Bent Would Be Up Front

Yers, mate, McLaren was on Radio 5 at 12.30 for press conference - expressed how disappointing it was for the lad, he's having a scan but they don't know the extent of the injury yet. That is deffo the team, no idea where Bent is?

Asked if Gerrard will play on the right, he said yes as it is where he played for Liverpool most of last year chipping in with 23 goals. He's looking for blend and balance - that is the new buzz phrase. Hopefully he'll get it with hargreaves as the anchor role and Gerrard and Downing both able to fill in inside where needed.

[Barmy]

Is Ashton Deffo Out, I Thought Him & Bent Would Be Up Front

Broken his ancle has the lad.

Would go along with that formation superfat atm.

Robinson,
G Neville,
R Ferdinand,
Terry,
A Cole,
Gerrard,
Lampard,
Hargreaves,
Downing,
Defoe,
Crouch.

[Devil's Advocate]

Broken his ancle has the lad.

Would go along with that formation superfat atm.

Robinson,
G Neville,
R Ferdinand,
Terry,
A Cole,
Gerrard,
Lampard,
Hargreaves,
Downing,
Defoe,
Crouch.

It's not my formation it's McLaren's!

Personally I think he'll play a narrow midfield, with Downing and Gerrard tucked in a bit and Hargreaves sitting in front of back 4.

[Barmy]

It's not my formation it's McLaren's!

Aye, realise that now, read this thread before i knew he'd given his team out. :rolleyes:

[ChuckleBantam]

Just as I thought, he's not gotthe bollocks to drop Lampard so he plays his best player out of position and minimises the attacking threat. Has Lampard got photos of McLaughable and Sven bumming in the showers or something??

Downing??!! *shakes head*

[Jantje]

With Joe Cole injured, i would have preferred Keiron richardson on the left to Downing although he is worth a look at in a friendly

[ChuckleBantam]

The presence of Downing in the squad full stop is a mystery to me. He's another lightweight with nothing to offer. How people can celebrate the dropping of Beckham with such glee and overlook a willingness to pick poor players like Downing and Light Phillips is bizarre to say the least.

Dropping Beckham was only a brave and footballing decision if he was going to give Lennon a run in the team, a player with pace and a willingness to take a player or two on.The decision to put Gerrard in on the right it's a like for like swap for Beckham and highlights that McLaughable's decision to drop Beckham was a personal one, that's probably a hangover from their Manchester United days.

When any England manager finally realises that Lampard's only realistic part to play in any England squad is as Steven Gerrards understudy then we might progress and offer the attacking threat and ability to steamroller teams in a manner we are doubtlessly are capable of. That will only happen if the players are used properly.

[king billy]

Did you realise this game was a friendly Dave?

I'm not great fan of McClaren, but do you not think that his 1st choice team could be much, much different to tomorrow nights?

Maybe he's giving Lamps 1 last chance to prove himself....

Maybe he's just seeing how well Gerrard plays on the right as an alternative before he reverts him back to his natural position....

Maybe Downing is being given 1 last chance to force himself into the team before he reverts back to Cole (who's injured at the moment BTW)

I'm sure McClaren's 1st choice team would have Gerrard in the centre, Lennon on the right and Cole on the left - why not wait till the qualifiers before having a thrombo?

*KB shakes head at Chuckle - the man who preaches for patience and for folk to be given a chance, yet can't wait to slag of the man who aint even been in charge for 1 game yet*

[ChuckleBantam]

Did you realise this game was a friendly Dave?

I'm not great fan of McClaren, but do you not think that his 1st choice team could be much, much different to tomorrow nights?

Maybe he's giving Lamps 1 last chance to prove himself....

Maybe he's just seeing how well Gerrard plays on the right as an alternative before he reverts him back to his natural position....

Maybe Downing is being given 1 last chance to force himself into the team before he reverts back to Cole (who's injured at the moment BTW)

I'm sure McClaren's 1st choice team would have Gerrard in the centre, Lennon on the right and Cole on the left - why not wait till the qualifiers before having a thrombo?

*KB shakes head at Chuckle - the man who preaches for patience and for folk to be given a chance, yet can't wait to slag of the man who aint even been in charge for 1 game yet*


Even the most patient man in the world can see, looking at his record with Boro that this man is not a good choice to be manager of the National team. The FA has the resources to appoint anybody and we end up appointing a manager who's club record despite the fact that he had the biggest chequebook outside of Stamford Bridge at his disposal, spells out the word L.O.S.E.R!

If he had the answers as to what turns England into a winning team, surely he'd have made them known during his spell as first team coach. I support a club side that is handicapped by having clueless gobshites in charge with a make do manager where the main goal is mediocrity, I don't want my National team to be the same. The appointment of this man indicates it will betdwn: .

I love the Summers of World Cups and Euros and love the anticipation leading up to them, the appointment of McLaughable indicates that any excited anticipation towards these tournements will not be required. The very fact that already he's appointed the wrong man as captain and dropped a player that still has lots to offer already goes along way towards proving my fears to be totally valid ones:(

[king billy]

I'd rather have half a dozen other managers instead of him too - but the decisions been made mate, me and you aren't gonna get him sacked......the positives i'm taking is that he's made bold decisions which on the whole seem right.....although i did shake my head at his decision to play Gerrard on the right, no Lennon and to try again with Lamps - but then like i mentioned above upon reflection i thought he might be right, why not use his one and only friendly before the qualifiers to give Lamps one last chance, the last time Gerrard played on the right he was MOM if i remember rightly.......i'm saving my judgement till after the game tomorrow night!!

[ChuckleBantam]

I'd rather have half a dozen other managers instead of him too - but the decisions been made mate, me and you aren't gonna get him sacked......the positives i'm taking is that he's made bold decisions which on the whole seem right.....although i did shake my head at his decision to play Gerrard on the right, no Lennon and to try again with Lamps - but then like i mentioned above upon reflection i thought he might be right, why not use his one and only friendly before the qualifiers to give Lamps one last chance, the last time Gerrard played on the right he was MOM if i remember rightly.......i'm saving my judgement till after the game tomorrow night!!

Save it till were playing catch up with Croatia nad Russia in our Euro qualifying group mate. Wether we win or lose tomorrow is irellevent, but it still doesn't mask the fact that McLaren has achieved nothing in the game that makes him fit for the best job in football. You're probably too young to remember when the FA overlooked Brian Clough in favour of Ron Greenwood and the mediocre dirge that resulted from that decision eh Matty? And Ron Greenwood was a far far far better manager than McLaughable could ever dream to be.

[Loyalish2]

Chucklebantam, a couple of things. First up, you seem to have missed this question on the Beckham thread so here it is again...

Re:McLaren 'What do you consider 'successful'? What would you consider failure under McLarens leadership? Only we've won just one trophy in a hundred years and apart from Alf Ramsay no other England manager in history has guided us to a major final!!???'

Secondly. Oh, and before I start, as far as I'm concerned he's on a par with Curbishley and the like. His C****c connection means jack. Back to it, what exactly has your choice O'Neil done anyway? He had minor successes piss ballin' about in the Conference and Division 4, before leaving under a cloud. He then went to Norwich and barely lasted six months, leaving because he couldn't get his own way. He then won a couple of League Cups with Leicester(I must say, beating Tranmere Rovers in the final was a wonderful achievement), and he went on to win a few trophies north of the border in a two team league(just like your old favourite Souness did at Rangers!). As CVs go, it's not exactly up there with Shankly and Jose is it???

Last but not least. ENGLISHMAN Mclaren on SKYSPORTS, 'There will be mistakes but we have to get the shackles off and get them playing without fear.'

I tell thee, right now, McLaughable will do for me! tup:

[ChuckleBantam]

fear.'

I tell thee, right now, McLaughable will do for me! tup:

That doesn't surprise me a jot. After listening to your opinion of what you think is right for Bradford City over the past few years, you can instantly see failure and mediocrity are acceptable words in your Vocabulary where the beautiful game is concerned!!

Laters..

[Loyalish2]

Mmm, no answers again I see. I'm surprised, for once I was genuinely interested in what you had to say. I could give it the tony d rant about avoiding the issue, but that would be pointless cos over the years we've been there and done that a trillion times and it's incredibly boring.

I know, I'll just smile and go and have me tea shall I?

Cheers.

[king billy]

Save it till were playing catch up with Croatia nad Russia in our Euro qualifying group mate. Wether we win or lose tomorrow is irellevent, but it still doesn't mask the fact that McLaren has achieved nothing in the game that makes him fit for the best job in football. You're probably too young to remember when the FA overlooked Brian Clough in favour of Ron Greenwood and the mediocre dirge that resulted from that decision eh Matty? And Ron Greenwood was a far far far better manager than McLaughable could ever dream to be.

So what are you gonna do then Dave? Get on the ladder down at the F.A. rise through the ranks, join the F.A's top table and sack him?

Why not give the poor fekker the benefit of the doubt before you slag him off - you need to face facts my friend, he's the manager whether you like it or not, no amount of hissy fitting is gonna change that......it almost sounds like you want the self proclaimed "love of your life" to loose in order to speed up McClaren's departure - me, i want to see how the fella gets on before i start slating him....

[ChuckleBantam]

he's the manager whether you like it or not, no amount of hissy fitting is gonna change that......it almost sounds like you want the self proclaimed "love of your life" to loose in order to speed up McClaren's departure -.

Bit Hypocritical Matty, I've been saying the same to you about Colin Todd for the past two years.

[king billy]

Bit Hypocritical Matty, I've been saying the same to you about Colin Todd for the past two years.

So we both are then....

But the difference being i gave Todd a full season, thats 46 games (and a few into the next) before i started slating him - you've not even given McClaren 1 mate....

[ChuckleBantam]

Chucklebantam, a couple of things. First up, you seem to have missed this question on the Beckham thread so here it is again...

Re:McLaren 'What do you consider 'successful'? What would you consider failure under McLarens leadership? Only we've won just one trophy in a hundred years and apart from Alf Ramsay no other England manager in history has guided us to a major final!!???'

Secondly. Oh, and before I start, as far as I'm concerned he's on a par with Curbishley and the like. His C****c connection means jack. Back to it, what exactly has your choice O'Neil done anyway? He had minor successes piss ballin' about in the Conference and Division 4, before leaving under a cloud. He then went to Norwich and barely lasted six months, leaving because he couldn't get his own way. He then won a couple of League Cups with Leicester(I must say, beating Tranmere Rovers in the final was a wonderful achievement), and he went on to win a few trophies north of the border in a two team league(just like your old favourite Souness did at Rangers!). As CVs go, it's not exactly up there with Shankly and Jose is it???

Last but not least. ENGLISHMAN Mclaren on SKYSPORTS, 'There will be mistakes but we have to get the shackles off and get them playing without fear.'

I tell thee, right now, McLaughable will do for me! tup:

Succesful is winning something. Admittedly something Sir Alf's predessesors have not delivered. However, since the appointment of Bobby Robson, Graham Taylor included, the FA have gone and appointed the best man for the job at that time in an attempt to at least give us a chance of success. This time they have gone for one of the two worse qualified of the applicants. I cannot see the logic in that at all. Ok, so he's familiar with the set up, but if your somebody who was hypercritical of the former regime, then he's guilty by assosiation surely??

The F.A has enough financial clout to appoint whoever it fecking wants, that's what I find bizarre that they have appointed a nomark like McLaughable, who's already ****ed up with the two major decision's he's had to make since he officialy took charge, this surely should set the alarm bells ringing. Even with the people that actually expressed an interest in the job, they still overlooked the capable and worthy ones for someone who's had no experience of success as a manager.

As for Martin O'Neill's credentials, you would agree with every word I say if he'd never managed Celtic, bigotry is clouding your judgement. He's one of the rare breed who is a tactitian and a motivator and he has what McLaren will never possess, a winning mentality and an ability to bring the best out in any player. End Of!!

Anybody who can seriously sit there and say, that in McLaughable the FA picked a better and more worthy manager than Martin O'Neill needs to take up following another sport, because football is clearly too complicated for them.

[ChuckleBantam]

So we both are then....

But the difference being i gave Todd a full season, thats 46 games (and a few into the next) before i started slating him - you've not even given McClaren 1 mate....

I don't need to, I've seen the **** up he made at Middlesborough. The England job is a different breed tototally. 46 games is about four years worth of football, we cannot afford to give a manager like McLaughable 46 games to get a job like England right. The games against Gus Hiddink's (another better one that the FA let get away) Russia and Croatia in our qualifiers are the biggies for him. Struggle in those, then it's an indicator of what we can expect from the McLaughable era. I personally don't think he'll last the Euro qualifying Camapaign, I hope I'm wrong cos that means Summer 2008 will be a dull one.

[king billy]

I don't need to, I've seen the **** up he made at Middlesborough. The England job is a different breed tototally. 46 games is about four years worth of football, we cannot afford to give a manager like McLaughable 46 games to get a job like England right. The games against Gus Hiddink's (another better one that the FA let get away) Russia and Croatia in our qualifiers are the biggies for him. Struggle in those, then it's an indicator of what we can expect from the McLaughable era. I personally don't think he'll last the Euro qualifying Camapaign, I hope I'm wrong cos that means Summer 2008 will be a dull one.


Do sommat about it then?......When i was fekked off with Todd i let the miserable **** know about it (as did many others with the shouts and boo's), i made numerous complaints on the OMB to Pollard (not that it'll have gone any further), i wrote an (unanswered) letter to JR, i handed in season ticket vouchers with another letter of complaint (which i did recieve a letter from)......if you feel so strongly get yoursen to Old Trafford tonight and make your feelings known mate - venting your spleen on here about what could have been aint gonna do owt.....
I'm resigned to the fact that we've got the 5th choice (in my mind anyway) manager, i'm gonna give him half a dozen games tho to prove me wrong....;)

[Jantje]

Is anybody else worried about a lack of decent forwards at the minute, i know Rooney will be back but after Defoe, Crouch , Bent & Ashton the cupboard is pretty bare. Andy Johnson was **** on by Sven when he got his chance so maybe a good season with Everton could help him, but i don't like Beattie & can't think of anyone else. A bit worrying i think

[king billy]

You only need 3 or 4 though JS and we have got some quality, Rooney is obviously the star man, but i don't think Owen is the right man to play alongside him and i hate to say it but i don't think he'll ever get back to be the player he was......therefore i'd be looking at someone like Ashton to play with Rooney, Crouch and Defoe are supersub strikers, we need a medium to long term striking partner for Rooney - i'm gutted Ashton's out for 3 months because i'm sure he would have shown his value tonight....:(

Bent, Beattie and Johnson really are scraping the barrel mate, Bent needs another season like last to prove himself, which history says won't happen - Beattie and Johnson being good examples of a "one season wonder".......I'd be more prepared to give someone like Harewood a go, like Emilie Heskey except he does score goals, does use his strength, can pass, and can actually play football....

[Jantje]

Thats what i meant KB, if Rooney, Owen or Ashton are out, we are scraping the barrel. Personally i don't think Beattie, AJ & Bent are good enough & last night the U21's had Theo & Dave Nugent up front. Like you i was looking forward to seeing Ashton, hard luck on the lad.

[king billy]

I'd be more prepared to give someone like Harewood a go, like Emilie Heskey except he does score goals, does use his strength, can pass, and can actually play football....

I've just realised i've compared him to Heskey - then listed a set of attributes (like being able to play football) that Heskey don't have lol - i should have meant looked like Heskey - the only similaritys being that he's big and black.....tup: