England - Ecuador

[Little Green Man]

The smart money seems to be on the following line up for Sunday

Robinson

Hargreaves Ferdinand Terry Cole

Beckham Gerrard Carrick Lampard Cole

Rooney

Is this a case of necessity being the mother of invention, or has Sven finally slackened his nuts off a bit?

[TANGODANCER]

Given the defensive nature of most South Americans, I think a lone striker is a mistake. Sure we have to defend, but sending hopeful balls down the middle, particularly without Crouch's height, seems like asking for trouble. This is what it looks like we are doing. We have to get men in the box and I'd sooner see 442 with Crouch and Rooney forward. If our defence aren't good enough now, they'll never be. I'd also like to see us get some width with Lennon or Walcott. Another injury and we'll be picking the team with a pin if we just rely on one eleven, a predictable one at that. Just my opinion.

[Batman]

He picks the team that the papers tell him to.


The man is an arse.

[H. Pedersen]

He picks the team that the papers tell him to.


The man is an arse.

After Bruce Arena's "performance" in the World Cup I think it can safely be said there are worse ways to build a team. Such as playing a bunch of guys out of position in a formation that you've never used before.

[Frankie Wanderer]

Robinson

Hargreaves Ferdinand Terry Cole

Beckham Gerrard Carrick Lampard Cole

Rooney

Yeh this is quoted on the BBC - Hooorrraayyyyy - " I can only pass BACK " Carragher is dropped

[50sQuiff]

He picks the team that the papers tell him to.


The man is an arse.

It's arguably the right team, but we're in a bloody World Cup knockout faze with a lineup and formation we're unfamiliar with. It's laughable.

Our flat 4-4-2 is so outdated in the modern international game, T&T almost made a mockery of us with their tactical superiority. Given a choice between a diamond 4-4-2 and 4-3-3, it depends on the personnel. Maybe we would know if Sven had tested this extensively during the last two years?

[FaninOz]

The smart money seems to be on the following line up for Sunday

Robinson

Hargreaves Ferdinand Terry Cole

Beckham Gerrard Carrick Lampard Cole

Rooney

Is this a case of necessity being the mother of invention, or has Sven finally slackened his nuts off a bit?

What's happened to Lennon? I would have him in the lineup instead of Carrick.

[Batman]

Every time.

[Le Snake]

Good job we won the group and didn't get the Germans then, isn't it?

[Nozza]

Slight aside, I know, BUT I know someone who sold corporate tickets (5) for 2000 Euros....EACH.

He's scum.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Slight aside, I know, BUT I know someone who sold corporate tickets (5) for 2000 Euros....EACH.

He's scum.

Sounds like he undersold to me.

[Nozza]

Nope. He reckons touts are only asking for 750-1000 for normal match tickets. He thought the free food and beer justified a price double that. Whats worse, is he's never been to an England game in his life. Won the tickets through work. The lucky git.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Nope. He reckons touts are only asking for 750-1000 for normal match tickets. He thought the free food and beer justified a price double that. Whats worse, is he's never been to an England game in his life. Won the tickets through work. The lucky git.

Well, good luck to him.

I'd have kept a pair and sold three to pay for a great trip though.

[Frankie Wanderer]

Nope. He reckons touts are only asking for 750-1000 for normal match tickets. He thought the free food and beer justified a price double that. Whats worse, is he's never been to an England game in his life. Won the tickets through work. The lucky git.

Going rate for any ticket - other than the final - in Frankfurt at about 7pm this evening is around €600

Somebody is willing to pay that price but not me.

[Batman]

Slight aside, I know, BUT I know someone who sold corporate tickets (5) for 2000 Euros....EACH.

He's scum.

He isn't scum.

Scum is a word to describe murderers or rapists. This person is just a cock.

[50sQuiff]

Slight aside, I know, BUT I know someone who sold corporate tickets (5) for 2000 Euros....EACH.

He's scum.

He isn't scum.

Scum is a word to describe murderers or rapists. This person is just a cock.

Come on Batty, don't let common sense get in the way of irrational hatred. England are playing today!

[TANGODANCER]

Time to put negativity aside and get behind our team. FLY THE FLAG.

"COME ON ENGLAND"

[Daxter]

Sven's team selection is such a joke that it is nto even funny. Playing the overated Carrick in the holding role is a big mistake, he doesn't possess the tackling and energy levels of Hargreaves who had a great game against Sweden. Very odd to move our best central midfielder form the last game to right back. Playing Rooney up front on his own is also a disgrace, first off Rooney is better as a second striker, dropping off, nto leading an attack and added to the fact that he is not 100 % match fit it is a disgrace.

I don't know what Aron Lennon has to do to get in the side, Sven will never drop his lover Beckham though. And as much as i dont really like Crouch, he is our only striker to have scored at this world cup, what the hell has he done to get dropped.

We may well win today, but i hope it doesn't paper over the cracks, because i fear if we come up against Holland or portugal in the quaters, we will get embarrassed.

[Batman]

Time to put negativity aside and get behind our team. FLY THE FLAG.

"COME ON ENGLAND"

erm

[Mar]

Robinson
Hargreaves Ferdinand Terry Cole
Beckham Gerrard Carrick Lampard Cole
Rooney

Seems like Sven is willing to offer too much respect after seeing us concede two sloppy goals in our last group game against Sweden.

I'm still not sure that Carrick is the man for the job and having being untested at international level it seems a little presumptuous to expect him to be able to do the part today. I just hope he can allow Gerrard and Lampard the freedom to play their own games rather than struggle to compete with one another.

I hope this 'throw people in at the deep end' isn't getting to be a common theme with Eriksson, heck even if we were to get to the final at this rate I could see the manager dropping Walcott in there.