Eriksson still pondering midfield

[Jager]

Eriksson still pondering midfield conundrum

Sven-Goran Eriksson has declared himself open to the idea of playing Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard alongside a holding midfielder - if he can find a player suitable for the job.

Time is running out for the England manager before he finalises his World Cup squad, and few places remain available in what is a largely settled squad.


But Eriksson has admitted it is not too late to impress him, and he also recognises England could benefit from taking a no-nonsense midfield tackler with them to Germany.

Ledley King was already been tried out in midfield, coping well against Argentina, but he is primarily a defender.

Eriksson is keeping his options open but is adamant Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can dovetail together in his midfield.

'They can do it - of course they can do it,' he told Sky Sports News. 'But if we want to have one sitting midfielder then we have to find one. It's one area which we are going to look at, that's for sure, because maybe you need it at some stage in the World Cup.'

Eriksson's admission that he needs to 'find' such a player suggests he is ready to look outside the current squad.

Newcastle's Scott Parker could be a leading contender, having impressed consistently despite his club's travails this season, while striker-turned-midfielder Alan Smith could also enter Eriksson's thinking on a serious basis if he does well for Manchester United in the coming months.

Manchester City's Joey Barton is an outsider, but has shown outstanding form this season.

Eriksson added: 'There's time for other players to knock on the door. I will open it maybe.'

The Football Association are working towards finalising England's build-up plans to the finals, with a Wembley friendly against Hungary already inked into the diary.

There are more matches to be organised, however, and Eriksson said: 'The first in March is important, but even more important are the two games in May, because then the Premier League season is over and it's only national teams.

'Then you have to prepare the team which is going to start (in England's first World Cup match) against Paraguay.'

England will expect to beat the South Americans on June 10 and also Trinidad and Tobago five days later, which theoretically could set up the June 20 match against Eriksson's home nation Sweden as the match which decides which side finishes top of Group B.

Sweden have not lost to England since 1967, and could only draw with them in the group stages of the 2002 World Cup.

However Eriksson said: 'It's time to beat Sweden. Thirty seven years is a long time. We'll see what happens there.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...353865&cc=5901

[CantonaStillGod]

Joey Barton no...there are enough players like him in the squad already. He doesn't offer anything different.

[kennethlindheim]

It has to be Scott Parker.

[CantonaStillGod]

Well I do agree with that because I think he's in fine form but...again Carrick can also give you a lot that the current midfield trio lack. I'd like to see both of them get a full 90 minutes in the position with

Parker/Carrick
Beckham Lampard Gerrard

for the whole game.

[mr.watford]

how could you forget owen hargreaves?

[CantonaStillGod]

Originally Posted by mr.watford

how could you forget owen hargreaves?

I meant if I was manager, not Eriksson. Obviously Hargreaves is our star, obviously.