musings - TalkSoccer

MUMUFMUFCOK! · 31-05-2006, 07:10 PM

We are nearly all in agreement as to what the back 5 should be, and that is pretty much set in stone unless there are any injuries.

The front 6 is still causing some controversy so, to paraphrase MC Hammer, lets break it down now.

Forgetting about Hargreaves, Jenas, Downing and Walcott, here's the best role of each key attacker.

Beckham - on the right of a four man midfield, although he prefers it in the centre.
Lennon - getting down either wing.
Cole - seems to play at his best for Chelsea on the left of a 3-man attack.
Carrick - the holding player in a narrow midfield.
Gerrard - In front of the midfield protectors, behind a main striker.
Lampard - In a midfield three with one defensive player to cover him.
Rooney - Not important, but at his most potent playing off the striker.
Owen - playing as part of a two with a big target man.
Crouch - watching on the TV, preferably. But acting as the big target man.

The key attackers within that are Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney, so it makes sense to get the best out of the three of them, if that is possible. What about...

Beckham.....Carrick.....Lampard

..................Gerrard

...........Owen..........Rooney

Lampard can fulfill the role he plays for Chelsea, Gerrard has freedom to get forward and it suits Rooney as well. Carrick can play that position well, it is essentially the role he has for Tottenham and Beckham would be happy as well. The only person it does not suit is Owen, but of course Rooney is out for the time being so stick Crouch in there and Owen will probably thrive.

Of course it has it's drawbacks. There is no Joe Cole, and he doesn't deserve to be dropped. But having him and Lennon to bring on if required is an exciting prospect, both have got the ability to change the game for us. The other obvious problem is that it may be too narrow, but I can't think of a nation out there with really dangerous wingers who'd prove too much for Neville and Cole to deal with.

Thoughts?

The Rule · 31-05-2006, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUMUFMUFCOK!

but I can't think of a nation out there with really dangerous wingers who'd prove too much for Neville and Cole to deal with.

Thoughts?

Spain perhaps??

MUMUFMUFCOK! · 31-05-2006, 07:33 PM

Oh aye.

I've just realised that system is effectively the diamond midfield again. And there was me thinking I was the next Rinus Michels.

**russe||** · 31-05-2006, 10:07 PM

IMO we should just except that we can't field our best 11 players and play:

...................Carrick

Beckham.......................J.Cole

..................Gerrard

...........Owen..........Rooney

With Fat Frank on the subs bench.

**kyan** · 31-05-2006, 10:14 PM

tbh i dont reckon carrick is much better defensively than beckham but beckham has the better long ball which is carricks best attribute, if he were to learn to just sit back then it could accommodate all of england's best 4 midfielders

hanuma · 31-05-2006, 10:39 PM

Carrick is wank...he couldn't play holding midfield in International football to save his life.

**andy villa** · 01-06-2006, 12:06 PM

its a shame nolan or barton werent picked...

they could do the holding midfielder job superbly...

hanuma · 01-06-2006, 12:07 PM

Nolan's never done it before and Barton is a liability.

I like Nolan though and think he could have adapted.

**andy villa** · 01-06-2006, 12:11 PM

both could have...

barton is a bit of a livewire, but then again, so is rooney, beckham was, etc...

he would have been superb there as he has so much energy...

MUMUFMUFCOK! · 01-06-2006, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanuma

Carrick is wank...he couldn't play holding midfield in International football to save his life.

He does it for Tottenham very well...is it really that big a difference? It's certainly less of a liability than expecting a mediocre 'tryer' to step up from centre-half in club football to holding the midfield in the World Cup.

I'm sure he could do it to save his life, although I'm not sure when exactly someone is going to put a gun to his head and say, "You, play holding midfield in International football, or I'll fucking shoot."

The Rule · 01-06-2006, 03:05 PM

He has Davids talking him thru every game at Spurs though.

That you refer to Jamie Carragher, without doubt one of the best centre backs in Europe, as a "mediocre tryer" is just plain ridiculous.

hanuma · 01-06-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUMUFMUFCOK!

He does it for Tottenham very well...is it really that big a difference? It's certainly less of a liability than expecting a mediocre 'tryer' to step up from centre-half in club football to holding the midfield in the World Cup.

I'm sure he could do it to save his life, although I'm not sure when exactly someone is going to put a gun to his head and say, "You, play holding midfield in International football, or I'll fucking shoot."

Nice post....but let me clarify.

Rule posted half of what I was going to say...Davids does the work.

Carrick doesn't hold the midfield for Spurs and he never will...he is like an average version of Pirlo or Alonso....a creator not a destroyer and an average creator at that.