Eriksson defends Defoe exclusion

[kyan]

Originally Posted by BBC

Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has defended his controversial decision not to take Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe to the 2006 World Cup.
Eriksson chose Theo Walcott ahead of Defoe and despite injury doubts over Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.

England went out at the quarter-final stage and Walcott did not play at all.

But Eriksson said: "Jermain had a very bad season. I don't think he deserved to go to the World Cup. Taking Theo was the right decision."

Eriksson added: "Where are the other good English forwards? I saw 100, 120 Premiership games every year and I couldn't find out."

And he admits he still feels England should have gone further than their last-eight defeat on penalties at the hands of Portugal.

He said: "Maybe I should have taken on a sports psychologist for the taking of penalties. I know many Premier League clubs work with one.

"We shouldn't have lost to Portugal. Even today, I think we should have reached the final."

Eriksson failed to make it beyond the last eight in three major tournaments but stated: "If you look at the whole picture I think it was a good five-and-a-half years. I think we did rather well."

what a twat.....
whats the point in this now, missing the press coverage no doubt, finding it hard to get a new job.
if jd had a bad season what did walcott have? yes he made a big money move but he didnt play a single game from jan --> june. eriksson never saw him.
england strikers who did well last season: bent, ashton, johnson
walcott wasnt the next best thing. especially considering he wasnt used

[MUMUFMUFCOK!]

I agree with him that Defoe didn't deserve to go. I'd have taken Ashton...or even Teddy Sheringham.

Rooney was missing for half the tournament, and there is no other Englishman apart from Teddy with the same vision, and who can drop off and link midfield and attack in the same way.

Defoe offers nothing new or different, neither does Darren Bent.

Johnson, Rooney, Crouch, and Owen are the best four, and each brings something a bit different to the party.

[mr.watford]

how does johnson offer anything different to owen, defoe or bent?

[Olzy]

diving = penalties

Main attribute of the 4:

I think
Owen = poacher / world class finisher
Crouch = headers / hold up play
Johnson = pace / excellent work rate
Rooney = has everything

But then again Defoe and Bent are quick like Johnson.

So silly Sven coming out with this crap, it's a stupid thing to say as it doesnt justify taking the young kid, who he wouldnt of seen in a competive game.

[mr.watford]

crouch can't head the ball.

andy fuckface may have pace and work rate but then again so do defoe and bent, i don't see why johnson offers something different and defoe and bent don't.

[MUMUFMUFCOK!]

Originally Posted by mr.watford

how does johnson offer anything different to owen, defoe or bent?

Stronger, better in the air, runs the channels more, holds it up better.

[mr.watford]

He gets knocked down a lot for someone who is strong.

Better in the air? I can only remember Johnson scoring one header before and that was two years ago.

[Olzy]

I say give Johnson a chance, I dont think Defoe has ever done much for England, I'm not a fan of his really though.

I think Bent has been looking really menacing for Charlton lately.

5 in 7 or something like that, whereas Johnson hasnt scored in 7 games?

But with Johnson his goal drought will end sooner rather than later.