Who the hell are England going to play up front? - TalkSoccer

**russe||** · 13-08-2007, 04:31 PM

Owen is injured, Rooney is injured and Crouch is suspended so who on earth should McClaren pick to play up front against Israel?

Off the top of my head the options are:

Bent
Ashton
Johnson
Defoe
Nugent
Lita
Smith
Derbyshire
Walcott
Agbahnlahor

Scraping the bottom of the barrel:

Heskey
Vassell
Beattie

Who do you reckon we should go with? Looking at that list I have no idea what to suggest.

**kyan** · 13-08-2007, 04:33 PM

I think Bent & Johnson.

It's too soon for Ashton, he's not match fit enough yet.

Bent deserves a chance and Johnson has earned himself a chance as well.

Is Lita not injured either? I think we should take Derbyshire on the bench, he's actually been very good coming off it for Blackburn and we need someone who can score goals off the bench...

I expect it'll probably be Nugent and Smith though.

**Evertonscouser** · 13-08-2007, 04:34 PM

Johnson and Bent IMO.
Ashton hasnt played enough to be in contention.
Defoe on the bench, a player who can replace either player if needed.

**Sven** · 13-08-2007, 04:39 PM

God imagine Wallcott up front for our games against Isreal and Russia.

**russe||** · 13-08-2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyan

Is Lita not injured either? I think we should take Derbyshire on the bench, he's actually been very good coming off it for Blackburn and we need someone who can score goals off the bench...

Lita is injured I just didn't realise he was going to be out till mid September.

Derbyshire looks in good form so should be on the bench. Bent and Johnson are probably the best bet yes.

**Evertonscouser** · 13-08-2007, 04:47 PM

Still 3 very similar strikers who are the most likely to play. (AJ, Bent, Defoe).
Wouldn't be surrpised if he played 5 in middle with one upfront.

**Sven** · 13-08-2007, 05:05 PM

He should play Alan Smith as lone striker, with SWP and J.Cole on wings, with midfeild three of Hargreaves if fit G and L, an idea.

**Sven** · 13-08-2007, 07:20 PM

Just saw stats with or without Rooney, maybe it's a good thing he doesn't play.

**unitedfan** · 13-08-2007, 07:36 PM

Johnson probably won't get a chance, because McClarren never gives him one. I hope he does get a shot since he deserves it. Ashton, I think will definately make the squad if he plays a game or two for West Ham, such is McClarren's admiration of him. One of Bent or Defoe will start, imo. It'll be interesting to see how his mind if factoring the two, now. Before he'd always pick Defoe over Bent, most probably on account of the club level, but now both are at the same club, and one of them cost £17m. McClarren will b slaughtered anyway, but he'd be even further slaughtered if he were to go 451 against Israel, imo.

So Bent/Defoe and Ashton/Johnson.

If it were me, Defoe would go in goal, and Robinson and Kirkland would go up top, but that's just how most people who don't support England would probably handle the situation.

MUMUFMUFCOK! · 13-08-2007, 07:39 PM

I'd play Gerrard in the hole. Behind any of those useless cunts it doesn't matter.

**Evertonscouser** · 13-08-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unitedfan

If it were me, Defoe would go in goal, and Robinson and Kirkland would go up top, but that's just how most people who don't support England would probably handle the situation.

If you really hated England you'd want Richard Wright in goal

**russe||** · 13-08-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sven

Just saw stats with or without Rooney, maybe it's a good thing he doesn't play.

I wondered when someone would bring that up. Rooney scored 6 goals in his first 10 competitive games for England (a run which ended with his injury in Euro 2004), since then he's played in 15 competitive internationals and not scored once.

**Sven** · 13-08-2007, 08:51 PM

Not only that we win more and score more when he hasn't played.

No dowt Rooney should be in England team but if you don't play him the way United play , he shouldn't play.

**russe||** · 13-08-2007, 09:01 PM

I've said before that I believe Sven's biggest error was to marginalise Scholes by playing him in unsuitable roles and getting him to 'do a job for the team' rather than to build the England team around Scholes. Maybe the same can be said about Rooney: rather than concentrate on trying to fit Gerrard and Lampard into midfield and force everyone to fit in with their preferred style of play maybe England would be best served building and adapt the team to best suit their best player and biggest attacking threat.

**Sven** · 13-08-2007, 09:07 PM

Kinda like Barce with Ronaldinho?

why not a 451

Hargreaves and Gerrard in middle, Lennon and Cole on side of Rooney with Owen leading attack, on purpose have left out lamps, you can't play Rooney on wing or as a lone striker,

Could English biggest weakness be the managers allways try crame the big names in for sake of it? Not play a balamce team?