Friendly: England v T&T [1.6.2008]

[kyan]

Last time we played them was in the World Cup, shite performance lead to a 2-0 win with a header from Crouch while holding the defender's hair and a good long-range strike from Gerrard.

England squad:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Joe Lewis (Peterborough)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Stephen Warnock (Blackburn), David Wheater (Middlesbrough), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), David Bentley (Blackburn), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Dean Ashton (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth).

-------------------


Lots of big players absent, rumours of Wheater starting in Terry's stead and Beckham (!) taking the armband....

The RB will probably be Glen Johnson since Wes Brown and Hargo have been let go, at CB there's a spot up for grabs alongside Rio, LB is available as well, Bridge will probably start though.

RM seems like Beckham again but the media could be wrong, CM I'd be surprised if it's not Barry and Gerrard to start with... LM ought to be Ashley Young but it could be any of him Downing and Bentley.

Up front, Capello will probably want to have a look at another partner for Rooney as well so I'd suggest Rooney and Ashton to start, hopefully with Agbonlahor featuring at some point.

Promises to be a pretty average game I'd say but still...

[kyan]

Beckham handed England captaincy

David Beckham has been named England captain for Sunday's friendly against Trinidad & Tobago.

The 33-year-old midfielder had doubts over his international future since the last World Cup.

And after winning a place back in the squad, he had to wait for his 100th cap when Fabio Capello took charge.

Capello has been looking at who his permanent captain will be and has given the armband to Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, John Terry previously.

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Beckham handed England captaincy

Not quite the direction I think most were hoping for, he shouldn't be #1 captain because he shouldn't be a definite starter, definitely in the squads but he's already resigned as captain ffs...

[Olzy]

-----------Hart-------------

Johnson--Rio--Woodgate--Bridge--

Becks----Gerrard-Barry----Young----

-----------Gabby---Ashton-----

that was the daily mail 'probable' team.

[kyan]

The team is confirmed as:

James, Johnson, Woodgate, Ferdinand, Bridge, Beckham, Gerrard, Barry, Downing, Defoe, Ashton.

This had better be good... I've got an exam tomorrow morning

Surprised/disappointed to see Downing starting ahead of Young, good to see Defoe getting another chance although hopefully Agbonlahor will feature. Otherwise pretty much as expected..

[Olzy]

Downing for fuck sake. He's always been shit when he's played. Probably have a good game now.

Young obviously not impressing in training?

[kyan]

I dunno, maybe it's more a matter of him wanting crosses to come in with two relatively slow wingers who put early balls in as opposed to Ashley Young who cuts in more.

But that doesn't make much sense cos Young got like 20 assists last season as well....

[kyan]

1-0 on 12 minutes, Gareth Barry with the goal, gets on the end of a Bridge cross.

To be fair to him, Downing played a very good dinked ball into Bridge's path for Bridge to put in a great cross for Barry.

It doesn't seem like this game will be overly testing, especially with Kenwyne Jones off through injury already.

[kyan]

2-0, Jermain Defoe on 15 minutes, Defoe with the goal, terrible defending, took a poor touch putting the ball on his left foot but a good finish into the far corner takes it past the keeper.

Downing with the assist this time... Fair enough I guess I might have been wrong lol.

Good for Defoe, although it's a shame the game seems to be a bit too easy so it's not worth all that much.

[kyan]

4 subs at half-time, Joe Hart for David James making his debut, Phil Jagielka for Rio Fedinand making his debut, Bentley for Beckham, Crouch for Dean Ashton.

Kenwyne Jones has injured his knee ligaments, poor guy.

[kyan]

Jermaine Defoe tap-in 3-0, after a good cross from David Bentley is knocked down to Defoe's feet by the defender on 49mins.

[LAF]

Putting this match on at this time is clearly a national service to cure insomnia.

[Olzy]

Barry >>>>> Lampard.

Barry and Gerrard actually change roles well so Barry goes forward Gerrard will sit.

Barry has been quality for England though I like the way he wants to ball to go forwards and not 1 touch back to the defence all the time eg Lamps.

Downing had a good game, still his crossing is always shit for England and amazing for M'Boro.

Ashton was dissapointing but still his link up play was decent.

Defoe like the way he looks to get behind defences, but again missed several chances and you have to take em at this level.

My boy Young didnt really impress but 2nd half was dire. I think his time will come later.

Theo would be class if he could finish, definetly keep him in the squad/super sub role just for his pace.

ooo another player that impressed Woodgates passing. On the deck from the back to the striker. First goal an example.

T&T were shite though. Stern John didnt realise he was that STRONG though.

[kyan]

Capello doesn't seem too happy though, he says some players perform better in training than they do in matches, and that's what he's found out from these 2 matches. I'm really curious as to who he might mean by that.... I think maybe that might refer to David James, Joe Hart, David Bentley and Ashley Young specifically, but I don't think that's fair to say considering all 4's club form this season and for Hart and Young it was their debuts...

[Buddha14]

James and Hart didnt really seem to be tested at all

[Olzy]

Hart was shaky though. One punch was very poor.

I think Bentley and Young did better when they got the ball more centrally. Altho both did put in a good cross.

I didnt think P.Jagielka looked that comfortable on the ball. Plus I think it could of been aimed at Ashton.