Jamie Carragher

No more an international footballer than that kid with the goalie gloves in the Ponty end.</p>

 

As you're an England afficianado

What are your thoughts on the current squad ? Cos I watched them v Macedonia, and if we can't contrive to beat what was effectively a well organised defensive unit, then we're knackered imho.

 

that kid with goalie gloves.....

...you mean the chubby lad who has a different player's name on the back of his shirt every match?! What a loon! Haven't seen him on my last few visits though and was actually wondering where he was.....

 

RE: As you're an England afficianado

I'll field this.

Peter Crouch.

The fact is that whilever we've got a 6'7" target man, we'll go direct way too often. Hence the fact that Gerrard had to keep coming infield to come and get the ball, as he was nigh on invisible standing out on the right.

That plus the fact that Crouch simply isn't of international standard. Nor is Downing, and Lampard needs dropping too to give him a kick up the backside. Let Carrick play where Lampard is, get Parker in the current holding role, and let Crocuh come on for the last 10-15 minutes of a game where he can still 'surprise' people.

Crouch plays, we're ordinary at best.

 

RE: As you're an England afficianado

Agree about Crouch, but who do you play up front with (the out of form) Rooney ? </p>



Cos it may just be me, but I don't think there's an English international class forward about.</p>

 

RE: As you're an England afficianado

Walcott. The kid's got it. Get him involved now. I know the "he doesn't even play for his club" argument, but that's never stopped us before. European Championships mean nothing when compared to the World Cup, so start building for the latter now.

Get Huddlestone, Ashton, Agbonlahor, Lennon etc as regulars in the first team, not in some pointless two-bit U-21 championship.

 

RE: As you're an England afficianado

It'll not happen though will it ? Because the minute an English national team manager tries to pick a young/inexperienced side and stick with them and the first few results aren't too good, then the newspaper boys would kick off.</p>

Walcott last night looked frighteningly good when he came on, do you think he could do it against more experienced international defenders ?</p>

 

RE: As you're an England afficianado

Pace like that is capable of taking on anybody. And he can finish. The rest will come with experience, and where better to learn than against international class defenders?

 

Parker has played his best football when in an attacking role,

Charlton and this season at Newcastle.</p>

He tried the holding role at Chelsea , admittedley up against Makalele , and he was found out.</p>

 

haha - he's always there

ya cant miss the numpty. But must have about 20 home and away shirts a season at home.</p>

 

RE: Parker has played his best football when in an attacking role,

Doing it well enough at Newscastle. Not in the 'holding role' per se, but he's definitely the defensive midfielder.

 

RE: haha - he's always there

He was there last game against Luton, he was giving Beresford some stick.

 

If you combined with determination, hard work and tenacity with Rio Ferdinands ability, what a player you would have! An all time great.

Instead you've got a feckless lazy sod in ferdinand who rests on his laurels.

That being said, I still think that Carragher would do a job for England - he's unlucky that there is Terry, Ferdinand, Campbell and King also in line.

 

RE: haha - he's always there

Yeah i saw him against luton, he ran to get the ball when it went into the stand then he picked it up clutched it to his chest then threw it gk style to beresford.
Pissing myself laughing for ages

 

RE: As you're an England afficianado

I think it's a bit heavy to lay it all on Peter Crouch, who lets face it, is scoring goals for England. Crouch has shown himself to be an underrated player - and it's not his fault that people put him in the long ball bracket. Crouch can play very neat football on the deck too, and he is excellent at holding up the play and having a man play off him. The problem is that England as a side are disorganised, and under the circumstances resort to knocking it long at Crouch because it seems like an obvious outlet.

Against Macedonia we simply never got behind their defence - Downing is just not good enough (as you say) to take his man on and cut the ball back. Sean Wright-Phillips would be a much better option, Aaron Lennon even better still. Personally I like the idea of Joe Cole on the left, Aaron Lennon on the right, Gerrard through the middle and Hargreaves as the ball winner.

I don't think Walcott is ready, although he looks promising. If we can get Owen fit enough to do another couple of years he could pass the batton to Walcott at that point. I like Rooney and Owen (when they're both fit). I do rate Crouch, but he doesn't have anyone that he could really form a partnership with.

 

I dont think we need a "holding midfielder"

We need someone who can get about the field and play the simple ball to someone in space.</p>

 

RE: I dont think we need a "holding midfielder"

I think we need to drop Lampard.

 

RE: haha - he's always there

ah well, at least he's not that way about guns.

 

RE: haha - he's always there

does anyone actually know who he is?

 

RE: "Get about the field and the simple ball"

like Beckham, he should never have been dropped. Quality footballer who should easily walk into that side.</p>