England 2008 Qualifying

[Arfie]

Is it just me I just don't care if we qualify If we do get through, I have absolutely no confidence in McLaren to take us any further, or even as far in any tournament as Sven was doing

A large part of me would like to see him lose the next 2 games and get sacked, or better yet have the decency to admit that he quite simply isn't good enough and resign. This isn't me jumping on any bandwagons, I thought he was the worst candidate out of the 4 that were being bandied about when Sven was sacked

We need a manager who is not scared of the big names, nor scared to drop them. Granted he binned Beckham, which was the right thing to do at the time, but he should have been brought back sooner bearing in mind his form for Real was brilliant at times last season.

Oh well, I'm sure he'll fluke out a couple of results , probably getting Gerrard injured in the process

Arfie

 

[BigC]

Hi Arfie,
McLaren is not a good role model for manager of the national side. He's not someone a modern player can look up to or aspire to be like, most players have achieved more than he ever did already. ( I lived in England my wife is english so therefore I feel an affiliation to the English team).
I have a problem with the back room boys so to speak. I don't feel that the manager gets a free rein to pick a team or if he does is it fear to totally change a team. Yes there are a few good players there but at the same time I feel that there a few hangers on.
On paper an English side looks fantastic. (barring injuries) but the just fall short everytime.
I feel Lampard is over-rated, Owen is done. and Emile Heskey.....well.
I am a believer also that we should have a home grown manager not a foreigner like Sven was. But if you are good and too bolshy then you are never going to manage England. (Brian Clough) I just get a niggly feeling that the England manager does not pull all the strings and the faceless bigwigs behind the scenes beside sha**ing their secretaries and getting a massive wagepacket have a hand in team selection also.

 

[Arfie]

Agreed

We do have some of the best players in world football, most of the England team could hold a place in their respective positions in any club side, BUT they can't all play in the same team

I would rather see Hargreaves and Lampard in midfield and Gerrard on the bench than try to fit them both in together. Obviously I am biased and think that Lampard is not fit to lace Gerrards boots, so it should be Gerrard that is in the team, but England play better when one of them is out and it doesn't matter which one.

No player should be untouchable, that includes Gerrard, Lampard, Cole (either) or Terry, the superstars should be dropped if they aren't performing, but McLaren doesn't have the nuts to do it, he is and always has been a "Yes man"

Arfie

 

[Dave Spencer]

Is it just me I just don't care if we qualify

Personally, I care a lot.

I am sure you would never make this statement about Liverpool. I think it is true that a large percentage of the supporters of the bigger clubs in England do put their club before their country. This is understandable to a certain extent, because those supporters do actually get to see their team win silverware. I support a small team, Luton, and my son an even smaller one, Everton.

For me, Joe Cole is our most important player at the moment, but getting a decent keeper sorted out would be a huge bonus. Lampard should be given a rest from the team.

I`ll always want England to win, no matter what.

 

[Arfie]

Perhaps you misunderstood why I said it, it's not cos I want England to lose or do badly, in fact check through some of the threads on TFF to see how I will defend them

The reason I don't care if we qualify, is because I believe that the manager we have is so poor, that even if we qualify we will not perform as well as we could do because he has neither the motivational skills nor the tactical nouse to challenge at the top level. If we qualify and perform as badly as I expect we will, not only will the pressure be on him, but yet more pressure heaped on the players. And worse still, he may still retain the job.

People say that he's not to blame, it's the superstars that aren't doing it on the pitch, well the thing is that it IS is fault, 1 - if they aren't performing, it's his job to get them gee'd up and ready to play to their best and 2 - if they don't perform, it's his job to either bench them or drop them altogether. But he does neither, with the one exception of Beckham (which I wholeheartedly agreed with! ), but he then left him out in the cold for far too long. He keeps picking players based on reputation rather than current levels of performance and making the team formation fit the players chosen rather than players with the ability to fit into the teams style of play.

So if we fail to qualify, hopefully he will be gone and a decent manager could be installed who can concentrate for the next 2-3 years on getting a TEAM ready to perform in the world cup rather than picking poster boys

I still genuinely believe that England can (when all fully fit) put a TEAM of 11 players on the pitch that can beat anyone further more I believe that if someone (anyone) just picked 11 regular England players in their respective positions they could qualify for the 1/4 finals of any tournament without a manager telling them what to do.

The other thing that is bothering me is all the current panic about Gerrards toe, firstly if he isn't 100% fit, then he shouldn't play, how bad must you feel as an English midfielder if the manager would rather choose a player with broken toes probably only playing at 80% over you at 100% fit? Secondly, the teams we are facing are Israel and Russia, now without being too rude, our under 21 teams should be capable of beating them, let alone the first team. Granted the loss of Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard and now Hargreaves is a lot of talent, bt we should have enough in reserve.

The ideal situation is England still qualify but Mclaren goes before the tournament

For these games I'd go:

Carson
Richards - Terry - Ferdinand - Ashley Cole
SWP - Joe Cole - Carrick - Bentley
Heskey - Owen

Although he is playing on the left, Cole is perfectly capable of playing from central midfield in the way Scholes does and Gazza used to, in fact he may be better off there as he isn't even left footed. ANd with the protection of Carrick there (who he played with previously at West Ham) he could cause havok. I was tempted to say Downing at left wing, but I think Bentley may be more direct and faster.

Then next game replace Heskey with Crouch (unless he's done really well!) and hopefully both Gerrard and Hargreaves will be back so I'd go:
Carson
Richards - Terry - Ferdinand - Ashley Cole
SWP - Gerrard - Hargreaves - Joe Cole
Crouch - Owen

Whilst people may mock Heskey (me included) he can and has played in partnership with Owen and he can create goals for Owen. If they perform well though and are still OK to play the 2nd game, there is no reason to drop the likes of Heskey, Bentley or Carrick as they should be rewarded for playing well by keeping their place.

As for not saying it about Liverpool, you're wrong , I'd rather Liverpool go out of all the cup competitions if it gave us a better chance of winning the league this year or doing poorly in the league meaning we could win our SIXTH European cup . Whilst I'd like to win everything, I'd be prepared to forgo some of them to improve us overall. In fact if we had a pants manager, like England do, I'd be hoping we'd do badly to get shut of him quicker. On record now, I'd not be bothered if we got beat in the league and fa cups this year infact if we do, i'd like it to be as early as possible so our players get some rest keeping them fitter for the league and european cup.

Arfie

PS. I'll still be shouting them on on Saturday.

 

[Darkstar]

Who cares when the rugby is on...

 

[Dave Spencer]

I pretty much agree with your team selection Arfie, especially having Scott Carson in goal. Bentley is a decent player, but his attitude has peed me off a bit, the pampered pillock. Still, forgive and forget I suppose.

I am surprised you don`t support something as red as Steve McLaren.

Darkstar, I am really looking forward to the Rugby World Cup as well.

Dave.

 

[cheesy feet]

I'm looking forward to the rugby world cup too B)

 

[Arfie]

Who cares when the rugby is on...

Rugby? still I suppose being as big brother finished, they needed to replace it with more dross Isn't it interesting how many rugby fans feel the need to post drivel in football threads

I'm not happy about Bentley's attitude either, but I think he'll provide a different option to Downing, who's not impressed me in an England shirt as well as he has played for Boro.

I just can't "support" McLaren, he was the least experienced option linked with the job with a very mediocre track record as a club manager, he'd constantly had his butt kicked by Alardyce and Curbishly in the league and obviously O'Neill, then there's Phil Scolari all much better choices, but none of them up the rings of the FA Even though Ithought he was a bad choice I was prepared to give him a chance, but he's been as bad as I thought he'd be He must have something as an assistant as Derby did well when he was assistant there to Jim Smith and of course he was 2nd to Fergiescum then again I doubt it matters who is 2nd behind him but he wouldn't have got the job or stayed there as long if he wasn't any good. But being a good deputy doesn't mean you will be a good chief and he's not! I want him gone, can you tell?

I'd only go with Carson because he's potentially the future replacement for Robinson and as good as James is, he's made a couple of blunders this season already. I wouldn't class it as dropping Robinson, just resting him, he's not in great form and his confidence is shot and taking a break from some of the pressure should help him get back on form. Just think, he plays and concedes another howler against Israel and we lose the match, he'll be a nervous wreck. He is still the best keeper though, but leave him out for these 2 games and see how he gets on in the next few weeks for Spurs, if he's doing well reinstate him, if not, leave Carson in (assuming he makes no howlers himself )

Arfie

 

[timmystood]

I support a small team, Luton, and my son an even smaller one, Everton.

 

[blue acara]

Well England won! seems when ever they win im out and I miss the game.
So a really important game on wednesday against Russia, fingers crossed for England.

When it comes to the manager-I wouldnt have chosen Steve mcLaren either but in the end its down to the players on the night. And the players chosen so far should have won much more and played better.

 

[Darkstar]

Isn't it interesting how many rugby fans feel the need to post drivel in football threads

well it's the only way to add a 'manly' element to what is essentially a game for girls...

 

[Arfie]

If it's a game for girls, I'm wondering what a manly butch man would be doing opening the thread in the first place Do you show this much interest in all things for girls? More likely you're another bitter rugger fan who can't accept that your minority "sport" is tiny and insignificant so spends your time trying to interrupt conversations about football If you wanna discus rugby, I'm sure there was a thread somewhere on TFF with all the other like minded individual for you to talk to Even with the world cup on nobody is interested in talking about it

Anyway, back on topic Glad we won, even though it means we'll probably be stuck with McLaren It wasn't a bad performance either, not as good as they were making out in the press, but not bad. Not sure whether he'll stick with Heskey and Barry or switch them for Hargreaves and Crouch. RUssia will be tougher (though at home, we should still beat them) so maybe adding Hargreaves if fit would be a good idea but I think I'd leave Heskey in. As I said though, we should be able to field any (fit) 11 players (in their positions) from the current squad and beat Russia

Arfie

 

[BigC]

OK Arfie,
I see your now getting excited about England.
Spare a thought for NI (bloody OG) and a completely boring match after all the hype over here.
I spent the day in the PUB and was forced to endure the NI match (England was on the other channel at the same time)
I got absolutely sloshed. Got home for 10.30pm Completely banjaxed.
Then my good lady wife about turned me around, back out the door and into her car, and was whisked off to a birthday party that went on to 4am. Bloody banjo's, guitars, mandolins and fiddles, my head was pounding.
Sunday was a blur.

 

[rowdyburns21]

Had 2 add 2 this one, the threads gone a bit quiet since England won 3-0 in both games and played the best ive seen them for ages, I think people should give McClaren a chance, if we dont qualify then get rid!! To quick to get on peoples backs in this country. I must admit i wanted Martin O Neill to get the job but it worked out all right for me cos he came to my club.
Arfie- as for saying you dont care if England qualify, are you serious? Have some pride in your nation at least we've got a English manager now, get behind the boys