England's Midfield Dilemma

[Sean Jacobs]

I rate England midfield as a strongpoint as they have some world class midfielders, but everyone knows that i guess.... However, how would you play them???? Both Steven Gerrard and Lampard are in form and they are both are world class players, so how do you use the max out of both of them knowing you have to have use Carrick for the holding position???

If they use Steven G. or Lamps on the wing, that would axe Joe Cole who i rate higher than Stewart Downing on the left... And remember, most likely, you can't bench the skipper in David Beckham.....

With Rooney's injury, they could use 4-3-3, but Owen might not be the perfect fit with the system and David Beckham isn't your flair wingman...

Quite a dilemma i'd say....

[staggerlee]

Not a dilemma for me,
I don't see much wrong with this:

----------------Robinson
Neville----Terry----Ferdinand-----Cole
----------------Lampard
-------Lennon------------- Cole
----------------Gerrard
-----------Owen--------Crouch


Screw Beckham. Lampard and Gerrard can switch around as the attack demands. Ideally we'd have Rooney up with Owen I suppose. This way Lampard isn't exactly "holding" - we can play with an advanced back four as we have plenty of speed and aggression back there.

[Harv]

Lampard wasn't exactly on form for the latter part of the season so you can't say that both Stevie G and Lamps are on forms...

Although I would play Gerrard in the Rooney role and play a defensive mid...probably Carrick...

But I think Sven will just swap Rooney for Crouch and continue with Becks, Gerrard, Lampard and J Cole as our midfielders...

[english_barry]

I agree with both of the above two posts as possibilities. Of course though Lennon will never start ahead of Becks. Not sure why you think that Carrick is certain to play.

[DanneS]

But I think Sven will just swap Rooney for Crouch and continue with Becks, Gerrard, Lampard and J Cole as our midfielders...
It looks like a very good midfield on paper but can they deliver?

It feels like there's something wrong here, maybe it's because Gerrard and Lampard are too similar and Joe Cole is too inconsistent and Becks is only really good at two things.

Stronger teams will be very aware of this weakness and they'll try to punish England who's in need of a plan B. Which would hopefully include some players like the 1980s legends Paul Ince and "Gazza" in the team. :p

[staggerlee]

Come to think of it, with two attacking midfielders as good as Lampard and Gerrard, why not just play them both behind a striker, leave a holder and two wingers and play the back four? Give one of them a free role even. I dunno, I'm well into my second bottle of wine and my cigar is burning my fingers, right now I think I know EVERYTHING...

[english_barry]

It looks like a very good midfield on paper but can they deliver?

I have to admit that there is some cause for concern there.

It feels like there's something wrong here, maybe it's because Gerrard and Lampard are too similar and Joe Cole is too inconsistent and Becks is only really good at two things.

Gerrard and Lampard may be fairly similar but neither of them will be left out of the starting XI. Should they play Carrick as a holding midfielder with just Owen on top or just hope they can do the job? I don't know...both have potential issues. It's a tough call to make. I think Joe Cole has been brilliant especially in claiming the left midfield spot for England and subsequent performances since then. In the Argentina match he put in one of the best performances of the match and in the recent Belarus match when he came on he played with a lot more desire than the rest of the team. I think he will perform in the World Cup. Hopefully Becks will do what he does well and put in a captain's performance this WC without any injury worries this time. That will be especially important if they play Crouch. With plenty good service he should be able to notch a few headed goals.

Stronger teams will be very aware of this weakness and they'll try to punish England who's in need of a plan B. Which would hopefully include some players like the 1980s legends Paul Ince and "Gazza" in the team. :p

I am fairly confident that once the midfield plays to its potential they should be fine. The defence needs to be solid too though...they have given up a little too many goals recently especially given the quality there. We'll have to see though.

[Yiannis]

Apparently no dilemma for Eriksson... Here (http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/article.asp?hlid=390311&CPID=4&clid=114&lid=2&title=Thoughtful+Sven+knows+starting+XI)

Well i don't know what to say.If he goes that way he'll ruin England chances definetely.Gerrard is not a defensive midfielder!He can't be effective up there.It's not a bloody rocket sciense FFS!I just can't believe it...Sven is so stupid or stubborn!:(

[Sean Jacobs]

Apparently no dilemma for Eriksson... Here (http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/article.asp?hlid=390311&CPID=4&clid=114&lid=2&title=Thoughtful+Sven+knows+starting+XI)

Well i don't know what to say.If he goes that way he'll ruin England chances definetely.Gerrard is not a defensive midfielder!He can't be effective up there.It's not a bloody rocket sciense FFS!I just can't believe it...Sven is so stupid or stubborn!:(

Hence this thread....How do you maximize the potentials of both Gerrard and Lamps... England has tons of talent this year and most of these players are in their prime. Next world cup, is next world cup. This year you have Lamps, Gerrard, Ferdinand, Owen around 26-28. Next world cup, becks will be very old and these guys would be atleast 30 and the future world cup will star Rooney, Joe Cole and John Terry as the future.....

This is to say that if a player reaches close to 30 or above 30, the legs lose atleast half a step...but still not as effective as when they were young...

[R9magia]

---------------Robinson--------------
--------------------------------------
----------Ferdinand---Terry------------
--Neville----------------------A.Cole----
-----------Lampard--Gerrard------------
--Beckham--------------------Lennon--
----------------J.Cole------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------M.Owen------------------

OR

-----------------Robinson----------------
------------------------------------------
-----------Ferdinand---Terry-------------
--Neville-------------------------A.Cole--
-----------Beckham---Lampard-----------
--Lennon------------------------J.Cole---
-----------------------------------------
------------Gerrard---------------------
----------------------Owen-------------

[HuRt_7]

The best option is


Robinson

Neville-Terry-Ferdinand-A.Cole

Beckham-Lampard-Gerrard-J.Cole

Owen-Crouch

[Kan]

The game has developed to apoint where the midfield has been more important then ever before. And now the teams, mainly in europe have started to play 5 in midfield with natural wingers. So for me it would be Beckham, Gerrard, Carrick, Lampard, and some dude on the left Joe Cole or Lemond.

[BicOfBorg]

Not a dilemma for me,
I don't see much wrong with this:

----------------Robinson
Neville----Terry----Ferdinand-----Cole
----------------Lampard
-------Lennon------------- Cole
----------------Gerrard
-----------Owen--------Crouch


Screw Beckham. Lampard and Gerrard can switch around as the attack demands. Ideally we'd have Rooney up with Owen I suppose. This way Lampard isn't exactly "holding" - we can play with an advanced back four as we have plenty of speed and aggression back there.


Beckham is probably the best technical player in the team, and the one who can deliver accurate crosses to crouch. Have you seen him play lately for real madrid? he isn´t just a corner, free kick and cross deliverer, he goes into the box, moves about in different areas.

For me the two most important players are Beckahm and Gerrard, lampard and downing are normal apart from the odd good faze from lampard. Cole faffs about to much and looses more balls than he should, his dribbles and runs would be good when a goal up to keep the apponent from doing a pressure job. Walcott given the chance will want to prove he aint just a "reserve" class player, this is his chance to take his career by the neck, this is inspiration enough.

[steve huge]

I think we'd have to play a 4-5-1 to make the most out of that midfield.

Left to right:

--------------Gerrard-----------
Cole----Lampard----Carrick----Beckham (though I'd much prefer Lennon)

With Owen upfront (or Rooney if he makes it in time). But, the major problem for me is that the defensive responsibilities lie with Carrick. He's had a good season, but good enough to take that responsibility in the WC? I'm not so sure.

For me, the midfield is one of the most exciting and creative that England have ever had, but there's not much steel in there. Lampard and Beckham don't get stuck in enough, and if Gerrard is in a more attacking role, his tackling will be missed. Maybe that's why he'll have to settle for a more defensive midfield role.

[BristolUK]

Beckham is probably the best technical player in the team, and the one who can deliver accurate crosses to crouch. Have you seen him play lately for real madrid? he isn´t just a corner, free kick and cross deliverer, he goes into the box, moves about in different areas.

Nice to see I'm not the only who hasn't given up on the man.:)

All the ideas on here are good...or at least feasible, but we were all happy (or most of us were) with the obvious and original starting 11 before Rooney's injury and I think we should try to replicate that if we can. Cole is the nearest thing to Rooney in terms of talent, skill and vision. He may be able to play in Rooney's role. Replacing the new midfield vacancy shouldn't be a problem.

As much as I was impressed with Lennon the other day - he was so exciting - I'd have more faith in Beckam at this level. No matter what people think of him (and much of the dislike is for non football reasons) he is still performing well for one of the top teams in what appears to be the best league in Europe (which probably means the best league in the world) so he has to be in the team.

I'm not sure about crosses for Crouch, since I've seen no great ability on his part at heading. But then Beckham's crosses just beg to be knocked in don't they?

Another point about Beckham is that he has a great partnership with Neville the length of the right hand side of the pitch. If Neville is to play with someone else there instead, we will miss an awful lot.

I have to say Crouch is not my cup of tea. He may be able to set up the occasional chance for Owen but I think we're more likely to see a lot of attacks breaking down because of him. But that could be a small price to pay for maintaining the strength we have throughout the rest of the team.
There's still enough there to score more than most opponents and Lennon to bring on if we are desperate for something.

[@12if]

play with 1 striker since crouch not good enough, doesnt score too many goals


beckham ---- carrick ---- joe cole
lampard ---- gerrard
owen

:D

[BicOfBorg]

you have the best mdfield in the world imo .....



???? ever heard of these?

D-mids: Émerson, Zé Roberto, Edmílson, Gilberto Silva;
O-mids: Kaká, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Juninho Pernambucano, Ricardinho;

[lplover2k]

It looks like a very good midfield on paper but can they deliver?

It feels like there's something wrong here, maybe it's because Gerrard and Lampard are too similar and Joe Cole is too inconsistent and Becks is only really good at two things.

Stronger teams will be very aware of this weakness and they'll try to punish England who's in need of a plan B. Which would hopefully include some players like the 1980s legends Paul Ince and "Gazza" in the team. :p

Joe Cole inconsistent??? he's been excellent so far... a constant threat for the defence..he's very quick and passes the ball really well too now... he's is brillant...

Lampard and Gerrard are a bit too similar....both loves to attack.. and when they play together ... Crouch has been doing really well with Owen forward so i think best formation is a flat 4-4-2

Robinson
Neville-------Ferdinand(or Carra)------Terry------Cole

Beckham-----Gerrard-----Lampard-----------Cole

Owen---Crouch


the 2 Cole on the left is explosive :)....