England!

[Yates]

another thread....

Chelsea star Lampard has struggled to transfer his superb club form to the international stage - but McClaren has opted to reunite him with Steven Gerrard in the middle of midfield in the hope that they will finally gel in Wednesday's must-win clash.

Hargreaves will drop to the bench despite being one of England's half-decent performers against Israel on Saturday night, just six weeks after McClaren described him as "indispensable".

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing will come in for Hargreaves and start on the left flank, with Tottenham flyer Aaron Lennon switching to his more natural right side after playing on the left in Tel Aviv.


im a boro fan but downing shouldnt be replacing hargreaves, lampard should be dropped kick him up the back side

[Clouds_mate]

Team need dropping they are shit. Even now people still think they are one of the best in the world. (well english do)

Bout time people relised they are shit and a nothing team. I hope they dont qualify just to give everyone a reality check.

[Delboy75]

Agreed lamps should be dropped, him and gerrard cannot play together end off.

[AdamW]

Need a re jig to the squad.......I find most england managers are just itimidated to play the big names in the squad even if they dont gel.....

I would drop Rooney and Lamps they both under performed on saturday.....Downing should be in along with Lennon...maybe bring some of the Under 21 lot up.....E.G. Huddlestone, derbyshire, bentley

[Tupps]

I reckon i could get 11 lads together and we would put up a good fight against the current england squad

[Lil_Sis]

England are sh**e..... lampard is a waste of space... even if he gets a shot he just runs for it and no one ever bothers tackling him????

Can't beat Man U haha x x

[jclaydon]

Bout time people relised they are shit and a nothing team. I hope they dont qualify just to give everyone a reality check.

Couldnt agree more mate, First time i've ever said that, against Israel at the weekend.

We need another shakeup - team wise - bench Lamps.

Never agreed with McClown's appointment in the first place.

But it's going to be the same old story... A couple of goals for Lamps v the amateurs and talk of him "proving his critics wrong" and "England back to thier best".

The coaches waited on Hargreaves to return, since his leg break, and he's dropped again, he's one of the best things going for our starting eleven right now, i think that's saying something.

Edit - Downing is just McClarens boro lovechild. He doesn't belong in that group of 11 players, possibly not even the bench.

[Robb]

Need a re jig to the squad.......I find most england managers are just itimidated to play the big names in the squad even if they dont gel.....


and this is all down to the players dictating the team. players today have such a high profile that if they dont get a place they throw tantrums. and this leads to the managers being frightened to chop and change as the players have no respect for them. this is also a good reason why the younger players deserve a run out cause you can bet they'd be playing for their place..

[Yates]

Couldnt agree more mate, First time i've ever said that, against Israel at the weekend.

We need another shakeup - team wise - bench Lamps.

Never agreed with McClown's appointment in the first place.

But it's going to be the same old story... A couple of goals for Lamps v the amateurs and talk of him "proving his critics wrong" and "England back to thier best".

The coaches waited on Hargreaves to return, since his leg break, and he's dropped again, he's one of the best things going for our starting eleven right now, i think that's saying something.

Edit - Downing is just McClarens boro lovechild. He doesn't belong in that group of 11 players, possibly not even the bench.


he didnt actually get in the first team that much at boro.

hes naturally left footed and an actual winger. i think he should be in the squad, and with no real left midfielders there, he has a shout at the first team

[Cal]

Lampard and superb in the same sentence????!!!!!!! :omg:

[Karl]

Bring in Lennon, that dudes a legend of a player, should have a great future in football!!

[Cal]

Bring in Lennon, that dudes a legend of a player, should have a great future in football!!He's coming to Old Trafford (I wish!)

[MTR]

It's just a poor team, they don't play well together at all hence why it needs a big shake up.

Firstly, when available, i'd have Beckham back. The man loves his country and is still the best passer of the ball in the game today. Lennon always on the right, Gerrard in the middle possibly with Beckham, and Lampard on the bench. I just pray Joe Cole is fit for when (and if) we qualify, he's the only player in the squad that played anywhere near his best in the World Cup.
Let's bring some of the under 21's up also, they show more passion in 45mins than the seniors did in the whole World Cup. Agbonlahor on the bench for me if Lennon isn't performing plus a few others.

[GrantW]

You know England are doing badly when Scotland have more points in a tougher group lmao :P

but yeah Lampard and Rooney should be dropped for a bit, give them a bit of an incentive to play better and get back into the team.

What about Joe Cole on the left? I thought he was left footed?

[Lambo69]

Im not even going to say my opinion, until we start playing like England i cant be bothered. Seems to me like Steve McLauren is one of those "brilliant for a team, shit for country" Coaches!!

[Clouds_mate]

start playing like england?

We have always been shit.

[Lambo69]

England as in before our time! (well mine anyway)! the oldne days before everything went to the players heads, our last world cup victory, those days!!

[lew893]

Great players playing in the right possition for a change Mclaren is a twat for shoving players anywhere!! used to do it at boro (I'm a boro fan by the way!) right winger and a left winger = more balenced team! no harm in giving it a go as everything else he's done has been poo!!! Gerrard and Lampard can't pley in the same team too similar! drop lampard and put Hargreaves in! But we still need somebody who can score! To be honest it is like watching Middlesbrough when Mclaren was manager the football was dull then too!!! even though statisticly he's our best manager!! Also need rid of Steve Round he's seems to be the negative one as soon as Boro sacked him our results improved dramaticaly!!!!! :afro:

[lew893]

Just seen on Sky sports news Lampard has been dropped!!!!! WOOHOO!!

[lew893]

He wasn't dropped he's injured so Steve still has no bottle!!!! Lampard has broke his wrist.

[Yates]

Frank Lampard has been ruled out of England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Andorra as his wrist injury is far worse than first thought.

great news

[Clouds_mate]

LMAO everyone blaming lampard. Its the whole time thats farking shite.

[Baz]

LMAO everyone blaming lampard. Its the whole time thats farking shite.

you mean team?

[Craddock]

lampard should be dropped kick him up the back side

Finally someone with Sense.

[AdamW]

GK - Foster
LB - Ashley Cole (if he was not injured)
RB- Gareth Barry
CB - Ledley King
CB - John Terry
LM - Stuart Downing or the mighty Joe Cole
CM - Tom Huddlestone
CM - Steven Gerrard
RM - Agbonlahor Or Lennon
CF - AJ
CF - Leroy Lita

[Clouds_mate]

S W Phillips as sub?


Seems pretty good. Mr Adam for england?

[Yates]

nah im not blaming lampard, but lampard and gerrard arent working together, the whole team is playing shit, but as hes one of the biggest names and hes not performed for a year. scholes got the same abuse by people, any one of them would have him back. lampard just seems to have nothing left in him, he looks like he needs a rest

[Clouds_mate]

this is true hes looks lost on the pitch even at club level. He doesnt really spark like he used to but just seems to be potting the goals in.

Find it alittle harsh with all the bashing tho. ALL the team are playing shit not just him.

[lew893]

Like your team choice Adam!!!! I'd go with that! Nice well ballanced team! We will now see if it is Lampard! one or the other Gerrard or Lamaprd tbh niether have done it lately but Gerrard is the better player! And untill there is another propper left winger Downing is the only one!!! I like him being a Boro fan but if he played in any other porition I din't think he would get picked his crosses are fantastic like just need the snobby players to pass to him (Ashly Cole) :y:

[Yates]

barry right back?! richards instead

[Ruddy]

Football sucks now, since i snapped my knee anyway.

[lew893]

I'm on nights tonight and can't even watch it!!! If it's like the last game it may be a bonus and prevent me wasting my time!!! :homme:

[TheMadSaxo]

(deep breath)

Lampard should have been dropped after the World Cup, just how many more matches are we going to see Gerrard and Lampard in the same team? It's basically one or the other and Gerrard is the better player by a long way.

Playing Gerrard on the right is a total waste of time, he should be central with either Hargreaves or Carrick tackling back while he gets on with bombing forward and causing havoc like he does for Liverpool. McLaren should be building the effing team around Gerrard instead of arsing about with Lampard. He's a waste of space. I don't care how many goals he's scored for Chelsea, he isn't doing it for England and hasn't done for god knows how long.

The team McLaren played on Saturday was an absolute fooking disgrace. we had about 3 players playing out of position and one who looked unfit (Hargreaves). How many games has he had for Bayern since breaking his leg?

I'd play Lennon or Wright-Philips on the right and either Joe Cole or Downing on the left. Either combination would be a good balance. Downing and Lennon would be a good option tonight as Andorra are basically shite. These players should be scoring 6 goals tonight, not 2 or 3.

I've heard he's starting Nugent tonight. Not a decision I agree with to be honest but we'll see how he gets on. It's one thing scoring a hat-trick against Southend United but what about against world class defenders? He should fill his boots tonight though.

Sorry for the essay ;)

[hesslevtr]

ha rooney broke lampards wrist ha

to many players think there the dog bollocks when there shit

no passion or pride in the team im sure they get paid for playing for ewngland whats just wrong as its ment to be an honour

get rid of the fucking lot of them

there need sto be players like butcher and pearce in the team we have no 1 like that at the moment so were fucked

beckham was closest thing we had to the above and he fucks him off

[TheMadSaxo]

I think Rooney could do with a kick up the arse, he hasn't even scored since Euro 2004 - unbelieveable.

Hopefully, he'll notch a couple tonight and get a bit of confidence back but to be truthful, i'm sick of seeing England teams picked based on reputation instead of form.

[jclaydon]

hes naturally left footed and an actual winger. i think he should be in the squad, and with no real left midfielders there, he has a shout at the first team

Thats a fair point mate, i agree with using natually left fotted players on the left, wish we could see a bit more of barry, i rate him more than downing - personal opinion.

I think dropping Lampard would not also benefeit the starting 11, but as a squad. Having a player like lamps to bring off the bench.

I dont think you can drop Rooney. McClaren's in a hiding to nothing there, theres simple moments that he produces that can turn a game. He'd get just as much of a slating for dropping him, he needs to carry on playing.

It was the same under sven - too much player power - best 11 players, not the best Team.

I've heard so many people, boro fans included, saying that watching this england team is like watching boro of last season - safe, somewhat boring, unexpansive football.

[Ruddy]

I think Rooney could do with a kick up the arse, he hasn't even scored since Euro 2004 - unbelieveable.

Hopefully, he'll notch a couple tonight and get a bit of confidence back but to be truthful, i'm sick of seeing England teams picked based on reputation instead of form.

(deep breath)

Lampard should have been dropped after the World Cup, just how many more matches are we going to see Gerrard and Lampard in the same team? It's basically one or the other and Gerrard is the better player by a long way.

Playing Gerrard on the right is a total waste of time, he should be central with either Hargreaves or Carrick tackling back while he gets on with bombing forward and causing havoc like he does for Liverpool. McLaren should be building the effing team around Gerrard instead of arsing about with Lampard. He's a waste of space. I don't care how many goals he's scored for Chelsea, he isn't doing it for England and hasn't done for god knows how long.

The team McLaren played on Saturday was an absolute fooking disgrace. we had about 3 players playing out of position and one who looked unfit (Hargreaves). How many games has he had for Bayern since breaking his leg?

I'd play Lennon or Wright-Philips on the right and either Joe Cole or Downing on the left. Either combination would be a good balance. Downing and Lennon would be a good option tonight as Andorra are basically shite. These players should be scoring 6 goals tonight, not 2 or 3.

I've heard he's starting Nugent tonight. Not a decision I agree with to be honest but we'll see how he gets on. It's one thing scoring a hat-trick against Southend United but what about against world class defenders? He should fill his boots tonight though.

Sorry for the essay ;)

LEGEND.

[Yates]

i like barry, but isnt he more of a left back? didnt work playing cole and bridge together like that

[S34MER]

LMBO at the Andorra players! there such drama queens!

[Mitchell]

still 0-0 lol cant believe that.

when england are training theyre all driving tractors and doing the gardening

[saxoash]

Downings getting soo much of the ball but hes shit

[PugDan]

That was TERRIBLE.

The tosser needs sacking.

[Emma_ZS]

Downings getting soo much of the ball but hes shit

i argree he was shit!

[PugDan]

Downing was crap.

Gerrard was class.

Defoe didnt score.

Twat needs sacking.

[argylefan1985]

Sack McClaren, He obviously hasnt got the balls to drop the big names etc.

Rooney as class a player he is, the blokes a fucking wanker!

And that from a united supporter! The bloke is a complete wanker, week in week out he runs his fucking mouth at refs and lashes out at players.

Such a good player and then he does stuff like that fucking knob, should be droped!!!

Lampard should be droped. end of the day hes shit for england and certainly cant play with gerrard!

Terry needs to fucking start giving the players a right fucking bollocking from the back. Look what having steve bruce and pallister at the back did for united. It was only coz they were constantly on at everyone!

Lennon will be great in time. keep giving him chances!

Downing, Well we all know why he is there fucking tosser that he is.

Hargreaves i fucking hated this bloke before the world cup. I think i can honestly say behind gerrard he is the only player in the team at the moment that shows any grit,determination and heart.

Defoe... Well he must just be wondering what it takes to get a start for england another good player not given a fair crack at it

Nice to see johnson getting a run out, showed moments tonight that he could be good but end of the day dont ever think hes going to be england quality.

And thats about my sumation of those tossers who wear the england shirt suposidly proud to play for there country!

As for tonights performance.

AWFUL behind saturdays game one of the boringest games ever.
Yeah they played defencive but who gives a shit! end of the day the players we have should piss over them even if they stuck 10men on the line!

Sack the manager hes shit. he doesnt have a fucking clue!

[MTR]

Terrible performance even against part-timers.
Thank god for Gerrard who at least has some passion for England. Downing is a waste of space, little pace and terrible crosses. Can't think of anyone who played that great really. Listen to the fans Mclaren, can't you hear it? 'Beckham, Beckham!'
Terrible manager with even less passion and talent than our sorry players.

[furioAL]

I guess a good thing came from the game... rooney was booked so he has to be dropped for the next game... then we can see how they play...

Gerrard played well, he looked like the only one that actually wanted to play... Micah Richards played fairly well too...

Alex
:geek:

[Baz]

bloody hell a win, still im glad i didn't bother to change channel to watch or check the score, more than likely a dull game as usual!

[AdamW]

It was a dull game considering scoreline......First half was shocking football.

No way near in the clear to qualify yet

[hesslevtr]

so theres 160 places by uefa rankings

thats like man utd playing someone from sunday league and we can only beat them 3-0

gerrards alot better in midfield

but were still shit

[Dave86]

It was absolute crap. As everyone has said, he needs sacking. The FA haven't got the balls to do it, and they know that if they sack him, the have to pay him £2.5 million!!!!!!!!!