Incredible. Another act of sheer desperation from McClaren.

Full story on BBC website (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6974969.stm)

He's being picked because he has lots of international experience?


Why not pick Bobby Charlton? He has even more of it.

As I understand it, the England squad to face Russia and Israel is:

Goalkeepers:
Paul Robinson (Tottenham)
David James (Portsmouth)
Scott Carson (Aston Villa)

Defenders:
Micah Richards (Man City)
Wes Brown (Man Utd)
Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
Joleon Lescott (Everton)
Phil Neville (Everton)
Nicky Shorey (Reading)

Midfielders:
David Bentley (Blackburn)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) injured
Joe Cole (Chelsea)
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea)
Michael Carrick (Man Utd)
Gareth Barry (Aston Villa)
Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)
Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd)

Forwards:
Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Alan Smith (Newcastle)
Michael Owen (Newcastle)
Peter Crouch (Liverpool) suspended for Israel game
Andrew Johnson (Everton)
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)
Emile Heskey (Wigan)

I'd go for a 4-3-3

............................Michael Owen....

..................Joe Cole.......Shawn Wright-Phillips.........

.....Gareth Barry...Michael Carrick...Owen Hargreaves.....

Nicky Shorey...Rio Ferdinand...John Terry...Micah Richards

.............................Scott Carson............................

I'd go for a 4-3-3

............................Michael Owen....

..................Joe Cole.......Shawn Wright-Phillips.........

.....Gareth Barry...Michael Carrick...Owen Hargreaves.....

Nicky Shorey...Rio Ferdinand...John Terry...Micah Richards

.............................Scott Carson............................

That could too easily become a 4 - 5 -1 with Owen isolated up front in a game we really could do with winning. Don't like both Carrick and Hargreaves in the same team - they seem to have slowed Man U's build up play right down.

Then again with the players available it's hard to see what other options there are!

...with the players available it's hard to see what other options there are!

Exactly!

I just figure we should attack at speed, and in numbers. Sadly, McClaren will probably go with 4-4-2, while we look on in horror as Heskey lumps about on his arse.

They should put Heskey in splints because he finds it really difficult to stand up.

Incredible. Another act of sheer desperation from McClaren.

Full story on BBC website (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6974969.stm)

Surely you're not surprised by this? McClaren hasn't had an original thought in years.

I'm sure Eriksson hides in the dugout, out of sight, and operates him like a puppet.

Surely you're not surprised by this? McClaren hasn't had an original thought in years.

I'm sure Eriksson hides in the dugout, out of sight, and operates him like a puppet.


Even Eriksson had the good sense to ditch Heskey...

Call me crazy but in a game when it's vital Michael Owen produces what we need of him I don't think it's that bad to have Heskey partnering him. Owen is not the sort of player you would play on his own up front and when you look at the other options they're either not getting enough games with their clubs, injured, suspended or not used to playing with Owen before.
Some may say play Ashton with him but he's not right to play with Owen, too similar like Owen he's a goalscorer therefore selfish when he gets the ball and will not creat echance for Owen.
At least with Heskey he's played with Heskey many times so he shouldn't have to adjust also Heskey is playing the best football he has done for years. I was never a fan but under the circumstances I think he is the right choice.
I read something in the Sunday Mirror yesterday I think it was Jonathan Pearce said if we are looking for a short term solution while Crouch is banned for Israel what about Teddy Sheringham. This in my opinion would not have been such a bad solution for one game which we desperately need to win.

Hmmmm. Heskey was so bad when he played for England.

In 43 appearances, he scored just 5 goals, and rarely played well from what I recall.

It's been 3 years without him, I don't see what he can offer the England team.

I think McClaren is taking the p***.

As the saying goes, "I dont mind a joke but f*** a pantomime!!!" :rant::rant::loopy:

I'd rather stick Young up front with Owen. The pace of Owen, Young and Wright Phillips would surely bring a goal or two against Israel?

As much as I hate to see Heskey wearing an England shirt again, I do also respect the growing trend of in form players from less glamerous clubs getting the nod like Heskey, Lescott, Shorey & Young.

I'd rather stick Young up front with Owen. The pace of Owen, Young and Wright Phillips would surely bring a goal or two against Israel?

I'm not sure if pace will be the answer against Israel who are likely to simply put 10 men behind the ball every time England have possession. I think the guile of the likes of Joe Cole will be needed against a packed defence.

Rumour has it Owen pursuaded McLaren to call up Heskey again.

Heskey was pretty useless for England before and his form for Wigan since hasn't been anything noteworthy, but if he can tee up a few for Owen it could be the difference between Euro 2008 and not qualifying.

They should put Heskey in splints because he finds it really difficult to stand up.

Why don't they just give him an injection like the one planned for Gerrard :loopy: Is it the player that wants to play so badly or is Maclaren that desperate he will risk a players career.
It's Maclaren that needs a jag, one that puts him to sleep. ;)

I reckon the England Manager should be elected from a shortlist by the supporters, that way you don't get a third choice manager selecting a third rate team. As for injuries, (before you say anything), he should have a solid backup player for every position instead of running about like a headless chicken when things go pear shaped. and PLEASE forget about getting Beckham his 100th cap at the expense of qualifying for 2008!

Why don't they just give him an injection like the one planned for Gerrard :loopy: Is it the player that wants to play so badly or is Maclaren that desperate he will risk a players career.


If playing Gerrard under a painkilling injection is risking his career, you should focus your ire on Rafael Benitez who already HAS done so, rather than McLaren who merely MAY do so.

Why don't they just give him an injection like the one planned for Gerrard :loopy: Is it the player that wants to play so badly or is Maclaren that desperate he will risk a players career.
It's Maclaren that needs a jag, one that puts him to sleep. ;)

Terry is and Lampard were playing with broken toes. Gerrard also played in the vital Liverpool game against Chelsea, so why can't he play in the vital England games? Maybe both games are out of the question, the Russian is is the most important so he should play in that one.

Maybe both games are out of the question, the Russian is is the most important so he should play in that one.


I can see the thinking behind that, but if we don't beat Israel, the Russia game isn't important at all because we're not going to qualify.

If playing Gerrard under a painkilling injection is risking his career, you should focus your ire on Rafael Benitez who already HAS done so, rather than McLaren who merely MAY do so.

I was under the impression that Benitez had "begged" Maclaren not to give him injections.
Injections may sound trivial and common place but I just don't agree with risking something by masking it with a painkiller. Feet are a pretty important item when you play football. I find it a bit sad when England have to resort to painkillers and "dated" players to get a team together. They would probably find it hard to play in the SPL at the minute. ;)

I was under the impression that Benitez had "begged" Maclaren not to give him injections.

You're right; he has. But he also played Gerrard against Chelsea, after giving him one of those same injections. That wipes out any chance of him sounding believable when he says, now, that to do so would harm Gerrard's recovery chances.

The world has gone mad, with Heskey England looked a different class; shows what I know.

The world has gone mad, with Heskey England looked a different class; shows what I know.

Didn't see the game but read a few reviews that praise Heskey. I hope it lasts and he continues to prove me wrong.

The world has gone mad, with Heskey England looked a different class; shows what I know.


Maybe now is the time to point out (as some Times correspondents were saying last week, so it's not hindsight on their part) that Heskey never actually WAS all that bad; he was an integral part of the 5-1 demolition of Germany, to take but one example.

He had one bad game at a crucial time, and has been vilified ever since. His partnership with Owen, particularly, has always led to many goals, even though Heskey himself very rarely scored any of them.

It's all about horses for courses. We should have picked Heskey in the NI game 2 years ago. Pick players who fit into a gameplan and who are confident and in form. Having Heskey or similar makes us play a more attacking formation which suits the other players

I thought he had a good game as well, which was nice.

I think McClaren is taking the p***.

As the saying goes, "I dont mind a joke but f*** a pantomime!!!" :rant::rant::loopy:

I will hold my hands up and admit that I thought he had a decent game, pity he couldn't finish the chances he missed though,

The world has gone mad, with Heskey England looked a different class; shows what I know.

...or without Lampard depending on how you look at it. :)

Our midfield looked miles better much more balanced with Phillips, Barry and Cole, Lampard and Gerrard together just don't work.

Lets not got too carried away though, Israel were shocking.

egg on face for you lot me thinks

Heskey recalled by Capello for friendly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7554604.stm

:hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Heskey recalled by Capello for friendly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7554604.stm

:hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Has Heskey got some photographs of England managers in compromising positions or something ?

Should be interesting...

Well last night was "interesting". To say that this was the last warm up before the qualifying starts. I would have thought that this far away from the 1st qualifier would mean that England's starting 11 was sorted and last night was a game in which they would gel. :rolleyes:
Last night's game confirms that Fabio "Should have gone to Specsavers" I'm sure he watched the Villa game last weekend but he must have gone to the loo when Agbonlahor got his hat-trick. Lampard proved, yet again, that he can't play in an England shirt and James had his "**** hat" on again and why was Rooney putting balls from midfield up to the opponents goal area when he should be in that area receiving said balls? As for Heskey, If he was in my fridge I would have binned him ages ago.

Nah, Rooney's a natural born midfielder for me. As for Heskey, if he was in your fridge it'd be better for England. And Agbonlahor shoulda played. And was Crouch injured?