Apparently McClaren is facing a selection 'dilemma' between Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard.

For me there is no dilemma! Barry and Gerrard have proved that they can work together well in a midfield whilst Gerrard and Lampard have proved time and time again that they can't!

What do you reckon McClaren will play?

Apparently McClaren is facing a selection 'dilemma' between Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard.

For me there is no dilemma! Barry and Gerrard have proved that they can work together well in a midfield whilst Gerrard and Lampard have proved time and time again that they can't!

What do you reckon McClaren will play?

he has team was announed earlier barry gerrard in midfield lampard on bench cambell replaces terry and rooney and owen up front

he has taem was announed earlier barry gerrard in midfield lampard on bench cambell replaces terry and rooney and owen up front

Didn't read that earlier pal.

Good game up until he replaced Owen with Lampard and left other 2 strikers on bench. Maclaren logic :rolleyes:

Good game up until he replaced Owen with Lampard and left other 2 strikers on bench. Maclaren logic :rolleyes:

The logic was 4-3-3, did that escape you?

The logic was 4-3-3, did that escape you?
I tend to agree with Scotts!!

The simple, most logical substitution would have been Owen for Crouch, thus keeping the formation the same! Why change the formation when we have just started to play as a team for the first time in ages (since Lampard lost his place)???

Barry has added new balance to the team. He is able to hold his position, distribute the ball and fulfill his defensive duties (unlike Lampard), therefore enabling Gerrard to play his natural game! This is not really up for debate however, the results and performances since Barry took Lampards place speak for themselves!!

Maclaren has finally got it right. He shouldn't let the fact that Lampard is a big name, spoil all the good work by totally changing the formation solely to accomadate him. The evidence from the game shows that when Lampard came on, England lost their fluidity (not that this was Lampards fault, but the change in formation)! If in future Maclaren feels he has to involve Lampard because he is a big Chelsea player, then he should give him the last 20 minutes now and then to give Gerrard a rest which will not alter the shape and formation of the team too much, like it did today when he changed the formation solely to give Lampard a small run out to keep him sweet!

Stick to your guns Maclaren and stop feeling obliged to keep the primadonas in the team at all costs, your'e the boss for christs sake!

The logic was 4-3-3, did that escape you?

Did it escape you that with this formation Estonia started to get back into the game? If he does that against Russia they will lose.
Lescott earned himself a starting place on Wed don't you think?
Keep Lampard on the bench and go with Barry and Gerrard.

Did it escape you that with this formation Estonia started to get back into the game?

That had a lot to do with England going to sleep as the game was already over. If he'd switched to 8-1-1 the second half would not have been any much different.

Did it escape you that with this formation Estonia started to get back into the game? If he does that against Russia they will lose.
Lescott earned himself a starting place on Wed don't you think?
Keep Lampard on the bench and go with Barry and Gerrard.

Maybe with the game won and safe he wanted to try somthing different. He knows what works, so it's time to develop a plan B in case plan A doesn't work at some stage.

For me Terry should come back into the team if fit, but I would move Sol Campbell accros to left back if Cole's injury rules him out. Sol's played there before, infact I think he made his debut for England there. I would then stick with 4-4-2, with maybe Rooney coming back deep to help out in midfield if required.

Have to disagree about Sol.Fetching in the "old boys" in the rugby squad seems to have worked but bringing in the likes of Heskey and Sol Cambell is, IMO an insult to the younger, in form talent that is in the Prem at the minute. Lescott should have started without a doubt and Barry's knocks on the door went unheard for long enough which, ended up as "I told you so", only down to under achieving Lampards injury. Also, Robinson wasn't tested yesterday so no howlers there but against Russia it will be a different story. if it comes down to Croatia game then who would you pick? Robinson- 17th in Prem - Conceded 18.
James- 5th in Prem - Conceded 12