Can anyone explain his decision to put Andy Johnson on the right wing?

"I wanted to play 4-3-3."

So adjust the side in the second half with Downing on the left, Wright-Phillips down the right and Johnson in the middle.

We know what Owen can do. Get him off. It's a friendly FFS!

It's as if media pressure made him pick Downing and Johnson, so to pacify the media he plays them, but a) for only 30 mins and b) out of position.

What a complete waste of time that match was (for England).

Absolutely crazy.

He sure has. I've been saying this for a long time.

He should have started without Beckham and SWP on the right in a 4-4-2. The poor kid cannot do much more to stake a place, and now he is played as a forward because Beckham is immovable, even in a friendly.

The treatment of Johnson and Downing is nothing short of disgusting. Making both of them play out of position in the biggest game of their lives when the result doesn't matter is just a complete and utter waste of time.

I think the whole thing has become a bit of an ego trip to Sven. The top players praise him as if he is some kind of tactical genius. He relies on this support of the senior players and in return their places are sacrosanct. :mad:

And what the hell was Frank Lampard doing on the left?

This 'superstar syndrome' is ridiculous. He continually picks big name players even when they are unfit and out of form.

Sven - clueless, gutless. Predictable. Boring.

Beckham - his inclusion must be more to do with sponsorship, because it certainly isn't down to his football. He's not had a good game since....er?

He BROUGHT ON in a friendly, two of the worst players I have ever seen in an England shirt. The abysmal Kieron Dyer and, just to prove there's worse than him, Jenas!! What a tactical substition they were, Sven!

We insist on passing to marked players, who have their backs to goal and so can only return the ball to the player who just passed it to them. Contrast a youthful Holland side which had pace and skill, who passed the ball into areas to run onto. Not rocket science is it?

Having said all this, and maybe looking for an excuse or two, it was a friendly, and no-one illustrated this fact more than Rooney who wasn't going to bust a gut for anything.

Almost as predictable as Angels being 'voted' the best song of the last 25 years. Please....,

Same old england- another bore 0-0.

Im glad fergie had the balls to keep our better players away from the match seen as how we need them fit and healthy for trying to win the premiership again.

Isnt it time we stopped these pointless friendlies?

Originally posted by Ousetunes


He BROUGHT ON in a friendly, two of the worst players I have ever seen in an England shirt. The abysmal Kieron Dyer and, just to prove there's worse than him, Jenas!! What a tactical substition they were, Sven!


i agree with rest of what you said, but must bring you up on this,

dyer is a quality player, but he just does not fulfill his potential!!
and jenas is quality too!!

you will see in years to come

Originally posted by Angelus
Im glad fergie had the balls to keep our better players away from the match seen as how we need them fit and healthy for trying to win the premiership again.


so do you not class rooney (the one you say is better than gazza) as one of your "better" players?

Yes, he has totally lost it.

Unless of course it was his aim to play Downing, Wright Phillips and Johnson out of position to give them enough rope to hang themselves - ie he doesn't want them in the team, so he plays them sonewhere where they will not be very effective and everyone will see he was right not to play them in the first place.

I can see of no other logic to play Andy Johnson on the wing. If he played for ManU or Arsenal or Chelsea he would get a proper shot at becoming a regular - and there is some logic to the fact that those clubs have Champions League experience.

But, if Eriksson doesn't want Johnson etc to play then he should just not pick them. If he wanted a right winger why didn't he pick one (oh, hang on he did didn't he, but decided to play him as a left winger......)

If anyone can explain what's going on in Sven's head please explain.

Originally posted by Robbie_Lovin
dyer is a quality player, but he just does not fulfill his potential!!
and jenas is quality too!!

I hear people singing Jenas's praises all the time, but I just can't see it myself. He's so average it's untrue - in keeping with the rest of our over-rated midfielders like Gerrard (far too many long passes as usual), Lampard (ineffective in an England shirt yet again last night) and Beckham (who seems to be in the team simply to 'win' free-kicks by falling over every time someone scrapes by him).

As for Dyer, unless he gets an attitude transplant he's never going to be an international footballer. His heart's not in it, and I'd much rather get a youngster in there who wants the shirt.

As for Rooney, I thought he did ok last night. At least the ball didn't look like a hot potato when he had it. The so-called 'skills' of our best players are shameful compared to the majority of other European teams. We just can't control or pass the ball properly.

Originally posted by ANGELUS

Im glad fergie had the balls to keep our better players away from the match seen as how we need them fit and healthy for trying to win the premiership again.

???

Gary neville
wayne Rooney
Wes Brown
all played

He's a crap manager - never understood why he gets so much praise.....

Glad I watched the cricket instead.,

Originally posted by Robbie_Lovin
so do you not class rooney (the one you say is better than gazza) as one of your "better" players?

Rooney still kicks gazza's arse for me pal.. and rooney is still one of our best players yep.

Originally posted by AndrewC ???

Gary neville
wayne Rooney
Wes Brown
all played


Yep and... out of those 3- I rate Rooney the highest.
We could still fill the positions if those other 2 defenders were injured so its not a problem.

There's no doubt that some sort of continental style formation is, in theory, the way forward for england. This is what i'd love to see....

Defence

England have numerous top class central defenders, 3 at the back would be playing do our strengths in that sense, however, the problem of adapting to playing as a 3 is apparent.

Ideally: Rio, Terry and Campbell. (i'd like to see rio almost playing as a sweeper, covering for the other 2's slowness and not forgetting his ability to bring the ball forward with aplomb.

Wing backs

Two potentially devestating wing backs in ashley cole and SWP.

Central midfield

3 central midfielders, for me , gerrard the only 1 who truly deserves to be there. For me, beckham adds nothing in a central role and lampard has yet to prove his worth on the international stage, but as his club form is unreal, i'm willing to give him more time. If only Dyer wasn't such a prat, he could be very good indeed - pace, skill, vision, but cannot finish and has a poor attitude. I'd currently go with carrick - him and gerrard in the centre, with lampard just in front.

Attack

Up front i'd go with rooney and defoe. I'm owen's biggest fan, but even i am struggling to defend him - when he doesn't score, he adds absolutely nothing to the team. He has so much potential to pick up the ball from deep and beat players, but we never see it from him.

Well I am no expert on Footy and think that Sven can get a hard time.

I have always liked him and will wait to see how we fair in the next major tournament.

Maybe a couple of decisions will go in our favour for once ?

Originally posted by venger
Well I am no expert on Footy and think that Sven can get a hard time.

I have always liked him and will wait to see how we fair in the next major tournament.

Maybe a couple of decisions will go in our favour for once ?

I agree that he shouldn't be given a hard time just because he is the manager, but if he does bizarre things like play a third to a half his team out of position I think criticism should be voiced.

As long at it is constructive and logically argued and not just personal attacks.

I think everyone should leave Beckham alone!!! He's had a lot of stick lately but as soon as he scores a goal for england the media etc. are all over him saying he's fabulous etc. I love him and i think he's great!! Ive always supported him and i stick up for him evry chance i get!! I think that the england team would be lost without him. I know he doesn't always play to the best of his ability but does anyone play their best all the time!!! People have bad days and good days and i think Beckham's time will come to show how good he really is in the world cup next year!!! I think people should stick with their opinion about him and not change them constantly when he plays differently!!!

urrrrggghhhhhhhh a girlie - I think your views on Beckham dont relat to his footballing prowess. lol


;) :thumbsup:

The question we should be asking here is.......

Did Sven EVER know the plot?:suspect:

My views on Beckham DO relate to his football career!!!! Just because i'm a girl it doesn't mean i dont know what im talking about when it comes to football!!! Don't presume something when you don't know that facts, MAT!!!