Wait a minute. I want to make sure I got this striaght. Frank Lampard is hurt. Can't play. Gerrard plays attacking mid, with Hargreaves holding. Gerrard then proceeds to score England's first 2 goals in months.
I'm trying to decide if this is simply a coincidence, or perhaps the result of a smart lineup.
Probably both, but this is something McLaren's successor should think about in upcoming qualifiers.
This post goes out to all Red fans following the Champions League draw.
Vladimir Smicer deserves an absolutely fantastic return to Anfield when Bordeaux visits. I have every confidence he will get it, knowing how our fans treat our heroes, as well as all others. But Vladi in particulardeserves at least a 1 minute long ovation. He left in a very sensible situation- he was getting old, Rafa improving the midfield, etc. and of course, noone will EVER forget his last game in our shirt. I wish I could be there to see his return.
I said it before, and I'll say it again. Sven-Goran Eriksson's selection's for the English National Team cost his country the World Cup.
In addition, his team management was suspect as well.
England is a 4-4-2 team- that is the way the vast majority of clubs play there and is a very common formation for the Three Lions as well. Rooney was never fully fit, Owen was an injury waiting to happen, and Crouch's confidence is still a work in progress. WALCOTT DID NOT PLAY!
Defoe, Bent, Ashton, hell even Fowler would have proven useful to England. Instead, we talk about a PK win for scandal-ravaged Italy, Zidane's complete lack of class (or maybe Materazzi's) instead of England living up to their potential, even in one game.
I really am sick of hearing about how the US was #### in giving up that penalty at the end of the first half. Was it a bad call? Probably. However, that doesn't change the fact that the US needed to score another goal anyway, even without the call being made. They never really showed the heart to finish, feeling confident in their excuse for their latest defeat.
One thing I feel cannot be said enough is how small of an impact Landon Donovan had on the tournament. I'm not going to say I expect anyone to be omnipresent in all games, Not even Stevie G or Xabi, but for a guy who's supposed to be the US's best player to not show up at all, it goes to show how overrated he is- maybe they were on to something at Leverkusen. Beasley has also come under fire, but a winger is never going to take control o####ame, and he did provide a brilliant assist on their only goal of the tournament.
