Are England Playing A "Clockwise System"?

[Steve R]

Whilst watching the squandered game against Sweden yesterday evening, I couldn't help but notice that, when England were in possession of the ball on the left side of the pitch, the ball was usually played in the general direction of the Swedish goal.

However, when England were in possession of the ball on the right side of the pitch, the ball was almost invariably played back towards our own goalkeeper or, at least, well into our own half and then across to the left side of the pitch.

Now I'm no expert, but I'd be prepared to wager that we would score more goals if both sides of our team were trying to play the ball towards the opposing team's goal.

[Bob Singleton]

The answer is simple.

On the left is Joe Cole who is an attacking player with flair and imagination. On the right is Beckham, a one-trick pony, overpaid clothes-horse and prize tosser who, on current form, doesn't deserve a place in the team, let alone the captain's armband.

If Beckham were replaced by Lennon you would see the clockwise passing replaced by attacks down both flanks!

[Sam Slater]

Nah,

It's because of 'mr pass backwards'. ie 'Jamie Carragher'. He was renowned for only ever passing backwards when he played at right back for Liverpool. He plays much better in the centre so I don't really blame Carragher for lastnight's performance.

Watch him next time and count the 'forward' passes from the right back position. You'll get about 2-3 per match.....seriously.

[Flat_Eric]

Bob Singleton wrote:

>>



Bob - you hit the nail right on the head.

Unfortunately though, Beckham is the current England managerial team's "sacred cow" and (unless he gets injured) he's never going to be dropped or even substituted, no matter how shite he's playing.

Okay, he made the goal against Paraguay and he hits the occasional decent pass, but that's about all he's good for. "One-trick pony" sums it up well, I think. He's well past his sell-by date.

[Bob Singleton]

Flat_Eric wrote:

Unfortunately though, Beckham is the current England managerial team's "sacred cow" and (unless he gets injured) he's never going to be dropped or even substituted, no matter how shite he's playing.


===================================================

I have a dream...


I have a dream that in the dying seconds of a win over Ecuador on Sunday, Beckham has another rush of blood to the head and gets sent off. In his distraught state he kicks the referee, thus ensuring a lengthy ban.

England then play an attacking 4-3-3 :

Robinson

Carragher, Ferdinand, Terry, A. Cole

Gerrard, Carrick, Lampard

Lennon, Rooney, J. Cole

and sweep past Holland in the quarter finals

blow away Brazilin the semis

and stun the world with a 6-0 victory over Argentina in the final...


... I have a dream!!!



I have a dream that Hello, OK and others forget who that bloke with all the silly tatoos is... and what's he doing with a stick insect anyway?

I have a dream!

[Sam Slater]

Thats not a dream, it's a nightmare!

Wanting the england captain to be sent off to prove a point? Lennons exciting but his defensive capabilities are untested and he'd be found wanting against Holland -with Robben- , and Brazil -with Carlos doubling up on Carragher-. Beckham protects the right back better than what people give him credit for.

Carragher's position isn't right back! Neville is better positionally, gets forward more and a better passer. Carragher is better in the air & tackling.

Gerrard is -apart from Rooney- our best player, putting him in a 3 on the right is stupid. I like Carrick a lot but putting him in the middle of the 3 as a defensive midfielder isn't too bright against people like Ronaldino & Riquelme. His tackling success rate is something like 32% for England. Hargreaves is about 72% I think. (though Carrick is a better passer).

A more sensible option is 4-1-4-1


--------------------------------Robinson----------------------------


-----Neville----------Ferdinand----------Terry----------A. Cole-----

------------------------------Hargreaves----------------------------

-----Beckham----------Gerrard----------Lampard----------J. Cole-----

--------------------------------Rooney------------------------------


Hargreaves gives Gerrard & Lampard more freedom, and J. Cole & Beckham to push up as any quick breaks can be mopped up with Hargreaves (as he should always be on the same side of the pitch as the ball).

If England find themselves behind you can replace Hargreaves for Carrick (better at picking out passes), change Beckham for Lennon (if pace is needed).

Alternatively replace Hargreaves for Crouch and go 4-4-2, replacing J. Cole for Downing which gives good crosses from both sides for Crouch up front, to get us a goal if we're desperate. Theo Walcott used to play on the left wing for Southampton, so if pace is needed down the left then he's an option.

The above team is what I'd start with though.

[Bob Singleton]

I picked Carragher because Neville is currently injured. Or do you know something the rest of the country doesn't?

As for Beckham, the ONLY thing he brings to the team is a new pair of Police sunglasses! He can't tackle, so to say he's better defensively than Lenon is total bollocks. Against teams like Holland and Argentina, the best form of defence is attack. Either way, given he can't defend and can't attack, what is the point of Beckham?

Don't say his free kicks... he hasn't scored one for England for about 2 years. Gerrard and Lampard are just as likely to score from them anyway, as they regularly do for their clubs.

His pinpoint passing? On current form if he manages to get within 10 yards of his intended recipient he's doing well.

Ball retention? Beckham probably gives the ball away more than any current England player. As someone said recently, without the ball, even Brazil can't play. So why pick a player who is more likely than anyone else to give the ball away to ever more dangerous opponents?

Is Sam Slater a pseudonym for Sven-Goran Eriksson?

[Sam Slater]

Eh?

I'm not a fan of Beckham but he does serve a purpose for England. He can't tackle but positionally he gives cover for the right back. You don't have to tackle to defend. Just being in the right place at the right time makes opposition players pass to less dangerous area's of the pitch, and stops the opposing right back 'doubling up' on our right back.

Oh & Neville's injury isn't serious. He may even make Sundays game.

I can't remember Beckham giving the ball away all the time either. Lampard seems to be the main culprit when it come's to stray passes and has never had a good game for England. (though I wouldn't leave Lampard out of the team).

Out of Englands last 15 goals, Beckham has about 10 assists. Beckam has the most assists for the whole of La Liga this season and was second last season. He has 3 assists for Englands 5 goals so far. (the stats say 2 assists due to Gerrard having a touch before scoring against T&T, though Beckham provided the assist). Beckham takes all of Real Madrids corners & 90% of the free kicks within 25 yards. This in spite of a team with Robinho, Zidane, Roberto Carlos & Baptista who all take free kicks.

I agree that Beckham hasn't played to the standards he set 5 years ago, and I agree if he isn't playing well he needs to be substituted, but he's still 1st choice right midfield for me.

I don't think he's played bad enough to be dropped. I just think Gerrard, Lampard & Joe Cole have improved over the last 2 years, and with the emergence of Rooney, Beckham doesn't shine anymore. 4 years ago he was our best player, now he isn't.

It's easy to jump on the 'drop Beckham' bandwagon like sheep cos it makes you 'one of the lads', but I just see things with my head and the worst English players so far have been Owen, Carragher & Lampard. Our best players have been Joe Cole, Gerrard & maybe Ferdinand or Crouch.

Not a Sven Goran Erriksson fan either, (he's played the wrong formation for 2 years now & tactically inept), so forget the pseudonym.

[DanG]

I wouldn't say I'm on the 'drop Beckham' bandwagon, but I'm definitely on the 'Where is it written he can't be subbed if he is playing shite?' bandwagon.

Talking about his assists for England is a misleading proposition by the way...I've no doubt Gerrard and Lampard would be right up there too if they got to take all the corners and goal-range free kicks (like Beckham does).

On current form, I'd have Lampard and Beckham out of the team, as they both look to be feeling the effects of a long hard season in which they were both probably the best player at their respective clubs...Beckham especially has to do a lot more running to make up for some of his more work-shy Real Madrid colleagues.

What really puzzles me is Sven's reticence to play certain players in the squad. Against Sweden, he rests most of the players on a yellow card, but when his hand is forced into substitutions by injuries and indifferent form, he puts on Gerrard and Crouch, two of the at-risk players. Will Walcott, Carrick, or Jenas ever kick a ball in anger at this tournament? It remains to be seen...

Here's hoping we do Ecuador, but on current form, who knows? They rested a bunch of players against the Germans, so they're obviously looking ahead at the long haul....

[Bob Singleton]

Well Sam, if you want to use statistics as part of your argument, then you can't ever drop Lampard from the team as he's had more shots on goal than any other player in the tournament (according to ITV who were quoting FIFAs own stats).

I'm not on the "Beckham Out bandwaggon" to look like a lad! I've been questioning Beckham's "undropability" from the England team since about 1999/2000. Ever since Peter Taylor made him Captain in a friendly against Italy I've questioned the decision to give him the armband. If there is a "bandwaggon" I never jumped on it, though I may well have started it! !happy!

What he used to do well 6/7 years ago has been in decline for at least five years. Both Lampard and Gerrard are more than capable of taking free kicks in dangerous positions. Lampard regularly takes corners for Chelsea and his standard of delivery is far higher than Beckham's at the moment. How many England corners have been wasted this World Cup? Answer: 100%

The own goal in the opening minutes of the game against Paraguay was a result of one of only two free kicks Beckham has taken this tournament to actually reach the six-yard box. The rest have hit walls, or sailed innefectually past/over the goal without once troubling the goalkeeper.

Beckham has already passed the penalty taking duties to Lampard. If Gerrard was now given the free kicks to take and Lampard the corners, Beckham would have no role left to play in the team and it would be plain to see how little he actually contributes to the game.

England go into every game virtually with a man short every time Beckham plays. Let's get things back to 11 v 11 and drop him!