Walcott didn't look that good tonight. Personally I'd still have Beckham starting, no matter his age or where he plays, he is still the best passer in the world. All these young players have great potential but lack consistency which is what's going to be needed at the World Cup.
Nah Beckham cant start on the right. A
key component in England's 4-4-2 formation that Capello uncovered during the World Cup Qualifiers, was having a pacy right-winger starting, who can run at & away from defenders (Walcott/Lennon) & Beckham coming on as a impact sub for one of those cats in the 15-30 mins. That is the reason why Capello vs Egypt started Walcott instead of Milner (although Walcott is not in great form) & picked SWP in the squad although he is not a first team player @ City right now.
From the right-wing is basically the only position where England attack the opposition with real pace:
--------------------------------Heskey------------------------------------
----------------------------Rooney---------------------------------------
Gerrard-------------------Barry----------Lampard-----------Lennon/Walcott
If Beckham or Milner where to start that undermines a important tactical attacking option for us that Capello has developed. But of course right now Walcott & Lennon are not 100% for obvious reasons.
Walcott is unfortuantely under alot of pressure to get back to his form that got him that hat-trick in Croatia, given its a world cup year. But we need to patient with him since he has been injured & its taking him a while to get back to that level. A big few months for him coming up, but i expect Capello to pick him still & hopefully Capello showing confidence in young Theo will get him back into form come the world cup.
With Lennon well obviously we dont know how he will go when he returns from injury, but he remains a must pick for reasons already stated.
If one of Walcott or Lennon form woes get worrying. I think & hope Capello picks Ashley Young instead of SWP next time though.
War added 19 Minutes and 10 Seconds later...
Being at the game, you appreciate space that you can't see on T.V and also the movement of the players. Rooney does the simple stuff so well. Thats why he's so good. Barry, Lampard and Gerrard all tried over elaborate stuff and ignored obvious passes until it was too late. It doesn't work - Lampard, Barry and Gerrard out wide. Gerrard drifts inside too much meaning we are stupidly narrow. Lampard looked slow and completely out of form. And Barry hasn't been good all season. It's time we played the best player in each position, even if that means we leave out a "big gun" like Gerrard, Lampard or Barry. - How good was Carrick when he came on?! The reason? He's used to sitting and playing short, quick passes at United. He dictated the tempo of the 2nd half where the other three failed in the first.
Disagree slightly my friend. Lets not forget that mid-field combination from left-right of Gerrard-Lamps-Barry was doing superbly in world cup qualifiers, so i'd say we can just say they (especially Lamps) had bad first half.
Since Euro 2004 the argument has always been "How to accomodate Gerrard & Lamps in the same team". Surely finding a way to do so makes England stronger that leaving one out?. Again Capello found a way to accomodate them & its being going well, so no need to change a winning formula.
Sorry but Defoe's had enough chances for England (starting). He's too lightweight against good teams. AND, most importantly, he doesn't work well with Rooney. Crouch and Heskey do. I think Agbonlahor would be a better option than defoe.
Yea good point of Defoe being a bit too lightweight againts good teams. He just doesn't look like his Tottenham self in a England shirt, you know what they say - "domestic form doesn't always equal international success". Thats why i always remain sceptical about him & why i believe Owen has to be picked.
Agbonlahor is worth a shout oover Defoe, i probably would pick him ahead of Defoe to be dead honest. But i reckon Capello will pick Defoe based on his goal-scoring form for Spurs.
And talking of England - If by some miracle he went to the world cup, He's got to be in the centre of midfield with Gerrard. Hargo holding (When fit, he's the best there is IMO), Gerrard pushing. Be like a Scholes and Keane combo for England.
