MIKE’S WORLD CUP 2010 – NOTES 3

MIKE’S WORLD CUP 2010 – NOTES 3

I hope you will permit me an England focused topic today but England have a ‘must win’ game later on and my nerves are already playing up. Could we be on the aeroplane of early exits along with the French?

So far, it has been a pretty low key tournament football wise for the England team.

As usual, our national press and supporters expect big results from the team, even when reality says our team is not the best in the world.

When the Group teams were drawn, ours looked to be one of the easier Groups from which to progress to the knock outs. But when will we, and the other senior football nations, ever learn? The smaller fish are getting better and better and there are no easy games. The minnows are fighting back!

Our pre World Cup build up was generally average with sub standard wins over some of the lesser footballing nations and there was nothing to be seen to frighten the big teams like Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain.

The main problem, other than outsized expectations, has been the lack of performance on the pitch and the players must take the blame for that. We seem lacking true grit and that is simply not good enough.

Fabio Capello must take some blame for his team tactics too, although I have to say that I remain a fan of his and I still back him, as long as he listens to what I am about to say!

Fabio – we need to win this game. Slovenia merely need a draw and I expect them to play with negative, spoiling tactics. This means we must field a team who are able to attack and score goals from the kick off. I fear for our progress if we are not two up by halftime.

So…

1. Let’s get some good, quick passers of the ball in the team.

1. Let’s help our proven goalscorers to get in front of goal

1. Let’s include players who can cross the ball and open up defences.

I think the key to this is the return of Joe Cole – he has great vision, crosses well and moves the ball quickly. I don’t understand why Fabio has ignored him so far.

As always, I will stick my neck out – my team would be:

James / Johnson, Terry, Dawson, A. Cole / Carrick, Barry, Lampard, J. Cole / Gerrard, Rooney.

I prefer Dawson to Upson who is slower, even though Dawson is a novice at this level.

Playing Carrick and Barry allows Lampard and J Cole to attack more and provide plenty of cover if the full backs want to push up. And they can both pass the ball.

Despite their recent form, Lampard and Rooney are the only players with a decent goal haul last season (27 and 34 respectively) so you have to give them one more chance.

No one else has 20 except for my sub, Defoe (24) who can’t seem to play with Rooney.

We are short on goal scorers – Gerrard (12), Crouch (13) and Milner (11) are the next best with team regulars Lennon (3), Wright Phillips (7) and Heskey (5) – awful.

If Lampard and Rooney are not playing well by half time, I would take them off, push Gerrard back to midfield and put on Crouch and Defoe, who play together at Spurs and work well together. We must score goals.

Both full backs must overlap and we should try to win the game by half time – Slovenia only need to draw to qualify so we need to take control of the game.

Unfortunately, early press reports today suggest Fabio will not follow my team selection advice – but, whatever the team, I will be shouting for England and hope they can do it.

My heart says they will but, unfortunately, my head says it will be a draw.

Finally, thanks to Amos and Chris for their comments on my first Blog – feel free to post your comments if you disagree with mine.

Editors Note: Mike is a longtime member at My Poker Blues and resides in England.

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