England manager Eriksson to test out new midfield
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Extracted from MSNBC
LONDON (AP) - England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson thinks he has finally discovered the correct roles for midfielders David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
He'll test out his new formation against Argentina on Saturday.
Accused of blundering his way through qualifying for next year's World Cup finals in Germany, the Swede appears to have won over some of his critics.
Now, Eriksson said he is planning to field his strongest available lineup against Argentina in Geneva.
"We are meeting one of the best teams in the world,'' Eriksson said. "It's important for our confidence that we do well in this game and important for the England fans as well. If they see we can play good football against Argentina it gives us more hope for next summer.''
Eriksson has had major problems trying to fit in his three favorite midfielders. Now, he's set to play a 4-4-2 formation with Tottenham defender Ledley King in a holding role.
Beckham is set to start on the right, Gerrard on the left and Lampard behind a front two of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.
King debuted in his new role in last month's 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory against Poland, which helped already-qualified England win its group. He only played because Gerrard had a leg muscle injury.
Although England now has several top center backs and a reliable goalkeeper in Tottenham's Paul Robinson, the team's bid to win the World Cup for the first time in 40 years may come down to how well Rooney plays.
The Manchester United forward, who is only 20 but a Premier League player for four seasons, has scored four goals in 11 Premier League games and created several others. He is also willing to help out his defenders.
One of Eriksson's rivals, Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, warned Tuesday that England should not expect too much of the young striker.
"I hope that fans and the media do not burden him with the expectations of an entire country,'' Klinsmann said. "He is surrounded by other established and accomplished players, who can and will, contribute to the team's performance.
"Wayne Rooney is, undoubtedly, one of the most talented young players in the world today. Rooney is that rare player who appears to play by intuition and is able to change the course of a game with powerful runs, strong shooting and incisive passing.''
With many of his squad based in Europe, Argentina coach Jose Pekerman can call upon the likes of Juan Roman Riquelme, Juan Pablo Sorin and Roberto Ayala as well as striker Hernan Crespo, who plays for English champion Chelsea.
England won't face teenage striker Lionel Messi, however.
The 18-year-old Barcelona star was ejected barely a minute into his Aug. 18 debut - a 2-1 victory over Hungary - for elbowing an opponent and is suspended.
England's games against Argentina became more intense than ever after Diego Maradona's "Hand of God'' goal at the 1986 World Cup finals.
The playmaker punched the ball into the net while jumping alongside England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Maradona also scored the other goal in Argentina's 2-1 triumph in Mexico City, dribbling past almost the entire England team.
Beckham was shown the red card during the 1998 World Cup meeting which Argentina won on penalties. Four years later, his penalty in Japan earned England a 1-0 victory in Sapporo.
Ledley King in holding midfield role...er....how about that... -
after so long he is still testing.
i wonder if he will find the formulae only after the world cup. -
Ledley King in holding midfield ...i mean...is he really the best choice for that? England have so many good choices avaliable..
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thats why its a test.
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English news again....
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too late for testing even they test argentina maybe just field some lousy player on the field and they can score all they like
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dun think the england team now has many holding MC. king did quite a gd job the last tim he plays for england, but i still prefer smith... Provide he play the way against chelsea.
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come on.... currently there is one on form liao
NOLAN..... NOLAN..... NOLAN....... -
Yea seriously i would rather prefer Smith..at least he is playing in that position for his club for this season and has slightly bit more experience...or even owen hargreaves or even Kevin Nolan lol also can...at least they're playing as midfielders for their respective clubs..
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Nolan has no experience at all in international games
maybe he can be used in this weeks friendly -
smith is bit too eager to prove himself.Originally posted by lpx88:Yea seriously i would rather prefer Smith..at least he is playing in that position for his club for this season and has slightly bit more experience...or even owen hargreaves or even Kevin Nolan lol also can...at least they're playing as midfielders for their respective clubs..
i see him getting more bookings. -
Smith still learning to be a MC. when he is a striker he oso do all this of tackle n got book.. this is just his style of playing. Owen hargreaves like to hold on the ball too long n lack the "passion" to be in the holding role.
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Sounds like a good plan, though i wonder if King will be up for it. Afterall, he plays at centre back for Spurs. What about Michael Carrick? I think he will make a more natural holding midfielder for England.
As for Gerrard, seems like he will be playing everywhere except his favourite central midfield position for both club and country. He's been playing on the right for Liverpool and now Sven wants him on the left for England.
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good king at holding midfield good, remb the poland game?? he did well there replacing gerrard
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wad bout Jermaine Jenas lol..He or king which one should be played
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Originally posted by ah.em:
wonder y eriksson n benitez dun play gerrard at central mid...is he juz too versatile to play anywhere in midfield or he's not as good as the other central midfielders be it england or liverpool...
Sounds like a good plan, though i wonder if King will be up for it. Afterall, he plays at centre back for Spurs. What about [b]Michael Carrick? I think he will make a more natural holding midfielder for England.
As for Gerrard, seems like he will be playing everywhere except his favourite central midfield position for both club and country. He's been playing on the right for Liverpool and now Sven wants him on the left for England.
[/b] -
For liverpool, given a choice, I believe Rafa will want to play SG in the centre too but pity LFC does not have many decent right wingers. Being a versatile and good player, Gerrard can play anywhere across the midfield. Of course his best position is no doubt central midfield, but if he needs to play on the right for the sake of the team, I'm sure he will.Originally posted by numby:wonder y eriksson n benitez dun play gerrard at central mid...is he juz too versatile to play anywhere in midfield or he's not as good as the other central midfielders be it england or liverpool...
For Eriksson, I think its more of the clash of playing patterns and trying to get the best out of both Gerrard and Lampard. Both Lampard and SG are similar in a sense they are most dangerous going forward. The central midfield tends to get exposed when both players move up naturally. We all know SG can play the holding position but playing him there will not maximise the offensive strengths SG can give to the team. Thats why Eriksson is trying to experiment with SG on the left.
Sometimes its does make you wonder if SG and Lampard can playwell together in the same team. -
eriksson always plays lampard at the centre of the midfield...tinkering wif the other midfielders...if lampard was now asked to play anywhere across the midfield instead of his preferred central mid...think he will get angry at eriksson...
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could this situation,with ledley king playing, is a disguise for a 5-3-2 formation? a defensive england team?
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Think it will sort of like a 5-3-2 formation. Dun think he will have much help when goin attacking.
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He will never find out the correct formula.
He is just wasting England and everyone's time while earning big bucks. -
this will take out stevie g effectiveness man..
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He might as well just drop Gerrard.......... that guy used to play well with Lampard, but for the past few years he has been less and less willing to defend the midfield and that has caused England's midfield to have a lot of problems. Playing King is a step in the right direction, but the real person he should be looking at is Parker, not King.
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He might as well just drop Gerrard.......... that guy used to play well with Lampard, but for the past few years he has been less and less willing to defend the midfield and that has caused England's midfield to have a lot of problems. Playing King is a step in the right direction, but the real person he should be looking at is Parker, not King.
It is becoz he no longer plays the defending role for liverpool this might change his way of playing compare to the past. I agree parker shall be the one to try out the holding role.