*Official* English Football Season 2006-07

[steds]

Ben Foster wasn't playing for Watford all of the 2006/07 season in the EPL?

He was. He conceded 43 goals in 29 Premiership appearances.

 

[Loony BoB]

Doesn't really tell the story, though. From what I've heard - from all areas of the media, fans, players, managers, etc. - he had a stellar season and is one of the better keepers in the league. Obviously he'd not have conceded so many if he had a United-quality defence in front of him.

 

[steds]

Obviously he'd not have conceded so many if he had a United-quality defence in front of him.

Neither would Andy Marriott.

 

[Loony BoB]

Yeah, but you get the point.

 

[aussie]

King in midfield is lunacy - he has literally no distribution skills.

Well if Mclers wants to have someone to replace Hargreaves in mid-field King is his only option, but given your reasoning which is true i presume he will just stick Stevie G & Lamps in he centre & hope for the best.

 

[Tom Halsey]

He was. He conceded 43 goals in 29 Premiership appearances.

Diabolical reasoning, given the shots raining in for all 90 minutes on the Watford goal in the majority of their matches, that record is a very good one.

Sky showed some stats a couple of weeks ago, I believe Foster had the highest saves to shots ratio in the Premiership (could be wrong there, either way I know for certain he was near the top).

 

[aussie]

Taylor is certainly better going forward than he is at the back, but that's not to say he's weak in that department. He's certainly more of a direct replacement for Ashley Cole or Bridge than Shorey is.

Fair point about Barry, although he's one of the most versatile players I've seen. Certainly deserves a squad place, IMO.

Barry treatment is similar to Parker TBH, playing well for his side this year McLaren calls him up gives him a game then hardly plays him again . But i reckon Shorey probably did have a good season with Reading who we have to admit did pretty well (i think qualified for Europe but i'm not sure if they missed out late) which may have influenced Mclers decision but regardless Barry should be in the squad given that he is very versatile as you said plus he just deserves more chances.

Taylor on the other hand is just a must in the national side IMO, superb flying down the left-wing his performance vs Man Utd this season @ Fratton Park was one of the best performances i'd seen from a British left-winger other than Giggs & Cole for some time. He would be a perfect back-up to Cole no doubt.

 

[GIMH]

Barry treatment is similar to Parker TBH, playing well for his side this year McLaren calls him up gives him a game then hardly plays him again . But i reckon Shorey probably did have a good season with Reading who we have to admit did pretty well (i think qualified for Europe but i'm not sure if they missed out late) which may have influenced Mclers decision but regardless Barry should be in the squad given that he is very versatile as you said plus he just deserves more chances.

Taylor on the other hand is just a must in the national side IMO, superb flying down the left-wing his performance vs Man Utd this season @ Fratton Park was one of the best performances i'd seen from a British left-winger other than Giggs & Cole for some time. He would be a perfect back-up to Cole no doubt.

They missed out by one place, I think

 

[marc71178]

Taylor on the other hand is just a must in the national side IMO, superb flying down the left-wing his performance vs Man Utd this season @ Fratton Park was one of the best performances i'd seen from a British left-winger other than Giggs & Cole for some time. He would be a perfect back-up to Cole no doubt.

This post, following Barney's earlier show why Taylor's not in IMO. Too much of a jack of all trades in effect.

 

[TT Boy]

This post, following Barney's earlier show why Taylor's not in IMO. Too much of a jack of all trades in effect.

Whose not good enough at either left back or left midfield to force his way into an international side. Versatility is invaluable but you have to have certain qualities for those positions and Taylor lacks the defence acumen to be an international left back whilst his lack of pace and dribbling ability means he can never dominant out wide. His talent to score great goals does inflate his actual worth IMO, however, I won't dispute his not a good club player.

 

[roseboy64]

Leave Evans out of it, Pique and Foster both have huge potential. Of course, no guarantee that they'll live up to it, but it is there.

Having huge potential is an entirely different thing to being a hell of player when they reach their peak.

Anyone remember Richie Humphreys?

The fact is that all the players I named bar Evans have performed well in the top European leagues.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Whose not good enough at either left back or left midfield to force his way into an international side. Versatility is invaluable but you have to have certain qualities for those positions and Taylor lacks the defence acumen to be an international left back whilst his lack of pace and dribbling ability means he can never dominant out wide. His talent to score great goals does inflate his actual worth IMO, however, I won't dispute his not a good club player.

Lack of dribbling ability I'll give you, but he's certainly the got the pace for international football. Quicker than Wayne Bridge without a doubt, and probably Joe Cole as well, whose outstanding dribbling often masks the fact that he's not got a great deal of out and out pace.

However, I do think it's been a bit heart-over-head for me when it comes to campaigning for him to play international football - he's probably not quite good enough as it stands, but I challenge anyone to come up with a reasonable argument as to how Nicky Shorey is the better player.

 

[aussie]

Too much of a jack of all trades in effect.

Not this season at least. I think Barney can help me here but i think played Left-midfield all season. The left-back role was filled by either Lauren or Stefanovic.

Whose not good enough at either left back or left midfield to force his way into an international side. Versatility is invaluable but you have to have certain qualities for those positions and Taylor lacks the defence acumen to be an international left back whilst his lack of pace and dribbling ability means he can never dominant out wide. His talent to score great goals does inflate his actual worth IMO, however, I won't dispute his not a good club player.

Based on his performances this season of the the left-midfielders in the country that have been in an around the national side or that have had selection speculation around them as back-up to Cole i.e Barry, Taylor, Downing, Etherington, Richardson. Barry & Taylor more so have been the most impressive & pretty much are the only ones that should be considered for selection anyway.

Barry crosses well, but clear lack of pace & dribbling abliity would give him problems at international level againts good full-backs, but he would make a decent left-back though. Taylor on the other hand may not have the similar dribbling skill as Cole or Lennon (who are the only English wingers in the premiership other than SWP, Pennant, Bentley that have good enough dribbling ability) but Taylor is the next best thing after them & has pace thats for sure.But of Cole, Lennon, SWP, Pennant, Bentley the kind of wingers that most coaches would want to have in their side in modern day football. But none of them are naturally left-footed though.

Thats brings me to another point should England really go for a left-midfielder if their is so much question marks over the the quality of them?. After all we coverted Cole to one & he has been very good. Why don't they do that with another one of them. Not many sides in world football have quality left-wingers though, Italy didn't have one in the world cup they used Perotta on the left and did pretty well but they weren't to fussed about wing-play their engine was in the centre of mid-field, Spain have one of the best in the world & he hasn't been in the national squad for a while but even their engine is through the centre of the park.

Beckham is the only winger that we have that can supply quality crosses consistently, Cole, Lennon etc all are electric & cut in alot which is good. England strenght is in mid-field, so much top players their, work the ball with pace all they'll be fine i say..

 

[Scaly piscine]

Cutting in a lot is not good, there are times where it's fine to cut in - making a habit of it is bad for the team. A concept which unfortunately goes over your head with you and several others' Joe Cole worship.

I also don't see why you'd look at Spain and Italy for attacking inspiration.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Have a good feeling for this game for some reason, probably wide of the mark but there you go.

Would be nice if we win tbh.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Unless Brazil are completely dire we'll be lucky to emulate the performance in our last match at Wembley.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Mandatory goal/great chance given offside when it wasn't, plus Joe Cole wasting a good chance to cross because wanted to get it on his right foot and then by the time he'd done that passed it backwards.

 

[grecian]

Beckham?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Beckham?

The only reason I've noticed him is because of his Fabrizio Ravanelli hairstyle. Otherwise still living on hype so far.

 

[grecian]

The only reason I've noticed him is because of his Fabrizio Ravanelli hairstyle. Otherwise still living on hype so far.

He put a decent ball through for Owen, he's not been great, but he's not been terrible either.

I'm enjoying the match, tbh. Football played by both sides, it's a bit of a change from normal England internationals.

Lumpards been the invisible man, but isn't he always for England?