*Official* English Football Season 2006-07

[Scaly piscine]

i havent made my side yet, i have one in mind, but i did reasonably well last year (mid table), i shall wait until closer to the start of the season so i can account for all the transfers still to go through etc.. rather than risk losing points for changes i have to make after the season starts.

In the official Premier League one I thought you could make unlimited changes up til the first set of games.

 

[sledger]

you can, i just cant be bothered to keep going back and doing it over and over again, i'd ideally like to get it all sorted out in one go, avoiding confusion and any problematic occurances that may or may not arise.

 

[ash chaulk]

Oxford 1 Dag & Red 0

looking good in the conference

 

[aussie]

PSV Eindhoven...

im not biased

honestly the final 4 will be Chelsea, Man Utd, Real Madrid and Lyon i think

I'd have Inter ahead of Lyon at least, they have profited from the italian scandall along with some good transfers & have gained the likes of Crespo, Vieira, Ibrahamovic, grosso, Dancourt to go with season blokes like Zanetti, Toldo, Martins, Solori, Figo, Samuel, Materazzi, Stankovic etc. If they play as a unit they can go very far in Europe.

United's progress in Europe will depend on a few more good transfers for me, if they can get Hargreaves or Senna probably Torres especially i'll back the boys to go very far not only in Europe but in the Premiership.

 

[Craig]

Oxford to take out the Conference.

And Exeter to still be consistently inconsistent?

Is Inglethorpe (ow who his name is) still in charge?

 

[Craig]

I'd have Inter ahead of Lyon at least, they have profited from the italian scandall along with some good transfers & have gained the likes of Crespo, Vieira, Ibrahamovic, grosso, Dancourt to go with season blokes like Zanetti, Toldo, Martins, Solori, Figo, Samuel, Materazzi, Stankovic etc. If they play as a unit they can go very far in Europe.

United's progress in Europe will depend on a few more good transfers for me, if they can get Hargreaves or Senna probably Torres especially i'll back the boys to go very far not only in Europe but in the Premiership.

I think he will be announced later tonight/today as a Tottenham player, unless Valencia give Inter Stefano Fiore in return (Martins wants to join Valencia as his 1st choice) while Portsmouth have offered over 12m pounds.

As for the legend that is Francesco Toldo, I think he will be sitting on the bench watching Juilo Cesar in goal.

 

[marc71178]

Well what a complete and utter waste of time that was.

It was only Beckham not being there that made it any different from Sven's regime, yet I bet the press will talk about the start of a golden era.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

If a side defends like that, the scoreline is fairly irrelevant. The true McClaren will only be seen in competitive games, even against minor nations.

That said, the midfield was much more balanced with Gerrard down the right. I still have doubts about Downing on the left, but there are few other options.

Lack of strikers definitely underlined.

 

[steds]

I liked how the commentators were saying how McClaren had vowed not to devalue friendlies right before he brought Richardson on.

 

[marc71178]

That said, the midfield was much more balanced with Gerrard down the right.

When he was actually out there you mean?

If Beckham had drifted that much he'd have been criticised.

 

[aussie]

Fair performance, Greece defended fairly poorly but a win is a win. Hopefully when they get to the major sides they can play with this aggressive manner.

Downing had his first game for England IMO that he didn't look that convincing, he'll need to improve, because at the moment he is one of only two options England have down the left ATM, maybe SWP could be an option on the left as well but he isn't proven.

Hargreaves again brilliant, along with Carrick & Parker (even though he is being overlooked) England have 3 really good holding-midfield options.

Again shortage of quality strikers is shown up in the likes of Defoe, Crouch continues to impress, would have been good to see Ashton to get a go, after all he has scored heavily at all level for England. Owen get fit soon..

 

[marc71178]

I liked how the commentators were saying how McClaren had vowed not to devalue friendlies right before he brought Richardson on.

They said a lot of things that were complete tripe to be honest.

The one about the flexibility of formations got me.

Sven plays 451 and gets crucified for it, McLaren gets praised...

 

[marc71178]

Downing had his first game for England IMO that he didn't look that convincing, he'll need to improve, because at the moment he is one of only two options

So setting up 3 goals and generally getting some good crosses in isn't enough then?

England have down the left ATM, maybe SWP could be an option on the left as well but he isn't proven.

You what?!!!

He shouldn't be anywhere near the squad, let alone completely out of position.

Hargreaves again brilliant, along with Carrick & Parker (even though he is being overlooked) England have 3 really good holding-midfield options.

So who are the other 2 after Hargreaves then?

Again shortage of quality strikers is shown up in the likes of Defoe, Crouch continues to impress, would have been good to see Ashton to get a go, after all he has scored heavily at all level for England.

All levels for England?

He's played 12 U21 games for 4 goals and at no other level.

 

[aussie]

When he was actually out there you mean?

If Beckham had drifted that much he'd have been criticised.

drifted?, i would say he cut in to the centre a lot more than Beckham used which is good. Him on the right along with Cole/Lampard/Hargreaves is a well balanced mid-field.

 

[aussie]

So setting up 3 goals and generally getting some good crosses in isn't enough then?.

fair enough, i just felt he could have cut in a bit more

You what?!!!

He shouldn't be anywhere near the squad, let alone completely out of position..

I am just looking at options ahead of Euro 2008, i know he hasn't impressed that much at the international level, but he has great ability just needs to produce it regularly i wont mind seeing him in the England squad.

So who are the other 2 after Hargreaves then?.

I just mentioned it Carrick & Parker, what you think they are rubbish?

All levels for England?

He's played 12 U21 games for 4 goals and at no other level.

I heard people mentioning he has been a prolific goal-scorer for England at various youth-levels somehwere.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Well what a complete and utter waste of time that was.

It was only Beckham not being there that made it any different from Sven's regime, yet I bet the press will talk about the start of a golden era.

It could be Mike Bassett there and relative to the vegetable it'd still be the start of a golden era.

Anyway they finally have a proper winger or wide midfield player on the left and then they go and play Gerrard on the right, well allegedly it was Gerrard on the right...

 

[Scaly piscine]

fair enough, i just felt he could have cut in a bit more

Why do you still have this obsession with players cutting in? It's completely unnecessary unless there are few defenders back (such as the second goal on the counter attack). We've got a guy who's 6' 7 or whatever up front and you'd prefer players coming inside and trying to walk the ball in past a congested defense. If ever the KISS principle applied it has to be with this England team.

 

[aussie]

Your probably right about Downing he seems to be a natural winger in the true sense of the word. But when Cole is fit he should still start ahead of him.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Your probably right about Downing he seems to be a natural winger in the true sense of the word. But when Cole is fit he should still start ahead of him.

If Joe Cole is fit he should only start ahead of someone else. England are a better *team* with Downing on the left, he might not be as good as Joe Cole, but we should be picking the best team not just the best 11 players in England and ignore everything else. The vegetable already tried to do this and it did not work.

 

[marc71178]

drifted?

Yes, he was quite often in the middle when he should've been on the wing - at times meaning it was especially congested and play broke down (although that was first half only as the second half was so devoid of any football it was a snoozefest.)