Colander
18th June 2006, 02:18 PM
I think Crouch is both solution and cause of Englands problems at the World Cup. He is a good target, causes defences upset and also will score the odd goal. He got England out of the woods v Trinidad. Can he do the same against the Defence of Sweden, Germany and Ecuador. Maybe. But then the games get harder and harder.
His link up play is poor though really for someone so vaunted as a target man, for someone so great in the air how many times has he held the ball up or knocked it down for gerard or lampard to attack on the burst? Or for owen (yes he was playing for a total of 2 hours so far) most of Englands play has seen the ball go all the way back to Robinson via a Ray Wilkins like Beckham.
Also England have been playing an ariel/hopeful through ball game WAY too many long balls and clearences from the keeper and this may well be because of his height and presence in the side. Downing and Lennon have actually added the PROPER way to play Crouch with crosses from the byline...but Ericsson wont start those 2 players I doubt.
So the alternative is to play Rooney and Owen, that gives you 2 strikers who are 60% match fit. If that happens has rooney got the strenght and sharpness to beat players and to drop in the hole, turn and either run/shoot or pick out a run from the other attackers. All the things that make him so great. All this while carrying Owen who has done little to no work in chasing, hassling and closing down play, leaving it al lto crouch.
Maybe the perfect way for Ericsson to go is a double substitution Beckam and owen/rooney whoever looks more tired for Lennon and Crouch after about 65 minutes...evenearlier if they're down.
Conclusion England will not go any further than QF although they wont let many goals in. Extra time games will kill them because across the team there are players getting over serious injuries and knocks. My prediction penalty misery against Ecuador with Crouch mising 1 and maybe Ashley Cole would be a good bet :)
as they say boys and girls, Discuss.
His link up play is poor though really for someone so vaunted as a target man, for someone so great in the air how many times has he held the ball up or knocked it down for gerard or lampard to attack on the burst? Or for owen (yes he was playing for a total of 2 hours so far) most of Englands play has seen the ball go all the way back to Robinson via a Ray Wilkins like Beckham.
Also England have been playing an ariel/hopeful through ball game WAY too many long balls and clearences from the keeper and this may well be because of his height and presence in the side. Downing and Lennon have actually added the PROPER way to play Crouch with crosses from the byline...but Ericsson wont start those 2 players I doubt.
So the alternative is to play Rooney and Owen, that gives you 2 strikers who are 60% match fit. If that happens has rooney got the strenght and sharpness to beat players and to drop in the hole, turn and either run/shoot or pick out a run from the other attackers. All the things that make him so great. All this while carrying Owen who has done little to no work in chasing, hassling and closing down play, leaving it al lto crouch.
Maybe the perfect way for Ericsson to go is a double substitution Beckam and owen/rooney whoever looks more tired for Lennon and Crouch after about 65 minutes...evenearlier if they're down.
Conclusion England will not go any further than QF although they wont let many goals in. Extra time games will kill them because across the team there are players getting over serious injuries and knocks. My prediction penalty misery against Ecuador with Crouch mising 1 and maybe Ashley Cole would be a good bet :)
as they say boys and girls, Discuss.