Mod Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Looking like Crouchy up front? Peter Crouch will lead England's attack in Wednesday's key World Cup qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley.Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard are likely to play behind the lone striker in an injury-enforced reshuffle. England coach Fabio Capello called up Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor on Tuesday after Tottenham forward Darren Bent injured a knee in training. The Italian said: "I am sure that Crouch is the best forward I can put into the first XI." Crouch has recovered from the dead leg he suffered in Saturday's 4-0 victory over Slovakia, while Rio Ferdinand is fit to partner John Terry in defence. Ferdinand could have played against Slovakia but Capello decided not to risk the Manchester United man, while Shaun Wright-Phillips is also available after a minor ankle knock. Rooney goes into the game on the back of winning the England player of the year fans' award for 2008 and will collect his 50th cap against Ukraine. Bent, called up as a replacement after Emile Heskey suffered a hamstring injury against Slovakia on Saturday, was likely to be among the substitutes. Carlton Cole, who replaced Heskey after 15 minutes on Saturday but lasted only 20 himself, is definitely out with a thigh problem. Capello explained his decision to include Agbonlahor. "I spoke with the assistant manager of Aston Villa and was told Agbonlahor had been training very well during the last two or three days," added the Italian. He then revealed why he opted not to bring England's fourth highest goalscorer, Michael Owen, back into the squad. "In every interview I said the door, for all the players, is open," he insisted. "I chose Agbonlahor because he has played a lot of games. I respect Owen but I am focused on the game of football." Ukraine, who are unbeaten in their three Group Six qualifiers to date, are expected to include former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko in attack. Shevchenko, 32, has only started two Serie A matches for AC Milan this season but is determined to make a mark in his first Wembley appearance. "This is a big game for us and I dream of scoring at Wembley because it would be my 40th goal with the national team," he said. "The national team gives me an opportunity to do what I love doing, which is to play football. But for the national team coach it is not easy to put a player on the pitch who isn't playing." Sourcey.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergeyMS Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Yes, a big international day today. Shame, you`re playing at home and your side has a huge depth almost in every position. Rooney->Heskey->Crouch->Bent->Agbonlahor->Owen. (No sort order) You englishmen could continue I believe.... I`d love to you struggling to get results, but it won`t happened today I think. What`s more interesting today? Have you seen Turkish visit to Spain on the week-end? They had no fear at all, having played very open-minded football and deserved a draw at least against spaniards, having some decent opportunities to score. I wonder it they could beat Spain at home.... While we (Russian) should try to break Linchinstein`s defence, Wales must show their dignity and determination and try to beat Germans (doing us a small favour), we all want it, don`t we? At the same time have you seen group A? It looks like Denmark and Hungary are ruling, while Sweden and Portugal are already seriously behind qualifying spots.......Well, few surprises are always welcome..... More considerations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maksimov Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Wales must show their dignity and determination and try to beat Germans A draw from that would be nice, although I'm fully expecting Germany to win comfortably. But...you can always hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Come on EEEEEEEEENNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG-GGGGGGEEEEERRRRRR-LLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNDDDDDD!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maksimov Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 What are the odds for Sheva scoring the winner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkleyblue Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 The Italian said: "I am sure that Crouch is the best forward I can put into the first XI." Does anyone else find this incredibly scary and a sad reflection on the state of English football, generally? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maksimov Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Does anyone else find this incredibly scary and a sad reflection on the state of English football, generally? He probably just got the dates mixed up. He was supposed to give that statement today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergeyMS Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 It seems after Owen Era you`ve never had a genuine world-class striker - goalscorer, to which Rooney is, of course, never belonged. (Belonged? or Belong? :lol: ) You have a lot of stirkers, but all of them have weak sides. Could you tell me who is English brightest hope in a striker position? Agbonlahor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mod Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 I take it you missed Rooney against that mob the other day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethicalstrategy Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 It will be interesting to see how England cope out wide if Gerrard and Lennon play. They need to do their share of defending and that could be difficult if Gerrard is off on one of his glory hunts. I'd be inclined to play Gerrard up top with Rooney and play Carrick and Lampard in the middle with Barry wide left. It was interesting in the Times the other day there was a little article/comment on the fact that Lampard had created far and away the most chances in the PL this season. Lampard maintains creative streak I'd play: -------------------------Foster Johnson------Ferdinand--------JT-----------Cole Lennon-------Carrick-------Lampard-------Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergeyMS Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I take it you missed Rooney against that mob the other day? What means 'against that mob'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mod Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 A mob is a 'disordely group of people' or 'gang of people' etc and with ref to the post, i.e. Slovakia team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nibs Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 What are the odds for Sheva scoring the winner? :lol: Got to be about the same odds as me getting to shag the bird in Mod's Avatar. (I'd have a better chance with the fox obviously). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moi Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Got to be about the same odds as me getting to shag the bird in Mod's Avatar. (I'd have a better chance with the fox obviously). That's a bit foxist! It's maybe a very fussy fox! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nibs Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 That's a bit foxist! It's maybe a very fussy fox! Ha! Of course it may even be a boy fox. That would be terrible - I'm not into that!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moi Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Ha!Of course it may even be a boy fox. That would be terrible - I'm not into that!!! Yes, it looks a bit butch to me. I bet the young lady would fancy the pants off you, though! What is it called if you shag someone else's avatar? avatultery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mod Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 So any news on Sheva starting for them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valerie Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 This morning I saw someone wearing a Milan shirt with number 7 and Shevchenko on it, laboriously jogging through Amsterdam (true story!). So possibly he's still working on finding his form, and won't be available tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkleyblue Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Some other thoughts from the England camp Capello revealed he had been forced to use barn doors and a cow's backside for target practice in a bid to solve this month's least appalling striker dilemma.Capello added: "We're actually missing Emile Heskey. Let that sink in for a moment..." Meanwhile, Michael Owen has vowed to get back into England contention by 'training hard, doing well for my club and then f**king off to America to play in a glorified pub league'. and, on another matter RAFAEL Benitez has signed a new contract which will see him blame other people for Liverpool’s failures until 2014. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueday3 Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Lennon is far too predictable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Reasonable performance by England in the first half. The Chelsea contingent have done well bar a couple of loose passes from Cole. Lampard is playing in more of a holding role then he does for us and is doing it well, often having to clear up the pieces when Gareth Barry gets possession and invariably loses it due to having the first touch of a stubby fingered bishop. Terry got up well to win the header that set up Crouch for his goal. Lennon is being very tightly marked and finding it impossible to get any space however that should free up space for the likes of Johnson and Rooney to run into. Rooney clearly the outstanding player of the game so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moos Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Well thank God for Beckham.....................and Terry :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Deserved win in the end. I thought CApello was a little arrogant to take off Gerrard at half time without bringing on a replacement but I guess it worked out in the end. Lampard carried on his good perofrmance in the second half, JT got better and better but Ashley Cole didn't have the best of nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3.7 Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Deserved win in the end. I thought CApello was a little arrogant to take off Gerrard at half time without bringing on a replacement but I guess it worked out in the end.Lampard carried on his good perofrmance in the second half, JT got better and better but Ashley Cole didn't have the best of nights. I'd agree with that, cole and barry were by far our weakest players, cole won't be a problem, but long term I hope cap starts giving carrick a good look or even better hargreaves stops being made out of balsa wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack h Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 good to see JT score the winner and good to see Sheva score aswell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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