I certainly don't think we're as bad as some would have us believe, and if we can defeat an average German side we can indeed still qualify for the QF's. However, I really can't see us getting much further. Having said that only France have looked particularly impressive so far, although I still expect holland and Italy to get stronger as the competition progresses

There is little doubt that KK lacks real tactical acumen, and I feel he is mistaken to have surrounded himself with the same coaching staff he had at The Toon - they couldn't sort out our defence in four full seasons, and so far have proven similarly inept with England. However, I still feel he is the best man available right now, and is a supreme motivator - something that will be badly needed this week

In addition, it is difficult to see how the team can be significantly improved. I'm afraid Seaman is on the downhill slope, and its certainly time for Martyn to come in. In defence, both FB's are poor - their defensive inadequacies yesterday contributed materially to Englands defeat - but there are no others to come in, and no WB's to offer a different team pattern. Unless KK is prepared to take a gamble on Gerrard and Barry as either FB's, or indeed WB's, we seem to be stuck with the ugly twins, and Keown and Campbell at CB. Campbell's recent performances have been so poor I'd be tempted to play Southgate with Keown, who will be needed to counter the aerial threat posed by Bierhoff on Saturday.

Midfield was pitifully weak and undisciplined against Portugal, and IMO the crux of our problems in that game. I saw a view of Figo's goal from behind the Portugal goal tonight. He received the ball in the centre D in his own half and ran unchallenged to our 18 yd line. Until Adams tried to close him down as he shot, there was no England player within 15 yds of Figo. GN was marking no one and yet he made no attempt to help Adams by closing Figo down. This is schoolboy stuff.

Again, the question is what to do to change it? I simply don't believe we can play Becks, Scholes, Owen and McManaman in the same team - collectively they lack strength and discipline. Similarly, I don't believe we can play Scholes and Owen in the same team.
I'd play Barmby up-front and on the left of AS, Scholes in the proverbial 'hole', and tell Barmby and Scholes to interchange/rotate, but with discipline. I'd play Becks wide right, Ince in the middle and Ernie Wise left-side m/f.

This formation, 4-3-1-2, seems to best suit the players we have at our disposal, but relies heavily on Becks to provide the width and ammunition for AS. I'm so unhappy with the FB's that I think I would actually take a chance on either Gerrard at RB, or Barry at LB - if Southgate came in at LCB, I might be tempted to play Barry at LB because of their Club understanding.

Any other thoughts/suggestions?

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Answers

Well, given that we only have 22 players over there, we are limited to choose from them. Of those 22, we have seen 14 in action and of those, 2 are out of the next game due to injury. I honestly don't know if it would work, but what about:

Martyn Campbell Keown Southgate Beckham Ince Scholes Wise Barry (or Barmby) Shearer Owen (or Phillips)

Wholesale changes I know, but it would beef up the midfield with Spider and Ernie while still leaving Bex to create and Scholes to come forward. I know Owen has done it before and neither Heskey nor Phillips have. I'm still unconvinced about Fowler's fitness.

Perhaps a bit harsh on Gerrard who did OK in the warm-up.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

What formation do Germany play? I have them down as a 4-4-2 team.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

They attack through the low countries and defend with their flat back Siegfried line.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

ho ho ho...nice one toon :))

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

>>>>they couldn't sort out our defence in four full seasons

I'm sure this is a popular myth. We had one of the best defensive records in the league over that period ...

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Screacher,
I toyed with something close to your suggestion as I thought Keown..Southgate..Campbell was probably our best defensive formation. However, I came to the conclusion that we just don't have any WB's to play in that formation. Beckham has been totally useless in that role- he can't defend at all and it limits his offensive capability. I think you'd have to use both Gerrard and Barry as WB's. When KK selected his squad he gave up on his opportunity to play this system, and it would be a massive risk now to try to cobble something together - we've only got one more shot at this tournament.

Jonno,
Statistics may tell us we had decent defensive record during that wonderful period, principally because of our offensive excellence - we just steam-rollered many opponents, particularly at SJP. However, you'll never, ever convince me that our inability to defend as a team didn't cost us at least one PL championship.
I witnessed the first 3-4 at Anfield, and suffered dreadful deja vu watching England's failure the other night.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Gerrard should play whatever system is played. He never looks out of his depth and will give it all like the little scally he is.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Keegan has no real interest in defence except as a springboard for attack, the idea of sitting on a 1-0 or 2-0 lead is alien to him, entertaining when going forward, scary when the balls going the other way. Despite what Jonno says the statistics show that we conceded a lot of goals when he was NUFC manager, more than the likes of ManU and Arsenal and as Clarky says they were often soft goals in important games. His lack of understanding of defensive tactics was so woeful that we had to suffer the indignity of employing Mark Lawrenson as 'Defensive Coach'.

No doubt KK will go all out to win on Saturday and the Germans will sit back and poach a goal or two.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

>>>>they couldn't sort out our defence in four full seasons
Season 95/96 - GA (home) 9 GA (away) 28
compared to
Newton Heath - GA (h)9 GA(away)26
Season before that GAH - 20 GAA - 27
compared to
Blackburn (champs) - GAH - 21 GAA - 18
NH (second) - GAH - 4 GAA 24
It must have been Manure in season 94/95 they were comparing the KK defensive myth with.
Lies, Damn. Lies and statistics.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Apparently Oliver Bierhoff is almost certainly out of Saturday's game with a calf injury, and the rest of the squad have turned on Mattheus. Just what we needed - injury to their best player and disharmony in the squad.
Could it all be kidology?
Bierhoff's replacement is likely to be that big bugger J. Arthur Yancker, or something similar.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Yeah - heard that too tonight. I'll believe it when I see the tea sheet. They'll probably just give him an "anti-inflamatory" injection and send him out to the front line. Seems Matthaus is not flavour of the month (century??). Probably something to do with playing in the US these days, as well as being 39 and very slow. Should be a good match for WGB then, eh? Also apparently, a bit of a "teacher's pet" with the boss.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000