retired_linton_justin

Play Defoe instead of Owen on the saturday, watch him score a couple of goals then drop him for wednesdays game. Seems to be all the rage these days :thup:

retired_globalmall

Green better than Carson? No way

retired_ecmoore

Out of interest, has dean ashton actually played in the senior team? whats all these headlines of "ashton out of england qualifiers"

i've always assumed he was behind kevin lisbie in the england striker pecking order.

retired_Fit

Well, McClaren named him in his first squad and Ashton got injured before that game against Greece. It was seen as a bit of 'change' from Macca that he was bringing a new striker in to give a chance and he's played well when fit.

Following that injury he pretty much missed the whole of last season and only just back for this one. So it's kinda like a year + later he'll finally get his chance and now he's out so i guess they're making a bit of a deal out of it for that.

Plus, he has actually scored a few goals recently which is fairly rare for an English striker at the moment

mattsaunders

Russian FA rules out pitch switch

The Russian Football Federation (RFF) has decided against upgrading the synthetic pitch for next week's Euro 2008 qualifier against England.

The BBC's Inside Sport programme was told a new surface could have cancelled out any advantage Russia may have had.

Russia, who lost 3-0 to England in September, play the return fixture on 17 October at Moscow's Luzhniki Olympic Stadium, which has an artificial pitch.

Fieldturf, the firm who laid the pitch, had spoken to the RFF about a change.

"After the defeat (at Wembley), they said that they will play on the existing surface."

"The Russians had agreed there would be a new surface but the result at Wembley changed that."

However, a spokeswoman for the Luzhniki Stadium said: "There was no official proposition to put in a new pitch.

"The old artificial pitch is still in good condition. At the end of April, we will put in grass because Uefa demands it for the 2008 Champions League final."

Uefa regulations stipulate that the match must be played on grass.

The artificial pitch is deemed necessary because of the Russian climate, as regular grass pitches can often be destroyed by cold weather.

England will prepare for the qualifier in Moscow by using a state-of-the-art artificial pitch at a school in Altrincham.

The Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College boasts the only exact replica of the Moscow pitch and their surface was also installed by Fieldturf.

Davis believes that the current pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium will give Russia an advantage over England.

"Some of the Russian players will have played on that surface before, knowing that the England players haven't," he added.

"Put a brand new surface in and it's a level playing field, nobody's played on it."

But a RFF spokesman disputed Russia would have a significant advantage, pointing out that only two members of their squad - Dmitry Torbinsky and Roman Pavluchenko - play regularly on the artificial surface.

Torbinsky and Pavluchenko are on the books of Spartak Moscow, who, along with Torpedo Moscow, play at the Luzhniki.

During England's victory at Wembley, Torbinsky was an unused substitute, while Pavluchenko came on for the last 27 minutes.


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well that's an utter non-story from the BBC website. were the Russians ever considering changing the pitch? no. just a transparent way for them to plug Inside Sport tonight on BBC1.

but reading that, it is a bit odd that UEFA are happy to allow internationals on a synthetic pitch, but not the Champions League final

mattsaunders

England pair to miss U21s clash

In-form duo Michael Johnson and Craig Gardner are both out of England Under-21s' Euro 2009 qualifiers against Montenegro and the Republic of Ireland.

Johnson has been in sparkling form for high-flying Manchester City, while Gardner's goals have helped Aston Villa climb to eighth in the table.

QPR's Dexter Blackstock and Morecambe goalkeeper Joe Lewis are also out.

England play Montenegro at the Walkers Stadium on Friday and Ireland in Cork the following Tuesday.

Stuart Pearce's side have won both their qualifiers so far and he is looking for more points before an important qualifier in Portugal in November.

"We feel that we have picked up two very good results away from home, but we're not top of the group. It tells us straightaway how difficult this group is, and we can't afford any slip-ups," said Pearce.

mattsaunders

Martyn backs Robinson for England

Nigel Martyn believes under-fire Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson should play in England's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia.

Robinson has kept one clean sheet in the Premier League this season and has made several mistakes, particularly in the 4-4 home draw with Aston Villa.

But former England keeper Martyn told 5live: "He'll be fine against Estonia - it will all be put right by that game.

"And he's got the experience, probably, that we need for the Russia game."

However, Martyn believes Robinson is still troubled by the goal he conceded against Group E rivals Croatia in October last year when Gary Neville's backpass bobbled over his foot to put the home side 2-0 up in Zagreb.

"That had a big influence on him, the way he was treated by the press - and from that point he hasn't really regained full confidence," added Martyn.

"But he has the mental strength to stay in there and fight and that's got to be applauded."

Martyn also believes that England are suffering because none of the top clubs have an English goalkeeper.

Scott Carson is a Liverpool player, but he is on loan at Aston Villa.

And Martyn added: "We would all like to see one, maybe two English goalkeepers at one of the top sides as you don't see them letting in four very often at all."

England face Estonia at Wembley on Saturday before travelling to Moscow to play Russia on 17 October.

retired_Fit

What's the chances of Lampard playing the Russia game ?
I have a feeling McClaren might get a bit fearful about a lack of goal threat so use that to bring Lampard back. Then again, dont need to go mental for goals from the start against Russia anyway.

Outside predictions for ways to justify Lampard's inclusion ? I'm going for Joe Cole picks up a harsh booking against Estonia, banned for Russia. 5 man midfield against Russia with Owen up alone, Rooney kind of left with Gerrard / Lampard / Barry in the middle

Sadly, i can actually see this happening.

retired_roxy

Carson > Green > James > Foster >>>>>>>> Robinson >>>>>>>>> Kirkland, iirc.

thetaoofshawn

I'd go along with that.