JonTheGTFCFan

Errr... yeah . Is that wrong? oops. Hey, at least it makes a change from you everton fans reading that Gravesen's a defensive midfielder..

Zaitsev

It's even infecting Everton fans now. Some of the more vulnerable are suggesting we deploy Tommy as a defensive mid now he's returned :eek:

Razzler

I thought Lescott was a little shaky coming on the other day which is concerning considering how little he had to do. Hesitated in the incident that led to Cole's injury IIRC.

I like Lescott alot and hopefully it was just debut nerves (another good reason to try things in friendlies) but i'd have to take him over Shorey and how about Baines ? He's the reason Lescott is back in his normal centre back position yet Lescott will feature at left back over Shorey ? Perhaps Baines for Shorey then for the squad really then ?

Razzler

Apparently, we're training in 4-4-2 at the moment leaving not much time to experiment with 4-3-3 on the day so 4-4-2 is looking likely. Going 4-3-3 just reeks of playing for a draw for me. Never a good thing.

We're playing fairly well (apart from tepid 2nd half the other day, hopefully to 'conserve energy') so why change to suit a side that has to come out and beat us. We can always change things as the game goes on. Lampard off the bench could be a big game changer if needed and Crouch too so have options.

These games always give me nerves. More so than the Israel away type games cause i know this is the real quiz. I never like all this "spirit of Turkey and Italy" talk and teams getting in a huddle. I dont think you should need to draw on anything. The performances required should be within you already. More than capable of getting at least a draw.

Love to win though and just relax for a little bit.

Talk recently of Austria, Swiss AND Greece being seeded for the finals so not advantage in being a top seed anyway. If we do win and qualify i think we might snatch top spot from Croatia as well

JonTheGTFCFan

Plus, playing for a draw still leaves work to do in the final match. If we win, it's done. We're through.

Razzler

True enough but a draw + the Croats games to come means they're pretty much gonna be qualified by the time we play them at home and we'd only need a point in that anyway. Basically. Avoid defeat.

Russia have to go to Israel as well. Only drew at home with them before

Kill Rock Stars

martin samuel has a serious lampard fetish

Razzler

You can see from all the reports last couple of days the lines of Lampard for and against in the media. He's still a great player but going through some poor form. He's not the first and i quite like the idea of him being on the bench.

I did, however, think the press went a little overboard in their praise of Gerrard/Barry on saturday. Ok. not exactly a stern test but thought they could have exerted a little more control especially in the 2nd half. I can only assume (and hope) they were told to take it a little easier, in which case they went overboard on that imo

Kill Rock Stars

barry has been brilliant for two out of the last three games, and was robbed of man of the match at least once, so the idea that he got given it because he isn't lampard is ridiculous. barry is in the side on merit.

far easier to make the case that samuel and his friends at the times hype up wright-phillips because he isn't beckham

Razzler

Yeah, i think he went a little far with that bit