England

[wendigo100]

About Ledley King - Most fans and press didn't understand the holding role until recently. The trouble is, the job is messy and unspectacular.

Batty did it well for years but just got slated by press and fans (not by players and coaches) for being "negative", i.e. not dribbling past players, playing killer balls into the opponent's box, or firing the odd goal into the top corner from 20 yards.

I remember when Makele first played over here, even Chelsea fans didn't rate him, and were bemused by Mourinho saying how great he was until about the time Alan Hansen pointed out on TV exactly what he did.

Gerrard used to be a right-back. Maybe the answer is to get him back there and keep playing Ledley King in midfield. Or Parker, Carrick or Hargreaves. But definitely not Beckham, he's not good enough at it.

[steve'O]

England now have 4 Chelsea players inthe starting lineup....About time they started playing the same way

[WageSlave]

I remember when Makele first played over here, even Chelsea fans didn't rate him, and were bemused by Mourinho saying how great he was until about the time Alan Hansen pointed out on TV exactly what he did.

To be fair, I don't think Makelele had a great first season. But that was down to Ranieri's weird tactics.

I remember long threads on the Chelsea forums about how we were all going to protest and boo Mourinho. Ranieri is great, he's our wonderful manager. Hindsight is wonderful

[steve'O]

Is that the Stanley Cup? Big bugger isn't it.

Typical Women eh! don't look at the bloke just what he's holding therfore it must be large!!! the guy is a 3 foot midget, or my names not Fish, Dick Fish (Sorry Clownio)

[shaunbhoy]

I remember long threads on the Chelsea forums about how we were all going to protest and boo Mourinho.

That'd be the Chelsea fans that know feck all about football then. Mourinho is a class above Ranieri and has been Chelsea's most important signing.
Getting back to England, they are going to Germany with their strongest squad in years and ought to have a good chance of returning with the trophy. For all those that say you can't play both Gerrard AND Lampard, that is a load of bollox. Those two along with Rooney, Terry, and possibly Beckham are the only top quality players they have although Owen is fairly useful too. It would be sheer folly to omit any of those 4 from a starting line-up if fit and available. The problem, and it is Erikkson's one, is to ensure you get the best out of those guys. That is something he struggles with at times. He better get it right between now and next summer or the knives will really be out. That said, I would not lose any sleep over them spectacularly underachieving again, nor would I be greatly surprised.

[stackpole]

shaunbhoy, I'd add Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell and possibly Michael Owen. That's a good bunch of players - shame about the team. They'll be better next summer though.

As for playing Lampard and Gerrard together - it isn't as easy as you think. They are after one position. Suppose they were both right wingers, or goalies. You wouldn't try to play them both then.

Sven has to bite the bullet and drop one of them. Has Makele got an English grandmother?

[shaunbhoy]

If Brazil had 2 Peles you can bet your @rse their manager would have found a way of getting the best of both stack. Nice problem to have I suppose, I'd play Gerrard wide on either left or right and Lampard in behind the strikers myself.

[wendigo100]

If Brazil had 2 Peles you can bet your @rse their manager would have found a way of getting the best of both stack. Nice problem to have I suppose, I'd play Gerrard wide on either left or right and Lampard in behind the strikers myself.

I thought Gerrard would make a good marauding right-back, but too many ducks have to line up for that to happen - Neville and Beckham dropped, Gerrard returns to right-back at Liverpool. All pretty unlikely.

He would be no better than Scholes or Joe Cole on the left. I'd rather Wayne Bridge was out there.