Didn't see the game so was wondering if everybody would be happy if we started next season with the same lineup apart from the one obvious change of nelsen coming in at the back and neill moving out right with Axe on the bench? Do people who saw the game really rekon Bentley can play the central midfield role?

I wouldn't agree with that at all. is set pieces are excellent but in open play I would say Gerrard, lampard, J Cole, Hargreaves, Carrick, Lennon and Scott Parker all have more to offer than Beckham. Sure none of them have his passing ability (although Gerrard, Lampard and Carrick all come close) but all have other aspects of their game that make up for those deficiencies. We need pace and power out wide, someone who can drive at a defence. Gerrard and Lennon have far more to offer in that department than Beckham. Even SWP would give England more options than Beckham when looking to counter attack or stretch the play. Bechkham was a good player for England but should never been captain. He has had his day.

I think it may well have fared baetter than the one we did put out, but that is with the benefit of hindsight. And really it isn't much different to the side that featurued in the world cup, only Ashton has not had significant playing time for the national set up. And I think Crouch does have a future with england as an impact player from the bench so should still figure in plans. What everybody needs to see is Ashton have a stormer as we desperately need a striker to emerge of real quality.

Team I would like to see given a shot: - -------------Rooney-----Ashton J Cole----Hargreaves---Lampard-----Gerrard ---A Cole----Terry------Ferdinand----Neville ------------------Robinson Subs who should make an appearence: lennon, Carragher, Crouch, Downing, Carrick. Dropping beckham seems sensible to me. Shows that everybogdy is fighting for thier place.

The team I would like to see against NZ: I think that would have the best balance of creativity and athleticism throughout the side. However, of course, by Saturday Niell and Emerton could have gone and oijer arrived. Incidentally it occured to me that we were supposed to have around 10 million to spend after bellamy left but haveactually only spent 4.25 (2.5 on McCarthy, 1.75 on Roberts I think). We desperately need a right winger and a left back as things stand, possibly also a creative midfielder. And if the Aussies go we will need a right back too. Only 24 days till the window closes...

Not quite sure what Taylor is drivelling on about. England are producing higher quality young players compared to ten years ago in my estimation. Lennon, Parker, Downing, Ashton, chap at Bolton, Wright-Phillips, Walcott to name but a few. Rooney and Gerrard, arguably the two finest English players at the moment, are going to be available for a couple more WCs. The Coles, Carrick, Hargreaves, Lampard are all going to be available for at least one. I wouldn't say there is a dearth of talent, rather a couple of problem positions. We need a quality line leading centre forward to emerge over the next couple of seasons and a right back. Robinson is a great keeper but someone to appear as a backup would be good. But in positions like central and right midfield and central defence we have loads of good players. We are such a melodramatic nation...

With the use of video evidence we should. The FIFA frequently claims that it wants racism to be put out of the game so cleary, if it is proved that Materrazi used a racist insult, the Italian player has to be punished. Not really sure why you have a problem with that?

No excuse for what Zidane did, he fully deserves a ban for violent conduct. However materazzi should recieve a stiff ban too and a warning as to his future in the game.

The player who provides the pass/cross/etc to create the goal. In pretty common usage both sides of the Atlantic.

I doubt that he is crap. Word I have heard is that he is going to tear the premiership apart next season. I was wondering however that if Arsenal sign Saviola as well where is Wenger going to fit Walcott in? Henry, Van Persie, Reyes, Saviola and Adebayor will all be ahead of him up front.

Bent does not strike me as an international quality striker, nor do i think he will become one- much like Andy Cole ten years ago. Ashton however does seem to have the requisite all round ability. That was my point.

Seconded. We would then have an awesome back line if Niell stays.

I'm with Phillipl on this, I don't think Defoe or Beattie or Bent would have been any more effective up front than Lampard or J Cole. The problem in my eyes is that he did no get any midfielder to push up and support Crouch. It clearly can be done- see liverpool in the FA cup final or the CL final. Nonethless we do need a serious strike partner to Rooney to emerge next season, not a one season flash in the pan like Beattie or Bent. As I have said ad nauseum Ashton is the man for me. Big choice for McClaren to come to set the tone of his management. If I was him I would be sorely tempted to make some big waves for the fist game- drop Lampard and Beckham, start Lennon, give Downing a full half, give Ashton a full half, give Carrick a full half. Most improtantly set the boys out to play wide expansive attacking football. Very few believe McClaren can do the job, it's up to him to prove himself. I would guess if things don't work out the press could force the FA to pull the trigger within six months. I'm sure Steve must know that.

thanks, i missed that. Great bit of business for celtic there.

Pleased with the signing of Roberts. As a secondary striker I'm not sure we could have done much better. He seems a committed, powerful, quick and driven player- the sort who really fits with Sparky's ethic at the club. Nonetheless, as others have said, we need someone with a bit more raw predetory talent too. That siad I have absolutely no doubt we will be signing one more striker. Mido would be ideal as he is quality and cheap leaving us with enough cash to get in another central midfielder and perhaps a left back. From what Unleaded has said however it seems that the Egyptian doesn't really fancy blackburn and I would hate to have a player who is not interested in doing his best for the side. Beyond him we don't look like we have too many options- Baros is too expensive currently, Saviloa out of our reach, Heskey too rubbish, Nugent untried for a line leading player. Lets hope we unearth someone soonish. I would not be suprised if Hughes resurrected his interest in McCarthy. What's Miccoli up to? Another possible target. Jeffers puzzles me a little, we already have Gallagher knocking that door on the periphary of the squad while Bentley can also do a job there. I suppose it is a long shot to see if Ed Ned can ressurect his form, and if he is being paid as he plays then it is hardly a risk. I would hope we are one of the teams chasing Arca. And I wonder if we contine to monitor Dunn's situation? A pay as you play deal coud be beneficial for the club and the player, and take a hugely expensive player of Brum's books. All depends on the physical condition of the individual and his willingness to forsake a much more lucrative contract at City. What's happening with Jarosik? Another potentially great addition for central midfield. And of course Pennant would be ideal if Emerton leaves, which I hope he does!

I guess that sorts things out a bit. The future England side should be: ------------Rooney---Ashton/Crouch J Cole----Hargreaves---Lampard---Gerrard ---A Cole----Terry--- --Ferdinand---Neville --------------------Ferdinand-------------------- Or something along those lines. It looks a lot more balanced to be honest, although in an ideal world we want a striker who leads the line with Rooney who is world class. Personally I am going for Ashton to shine next season and Crouch to fade, but you never know. Gerrard as the new captain for me, although Terry has a shout. Roll on 2008, or at leat the qualifying round! ps. Next season is supposed to be Walcott's time to take centre stage. As Wenger is rarely wrong about players that is something to look forward too. But then there was Francis Jeffers...

Is beckham staying after this world cup? If he goes then that solves the Gerrard/Lampardproblem in a single bound.

He has the best stats of any england manager ever, and I would certianly take him over anyone in the last fifteen years apart from Hoddle and Venables. 3 QF is actually quite a decent performance, if unexceptional. The worrying thing is that we clearly need a change in coaching style but McClaren is merely going to continue the boring insular nature of our football.

I would say in raw players every team left in the tournament are better than Germany. But they seem able to get the best out of their side (to the point where the team exeeds the sum of its parts) unlike ourselves. I still think germany won't win it though.

Chiles is a legend, never ever gives the impression he is control of a situation or that he posesses a good knowledge of football in general. However that's part of his charm and he is eminantly watchable. Quite a trick to pull off! I would rather have Chiles presenting than the studio of egos that dominate the analysis in every football highlights show. I do like Lineker too though- also not full of pretense. What irks me are analysts like Hanson who present opinions as facts, although to be fair he is the best of a bad bunch. Also Wright get me in that he doesn't even have opinions, he is essentially just a cheerleader fro the national team who fails to redeem himself through wit, charm or prescence. He has enthusiasm by the bucketload, but since when was that the only requirement to appear on television? Ho hum.

We have got a very good defence. One of the best certainly. We let in two stupid goals against Sweden which showed vulnerability at set pieces but in open play we were hardly threatened in a ll four maches. Admittedly however the opponents were all pretty average. Portugal will be the acid test, but I expect the defence to play well. I'm more worried about creating up front to be honest- at least two out of Rooney, Cole, Lampard, Beckham and Gerrard are going to have to have very good games. All of them save the odd spurt from Cole, Rooney and Gerrard have been decidedly average.

Bad taste...

Is that an English bookies though? What are the odds in a neutral country that knows it's football, say Italy or Germany? Personally my opinionis that Portugal have a better set of taechnical players but fewer that can turn a game. I can't pick a winner between us and the Portuguese. It all comes down to who turns up on the day. Portugal might have an edge in that they have already played a quality team in the Dutch but England have not really got out of second gear. Also there is the heat.

Okay I accept that Torres, Messi, Ronaldinho,Kaka and a couple of others are players you could interchange with Rooney as they are all incredible. My point was all those players you listed, particularly Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo, are clearly not on the same plane as the boy or indeed Messi etc.