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.

Don't be an idiot. Rooney is the best player attacking England has produced since Gascoigne. That much is obvious. The coaches of the players you have listed, with the one exception of Adriano possibly, would swap them for Rooney. I'm not one of those who think England have an awesome team, but get over yourself and recognise the boy is brilliant. He might not win as many medals as those blessed to be in an Argentinian or Brazillian side but he is a fantastic player. The point is not who won the most medals but who most coaches would pick to put in their team. Who in their right mind would select Ronaldo, Crespo or Ibrahimovic ahead of Rooney? To play with him perhaps but if it came down to an either/or situtaion then the lad would get it.

Thats sort of true. England fans/commentators/pundits/managers used to be very 'diving is shameless cheating that should be driven out of the game'. But now as we are quite good at it, particularly Owen, we aren't so bothered. Its almost getting to the point where it is just accepted as part of football. Disgraceful.

Snap. Your name wouldn't be ian would it?

Don't really agree with that we haven't had such talent across the park in thirty years at least. Rooney, Terry, Gerrard, Neville (not fit! bugger), A Cole, J cole, Lampard and Beckham (although mainly for his set pieces) are all world class. Plus the supporting players- Lennon, Ferdinand, Robinson are all quality individuals. Honestly I would take this team over the 1990 or 1986 squads any day. However just because we have the best squad in ages does not mean we are the best in the world. Clearly Argentina and Brazil have better atacking players than us and Spain have a squad comparable to our in many ways but with more strength in depth. While Sven has been a good coach he is not operating at the same level that the likes of Hiddink and Klinsmann are in terms of finding the best team and willing to make big substituions and drop under peforming players. So I would say we have the best team in a generation at least, but the fact of the matter is we are still not as good as some other teams, and also our coaching setup, while competant, is not up to the standard of other teams in terms of technique and flair.

Well I got that all wrong, I thought England were going to play really well... There are a two major excuses that can be made- the heat, the absolute disinterest of the Eucuador players in trying to win the game (in the knockout round! christ...). However, Beckham was clearly finished as a force in the game in the 70th minute- he was throwing up! Why didn't Sven withdraw him? The next game is in the afternoon too, hopefully it will be cooler. As for what formation I haven't got a clue... ps. I said before the tournament that the quarter finals were the stage we absolutely had to reach. We managed that so well done!

Hargreaves played well the other day, and I think will continue to. You seem to be in a rather isolated position on that front. Jenas seems the most pointless member of the squad for me. I cannot think of a reason we would ever need to play him short of an injury crisis of mammoth proportions. Hargreaves on the other hand is our only true tackling defensive midfielder and can cover right back.

Completely agree with that. He offers far more to the England team in terms of options and scaring defenders than Bent or Defoe. Ashton is the only English striker imo, apart from Rooney and Owen, who should be ahead of Crouch.

Come on! You can't say that your giving up just because we are not going to win the thing. Makes you sound like a Man Utd/Chelsea fan. Football is about the taking part! I mean good lord we aren't the favorites and our chancs of winning are small but thats no reason to throw your toys out of the pram.