Drop Lampard, Play Gerrard In The Centre

24 Mar 2007 Israel 0-0 England - Euro 2008 qualifier

BBC - Steve McClaren's side drew a blank once more, and it was another lifeless performance from England. Israel keeper Dudu Aouate twice saved well from Frank Lampard, with Jamie Carragher heading against the bar and Andrew Johnson just off target. Teenage striker Toto Tamuz posed a threat for Israel, forcing Paul Robinson into a save and heading wide. It was hardly surprising that some of the 4,000 England fans in the stadium chanted 'What a load of rubbish' in the closing stages of the bore draw.

If you want Gerrard to do what he does for Liverpool for England, build a team around him. If you want to play him on the right, give him the ball there! For the first 30 minutes of the game, how many times Gerrard got the ball on the right?? Phil Neville, damn Phil Neville never ever passes the ball to Gerrard. Seriously, I've been watching him! Why Lennon made impact in the first half? Because Carragher was helping him, and that's a full-back should do! You need to play wide and Gerrard couldn't get the ball on the right! Him and Neville were not working together! And after 30 minutes you saw Gerrard moving to the centre a lot to get the ball, and produced many great crosses or passes from everywhere of the pitch. I'm saying this not because I'm a Liverpool fan. But it's obvious, that's how it works the best for him, a free role! That's why McClaren put Richards on for Neville. Gerrard was given a free role and we need a right-back can go forward more to strength the right midfield. But is it the best way? Why not drop Lampard and play Gerrard in the centre in the first place?? And then we can play Lennon on the right where he has done a great job for spurs!

What's England now lack is a key man I think. Look at those players! Lampard is a key for Chelsea's attack, as Gerrard for Liverpool. No need to say what Johnson and Rooney mean for their clubs. But who is the key man when you think of England? You'll probably say, well..England...great team, they got Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Terry.......all good players. Right, no one stands out. That's the problem! When I look at England recently, it's like players are waiting! Waiting for someone to perform! No one stand up and give it a go! The team needs a player that leads the lads and build a team around him! Rooney could be the man, but he's not playing well at the moment. Terry is the captain but he's a defender, the imapct he can bring to attack is limited. Lampard haven't really performed for England yet. Though it is probably biased as I'm Liverpool fan, but Gerrard is the man for me to be England's key player.

On the other hand, I'm glad Carragher did well today. As said before the game, in Kenny Dalglish's column of this week's LFC magazine, 'He is a vital player for Liverpool and could be for England. Wherever he plays he is always going to do a job and will never let you down.' He almost scored today by the way, apart from hitting the bar.


BBC - Graham Taylor on England
"At the final whistle, some of the England players walked towards their supporters because if they had not they would have been criticised. But the players quickly realised it was pointless because they were going to be met by a shower of abuse. They turned and walked away with their heads down and you would have thought they had lost 3-0 or 4-0 the way they walked off.
The reaction from the England fans was what you would expect. It was very disappointing and I am very surprised at the way England have approached the game. Generally speaking there has been a lack of oomph, of get-up-and-go. There has been a lack of sharpness of passing and the desire to get hold of the game by the scruff of the neck. It has just not been there. They didn't have the pace, they didn't have the power and they didn't get hold of the game from the very first minute. Things were obviously said at half-time and they were able to dominate more of the second half against a tiring Israeli side, but they never really opened up the Israel team and they never created sufficient chances.
The only one I would excuse is Steven Gerrard because I think he tried to make the best of the role he was given and was involved with England's best passing moments. Anything worthwhile from England, Gerrard was involved in most of it. But the performance generally has been very poor. It's a nil-nil draw but a very, very disappointing performance."

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Look at what Lampard said after the game...
Lampard: "We have the players to get it right. We have got strikers, we have goals from all over the team. All you can do is keep your head down and hope they come."

See, I told you! They're waiting!!! This is not the attitude the fans want! You've got to stand up and say I WILL score for England, I WILL save England! Try that on the pitch and prove people you can take the responsibility. You damn Frank Lampard scored 21 goals this season for Chelsea remember? I would say the same thing though Gerrard was the only player tried so hard, but be more selfish Stevie. They rely on you and the fans need you!