Football 2011-2012

[kaosmark2]

While I don't rate Barry as a top player, that's a real blow to England's hopes. Lampard to sit in the 2nd DM role? I hope Carrick's regretting his decision, he would probably be challenging Lampard for starts had he agreed to be on standby.

My bet on England not getting a point is looking a good one.

[Benj]

that's a bit like saying because Rio doesn't play up front for Utd when Rooney is injured, Rio is shit.

Jagielka has been played as a holding midfielder in the past, while Henderson has not. There's a clue for you there.

Edited May 28, 2012 by Benj

[kaosmark2]

England don't have decent holding mids though. Parker's overrated, albeit pretty good. Barry and Carrick wouldn't be playing for the Manchester teams if they weren't English. And.... that's it. There's no other English holding mid in the Prem. Fat Frank's got a lot more discipline in the deeper role this season but he's still not a natural DM. Beyond that, it's just utility players who slot in there as cover.

But yeah, Jagielka as a DM is awful. Perchinho anyone?

[eFestivals]

Its a sad indictment on Henderson, a very, very sad one

Or alternatively the utterly weird misplaced chip-based delusions of a blue, who can't have ever noticed anything about Woy's management approach and (lack of) style?

[thetime]

Barry and Carrick wouldn't be playing for the Manchester teams if they weren't English.

[pink_triangle]

I don't think Barry is a great miss, he does a decent job but I don't think him being present or absent is a game changer. Again I'm not sure jagielka or Henderson will have a huge influence either. I think Rio should have gone, so what if he can't play 6 games, dawson went to the world cup and played 0.

[kaosmark2]

Has the sun gone to your head?

carrick only plays for man utd because hes english?

[kaosmark2]

I don't think Barry is a great miss, he does a decent job but I don't think him being present or absent is a game changer. Again I'm not sure jagielka or Henderson will have a huge influence either. I think Rio should have gone, so what if he can't play 6 games, dawson went to the world cup and played 0.

[Benj]

Or alternatively the utterly weird misplaced chip-based delusions of a blue, who can't have ever noticed anything about Woy's management approach and (lack of) style?

[Benj]

He's a big miss because he's an in-form DM. As I said earlier, England only have 3 and one's in a sulk. Considering the relative dearth of talent in England's team, both attacking and defensively, playing 2 DMs behind Gerrard + wingers has to be the only way to have a chance, and with Carrick's attitude, there's no alternatives.

[thetime]

There must be someone outside of the usual suspects. Can Brunt play there? Is he even English?!

Jagielka certainly would not have been bought into the squad to play there, I suspect his inclusion is to provide defensive replacement opportunities if Phil Jones plays there

[eFestivals]

He's no KINGKENNY that's for sure!

He's not. As will be proved over the next few weeks, when Woy fails to win a cup.

C'mon, what sort of player do you think Henderson is (apart from shit in your mind, of course )? He's on the standby list because he's waaaay down the pecking order to actually get on the field - because he'd replace a Gerrard or Lumpard or Milner or perhaps even Walcott positionally on the field, and Milner and Lumpard could both replace Gerrard.

There's still already plenty of cover for that going-forwards perhaps-on-the-right midfielder position after losing Barry, but there's less of the available defensive cover having lost Barry.

It passed me by with my initial post, and what someone else mentioned above is probably Woy's thinking - that Jones can be used in midfield if need be, and that Jags is then a replacement in defence for Jones. But it also means that Jags could play that defensive midfielder role if need-be too. Ultimate flexibility for defensive cover.

When you also consider that Woy has always been a defence-first manager, Jags defo makes more all-round sense than a Henderson who does not play that role at all ... which makes it nothing about how shit or not Woy might consider Henderson to be (which can't be too much anyway, else he'd not be on the standby list before others ).

[kaosmark2]

There must be someone outside of the usual suspects. Can Brunt play there? Is he even English?!

Jagielka certainly would not have been bought into the squad to play there, I suspect his inclusion is to provide defensive replacement opportunities if Phil Jones plays there

[Benj]

He's not. As will be proved over the next few weeks, when Woy fails to win a cup.

[pink_triangle]

Hazard apparently off to chelsea. They should.be strong in the league next year ramires, hazard and Mata could be an awesome combination.

[kaosmark2]

Hazard apparently off to chelsea. They should.be strong in the league next year ramires, hazard and Mata could be an awesome combination.

[pink_triangle]

He's certainly come off like an arrogant dick with the way he's "announcing" everything. It may be the influence of his agent, but it certainly doesn't reflect well.

Hmm, emphasis on should I reckon. I think Drogba will be a huge miss, and I reckon Terry's time should be up. It amazes me that players are happy going without a manager in place as well. I think they've got a problem with depth as well, with Kalou, Drogba, Essien, Bosingwa, Ferreira and Malouda all going, Torres' situation up in the air. And even before all that, they need a decent DM.

[eFestivals]

Torres' situation up in the air.

nope, that's sorted. He's spoken to Roman and he's staying.

[The Nal]

He's certainly come off like an arrogant dick with the way he's "announcing" everything. It may be the influence of his agent, but it certainly doesn't reflect well.

[5co77ie]

Panorama last night was shocking - like looking at the Eighties if things had carried on here in some sort of parallel universe.

[eFestivals]

Seems a bit of a tosser alright.

so a great signing for Chelsea

[The Nal]

so a great signing for Chelsea

Edited May 29, 2012 by The Nal

[kaosmark2]

Seems a bit of a tosser alright. Announcing on Twitter etc. Great signing though. He looks the real deal.

[kaosmark2]

Yep. Perfect for him! He does look like a great player though. Has that French arrogance to him but has the tekkers to back it up.

[The Nal]

He's Belgian?