Posted November 14, 200618 yr Manchester City's Micah Richards will make his England debut at right-back in Wednesday's friendly against Holland. The 18-year-old defender will replace Manchester United skipper Gary Neville who pulled out on Saturday. Wayne Rooney will partner Andy Johnson up front, with the Everton striker picking up his fifth international cap. Joe Cole will play his first England match since the World Cup, playing alongside Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard in midfield. England coach Steve McClaren said he was confident Richards had the quality to make the step up to international football. "He is an exciting player, the new breed of player," said McClaren. "He is big, strong, athletic, very quick and has got a fantastic leap on him. "He has come into this environment and is not fazed and is looking forward to the game." England team to face Holland in Amsterdam on Wednesday: Robinson, Richards, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Gerrard, Carrick, Lampard, J Cole, Rooney, Johnson. I'm suprised Richards is gonna start tbh, but I guess McLaren is all for giving young players breakthroughs and I guess thats what friendlys are there for. I'm glad McLaren's gone for the Rooney and Johnson partnership up front as Crouch and Rooney doesn't work at all.
November 14, 200618 yr Manchester City's Micah Richards will make his England debut at right-back in Wednesday's friendly against Holland. The 18-year-old defender will replace Manchester United skipper Gary Neville who pulled out on Saturday. Wayne Rooney will partner Andy Johnson up front, with the Everton striker picking up his fifth international cap. Joe Cole will play his first England match since the World Cup, playing alongside Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard in midfield. England coach Steve McClaren said he was confident Richards had the quality to make the step up to international football. "He is an exciting player, the new breed of player," said McClaren. "He is big, strong, athletic, very quick and has got a fantastic leap on him. "He has come into this environment and is not fazed and is looking forward to the game." England team to face Holland in Amsterdam on Wednesday: Robinson, Richards, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Gerrard, Carrick, Lampard, J Cole, Rooney, Johnson. I'm suprised Richards is gonna start tbh, but I guess McLaren is all for giving young players breakthroughs and I guess thats what friendlys are there for. I'm glad McLaren's gone for the Rooney and Johnson partnership up front as Crouch and Rooney doesn't work at all. Big mistake up front, putting 2 dwarfs upfront while playing 2 wingers is pointless, Rooney and Johnson are too similar, midgets with lots of physical strength, Crouch has a goal a game in his England career recently whereas Rooney hasn't scored for donkeys
November 14, 200618 yr Author Big mistake up front, putting 2 dwarfs upfront while playing 2 wingers is pointless, Rooney and Johnson are too similar, midgets with lots of physical strength, Crouch has a goal a game in his England career recently whereas Rooney hasn't scored for donkeys But with Johnson, England will have pace up front which is what they've missed out in over the World Cup. Rooney and Crouch are both good players but sometimes it can seem like England play 4-5-1 when those two play as Crouch isn't up to all the link up play that Rooney normally provides. Johnson and Owen are similar players and I think with Rooney playing behind Johnson it will benefit Rooney's game a lot.
November 14, 200618 yr I bet Steven Gerrard is overjoyed to be playing (again) on the Right-Wing, but hey we've got the "mighty" Carrick to play in Central Midfield. Still we must have a World Class squad if there is no room for a 94 Cap Right-Winger who has scored one & set-up three goals in his last two matches for Real Madrid? :P Steve McLaren = Idiot. :arrr: I hope we lose 4-0. :angry:
November 14, 200618 yr I'm glad he has some sense and has seen that Richards HAS to be a part of the England set-up. He is a fantastic young player who is the natural successor to Neville when he retires (probably after Euro 2008). Luke Young is nowhere near good enough and Hargreaves, Brown, Carragher and Phil Neville just aren't right-backs!
November 14, 200618 yr it's a shame McClaren wasn;t a bit more daring in naming a few more youngsters. Friendlies are the time to experiment, not away to Croatia :lol:
November 14, 200618 yr Author it's a shame McClaren wasn;t a bit more daring in naming a few more youngsters. I agree. I really wanna see how Walcott would play at the top level and i'd also like to see Reo-Coker and Foster. ^_^
November 15, 200618 yr Author I also think that Nolan, Baines and Barry should be given a chance! Nolan ALWAYS seems to be over looked for some reason in the England set up. I'm guessig its because Sve or McLaren has always though that he's too similar to players like Gerrard and Lampard. I don't know about Barry though, I just don't see him as an England player for same reason.
November 15, 200618 yr so do we think this match is going to be a good one or not. let's hope we win. :cheer:
November 15, 200618 yr Author so do we think this match is going to be a good one or not. let's hope we win. :cheer: Well it seems a good match on paper, although whether it turns out that way is a different story. I hope we can win but I don't see it. I gonna predict a 1-1 draw. :D
November 15, 200618 yr England were c**p again. Why didn't Defoe play instead of Johnson? He was useless! Carrick was $h!te as well. The commentators were saying England were far better ... :blink: Holland dominated, althogh they didn't have many chances.
November 15, 200618 yr England have just gone sideways since the days of Sven, no improvement at all, ok it just a friendly but very uninspiring display
November 15, 200618 yr HAHA. Somethings never change. Although I must comment on Micah's good performance.
November 15, 200618 yr It was better.. but that's probably because Holland were so poor. The formation was rubbish, Johnson isn't a right winger. The goal was excellent though and Rooney had a good game. It was better than I thought it would be but there still needs to be a lot of improvement if we are going to qualify.
November 15, 200618 yr Author Well yeah like its already been pointed out we were pretty $h!t. Hargy best come back soo as Carrick really is useless.
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