You are right about Rooney. He doesn't have a position, and tends to go walkabout (headless chicken), so if he is one of the strikers we often find ourselves with only 1 up front (and don't even get me started about playing him as the lone striker).[/QUOTE[
I agree, and Rooney as lone striker is a joke - with him as lone striker a 4-5-1 becomes a 4-6-0.
Of the three 'Strikers' you listed I would only class Ashton as an actual striker, the other two are wanderers like Rooney, or even out-and-out wingers.
You have a point, but the status quo clearly isn't working - they should get their chance.
Clearly I think England has to play 4-4-2, every attempt to play anything else has always been a disaster. I think those two strikers should be a 'target-man' and a 'poacher' like Sheringham and Shearer were (or to a lesser extend Heskey and Owen, and yes, they were a good combination a few years ago)
Two words:
Dean Windass.
As a bonus, he dates from the Sheringham and Shearer years.
As far as I'm concerned, only 2 places in the team should be (semi-)automatic as of now, the 2 centre backs, Terry and Ferdinand. I would say that the other 9 places should be up for grabs, but of course, they are not.
But Terry was unconvincing against the Czechs...it could be bias but I think Gerrard still deserves an automatic call-up. Ditch Rooney and let Gerrard roam forward in the center behind Agbonlahor and Walcott.
Is it possible that by selecting players that have slightly less ability (or are perceived as such) would actually produce better results as they would bust their ass for the opportunity.
Couldn't agree more. Where's the hunger?
As for Beckham, yes, he should probably be replaced, the problem is that he is still our best dead ball specialist and that is the only way we seem to be able to score.
England will never be a contender until they start scoring in open play - and at that point Beckham becomes surplus to requirements. Looking forward (literally and figuratively) England's future lies with their young forwards, not aged midfielders - or Michael Owen...I think I saw him play once. Or was that Harry Kewell?
