Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

Remember how we all felt when the groups were drawn. Hmmmm. Now we need to beat Slovenia to come second.

What to do?

Is it the pressure? Could be. No hope of any change there. The pressure will be worse. Is it fitness? Could be. Anything that can be done about it? Not a lot, there isn’t a lot of depth there and why would the others be a lot fitter?

What else? Change formation. Ditch 442. Play five in midfield.

Play Joe Cole. We started the first game with Milner. Not fit. Replace him with Wright-Phillips. Wrong side of the pitch. Started the second game with Gerrard. He wonders off everywhere else on the pitch. We’ve been round this one before. If Joe Cole isn’t worth having, why is he there?

Move the ball faster. Carragher’s got to go anyway – two yellows. Upson comes in. Drop Barry. I’ve changed my mind on him. Two slow. Too much dwelling on the ball and getting robbed. Bring in Carrick. Bit of a risk defensively, but it’s do or die now.

This is all a bit random – but a performance like that doesn’t inspire coherence.

Come on England. Please.

Wayne Rooney has just had his best ever season, playing as a lone striker supported by attacking midfielders.  England have Wayne Rooney.  England has attacking midfielders.  Capello seems to favour a big traditional centre-forward who can receive the ball reliably, hold-up the play with strength and pass accurately.  Heskey does this well and if Capello sticks to his system, I would think he sticks with Heskey.

But I also think that to do this would waste the fact that England has one of the best forwards in the world at the moment.  Anyone who has watched Rooney’s powerful acceleration and determination to put himself in the box on the end of a pass knows that he doesn’t need someone to hold up the game for him.  He is the game.

Play him at the front, with Gerrard or Lampard just behind.  On current form that would be Gerrard.  Then play three supporting players behind them.

Put Barry in front of the back four.  This does two things.  It sets Lampard and Gerrard free because they know they don’t have to check to see if the other one is covering the defence.  It helps to cover the fact that England have lost their two most agile central defenders.  Terry and Carragher are going to have to rely on their experience of reading the game and their strength.  They could do with Barry cutting out the pacey runs through the middle when they are caught square with their backs to goal.

Come on England.