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365.INTERACTIVE

Should England Go 4-4-2 Or 3-5-2 And Should Shearer Go? Plus: Discussion Forum Highlights

Don't forget that if you have something to say on any footballing subject then we want to hear from you at

. But please remember to include where you come from and what team you support.

And remember, if you've got anything you want to say regarding Euro 2000, send an e-mail to

4-4-2 Is The Way To Go
For the most part I agree with Andy Gray- 4-4-2 has to be the system adopted by Keegan. But surely this much should have been realised months ago with the amount of preparation time available to the England camp. Could you imagine Sir Alex Ferguson going into a game with this little preparation? We need to play to our strengths, not those of everyone else.

My own personal opinion puts Martyn in goal in place of Seaman - if we are not going to score many goals we sure as hell can't afford to let too many in.

My flat back four would consist of Campbell playing at right back, Adams and Keown in the middle and Barry at left back (remember how Owen took his chance when given the opportunity at the highest level. What previous experience had he before?).

Beckham must start on the right of midfield with Wise in the middle. Scholes should play just behind the two forwards and Barmby must be given the chance on the left purely from the evidence of his last two matches.

Up front, it has to be Owen with one more chance for Shearer to do something. Unfortunately an out of form Shearer is better than a half fit Fowler and a very overrated Heskey. Phillips still isn't ready at international level.
BJ, Johannesburg, South Africa

...The only way we are going to get through our group is to do exactly what Andy Gray said in his article yesterday.

3-5-2? How can we possibly play it? England have no wing-backs yet people are continuing to talk about playing a formation that simply must have wing-backs or you will come unstuck at some point.

It's got to be 4-4-2 - most of the top teams play it, so why don't we? Then Beckham and McManaman can be used properly, I'm sure there is no England fan out there that doesn't want to see that.

Also, Andy Gray made the point that if a flat back four works for Brazil then it would work for England. I agree, but it needs time to perfect tactical changes such as the ones we're talking about and clearly we haven't had enough.

England just aren't ready for the tournament - there are too many questions left to answer which should have been sorted earlier. I'm not being negative here, I'm being realistic.
Danny Galstaun, England Fan Living In Scotland

Why It Must Be 3-5-2...
Another spin on the current "theme du jour" - and why we should play Campbell and Keown (and, of course, Adams). Personally (and nailing one's colours to the mast, I am a raving Gooner), I have always favoured 4-4-2 - but am rapidly beginning to see the advantages for England to play 3-5-2.

We need all three centre-backs - they are among the few of England's "jewels in the crown" and combining the three of them you get the best central defender in the country (Adams), accompanied by one of the best markers (Keown), and one of the most versatile (Campbell). Moreover, you negate the need for either of the Nevilles - who have both had poor seasons - and look way short of confidence and ability.

Part of the reason we should play 3-5-2 is the assistance it gives the attack. This type of platform allows one player to play completely "free" - be it McManaman, Scholes or (my current choice) Barmby. Also, you can get both Wise and Ince in the centre of midfield offering a protective barrier and an attacking springboard.

But the most important reason is - our best attacking option is the Beckham dead ball. And we will get plenty of opportunity to use it in Euro 2000, therefore you need as many big headers of the ball as possible - ergo Adams, Keown and/or Campbell at every corner and set piece. It's no surprise that Adams and Keown have both scored for their country recently and if you add in Shearer we have three excellent headers of the ball - enough to tie up any international defence.

Pick the three of them, Kev. A pound to a penny says it's where our goals will come from.
Gareth W

How Will England Fare?
I know it's no better than those possibilities proposed by Pete Gill, but in my opinion it is definitely the most likely outcome for Keegan's boys this summer: England knocked out at the group stage, without beating Germany (they'll draw), but having successfully avoided losing all three games (they'll probably draw with Romania and lose to Portugal).
Peter Holt

Shearer - Time To Shape Up?
I think the 365 team should have addressed the letterto Kevin Keegan.

He has to do something with Shearer, because it's becoming blatantly obvious that he is just not doing anything! To be honest, I'm not surprised by Shearer's can't-be-bothered attitude. He's like a spoilt child, because he's guaranteed a place in the starting 11 he can do whatever he pleases, he needs to be dropped to get his ass in gear.

I wonder if Shearer will be charged admission for watching the match while on the pitch?!
Andrew Prescott

...Well done to Gavin and the team. Thank God someone said it. Let's hope Alan is a subscriber to the paper and takes a long hard look at your front page. I could build on what has been said but, to be honest, I think you've covered nearly all angles (unlike big Al himself). Bravo, Bravo!!
Tony

...Go home, Shearer, let someone who is a team player be captain. Let someone who is not such a whining, greedy b****** play up front. GO HOME and let England have a decent chance of doing something in the finals.
Phil, Coventry
Come on, get off the fence and tell us what you really think - Ed

...Alan Shearer is obviously past his best (everybody knows that) but obviously he still has to play, England seem naked without him. This is how I would play it for Euro 2000:

Play him from the start for about 60-65 minutes of the game, but in this time he has to give 100% (which he doesn't always). If he does this, he will cause problems for any opposition. If he's below par, drop him for the next game and give somebody else a chance. If that fails, bring him back. I guarantee you that if you threatened his place he would perform.

Sometimes, England just don't play well. If this starts to happen and nothing has changed by halftime bring Shearer off (because he's even worse without service) and turn to players who can create out of nothing, like Heskey and Owen. Pace is the key. Heskey would seem his natural replacement, although a fit Robbie Fowler would be better.

Just to add another point, England should base their team around Owen (not Shearer). England looked very good against Brazil when they played a patient game. They knew they wouldn't see much of the ball and I thought they got the tactics spot on. (Apart from the lapse at the far post).

They are going to meet better teams after the first group stage - if they get there - Holland, Italy and France in particular. All these teams will keep the ball for hours and punish you if you're not patient. We will have to pick our moments, like all the best teams do. When those moments come (which is where Owen comes in) then it's time for the fast English game, making sure we can change the pace when it suits us.

Owen is better on the break, we should play to our best players strengths. With Beckham, Barmby, Wise and even Scholes' vision we should be pretty deadly on the counter attack.
Bren

...Remember it was Shearer's determination and commitment that won us the corners which produced the goals against Ukraine. Remember who the only England striker to help back in defence is, often clearing many of the oppositions' corners on the near post.

I really don't think we should be slagging England's only hope in Euro 2000 off, do you? Or would you rather have Robbie 'Knackered After Ten Minutes' Fowler! Alongside Owen? Let's get real. Alan Shearer can simply not be replaced and, believe me, England will miss him greatly after this tournament.

However, if you had slagged off his England team-mates then I'm sure you would have every right to! I could sum up England with one simple word but I'm sure it would not get printed so here's a few: predictable, boring, lazy, uncommitted; I could go on. Now I'm sure Shearer does not come under any of these words. (OK, so he is a little boring).

While I'm on the boring subject, England's tactics don't come much worse, let's see: "get the ball... knock it wide... run down the wing... run a bit more... cross it into the box... opposition clears it... and repeat as necessary"!

Oh, and Mr Keegan - while we're talking tactics, teach your men how to pass the ball. I actually lost count of the number of times we passed to the opposition in our last few friendly matches. Don't get me wrong I believe in fair play but giving our opponents the ball, well that's taking it a bit too far. England has a long way to go before we can compete with the likes of France and Holland, especially in the technical department.

Needless to say I'm sure you all know how I think England will do in June, and god help us when the man you all love to hate hands in that famous number 9 shirt.
Darryl Richman

A Toon Army Foot Soldier Writes...
I thought you would have stopped taking the piss out of Shearer after you managed to make yourselves look complete fools last time when you described him as "now utterly useless" and then he went and scored 30 goals in the Premiership. In particular, Gavin Willacy delights in writing utter bollocks about Shearer.

OK, he was poor on Saturday but so was every other player. Where are your nasty little articles about them? Just to remind you - Al scored nine goals against the top four teams in the Premiership this year. He can score at any level you like given the service.

You continue to make fun of the moronic tabloids yet you are unable to offer anything more constructive. I await your next embarrassing u-turn.
’St James Park’
So, not biased at all then? - Ed

...More 365 slagging off of Alan Shearer and you have the cheek to call it "Today's Top Story". I guess in the absence of any reasoned professional journalism, sad bitter crap like this maybe is the best you can do.
Steve

Jimmy Tarbuck's Gag Team Write...
Everybody talks about England's so-called 'great' players. Pampered, overpaid ragamuffins, I call them.

So I started thinking about an England team that would really stick it to the opposition and this is what I came up with. In goal, I'd have Douglas Hurd, the original 'safe pair of hands'. His foreign office experience would also be of incalculable benefit here.

At centre-back, I'd favour a mixture of tough tackling and smoothness. Certainly, as tough tacklers go, Ben Thatcher has nothing on the great Dame Thatcher, who would be my first choice right half. I'm sure she'd frighten the opposition; she still frightens me and she also has a good understanding with our goalie.

For smoothness, I'd take Desmond Lynam, though I admit there is a question mark over his recent form.

The national soccer team has traditionally given the opposition a sporting chance by choosing weak players at full-back. How else do you justify the extensive international careers of Mick Mills, Phil Neal and today's Neville brothers? So, to continue this honourable practice, I've chosen two outstanding non-achievers in Prince Edward and his namesake, Eddie The Eagle.

One area England have been lacking lately is midfield creativity. This problem is solved straightaway by my first midfield choice of David Bowie, who also adds a welcome touch of er... youth to the side. To partner him, I'd opt for Jeremy Paxman. His hard-hitting style will certainly ask questions of the opposition and he's also comfortable on (if not in) the box.

On the right wing, I'd play Enoch Powell. I don't know about putting in crosses, but he certainly knew how to get very cross indeed. While on the left, I'd have 'Red Ken' Livingstone, though he may be forced into the middle if circumstances demand.

Now for the strikers. Everybody calls Emile Heskey 'Bruno' so why not have the real Frank Bruno in the forward partnership? He's bigger than Heskey, he's stronger too and quite possibly more accurate in front of goal. For my other forward, I'd choose the almighty himself, God. After all, we all know he's an Englishman and I'm sure he could do a lot more than switch the play if the team were in trouble. I can see the banners headlines now: 'God is God'.

At sub, I'd have James Bond 007, a proven expert at getting the nation out of sticky situations. And my fantasy manager? Who else but Winston Churchill. He certainly wouldn't take any s*** from the press.

So, to recap, here's my ultimate England Fantasy XI (in our traditional 4-4-2 formation).

Douglas Hurd, Prince Edward, Dame Thatcher, Desmond Lynam, Eddie The Eagle, Enoch Powell, Jeremy Paxton, David Bowie, 'Red Ken' Livingstone, Frank Bruno, God

Sub: James Bond 007
Mgr: Winston Churchill
Sir Oswald Huffington-Sporr
There are loads more e-mails on England's Euro 2000 challenge and all other aspects of this summer's tournament on our exciting newEurofinals365.comsite plus the latest news, features and fun - Ed

FOOTBALL365 DISCUSSION FORUM HIGHLIGHTS
A slight on the Brummagem, erm, race...

Crap Joke
Brummie bloke walks into a tailor's: "Oi'd loike a Seventies suit with flurs please."

"Certainly sir", replies the tailor," and would sir like a kipper tie?"

"Oh, yes - milk and two sugars, please."
JJ

...Do Brummies talk like that then?
Alaska

...Apparently.
JJ

...Daft racist.
Paranoid Android

...Brummies are a race now, are they? Odd concept.
JJ

You can read hundreds more Football 365 news stories fans' opinions, gossip and funnies by visiting our website at

www.football365.co.uk.Remember - our website is updating all the time.

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News 2


News 2
Wednesday 07 June 2000

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