When The Dust Has Settled

This is England.

Do we really expect any more than what we currentlyhave on our hands right now?

Some will clearly say we are not good enough, i say ok you may be right, BUT , and this is the important thing, we are still in it and a win on Wednesday afternoon and we will probably top the group. Wasnt that always the aim??

Therss no getting away from how the team has played, especially Friday evening, the lack of the real basics was shocking at times, finding a team mate with a 10 yard pass seemed beyond us. Im not suggesting that when we go through it will all be forgotten, but all of a sudden momentum will be on our side and we can look forward instead of back.

So who and how will we do it on Wednesday? Well, Capello needs to clearly change his way of thinking, clearly he knows this having hinted in a post-match interview after Algeria. Will he go all out and go 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 we wait and see. A team meeting should have taken place by now where all senior players stand up and say "were not good enough at the moment but know we are better than this so lets go out and prove it, but Gaffer we can help you help us". Gerrard will clearly have to do the bulk of the talking and he is capable, he doesnt need to talk down to Capello, just suggest a few tweaks that will benefit his side, after all his job could be on the line and he needs support from his cast.

Personally i would go 4-5-1. James did enoughto suggest that this is his World Cup hurrah, Cole and Johnson are proving to be the only constant threat going forward and are solid enough at the back, in the centre Terry and Dawson, who after missing out on the original squad now finds himself in a position of saviour. Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, will create the triangular middle, Lennon and (hopefully) Joe Cole will provide the wing threat, with the much maligned Rooney up front.

I wasnt going to single out anybody for thier actions on Friday, but Rooney is who he is and we cant change that. He said what he did off the cuff, if he was French he may have been sent home but we need that fire from him, he will stop the booing by reapying the fans with a fine display of controlled agression against Solvenia.


Be prepared - England will win on Wednesday and we can look forward to more fun and games - it may not do much good for your nerves. but your pride wont take a bashing.