Soccer

» JCofBH - Interesting squad to say the least - a little light on strikers.

The striking situation is, err, striking. Notwithstanding the goals we get from midfield and Sven's view of Cole as an auxiliary forward, we're going into the tournament with one recognised forward certainly fit (and that's the goal machine Crouch...), one likely to be okay but very short of games, one certainly crocked, and a lad who's never played a game of top flight football.

It doesn't sound like he plans to, but Sven needs to take a decision on Rooney before the tournament and get Defoe in if he ain't going to be ready. It really is ludicrous to pin our hopes on him recovering ahead of all expecations for the QF or SF and THEN just enter the fray after 7 odd weeks without a game. Presumably some poor sod who helped us get that far will need to step aside to make room for him?

All Sven's talk of 'pace' at the press conference has me thinking of Euro2004 and the way we reverted to 60 yard balls down the channels to Vassell and Owen after Rooney went off.

I dare say we can get out the group and past the Poles or Germans with this squad, but beyond that I think the forward line will be found out by the stronger sides.

-- posted by JCofBH