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[Original Spies]

I think England looked reasonable against Holland, who only managed to score from defensive howlers and rarely got close with their own movement. The game was changed dramatically whe Defoe came on, which they should have had from the start. It was the same kind of cutting edge they had the first time round against Croatia when Theo Walcott scored a million goals.

[Murrr]

I actually think Heskey is a pretty decent player, but you need to play a certain way to accomodate him. His technique isn't great and his goalscoring record is pretty crap, but he's incredibly strong and very good in the air. He does a lot of the simple, ugly stuff that goes unnoticed a lot of the time, and I'm pretty certain that guys like Rooney and Owen have gone on the record to state that they love playing with him because he does a lot of the hard graft for them.

The problem with Heskey is that you need to put the vast majority of your attacking play through him for him to be effective. He needs to be the focal point so he can bring the ball down and wait for runners from midfield; if you put your play through Rooney then you're fucked, because Heskey's movement isn't very good at all. You need a very precise, rigid system of play to play to Emile's strengths, and this is a big part of what destroyed Aston Villa's form during the second half of last season. Before they signed him they were playing a thrilling brand of football with John Carew flanked by a combination of Agbonlahor/Milner/Young . They bought Heskey and messed with their system so that they could play him, and everything went to shit.

This is why I don't think he should be in the England squad. He was fantastic at Wigan because he was one of the best players in the squad, so they could afford to put everything through him, but he's only the third best out-and-out striker in the Villa squad and one of the worst in the England team. Defoe would be a much better option - the boy's absolute dynamite at the moment. I wouldn't start Michael Owen as I've watched him plod around the field completely uninterested for the past few years (he's not a "natural goalscorer" anymore, no matter what the media may try to tell you. Have you seen some of the chances he's missed already for United?), but he's a good option for the bench. Crouch definitely, as he gives you something a little different (I think it's important to have a strong mix of striking options).

Lennon should be a starter. He's been excellent this season and SWP's hardly set the world on fire. I'd even put Jimmy Milner ahead of Wright-Phillips; really good winger. Not the fastest in the world, but he's a good crosser, works his socks off, and he can fairly spank them from range, too. We'd never have been relegated if we hadn't sold him and Charlie Zog.

[Lucky Rathen]

It's easy to win any game where you've got Peter Crouch in your team. Just tell him to stand on the penalty spot and tell the wingers to put in a cross about 7 feet high. He can jump and nod them home and the defenders can't reach. He'll get about ten goals a game.

[cap'n euan]

Man United are getting investigated by FIFA over their signing of a promising young Italian defender. Reckon this'll get more serious? What if they are investigated for their signings from Lazio, including Macheda, who effectively won them 6 points at the end of last season? This could get interesting. I'd love to see Man United get 'the book thrown at them'. No, literally, Sir Alex Ferguson having a massive book pelted as his red little face. What a sight.

[Sam L4]

Defoe has scored 8 goals in 10 games under Capello. That should make his decision an easy one.

[Lucky Rathen]

Colin Meldrum checks in at Pittodrie:

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | A | Aberdeen | Meldrum joins McGhee at Pittodrie

I don't have an issue with him replacing Leighton, McGhee wants to bring in his own coaching staff and he obviously rates Meldrum as a coach, so I'll trust MM's judgement on this occasion!

[Original Spies]

Originally Posted by cap'n euan

Man United are getting investigated by FIFA over their signing of a promising young Italian defender. Reckon this'll get more serious? What if they are investigated for their signings from Lazio, including Macheda, who effectively won them 6 points at the end of last season? This could get interesting. I'd love to see Man United get 'the book thrown at them'. No, literally, Sir Alex Ferguson having a massive book pelted as his red little face. What a sight.

There's something about Italian clubs not being allowed to offer professional contracts to under 16's, which is why the Macheda transfer was all above board, despite huge complaints from Lazio at the time. I imagine this will have a similar result, however the floodgates have been opened a ridiculous extent since Chelsea were scrutinised over Lens' Kakuta. Now every club is kicking up a stink over their youngsters leaving. Man City are in the thick of it too. As I said before, the three richest clubs in the EPL not allowed to spend money til 2011? Pretty interesting.

[Original Spies]

Oh, and Heskey's starting, and Gerrard is on the left wing again.

Fuck off Capello, you bell end.

[delboy]

what is it with capello and heskey? very annoyed!

[Woodsinho]

Aaron Lennon is mint. Woop.