How should the England Golden Generation have lined up?

tentan

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Based on the 2006 team, how should have England lined up formation wise? 2006 was probably when most of the players were at their peak and should've done better.
Was 4-4-2 always the answer anyway? Would 'Southgate's formations' have worked with this team?



The famous 4-4-2 lineup


-----------------Robinson--------------------

Neville-----Terry--------Ferdinand-----Cole

Beckham---Lampard----Gerrard-----J.Cole

--------------Rooney-------Owen-------------


Notable subs/players around the squad at the time

David James

Sol Campbell
Wayne Bridge
Jamie Carragher
Ledley King

Owen Hargreaves
Michael Carrick
Jermaine Jenas
Aaron Lennon
Stewart Downing

Peter Crouch
Darren Bent
Theo Walcott
 

tentan

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'Southgate's formations'

3-5-2

---------------------Robinson--------------------

---------Neville------Terry-----Ferdinand

Beckham------Lampard- ---Carrick-----Gerrard-----A.Cole

---------------Rooney-------Owen-------------


4-3-3


----------------------Robinson

Neville--------Terry---------Ferdinand-------Cole

----------------------Carrick-------------------------

----------Lampard---------------Gerrard----------

Beckham----------Rooney-------------------J.Cole
 

MyOnlySolskjaer

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Carrick/Hargreaves for Scholes if there was definitely no way to convince him to come.
Owen/Crouchy as impact subs.

James
Neville Terry Ferdinand Cole
Scholes
Lampard Gerrard
Beckham Rooney J.Cole

 

Bwuk

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Robinson
Neville - Rio - Terry - Cole
Scholes - Carrick
Beckham - Lampard - Gerrard
Rooney​
 

Billy Blaggs

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'Southgate's formations'

3-5-2

---------------------Robinson--------------------

---------Neville------Terry-----Ferdinand

Beckham------Lampard- ---Carrick-----Gerrard-----A.Cole

---------------Rooney-------Owen-------------


4-3-3


----------------------Robinson

Neville--------Terry---------Ferdinand-------Cole

----------------------Carrick-------------------------

----------Lampard---------------Gerrard----------

Beckham----------Rooney-------------------J.Cole
Carrick/Hargreaves for Scholes if there was definitely no way to convince him to come.
Owen/Crouchy as impact subs.

James
Neville Terry Ferdinand Cole
Scholes
Lampard Gerrard
Beckham Rooney J.Cole

I agree with the 4-3-3 posted.
 

Keeps It tidy

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Carrick started against Ecuador, Hargreaves started against Portugal. They did not play 4-4-2 in the important matches. It was 4-3-3
 

Cloud7

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'Southgate's formations'

3-5-2

---------------------Robinson--------------------

---------Neville------Terry-----Ferdinand

Beckham------Lampard- ---Carrick-----Gerrard-----A.Cole

---------------Rooney-------Owen-------------


4-3-3


----------------------Robinson

Neville--------Terry---------Ferdinand-------Cole

----------------------Carrick-------------------------

----------Lampard---------------Gerrard----------

Beckham----------Rooney-------------------J.Cole
The 352 with those players would have been very interesting, albeit in 06 I would have had Hargo rather than Carrick in the midfield.
 

MyOnlySolskjaer

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A 3 at the back with Sol, Terry and Rio could have been pretty sweet too. Would Beckham as wing-back be too much of an ask at 2006?

James
Campbell Terry Rio
Beckham Gerrard Hargreaves A.Cole
Lampard
Rooney Crouch​

There was a lot to work with regardless.
 
Last edited:

matherto

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James
Nev - Rio - Campbell - A. Cole
Becks - Scholes - Carrick/Hargreaves
Gerrard or Lampard alongside Rooney in floating roles
Owen
 

Zlatattack

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Robinson
Neville Rio Terry Cole
Hargreaves
Beckham Gerrard
Scholes
Owen Rooney​
 

Keeps It tidy

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Once again England's lineup against Ecuador.


GK 1 Paul Robinson
RB 16 Owen Hargreaves
CB 5 Rio Ferdinand
CB 6 John Terry
LB 3 Ashley Cole
DM 18 Michael Carrick
RM 7 David Beckham (c)
CM 4 Steven Gerrard
CM 8 Frank Lampard
LM 11 Joe Cole
CF 9 Wayne Rooney

And against Portugal


GK 1 Paul Robinson
RB 2 Gary Neville
CB 5 Rio Ferdinand
CB 6 John Terry
LB 3 Ashley Cole
RM 7 David Beckham (c)
CM 4 Steven Gerrard
CM 16 Owen Hargreaves
CM 8 Frank Lampard
LM 11 Joe Cole
CF 9 Wayne Rooney
 

Impulse

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James
Neville Rio Terry Cole
Carrick
Scholes Lampard
Gerrard
Owen Rooney​
 

Njord

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I think this group lacked two important types, a playmaker and a No. 9. Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard were different types of players, but all of them played their best football when they work in spaces behind a striker playing in front of them. And although Rooney was good as a No. 9 and Gerrard and Lampard were playmakers, this team would improve greatly with a Scholes/Alonso and a Drogba/Torres.
 

RochaRoja

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James
Campbell Ferdinand Terry
Beckham Hargreaves Carrick A. Cole
Lampard
Crouch Rooney​
 
Last edited:

Bastian

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Supports
Mejbri
---------James
Neville-Rio-Terry-Cole
-----Carrick/Hargreaves
----Scholes---Gerrard
Beckham-----------J.Cole
---------Rooney

This side has 3-4 excellent passers: the whole midfield and Becks. But not enough width, pace or dynamism. Becks wasn't fast and didn't really beat players by dribbling past them. Joe Cole was not a winger either. This side should be defensively solid, great on set pieces and then hoping for individual brilliance from Rooney or Gerrard.
 

Peyroteo

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Didn't matter how they lined up, Ricardo hates the english. You guys lost on penalties twice, always confuses me why there are so many complaints about the tactics when they were perfectly fine. It's not like Scolari was a tactical genius either...

Rooney got subbed off due to injury in the 27th minute in 2004 and got sent off in the 62nd minute in 2006. Neither Crouch or Vassell were quite good enough replacements and both games became much easier for us after Rooney was gone.
 

Teja

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Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes midfield 3 would've gotten overrun. Need atleast one of Hargo / Carrick (ideally both). This means making some tough decisions and dropping one of Lampard / Gerrard but no english coach was really able to do that.
 

BlackShark_80

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James
Neville Terry Ferdinand Cole
Lampard Hargreaves Gerrard
Beckham Rooney J.Cole
 

Web of Bissaka

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Crouch
Rooney
Joe Cole ----- Scholes -- Gerrard(C)
Hargeaves
A. Cole -- Terry -- Rio -- G. Neville
James​

Subs: Robinson, Campbell, King, Carragher, Carrick, Lampard, Beckham, Lennon, Owen​

Honestly, I don't remember Beck still being that good at that time in 2006 nor after, but still have a lethal consistent-enough freekick and crossing abilities.

Impact subs
:
++ Owen and Lampard when we need goals.
+ Lennon for pace and right width.
+ Becks when we need to use his skills eg. stubborn defense and the attacks are misfiring, or need more quick direct approach.
+++ Campbell, King and Carragher to close winning game if have to, then change system to 3 CBs/5 defenders.

Rooney at this time is not ready to lead the attack solo as CF and better as roaming SS, so need Crouch who can post-play CF and always a threat with his post-play and technical skills. Scholes is needed there to balance the whole thing acting as the "controller" which England is clearly missing. Hargreaves to be the engine i.e. energy and protection, at the centre, putting him out wide = midfield is still imbalance. Gerrard as a free-role RM that move inwards and b2b role, like how he did with Rafa's Liv and later on with Eng effectively. Make him captain so he won't complain playing at the position he hates (kidding, I don't see anyone else better in the starting 11 as captain tbh). GNev is enough there to provide the right width and crosses, while the two Coles are awesome on the left. Defense is good individually, not great as a whole unit, but fine.

If Scholes still don't want to rejoin. Replace with Carrick.

Crouch
Rooney
J. Cole --- Gerrard

Hargreaves -- Carrick
A. Cole -- Terry -- Rio -- G. Neville
James
CF
SS
AM -- AM
DM -- DM
LB -- CB -- CB -- RB
GK
 

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