McClaren - "I'll favour Carson so when O'Neill takes my job, he'll put in a good word for me at Villa"

[Guest Ryan]

Steve McClaren looks set to gamble on goalkeeper Scott Carson and drop David Beckham for England's vital Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday. The England boss is believed to have opted for the inexperienced Carson, with Paul Robinson on the bench. Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is tipped to replace Beckham at Wembley. Gareth Barry is expected to join Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole in a five-man midfield, with Peter Crouch on his own up front.The back four is tipped to be Micah Richards, Sol Campbell Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge.England need a point to seal qualification for next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland, and a big win could see them overhaul group leaders Croatia.And the spirit in the camp is determined.England captain Steve Gerrard said: "We can't afford to have any slip-ups. We've got to give everything we've got and die out there for the result."McClaren said he would tell the players his starting line-up on Tuesday at 1830 GMT."I know my team and I have done since the weekend but I am not going to reveal it and I am not giving any clues," he said.McClaren did say he valued experience - but not necessarily in the starting line-up."Experience is key in big games - not just playing but on the bench and around the team," he said.McClaren has stuck by Spurs keeper Robinson throughout a rocky Euro 2008 campaign, but gave Carson his first start against Austria last Friday and may keep faith with the 22-year-old.BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent Mike Ingham said: "Steve McClaren is still confident enough despite being without his first-choice back-four to finally drop the man who has been in goal for the last three years, Paul Robinson, preferring Scott Carson."He is still confident enough to exclude Owen Hargreaves in favour of Gareth Barry and most unexpected of all perhaps he is backing Shaun Wright-Phillips ahead of David Beckham"So whatever the outcome this evening McClaren can hardly stand accused of shying away from bold and tough decisions."England will play 4-5-1 when they're defending and 4-3-3 when they have the ball and Beckham cannot play in a 4-3-3 because he doesn't play high enough up the pitch."One player who will definitely not feature is John Terry, although the England captain did take part in training on Tuesday."There has been a great uplift with the players coming in on Sunday and especially with John Terry coming in and training with the boys," said McClaren."It's always important to have all the players together. We'll have John, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney with us on Wednesday."We've started together and we'll finish together."

[Cipher]

Nice title.Though...he should play Carson over robbo anyway.

[Gundam]

Good. Robbo never wanted to play for McClown anyways, hence why he was making these mistakes.Carson still won't play in Euro 2008 anyways

[qks]

lol@ playing 4-5-1 @ home when they NEED to win

[Lot To Learn]

He aint playing Robbo because apparently he was making mistakes in training.

[OGSTA1]

WHY RISK CARSON IN THIS GAME.SAY WHAT YOU WANT ROBBO'S RECORD FOR ENGLAND>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I THINK MCCLAREN WANTS TO GET SACKED.WOT HAPPEND TO THE BALANCED MIDFIELD PAIRING OF BARRY AND GERRARD AND TWO STRIKERS.CROUCH UP TOP ON HIS ONES MEANS PURE HOOFING.

[Guest Ryan]

Assists in competitive games over 4 years for england beckham 8 assistsowen 7 assistsa. cole 4 assistsrooney 4 assistslampard 4 assistsbarry 3 assistsneville 3 assistsdefoe 2 assistsgerrard 1 assistEngland gnna struggle without becks boyyyy

Takes the piss. How can Ashley Cole have the same amount of assists or more than the midfielders

[Murderous]

Bait England will go 1-0 up then sit back like usual. & hang on

[JJ]

Its cos were sick.Barry starting as well.

[Rsonist]

Dont rate Carson at all.Throwing him in at the deep end is going to do us no favours.

[JJ]

Assists in competitive games over 4 years for england beckham 8 assistsowen 7 assistsa. cole 4 assistsrooney 4 assistslampard 4 assistsbarry 3 assistsneville 3 assistsdefoe 2 assistsgerrard 1 assistEngland gnna struggle without becks boyyyy

Takes the piss. How can Ashley Cole have the same amount of assists or more than the midfielders

all them, apart from defoe and barry, have all played over 25 games (i guess) in the last 4 years.barry has played about 8-10 in that time

[The Infamous]

ZOOOOPValue will rise for Carson by every england gamemeans more money for Rafa and a potential bidding war come jan

[Maxxx]

I would of played carson aswelli rekon if becks was to play.....he would prove the critics wrong....and be the national hero again.

[Guest haze-e]

He NEEDS to play Becks in this game. Its essential.

[Young £]

Assists in competitive games over 4 years for england beckham 8 assistsowen 7 assistsa. cole 4 assistsrooney 4 assistslampard 4 assistsbarry 3 assistsneville 3 assistsdefoe 2 assistsgerrard 1 assistEngland gnna struggle without becks boyyyy

Takes the piss. How can Ashley Cole have the same amount of assists or more than the midfielders

full back but lmao @ gerrard 40 games 1 assist

thats f*cking terrible

[JJ]

SAFE HANDS SCOTTYSCOTTY SAFE HANDS

[Young £]

swear robbo aint even making the benchjames is on the benchheard robbo made some slip ups in training lmao

[B Side]

yeh the guardian was saying how he fcked up bare times in training,pissed the whole squad off, lolol

[MrJibbles]

Good Carson is playing, best keeper in the squad. When the crunch comes James flaps at the chance, Robbo we all know what he has been like lately.England need pace on the wings not someone who barely gets to the byline or just hits a long ball *yawn* SWP and Richards work well together, Beckham and Richards don't.

[Guest Ibn Khaldun]

I've got money on Croatia 1st goal scorers , England love to make it difficult for them selves.Eduardo 15/2 - Goal poacher , will score when you least expect itSrna 14/1 - Free Kicks are dangerousModric 16/1 - Jewel in the crown and a terrific shotCorluka 40/1 - Danger at set peicesSimic 50/1 - Danger at set peicesKovac 66/1 - Danger at set peices

[n/a]

ZOOOOPmeans more money for Rafa

is that a good thing tho brotha