Eriksson's Noose

Kaiser, you're quite right about favouring system over players but still you have to maximize your talent.

There are other ways to look at the English midfield dilemna and you have touched on it: the issue of Beckham. For me Lampard is a much better player than Beckham and would give England not only individual quality but a better flow to their game--a flow which Beckham disturbs.

And yet BigSoccer.com has a gigantic discussion thread called "Drop Frank Lampard".

So I would like most go with a holding midfielder (Hargreaves / Carrick) then play a middle three of Cole, Gerrard...and Lampard (with the speedy Lennon subbing on). Lampard could easily surpass Beckham's involvement on the right.

I would still have Beckham in my 23 as a super-sub but he would never be my captain. Ericksson long ago tied himself a noose with the Beckham captaincy and now cannot, will not sub-off a very one-dimensional right midfielder.

It's a shame: Beckham is the real issue of the England midfield for me. With him in there, the other three midfielders and England as a whole may never be able to give us their best game...

(From my post to Joga.com's The Home of Beautiful Football, hosted by author Alex Bellos.)