Hargreaves should start
Posted by Jasper Reed in England, Owen Hargreaves, World Cup | 11 June 2006
Typical first up game from England, always having enough to beat Paraguay but not enough to scare the opposition. No matter. A win is a win. With the remaining group games and knock out stages scheduled for evening kick offs, the humidity factor shouldnt be an issue. The positives were getting another game into Owen and Beckham looking fit and 'up for it'.
The alarming thing that struck me about the game was the huge gaping hole in front of the back four. The defence was very deep second half (mind you, better that than the German method!) As a consqeuence, Terry and Cole in particular were caught in possesion too often coming out of defence, and had the South Americans offered any threat up front we may have paid dearly. This situation was eased somewhat by Owen Hargreaves.
Ive never really thought him much of a player, not really sure what he brings to the squad, but having him sitting in front of the centre halves made us look a lot more solid and, agricultural though it may be, he put his foot through the ball a number of times to give us some breathing space.
With Frank and Stevie G seemingly unable to figure out who is supposed to attack and who defend, and the defence exposed as a result, maybe its time to give them a half each and put Hargreaves on from the start.......
