Rooney is a mega-star in the making but a striker suited to playing one up front he is blatantly not. He won't be able to drop deep and link play, turn & run at people or use his vision to play through balls to a striker partner. If he succeeds against Wales it will be because of his natural talent, not this system
Also is Sven the only one who can see that SWP is streets ahead of Beckham (2005 model)?
Eriksson tries out new formation
WALES v ENGLAND Kick-off: 1500 BST, Saturday 3rd September Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Live coverage on BBC Radio Five Live and this website
Steven Gerrard's return to training has allowed England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to practice his planned new formation with his first-choice team.
Eriksson is set to employ a 4-5-1 system for the World Cup qualifier against Wales on Saturday.
David Beckham is expected to be in a deep-lying midfield role behind Frank Lampard and Gerrard.
Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips may play wide with Wayne Rooney on his own up front as Michael Owen is suspended.
Jermain Defoe had been expected to take Owen's place in the starting line-up. But it is understood that the new plan was discussed at a meeting between Eriksson and senior players on Tuesday before using it in training on wednesday without Gerrard. The Swede was roundly criticised for England's lack of shape in their 4-1 friendly defeat in Denmark in August and has moved to improve the balance of the side.
Its all over the news here that the senior players called a meeting with him on Tuesday night and this new formation was the outcome.
They are hinting that the players suggested the formation.
Sven has in fairness been having the time of his life since he got the England job. He gets £4 million a year and shags everything that moves. He hasn't made a difficult football decision since he took the job.
It might work. Rooney could be left hung out to dry alright, but a four man midfield with Gerrard and Lampard in the middle simply hasn't worked, it has no shape at all. They'll probably get away with it against Wales.
It may also be that he has no faith in any striker other than Rooney and Owen.
If England lose and the papers/tv pundits blame this formation he'll be under some pressure.
'Rooney is a mega-star in the making but a striker suited to playing one up front he is blatantly not. He won't be able to drop deep and link play, turn & run at people or use his vision to play through balls to a striker partner'
Is Sven going to bind his legs to his arse with rope????
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Sven - Tactical Genius
WALES v ENGLAND 
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