By Myles Palmer
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LEDLEY KING is vital, so I hope he is fit.
Ledley in midfield is so logical, so obvious.
It’s an idea whose time has come.
But it’s not a new idea.
Dieter Eilts did it for Germany in Euro 06 and was their best player in a tournament they won.
Gilberto Silva, a former centreback , did it for Brazil, who won all seven games.
Elts is now Germany’s Under 21 coach.
Ledley as anchorman is vital, it’s logical, it’s obvious and it’s worth doing in every game, not as a Plan B.
Plan A with Joe Cole starting against”weaker teams” does not appeal to me at all.
There are no weaker teams in World Cups.
As Jose Pekerman points out, South Korea and Turkey contested third place in the last World Cup.
I thought Greece were one of the weaker teams in Portugal 2004, but they won it.
Most of us thought Wigan were one of the weaker teams in the Premiership.
THE ENGLAND TEAM (4-1-3-1-1) should be : Robinson – Luke Young Ferdinand Terry Konchesky – King -Beckham Lampard Gerrard – Rooney- Owen.
I’m looking for a performance.
Recent performances have been terrible, clueless, appalling.
On a neutral ground, against quality opponents, we need a performance.
I wanna see Engerland give us 30 or 40 minutes of great football, at least.
Sven is always telling us we have great players.
Michael Owen reckons the quality of the players in training is “unbelievable.”
OK, lads, let’s see it.
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ARSENAL have two left backs playing against each other in tonight’s Under 21 international play-off at White Hart Lane
Gael Clichy plays for France, while Juntin Hoyte, on loan to Sunderland, plays for England.
THE WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF GAMES will be tight
Reyes plays with Raul and Torres against Slovakia in Madrid.
Senderos and the Swiss meet Turkey in Berne.
NEDVED is back to help the Czechs win in Oslo, which will be difficult against dour Norway.
This World Cup would be a poorer spectacle without the Czech Republic.
MOST ACRIMONIOUS game this weekend will be Uruguay v Australia play off first leg.
Since I’m sure Guus Hiddink is a better manager than Terry Venables ever was, I’m hoping Australia win over two legs and reach the World Cup.
I’ve got a lot of time for the Australians I’ve met in London.
And most of their cricketers are great guys.
November 11 2005