New Formation Was My Idea, Insists Eriksson

[Shivek]

Sven-Goran Eriksson is today set to assert his authority by insisting player power did not force him into his planned tactical shift for the World Cup qualifying tie against Wales.

Eriksson has been experimenting with a 4-5-1 formation in training this week, with Jermain Defoe set to lose out on a starting place even though Michael Owen is suspended.

Instead, David Beckham will be given a central 'quarterback' role along with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, with Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the flanks, and Wayne Rooney up front on his own.

The biggest remaining question over England's starting line-up seems to be at right-back, with Phil Neville and Luke Young both tried out in training in the past two days as Gary Neville is out injured.

Otherwise, Eriksson's staff insist he has been mulling over a possible change in tactics for a few months and certainly since the 4-1 defeat in Copenhagen last month.

At today's pre-match press conference Eriksson will insist that although he consulted senior players, including Lampard, Gerrard and Beckham, on Tuesday evening, this does not mean he is losing control of his squad.

The Swede is determined to retain a solid backbone to his side in what could be a physical encounter in Cardiff and there were concerns that Defoe may not offer enough of a presence against the Welsh.

Eriksson will therefore have been relieved that Gerrard returned to full training yesterday after a calf injury.

After all, Rio Ferdinand, who is expected to partner Jamie Carragher in central defence, is expecting a tough battle against former West Ham team-mate John Hartson.

'Obviously I played against him in training every day and he used to elbow me, kick me and head-butt me!' Ferdinand joked. 'But it was a good upbringing for me, I enjoyed it. He and Iain Dowie were good to play against because it taught me a lot.

'When we played together at West Ham I thought we had one of the best strikers in the league in John. He's a fantastic player who's done very well in Scotland and he's an absolute handful.'

Wales' anticipated fiery resistance did not materialise at Old Trafford last year when they suffered a relatively tame 2-0 defeat, but Ferdinand is expecting a tougher test this time around.

'We know it won't be the same again. Their fans will demand more of them, urging them to get forward more, so we'll have to approach the game with the right attitude,' he added.

'But it's good that we're playing again so quickly after our defeat in Denmark because it's like a wounded animal in a way, you want to get out there as quick as possible and rectify it.'

I think England would get thrashed if they use this formation. How about making Souness the next England coach?