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Gareth Barry ruled out of USA-England match

GarethBarry (ISIphotos.com)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

 

If England is going to avoid the upset and defeat the United States in Saturday's high-profile World Cup opener, it will have to do so without Gareth Barry.

The Manchester City midfielder revealed on Monday that he is being held out of Saturday's World Cup match to give his injured ankle more time to heal.

Barry's absence means a like central midfield pairing of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, with Gerrard potentially being called on to handle more defensive duties.

What do you think of this development? Think it helps the United States, or are you worried about how the Americans will handle the Gerrard-Lampard combo (or are you not buying it until you see Barry in a track suit on Saturday?).

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Here’s the key:

    If we score more goals we win.

    If we score the same number of goals we can tie.

    And if we score fewer goals we will lose.

    We need to avoid the third option.

    Reply
  2. “America is feared and hated in many parts of the world and the very idea that we might be anything like a legitimate threat in THEIR sport is more than some countries are willing to bear.”

    EXACTLY WHY I LOVE THE US NATS! GO USA! Take away the last remaining vestiges of non-American dominance! We are like the Borg, you will surrender you will be assmilated!

    USA, USA USA!

    Reply
  3. Barry is England’s ball winner and the guy who leads their pressing defense. They aren’t nearly as good at it without him.

    The US will be going into this game pretty conservative and don’t plan of giving anything away. Barry and Ferdinand’s absence makes a draw more likely.

    Reply
  4. Barry hurt = Good. 1 down, 22 to go.

    The bigger question is laid bare in this thread though: do we play “our game” regardless BTW can anyone articulate what our game is? or do we try to play a strategy that reacts to what ENG will bring?

    Personally I think if the team simply plays clean and mistake free they have a chance.

    Reply
  5. This ain’t above the law, dude. And I never claimed that law practice or law school sucked the life out of me. I just implied that I would rather do something with soccer and the law.

    Oh. And I went to a pretty solid law school.

    Reply
  6. waaaaah poor me and my millions….

    sorry but you knew the gun was loaded when you pulled the trigger.

    the rest of us who decided that money wasn’t more imporant don’t really sympathize with your pity party so please get the talk back to soccer.

    Reply
  7. Completely disagree. They aren’t entirely stupid when they play together, so they won’t get caught out. Gerrard can handle himself well playing back a bit and Lampard likes to make runs from very deep.

    Barry is a good player but with the new ball and against us, a team with no possession, this can suit their style perfectly. Against our midfield, I’d take a Lampard and Gerrard tandem any time.

    And I think Terry/King can handle a direct counter. However Johnson as a RB really leaves his CB exposed so I think we play Dempsey there and Bradley on the right wing against Cole.

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  8. the “lack of respect” is what immediately came to my mind when i saw barry was being held out. we need to punish these clowns if they’re willing to look past us like that

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  9. Is it a given that it’s going to Lampard and Gerrard in the middle? Might Capello go with Carrick and Lampard in the middle, and Gerrard on the left?

    Reply
  10. dude I don’t know wtf you’re talking about. Bocanegra got hurt in the game against Honduras in Chicago, and missed all 3 group games of the Confederations Cup. He didn’t play until the Spain game.

    Reply

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