SERBKINGKEZMAN
09-02-2005, 06:51 PM
England captain David Beckham has denied claims that player-power forced Sven-Goran Eriksson to change tactics for the World Cup clash with Wales.
Eriksson is expected to ditch his 4-4-2 formation and play Manchester United's Wayne Rooney as a lone striker.
Beckham said: "This whole player-power thing has come up this week but it's nothing to do with that.
"If the manager wants a meeting with players to discuss different formations or ways of playing he calls a meeting."
And he added: "I think a little bit more respect has to be shown to the manager."
Eriksson was also keen to refute the claims, saying: "Since 1976 I've had meetings with my players and if I don't talk to them, who do I talk to?
"In the weeks after the Denmark match I talked to the coaching staff - Sammy Lee, Steve McClaren, Ray Clemence - almost every day.
"Then we have to of course talk to the players. I had a meeting with three of them to discuss certain things - and what we discussed I'd prefer to tell you after the game."
Jermain Defoe had been touted to partner Rooney, but Beckham is now expected to move into the centre with Shaun Wright-Phillips playing in a five-man midfield.
Beckham said: "It's important to find different formations because you come up against different teams, especially when you have players out or injured.
"You have to compensate for that, so if you have to play different roles you do what the manager says."
He added: "He discusses things with players and players appreciate that - but the final decision is down to him and that's the way it's always been.
"A lot was made of our last performance when we lost against Denmark, and rightly so because it wasn't up to the level we can play at.
"We have to play better because Wales will make it hard for us - it will be a tough match."
England defender Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, admits Wales striker John Hartson will be "an absolute handful" for him during Saturday's World Cup qualifier.
Ferdinand, 26, was a youngster at West Ham when Hartson, 30, was a senior striker at Upton Park.
"I played against him in training every day and he used to elbow me, kick me and head-butt me," said Ferdinand.
"But it was a good upbringing for me. I enjoyed it. Playing against John and Iain Dowie taught me a lot.
He's a fantastic player who's done very well in Scotland and he's an absolute handful
Rio Ferdinand
"When we played together at West Ham I thought we had one of the best strikers in the league in John," said Ferdinand, who will be up against Hartson at the Millennium Stadium in the World Cup Group Six qualifier.
England beat Wales 2-0 at Old Trafford last October, but Ferdinand is expecting a sterner 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 said.
"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."
Ferdinand, of Manchester United, is expected to be partnered by Liverpool's Jamie Carragher on Saturday, as part of a back four possibly including Charlton's Luke Young at right-back
Eriksson is expected to ditch his 4-4-2 formation and play Manchester United's Wayne Rooney as a lone striker.
Beckham said: "This whole player-power thing has come up this week but it's nothing to do with that.
"If the manager wants a meeting with players to discuss different formations or ways of playing he calls a meeting."
And he added: "I think a little bit more respect has to be shown to the manager."
Eriksson was also keen to refute the claims, saying: "Since 1976 I've had meetings with my players and if I don't talk to them, who do I talk to?
"In the weeks after the Denmark match I talked to the coaching staff - Sammy Lee, Steve McClaren, Ray Clemence - almost every day.
"Then we have to of course talk to the players. I had a meeting with three of them to discuss certain things - and what we discussed I'd prefer to tell you after the game."
Jermain Defoe had been touted to partner Rooney, but Beckham is now expected to move into the centre with Shaun Wright-Phillips playing in a five-man midfield.
Beckham said: "It's important to find different formations because you come up against different teams, especially when you have players out or injured.
"You have to compensate for that, so if you have to play different roles you do what the manager says."
He added: "He discusses things with players and players appreciate that - but the final decision is down to him and that's the way it's always been.
"A lot was made of our last performance when we lost against Denmark, and rightly so because it wasn't up to the level we can play at.
"We have to play better because Wales will make it hard for us - it will be a tough match."
England defender Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, admits Wales striker John Hartson will be "an absolute handful" for him during Saturday's World Cup qualifier.
Ferdinand, 26, was a youngster at West Ham when Hartson, 30, was a senior striker at Upton Park.
"I played against him in training every day and he used to elbow me, kick me and head-butt me," said Ferdinand.
"But it was a good upbringing for me. I enjoyed it. Playing against John and Iain Dowie taught me a lot.
He's a fantastic player who's done very well in Scotland and he's an absolute handful
Rio Ferdinand
"When we played together at West Ham I thought we had one of the best strikers in the league in John," said Ferdinand, who will be up against Hartson at the Millennium Stadium in the World Cup Group Six qualifier.
England beat Wales 2-0 at Old Trafford last October, but Ferdinand is expecting a sterner 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 said.
"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."
Ferdinand, of Manchester United, is expected to be partnered by Liverpool's Jamie Carragher on Saturday, as part of a back four possibly including Charlton's Luke Young at right-back