The England Thread

[aussie]

Originally Posted by marc71178

King and Parker both being injured might have had some bearing

christ what you just conveniently didn't read my other post refering to King or something, plus even if Parker was fit since he has played for England since 2004 he would not have been picked anyway.

[sledger]

dont blaspheme white boy.

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by Pothas

i dont understand why Darren Bent wasnt included, he has scroed an awful lot of goals this season in a pretty average side.

Presumably Sven doesn't think he can cut it against top class defenders.

Also, 7 goals in the last 17 games suggests that he's dipping at the wrong time.

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by Matteh

Funny you mention him - i laughingly told a(nother) Coventry fan that i'd rather have been him picked for England than Walcott - at least he's scored loads of goals in the championship this season.

The reason I mentioned him is to show how stupid the Johnson selection is.

[marc71178]

People have to see past the Hargreaves (only in because of his knowledge of the Munich nightlife) selection and look at the good points:

No SWP.
No Kieron Richardson.
Only 1 Neville.
No Heskey.

[Matteh]

Just found this on the Beeb's website:

'Eriksson yet to see Walcott play
England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted he picked Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott for the World Cup despite never having seen him play a match.

"I've seen him perhaps three times in training," said Eriksson. "(At Arsenal training) on Saturday I saw him play 11 against 11 on a half pitch.
Eriksson said Walcott could play in the injured Wayne Rooney's role, off the main striker, if the Manchester United star does not recover, but said he also planned to use Chelsea's Joe Cole in that position.'

[Pedro Delgado]

So he might be thinking of the Xmas tree formation, or if not Downing on the left in the usual system. Lots of options anyway. I'm not sure Bent is the one, and Defoe hasn't really set the world alight during his eight caps. We can't say this squad is definitive yet at any rate, let's see how Rooney progresses and how Owen does in the three friendlies, there might be a few more twists and turns yet.

[Great Birtannia]

If you took Jenas or Hargreaves out for a 5th striker it would be a good squad.

Walcott is speculative but the sort of crazy thing that could really pay off.

Only taking three other strikers, two under injury clouds and the circus freak is the real problem. Naming 9 mids when Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard and probably J.Cole will start everygame barring injury is just crazy.

[marc71178]

Except one of the 4 will be playing off the striker, so that automatically needs additional cover.

On the right is Lennon, basically taken for the experience.
On the left is Downing, more likely to play than Lennon, but also getting experience.
In the middle is Jenas, as good an option for cover as anyone else.
The man who knows all things German, Hargreaves is a token selection.

[luckyeddie]

Originally Posted by marc71178

People have to see past the Hargreaves (only in because of his knowledge of the Munich nightlife) selection and look at the good points:

No SWP.
No Kieron Richardson.
Only 1 Neville.
No Heskey.

No Skill With Prizes?

They're banning quiz machines?

Shame!!!!!

[luckyeddie]

Originally Posted by aussie

christ what you just conveniently didn't read my other post refering to King or something, plus even if Parker was fit since he has played for England since 2004 he would not have been picked anyway.

Stop being so touchy, traitorous scum .

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Matteh

I guess Hargreaves is in because he can play literally everywhere behind the front two making him the ultimate squad player.

I thought he knew how to satisfy Sven in ways Ms Alam couldn't

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Pedro Delgado

So he might be thinking of the Xmas tree formation, or if not Downing on the left in the usual system. Lots of options anyway. I'm not sure Bent is the one, and Defoe hasn't really set the world alight during his eight caps. We can't say this squad is definitive yet at any rate, let's see how Rooney progresses and how Owen does in the three friendlies, there might be a few more twists and turns yet.

How about:

-----------------------------------------------Robinson----------------------------------------------


------------------ G. Neville ---------- Ferdinand -------- Terry ------------- A. Cole -------------------


----------------------------Carrick --------- Gerrard ---------- Lampard ---------------------------------

--------------------------------Beckham (c) ------------- J. Cole ---------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------- Owen -----------------------------------------------------

I suppose if Rooney is fit he could play in behind Owen, with Beckham taking Carrick's spot?

Can somebody do better?

[Pedro Delgado]

Originally Posted by Craig

How about:

-----------------------------------------------Robinson----------------------------------------------


------------------ G. Neville ---------- Ferdinand -------- Terry ------------- A. Cole -------------------


----------------------------Carrick --------- Gerrard ---------- Lampard ---------------------------------

--------------------------------Beckham (c) ------------- J. Cole ---------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------- Owen -----------------------------------------------------

I suppose if Rooney is fit he could play in behind Owen, with Beckham taking Carrick's spot?

Can somebody do better?

Not bad although I'd have Becks on the right, Carrick floating in front of the back four and Gerrard or Lampard having licence to join Cole and Owen. One real positive about all this is Carrick actually fitting into the team, well deserved IMO.

Jersey Joe as super sub for Cole or Owen

[Barney Rubble]

Originally Posted by Craig

How about:

-----------------------------------------------Robinson----------------------------------------------


------------------ G. Neville ---------- Ferdinand -------- Terry ------------- A. Cole -------------------


----------------------------Beckham (c) --------- Carrick ---------- Lampard ---------------------------------

--------------------------------Gerrard ------------- J. Cole ---------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------- Owen -----------------------------------------------------

I suppose if Rooney is fit he could play in behind Owen, with Beckham taking Carrick's spot?

Can somebody do better?

Couple of minor alterations, I think this would work better.