The England Thread

[James]

Emile Heskey on standby for Wayne Rooney according to The Daily Mirror.

The footballing world are scared now

Heskey on stand-by for Rooney?

Emile Heskey will be the striker on Sven-Goran Eriksson's stand-by list ready to take Wayne Rooney's place if he fails to make it to the World Cup, according to the Daily Mirror.

Heskey has scored only five goals in Birmingham's disastrous season, but is set to be named in Eriksson's initial 27-man squad on Monday rather than James Beattie, Andy Johnson or Marlon Harewood.

The 27-year-old will travel to Germany along with Michael Owen, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent if Rooney fails to recover from his broken metatarsal in time for the tournament.

The Mirror also claims that Owen Hargreaves will make it into Eriksson's 23-man squad despite the Bayern Munich man being unpopular with supporters.

Standing by along with Heskey could be Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing, Everton utility man Phil Neville and Manchester United defender Wes Brown.

Source - ITV

 

[Matteh]

Nooo

 

[BoyBrumby]

Emile Heskey on standby for Wayne Rooney according to The Daily Mirror.

The footballing world are scared now

Jeez. He's scored something like four Prem goals this year. Sven must have something personal against Vassell nowadays.

To quote Private Fraser, "We're all dooomed!"

 

[aussie]

mother...., i hope the mirror is wrong i am afraid to contemplate the thought that Sven would want to pick Hesky or Hargreaves , if it really happens thank goodness its his last tournament in charge.

 

[sledger]

i concur, and whats wrong with the current system?, it works fine.

 

[sledger]

personally i wouldnt think heskey s that bad a selection personally, adds something a shade different rather than another striker like owen who just wont be able to play with him, not ideal i know, but a better option that vassel or anyone else imo.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Ok, Sven names his 27 preliminary squad tomorrow, so I'll have a bash at naming it. I going for who I expect to be there, rather than who I'd necessarily pick myself.

Goalies:

Robinson, James, Green

Defenders:

G Neville, Young, A Cole, Bridge, Terry, R Ferdinand, Campbell, Carragher

Utilities:

King, P Neville

Midfielders:

Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, J Cole, Carrick, Downing, Hargreaves, Jenas, Lennon

Forwards:

Rooney, Owen, Crouch, Defoe, M Bent

I'm assuming Heskey is just paper talk, but if not I guess Marcus Bent would be the one to miss out. Wes Brown will also be there or thereabouts, but with 5 potential centre-halfs (even 6 if we get desperate & play Blakey there) I think Sven will go for Phil Neville's extra versitility. Lennon gets nod ahead of SW-P as he's been first rate for them this year & SW-P has been largely picking splinters out of his aris!

 

[Pedro Delgado]

I could be wrong but I think Sven will include The Trot, possibly at the expense of Lennon. Not saying I agree with it like.

As for Emile, get Bent.

 

[marc71178]

I'd expect we'll see Darren Bent rather than Marcus.

 

[Pothas]

I think Aussie is trying to sort out the midfield mess that is England - trying to get the right balance.
Personally i'm advocating the 4-5-1 system with a Rooneyless England

I agree. I dont really like a lone striker but the best formation i can see is a 4-5-1 with Owen if fit and if if he isnt Bent upfront with Carrick holding in the midfeald but no player designated specifically to play off Owen but alowing all other 4 midfealders to go forward.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd expect we'll see Darren Bent rather than Marcus.

Quite right. D'oh.

 

[roseboy64]

Ok, Sven names his 27 preliminary squad tomorrow, so I'll have a bash at naming it. I going for who I expect to be there, rather than who I'd necessarily pick myself.

Goalies:

Robinson, James, Green

Defenders:

G Neville, Young, A Cole, Bridge, Terry, R Ferdinand, Campbell, Carragher

Utilities:

King, P Neville

Midfielders:

Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, J Cole, Carrick, Downing, Hargreaves, Jenas, Lennon

Forwards:

Rooney, Owen, Crouch, Defoe, M Bent

I'm assuming Heskey is just paper talk, but if not I guess Marcus Bent would be the one to miss out. Wes Brown will also be there or thereabouts, but with 5 potential centre-halfs (even 6 if we get desperate & play Blakey there) I think Sven will go for Phil Neville's extra versitility. Lennon gets nod ahead of SW-P as he's been first rate for them this year & SW-P has been largely picking splinters out of his aris!

Not too sure about him picking Downing.

 

[roseboy64]

It was good to see Rooney walking without crutches today. Didn't look to be in too much pain.

 

[James]

Any truth to this guys?

SUNDAY MIRROR: Aaron Lennon, the flying winger nicknamed Road Runner, is just 90 minutes away from a sensational World Cup call-up. England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will run the rule over the 19-year-old Tottenham starlet at West Ham today...

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Any truth to this guys?
Quote:
SUNDAY MIRROR: Aaron Lennon, the flying winger nicknamed Road Runner, is just 90 minutes away from a sensational World Cup call-up. England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will run the rule over the 19-year-old Tottenham starlet at West Ham today...

Surely the first two words invalidate whatever comes after the colon?

 

[Matteh]

Considering Tottenham lost - I think he's still a doubt to make the provisional squad...

 

[aussie]

It was good to see Rooney walking without crutches today. Didn't look to be in too much pain.

yea but we can never tell he is a tough bloke he could be hiding the it, but hopefully he really isn't in much pain.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Any truth to this guys?

I'd have him in my 27. He's young, in-form, quick & has the ability to take players on. He gave us a fairly torrid time at Highbury.

If Sven goes with SW-P, he'd be picking on reputation alone because he's hardly had a game for Chelski.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

It was good to see Rooney walking without crutches today. Didn't look to be in too much pain.

That's because his foot is encased in a giant uber-orthopaedic shoe which restricts any movement, ergo negating any pain as such.

 

[GIMH]

Maybe Aaron Lennon can follow Gazza, Michael Owen and Rooney in making a name for himself at a tournament?