England World Cup 2010 Squad Selection

 

Ok, as the season is heading towards Spring and the three months running up to the World Cup, as armchair critics it is time to discuss this all important matter.......

 

If you were England manager which 23 English players would you take to South Africa in time for June 2010?

OK I've been thinking about this for a while and I believe this would be our best squad. A couple of surprises perhaps....

 

As a first XI:

GK: Rob Green - Of the keepers that have international experience I think he's the best.

RB: Glenn Johnson - He might not be the best at defending but who else is there? He offers so much attacking threat it'd be stupid not to include him.

LB: Ashley Cole - Since Guss Hiddink became Chelsea manager he's been World Class.

CB: John Terry © - Regardless of what's happened he's our greatest leader and best centre-half.

LB: Matthew Upson - He's always impressed me for England and I think his partnership with Terry has proved to be a good one. Always good to hae a right foot/left foot partnership too.

DM: Owen Hargreaves :cry: Gareth Barry - He's been solid for England under Capello and keeps it ticking with the simple stuff allowing Gerrard and Lampard to play together.

CM: Frank Lampard: Unfairly criticised at International level, he's never been any worse than any of the other 'big' players and will always weigh in with a deflected goal or two.

RM: Steven Gerrard: Much prefer him to have a 'free' role on the right than on the left, he's not had a good season by his usual high standards domestically but he's still too gifted to leave out.

LM: James Milner: His consistancy for Villa and in his appearences so far wearing the Three Lions means he gets the nod.

CF: Emile Heskey: No he doesn't score but he's a fantastic player and incredibly valuable to the England side. We play better when he plays and we get our best results when he plays. Sven proved it, Capello has proved it, even Schteve managed to prove it.

CF: Wayne Rooney: No explanation needed.

 

The Rest:

1) Joe Hart: He's had a great season and he surely has a fairly long career as England's number one. He has to go if only for the experience.

2) Paul Robinson: International experience and at club level he's looking more and more like the player who became England's number one with every game.

3) Phil Neville: Purely for how versitile he is, he can play as a defensive central midfielder, left back or right back. He's no worse than anyone else for right back cover.

4) Leighton Baines: I've always rated him since he was in the Championship with Wigan. He's been one of Everton's top performers for the past two seasons and certainly deserves his chance.

5) Michael Dawson: Solid as a rock. Will fight for everything and he's been at his best this season.

6) Rio Ferdinand: When he's not been injured this season he's been $h!te, but he's still probably good enough and experienced enough for me to want to take him.

7) Joe Cole: Over the past few years he's generally been England's best performer. You can't ignore that.

8) Jermain Defoe - He scores goals. He has to be in the squad.

9) Gabby Agbonlahor - He improves with every season and I think it's best to have different types of striker in the squad. He'll unlock defences where Heskey won't but he'll win the ball and hold it up where Defoe wouldn't.

10) Bobby Zamora: I can't believe I'm saying this myself but I honestly can't remember the last time I've seen such a transformation in the space of less than one season. I don't like to jump on the back of players like the media do after a few good performances but he's proved this season he can terrorise great defences and has scored some superb goals. I rememeber reading a blog a few weeks ago saying how good it would be if England had a Heskey who scored goals. One of the replies was "We do. He's called Bobby Zamora." I find it hard to disagree to be honest. I always say four strikers isn't enough either.

 

Then I'm torn between two of three midfielders.

 

1) David Beckham - Is he as good as he once was? No. Would his experience and calming influence be invaluable both on and off the pitch? Most certainly. He still has a role to play I think.

2) Aaron Lennon - I've never really liked him at all but he has improved a great deal. I'm not sure how much this current injury will affect him though.

3) Adam Johnson - A strange choice perhaps but he'll be here more regularly in the future, I'm sure. Most Boro fans have said for a few years he'll be better than Downing and I've always found it hard to disagree whenever I've seen him. He was the best player in the Championship for the first 6 months of the season and since his move to Man City has been pretty much their best player in every game he's played in.

 

One thing I've always thought is a good thing is to go with an 'unknown quantity' or two. For that reason I think Johnson and Zamora would be good additions. Much better to take someone off the back of a great season than off the back of a poor one (Crouch, Owen...)

GKs: David James, Joe Hart, Robert Green

 

DFs: Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jageilka, John Terry, Joleon Lescott, Ryan Shawcross

 

MFs: David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stuart Downing, Aaron Lennon

 

STs: Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott, Peter Crouch

 

I think that's a decent squad. I can't see Capello realistically taking 5 strikers however, but i'd like to think he would. I don't think that will be the squad, as I reckon there will probably be one suprise addition, although i've no idea what. I can't see him taking all 3 of Lennon, SWP and Beckham either - but at this moment in time i've no idea who he'd leave out. If Cole's injured the LB position could be a bit of a problem as well, I could see Steven Warnock taking it though (potentially).

Beckham out of World Cup 2010 Squad :cry:

 

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47472000/jpg/_47472595_becks466ap.jpg

Gutting. I really feel for him. My only issue is I don't know how much of a role he would have actually played in the World Cup.

 

Looks like Beckham and Lennon are going to miss the World Cup. Guess it opens for the door more for Walcott, Milner and SWP.

That's really awful for Becks, feeling for the poor guy :(

Gutting. I really feel for him. My only issue is I don't know how much of a role he would have actually played in the World Cup.

 

Looks like Beckham and Lennon are going to miss the World Cup. Guess it opens for the door more for Walcott, Milner and SWP.

Sean Wright-Phillips? Oh dear. I'd personally put him as about 9th choice winger to be honest, but he did ok and scored when he came on against Egypt last time out so I think his place is probably booked now. I hope Joe Cole can find some form and that Adam Johnson continues to show what a brilliant prospect he is putting SWP to shame in every Man City match and they join Milner and Walcott in the squad.

I feel bad for Becks, would have been good to have his experience in South Africa. Does give somebody else a chance though, hopefully they can step up and take it. Really hope Joe Cole finds some form and fitness, he could be an important player for England this summer imo.

If Zamora doesn't go, he's bloody unlucky.

If Zamora doesn't go, he's bloody unlucky.

 

This.

 

Although I don't know how he'd be at International level.

 

Pray for Rooney's ankle! Between his eagerness to play and Sir Alex desperate to land the title, it ain't over yet :lol:

Purely My Squad of 23 (& not what I think Capello will select) would be:

 

Goalkeepers: James; Hart; Green

Defenders: Terry; Ferdinand; A Cole; G Johnson; Carragher; King; Brown; Baines

Midfield: Lampard; Gerrard; Milner; Barry Hargreaves Huddlestone; J Cole; Walcott; Beckham A Johnson; Lennon

Strikers: Rooney; Crouch; Bent; C Cole

 

 

If I now do a realistic 23 I'd ...

 

Robinson, Hart, Green

Johnson, Brown, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, Dawson, Cole, Baines

Arteta Lampard, Gerrard, Parker, Barry (Huddlestone), Walcott, Cole, Johnson, Milner

Rooney, Heskey, Defoe, Bent

 

GK: Robinson, James, Hart

Defenders: G Johnson, G Neville, A Cole, Baines, Ferdinand, Terry, King, Dawson

Midfielders: Milner, J Cole, Hargreaves, (Parker) Barry, (Huddlestone) Gerrard, Lampard, Walcott, Lennon

Forwards: Rooney, Heskey, Crouch, Bent

Jamie Carragher is going to be in the final 23. I definitely have that feeling, especially with fitness doubts over two of our CBs already. I imagine he'll be used as back-up to Glen Johnson. Capello would be mad to pick Upson ahead of Carragher. Which is ironic, as this has been Carragher's worst season for a long time!

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

 

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.

 

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

 

Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

 

So whose not going to make the cut?

Well it's almost certain to be a left back, a striker, two wingers, two CMs and a centre-half. My guesses would be Warnock, Bent, Cole, Johnson, Huddlestone, Parker (or Barry if injured) and Dawson.

 

Which is a great shame as I'd pick 6 of those....

Adam Johnson needs to be in the England squad imo. I'd have him ahead of SWP or Lennon (both whom are overrated and far too similar).

Got to agree, you don't need two of Walcott, Lennon and SWP. Have one with Johnson, Cole and Milner and you've got four completely different players.

I hope Crouch finally delivers – so poor last world cup!

Someone told me he wrote part of this song (

) on the team bus after the Egypt friendly, then sent it to his mate to record!

I think its alright, quite catchy!!! :D

Anyopne watched the first half on England v Mexico friendly?

 

England are somehow 2-1 up but apart from Green; King; Walcott; Crouch & Rooney we are being completed outplayed by a team who (thankfully) can't defend set pieces.