If you were the manager of your country, who would you take in your 23-man squad and who would start?
England - 4-5-1
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart*
David James
Paul Robinson
Defenders
Ashley Cole*
Ledley King*
John Terry*
Glen Johnson*
Leighton Baines
Jamie Carragher
Michael Dawson
Rio Ferdinand
Midfielders
James Milner*
Steven Gerrard*
Michael Carrick*
Frank Lampard*
Aaron Lennon*
Joe Cole
Tom Huddlestone
Theo Walcott
Forwards
Wayne Rooney*
Peter Crouch
Jermain Defoe
Emile Heskey
*Starters
That was not easy. I can only imagine how hard it would be picking the real squad!
Over to you...
I am going to struggle here Howard!
ReplyDeleteHa yep it is tricky!
ReplyDeleteAdam Johnson just missed out because I felt we needed another centre mid (Huddlestone).
I know you are thinking of putting your mate Jack Rodwell in! WC came a year too early for him.
Easy this one...
ReplyDeleteGK's- Joe Hart
Rob Green
David James
DEF- John Terry
Rio Ferdinand
Ashley Cole
Glen Johnson
Ledley King
Jamie Carragher
Phil Jagielka
MID- Frank Lampard
Steven Gerrard
James Milner
Theo Walcott
Aaron Lennon
Adam Johnson
Gareth Barry
Owen Hargreaves
FWDS- Bobby Zamora
Wayne Rooney
Emile Heskey
Jermaine Defoe
Peter Crouch
With Barry's injury he might take Carrick or Hargreaves as cover...scott parker as a complete outsider...
At the back we lack cover at left back and king cant relied on for a tournament which lasts a month and has games thick and fast...wes brown will probably make the squad despite being average....Baines or Warnock as outside bet for left back cover...dont be surprised if Carragher makes a surprise return in the initial 30...
As for your contingent from Spurs...no to Huddlestone...nice passer but i fear Capello will go for experience in the form of Carrick...
Zamora will make it if he performs against Japan and Mexico...proved his worth in Europa League but he could fall into the Darren Bent mould..goals as domestic level but nothing on the international stage where the game is much more cagey than the premiership....
Starting XI- 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 if you prefer
Joe hart
Glen Johnson
Rio Ferdinand
John Terry
Ashley Cole
Adam Johnson
Frank Lampard
Steven Gerrard
Aaron Lennon
Gareth Barry
Wayne Rooney
Lose in the semis....haha...
Nice Ian - yours is probably closer to what Capello will pick. Def. agree about needing cover at LB & CM!
ReplyDeleteSemifinals would be good. Every time I think we are gonna win it and underachieve so am trying to be pessimistic this time.
Lose in the 1/4 finals after Terry gets sent home for doing the dirty with Capellos misses at the hotel swimming pool ;)
It's a shame Theo Walcott has been injured for so long. Surely he would get a start fully fit. Am I still living in the past?
ReplyDeleteJohn Terry sent home for trying to hump Frank Lampard. Now there's a headline.
Thomas
ReplyDeleteI do agree there he did well for us in qualifying - can also be used as a striker if needed so def. should go.
I may be biased but Lennon has had the better season and missed about the same amount so deserves to start. Better end product from Aaron this season.
It seems JT can't deal with temptation so maybe!
No Australia squad? I know a few Aussies visit the blog and would be interested. Would you take Nick Carle? Hope so - even though he has had a rough time of it at Crystal Palace.
Howard,
ReplyDeleteAfter making the suggestion to do this on a drunken night out, 3 weeks later here it is!
Keepers
Green *
James **
Hart *
Defenders
Johnson **
Carragher *
King **
Dawson
Terry **
Ferdinand *
Cole **
Warnock *
Midfielders
Wright-Phillips
Lennon **
Walcott*
Lampard **
Gerrard **
Carrick **
Cole **
Bullard *
Matt Taylor *
Danny Murphy
Huddlestone
Milner *
Young
Attackers
Rooney **
Zamora (now injured so i'd go for K. Davies)
Crouch *
Defoe *
Carlton Cole *
Bent
* = 23 man squad
** = Starting Line up!
So notable absences include Downing, Upson, Lescott, Bent, Barry (injury doubts), Adam Johnson
Jimbo Lucas
ok this is my squad, starting players are given a *. An ** indicates that this player would play injury permitting!
ReplyDeleteGK
David James
Paul Robinson
Joe Hart*
DEF
Rio Ferdinand
John Terry*
Ledley King**
Jamie Carragher
Michael Dawson
Glen Johnson*
Ashley Cole*
Leighton Baines
MID
Frank Lampard*
Steven Gerrard*
Gareth Barry**
Aaron Lennon*
Adam Johnson
Owen Hargreaves
Theo Walcott
James Milner
FW
Wayne Rooney*
Emile Heskey*
Peter Crouch
Jermain Defoe
I think Joe Hart must start the two friendlies to get a feel for international football, but he has clearly been the outstanding english goalkeeper this season. Robinson has had a better season than Rob Green, who i feel is vastly overrated.
Ledley King and JT at centreback. As long as King is fit, he is less prone to errors than either JT or Rio. Terry is in ahead of Ferdinand because he is a true leader, whether captain or not.
The full-backs pretty much pick themselves due to a lack of options, although Ashley Cole is obviously world class and would play LB for any team in the world.
I wouldn't change Fabios favoured midfield four, when they are all fit, they are both solid and creative, with the outlet of Lennon's pace on the right.
Up front, it has to be Rooney and Heskey, for the simple reason that Heskey brings out the best in Rooney, and despite not being much of a goal threat, defenders do not like playing Heskey.
That is my squad sir,
Chris
Similar teams to me you two. Interesting that Upson doesn't feature for any of the teams posted above!
ReplyDeleteChris, I think you are right that Capello will stick with the 4-4-2 and with Heskey upfront - it worked well in qualifying.
If Barry is out, who would you start instead and who would you bring into the 23 to replace him?
Hargreaves in there but no Carrick?