The England squad

viscount17

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Forwards: Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

This has to be the least terrifying selection of strikers in the universe, not counting Rooney. :rolleyes:

no, it's the least terrifying, including Rooney.

overall some of the selections are mystifying - too many crocks, too little pace, too little talent, too many too willing to give the ball away rather than trying to score

adopt a rule of golf: see ball - hit it!
 

RGDave

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Maybe our games could be played in a parallel dimension. If the ball is permanently 6.5' above the ground, Crouch should do just fine.
 

madandra

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Recently Adrian (I talk through my erse) Durham on TalkSport said the England starting 11 would walk into most other team at the tourny .....


Looking at the proposed team I am sure they would struggle to finish in the top half of the EPL.
 

viscount17

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Recently Adrian (I talk through my erse) Durham on TalkSport said the England starting 11 would walk into most other team at the tourny .....


Looking at the proposed team I am sure they would struggle to finish in the top half of the EPL.

actually he could be right, if their scoring record is anything to go by they all need white sticks.
 

Robobum

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Just read the thread then checked how badly we are doing in the World Cup.......apparently it hasn't started yet!!?? :D

Why are we bothering to go if we are as bad as everyone is making out? :rolleyes:

Still looking for the Golf Monthly Keyboard Warriors' FC but no success yet! :D
 

Tiger

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I'm with robo on this one. The tournament hasn't started how do we know how we'll perform or how other teams will for that matter. Greece won Euro 2004, an average German team contested one semi final against an obdurate Italian side in 2006, USA got to the semi's that year for Christ sake. The teams that underperformed had the so called stars, Argentina and Spain anyone.

The most important thing is that they can grind out results when they are playing poorly. If you were almost assured of a place on the plane would you bust a gut against Mexico and Japan? Of course not, who wants to get injured in a warm up game.

The stats don't lie and Crouch's goals per game belies his gangly frame and Heskey may not score many but everyone else seems to get a hatful when he plays.

Let's reserve judgement till after the group stage.
 
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I'm with robo on this one. The tournament hasn't started how do we know how we'll perform or how other teams will for that matter. Greece won Euro 2004, an average German team contested one semi final against an obdurate Italian side in 2006, USA got to the semi's that year for Christ sake. The teams that underperformed had the so called stars, Argentina and Spain anyone.
I agree tiger, look at Scotland 78 when we were told we would be in the medals with all the great stars of the time, beaten by Peru, drew with Iran but then beat holland with all their stars. Went out 1st round :eek: It's not always the team with the greats who come through so a wee bit of optimism for you ;)
 

Golfmmad

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I can't believe that Walcott has been left out. Englands quickest striker with out and out pace - our opponents must be breathing a huge sigh of relief! And before anybody says he's all pace but no end product - he is not a winger.

I blame Wenger for this, who has played him out of position and not given him enough starts. I'm convinced he should be played in a similar position to Michael Owen. He would destroy defences with his pace and he is a proven goalscorer. Jermain Defoe is too , but not for England - never has been, and maybe should have got the chop instead of Walcott.

I'm very much in the camp of, have the inquest after the event. Let's get behind the England team and Capello and hope it all works out. He's picked the oldest England team ever and gone for experience. Which is probably why the two youngest were not included.
 

Tiger

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Let's reserve judgement till after the group stage.

You do that whilst we discuss how on earth Heskey made it into a world cup squad

Do England have a better win percentage with Heskey in the side? Yes
Do England have a goals per game ratio with Heskey in the team? Yes
Do other players speak positively of the impact of Heskey? Yes

No he doesn't score goals but he holds the ball up well, brings people into the game, scares the beejesus out of defenders and creates space for the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard who can all score goals.

Personally I think Bent should have gone instead of Defoe. They are similar players bur Bent is quicker, stronger and scored more goals last term. And Johnson instead of Wright Phillips.
 

viscount17

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Let's reserve judgement till after the group stage.

that's no fun.
this is all about prediction - you do that before things happen, otherwise it's known as 'stating the bleeding obvious'(you can get massive gov'mint research grants for that - as in the one for 'St Andrews will get wet if the sea level rises').
so far the majority opinion is that we aren't going to do well. think how happy you'll be if/when we're all proved wrong.
 

vig

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Bent had his chance and failed to impress. Only got himself to blame.
SWP, can't get in the Man City side for Johnson yet gets the nod????? Experience MUST be the only reason for that choice.

Heskey, nothing to say that hasn't been said but.... scare the beejesus out of folk??? Pleeeeeeease!

I still think it is a massive gamble taking Barry, if he's not fit then Capello wil rue not taking Parker.

It may well be after week 1 that we only have 20 players to choose from and 3 of those are keepers
 

Tiger

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Viscount my prediction is we battle through before getting outplayed by Brazil in the Semi Final losing 3-1.

Vig have you ever seen heskey up close in the flesh? I'm 6'4" and a little over 14 stone. I felt dwarfed. He's a man mountain. I've played centre back in my playing days and have normally beat strikers up. How they cope with Heskey is a mystery. Shame he can't shoot but if you think it's a picnic marking him we must be thinking of different players.

I do agree that Parker and Johnson should have gone instead of SWP and possibly Carrick. As for Bent he got no service hardly his fault.
 

Stevenc

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Q. if one of the squad (ie Barry) breaks down in training before the event starts can he be replaced?

Q. Has Parker been told not to go anywhere?

Q1. - Ferdinand has gone to hospital with a sore knee (after being turned by Heskey!!! (is that even possible?!?)) and Dawson is on Stand by!
 
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