Fabio's 23

[doubleonothing]

ENGLAND'S 2010 WORLD CUP SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

 

Defenders: Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock

 

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

 

Forwards: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney

 

So. Any Thoughts?

 

Can't believe Heskey is in again.

[Pancake]

I just cant see enough goals in that squad, apart from Crouch, Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard - basically the 4 plays who will be marked within an inch of their lives of every team we play.

[Red and White Russ]

I can't believe Heskey either, although the last time I cursed him in a World Cup game he went and scored, so more abuse for him this time round.

 

When I look at that team they don't really inspire me that much, which is worrying to me. I still think that since money taking over, being more important than the shirt, these players might lack the passion in SA.

[Scudamore]

So Stephen Warnock who hasn't played for England for two years gets in? What is that all about?

[RedArmy]

Warnock and Upson LOL

[Andy_Porter]

Baines was terrible against Mexico, you could tell he just couldn't handle the pressure.

[Andy_Porter]

I just cant see enough goals in that squad, apart from Crouch, Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard - basically the 4 plays who will be marked within an inch of their lives of every team we play.

 

Not many teams accomodate four goal scoring players like those, we will also be a threat from set pieces and the full backs might get a goal or two.

 

As I've pointed out quite a few times, we where the top scorers in European qualification. I really can't see goalscoring being a problem, our weak centre midfielders and **** goalkeepers will be a far bigger problem.

[doubleonothing]

But out of those 3 who do should be the first choice keeper?

 

Hart and Green have both impressed me in the friendlies and so it has to be between them for me. I have never rated James and that is not just because of the p*mpey connection.

[Andy_Porter]

It's a shame Hart hasn't got a little bit more experience as I think he's the best goalkeeper.

 

Would probably go with Green, but I wouldn't be at all confident with any of them at the moment.

[Alanh]

That's a pretty balanced squad. I'm a bit concerned that he's taken Ferdinand and King who have both had injuries this season and haven't recent been able to play back to back matches. I'm pretty sure that will mean Upson starting at some point, although he has been OK for England. Looks like Barry is a certain starter so it's just a matter of how to bring a balance to the rest of the midfield and attack and including the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney. Looks like Heskey is there as a foil for Rooney when we need to play 4-4-2 with Crouch to be the option off the bench.

 

At least we have plently of pace in the squad with Lennon and SWP. not sure Theo would have brought anything different to the squad that those two don't have - they are all similarly quick.

[SuperMikey]

Won't get past the quarter finals with that team.

[L1Minus10]

I trust Fabio but for me....

 

Warnock had to go because Baines played like a 5 year old v Mexico

Upson over Dawson... sorry, no

Carrick over Parker.... definitely not

Heskey..... words fail me though I knew he'd get picked. Wonder what his odds are for tournament top scorer. Bent is the new Beattie, loads of goals in the Prem but not an international.

SWP over Walcott - well, he was better v Japan - both been poor all season

Joe Cole - had to go

Keepers - I'd pick James, Hart, Green in that order

[Hatch]

if Beckham was fit, I reckon Carrick would have missed out....or SWP

[Johnny Shearer]

Can understand dropping Walcott after the initial shock but IMO he can have good games against the better opposition.

 

However Capello was going by form I don't understand how SWP gets in before Johnson. Madness.

 

I think Capello (and a lot of the media) have gone with the ol' tried and trusted Heskey upfront as he acts like a 'terrific' battering ram, dragging defenders away from Rooney and the on rushing Lampard/Gerrard.

 

However I think the likes of Holland/Brazil/Spain etc will just leave Heskey to it as he never scores!

 

QFs' if we're lucky.

[Joensuu]

Heskey..... words fail me though I knew he'd get picked. Wonder what his odds are for tournament top scorer.

 

 

http://www.englandbettingodds.com/golden-boot.html

 

Looks like between 100/1 and 360/1...

[Wade Garrett]

Not many people were moaning about Heskey when we cruised through the qualifying group. People are just jumping on the media bandwagon here.

 

I agree with Fab, apart from Parker for Carrick, and possibly Johnson for SWP.

 

I think we are a better side than a lot of people think, think what we did to Croatia and the manner of our qualification. However, the low expectations this year could do the squad a favour.

[SNSUN]

ENGLAND'S 2010 WORLD CUP SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green. Quite simply the only 3 England keepers that could have been going. Ben Foster isn't there yet, Kirkland isn't the same player pre-injuries, and my outside call of Steve Harper doesn't have a season of Premiership football behind him. Green has been impressive lately, but I still think James will start.

 

Defenders: Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock. I'm not suprised he's gone with the more attacking Warnock over Baines, but I am suprised he's opted for Upson over Dawson. Ok, Upson has more experience but Dawson has had the best season of his career.

 

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips. I'm not suprised here at all. Huddlestone's had a good season, but isn't yet ready at international level, Walcott hasn't impressed me lately whereas Wright-Phillips IMO had a good cameo on Sunday. Even my gran would've had Joe Cole in there over Adam Johnson. Carrick over Parker is purely an experience issue.

 

Forwards: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney. England only have 3 international-class strikers, so choosing a fourth (or even a fifth) was always going to be a big issue. Heskey works in Capello's formation, ergo he travels. Bent just hasn't cut it at International level. Who else was there? Agbonlahor perhaps may have got a look in, but struggled for goals this season.

 

Ergo, I think Capello has got it spot on. We're not the best team on paper in the tournament (Argentina are IMO), but team spirit could potentially see us through. Do we have enough of it though?

[Dark Munster]

Not many teams accomodate four goal scoring players like those, we will also be a threat from set pieces and the full backs might get a goal or two.

 

As I've pointed out quite a few times, we where the top scorers in European qualification. I really can't see goalscoring being a problem, our weak centre midfielders and **** goalkeepers will be a far bigger problem.

Along with not being able to win a penalty shoot out (unless it's against another inept penalty-taking team).

[MINIBARCELONASAINT]

If I was to argue for Heskey I would point out that, his career went down hill in 2002 when Sven Goran Eriksson played him as a left winger, an unnatural position for Heskey. The season before that he hit 23 goals for Liverpool, I believe they won the double that season, maybe the triple cos of the UEFA Cup? He is a hard worker and does alot of leg work for the other strikers. He has since then been very inconsistent but his hard work has always made the strikers playing with him look good, Zaki, Rodallega. Thus earning him a move to Aston Villa. My key point is that Martin O'Neill does rate him as he has had him at Leicester and Villa, he may be a charismatic leader, and a good role model in training for the younger players, with his work ethic. Not many players have that anymore, Heskey and Riquelme and Fletcher are a dying breed of cart horses, not suggesting those three players are the same calibre. However I don't think a manager signs a player that he was worked with before just because they are mates. One last point; he did start out as a defensive midfielder/defender as did Kenwyne Jones, who incidentally did all the work for Bent this season, when he wasn't injured. Jones has never been prolific, apart from his red hot season (but Heskey had one too) has he? Still demands £6.5m from Saints and is being linked with Liverpool.

[Saint Without a Halo]

http://www.englandbettingodds.com/golden-boot.html

 

Looks like between 100/1 and 360/1...

 

Bit worrying that Walcotts on 100 to 1 and he isn't even picked! What does that say about Heskey!

[Graffito]

I would have preferred Walcott to Wright Phillips and Dawson to Upson. Otherwise as expected.

 

Heskey partners well with Rooney and our hopes rest with Rooney.

[JustMike]

If I was to argue for Heskey I would point out that, his career went down hill in 2002 when Sven Goran Eriksson played him as a left winger, an unnatural position for Heskey. The season before that he hit 23 goals for Liverpool, I believe they won the double that season, maybe the triple cos of the UEFA Cup? He is a hard worker and does alot of leg work for the other strikers. He has since then been very inconsistent but his hard work has always made the strikers playing with him look good, Zaki, Rodallega. Thus earning him a move to Aston Villa. My key point is that Martin O'Neill does rate him as he has had him at Leicester and Villa, he may be a charismatic leader, and a good role model in training for the younger players, with his work ethic. Not many players have that anymore, Heskey and Riquelme and Fletcher are a dying breed of cart horses, not suggesting those three players are the same calibre. However I don't think a manager signs a player that he was worked with before just because they are mates. One last point; he did start out as a defensive midfielder/defender as did Kenwyne Jones, who incidentally did all the work for Bent this season, when he wasn't injured. Jones has never been prolific, apart from his red hot season (but Heskey had one too) has he? Still demands £6.5m from Saints and is being linked with Liverpool.

 

 

bit harsh to suggest that Jones did all the work for Bent last season. Also, cant blame SGA for Hesky's lack of scoring, more defenders getting wise to him and him putting on a few pounds. The one thing Hesky does give to England is Rooney plays well off of him. My worry is what happens if (when) Rooney gets injured

[Foxstone]

Not many people were moaning about Heskey when we cruised through the qualifying group. People are just jumping on the media bandwagon here.

 

I agree with Fab, apart from Parker for Carrick, and possibly Johnson for SWP.

 

I think we are a better side than a lot of people think, think what we did to Croatia and the manner of our qualification. However, the low expectations this year could do the squad a favour.

 

Agree with that

 

A certain Mr Rooney has been quoted as saying that having Heskey alongside him improves his game, and Rooney's goalscoring record is much better with Heskey than any other forward who has played in recent times.

For that reason alone - Heskey deserves his place.

[benjii]

We should play like this IMO:

 

------------------Hart-----------------

 

Glenda-----Rio------JT (****)-------A Cole

 

 

----------------King------------------

 

------------Lampard------Gerrard-------

 

Lennon-----------------------J Cole

 

-----------------Rooney----------------

 

 

Swapping Barry in for King, Rio or JT once he's fit (and moving King back if one of the latter).