England Team?

[Gmart]

Hargreaves for England World Cup

He has just scored yet another stunning goal for Bayern Munich, the top German club. He plays in the Champions League every year and was always in the England squad before his recent injury (just recovered). So he should inevitably be in. Do you agree? Who should he replace? What a goal though eh?

Who should be in?

23 man squad

5 strikers?
2 goalies?
Leaving 8 each for defence and midfield?

How about Beckham? Still playing really well for Real Madrid, and no one passes the ball as well as him. Maybe SWP as a super substitute??

Exciting eh?

 

[Artie Fufkin]

He has just scored yet another stunning goal for Bayern Munich, the top German club.

are you his dad?

what exactly does he do? he can't tackle, he hasn't got any flair and judging by his last England appearance only manages to pass to the other team. he makes phil neville look tasty. he is utter toss.

 

[Gmart]

I suppose you didn't let the fact that you didn't see the goal stop you from commenting. Classic really! When wass the last time you saw him play? Anyone who doesn't play in the Premier League may as well forget it eh? And that goes for Beckham too. The greatest passer of the ball we have, and continually lambasted, not because he (or Hargreaves) is playing badly, they're not, but more because English Supporters want to believe that if the player isn't on Football Focus, they must be rubbish.

Meanwhile I would also ask who is better than him?? Well lets take the probable midfield. Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham, J Cole, Carrick? Well they may be better than him or the same. They are all playing well as is he. But with 3 berths left for midfielders he would be an inevitable choice for the squad, and then if he can play his way in then fine. He did last time!!

 

[London_Calling]

4-1-3-2, with Carrick holding.

I watch Spurs every week, and this nonsense about Ledly as the defensive midfielder in preference to Carrick is madness. I believe Sven now understands that, but the media need something to talk about so they big up some kind of competition for the place.


Fwiw,I doubt Sven wil play that formation often, as he'll accommodate Beckham in a 4-4-2, and I'll go to my grave believeing that choice cost us the World Cup.

 

[diond]

I suppose you didn't let the fact that you didn't see the goal stop you from commenting. Classic really! When wass the last time you saw him play? Anyone who doesn't play in the Premier League may as well forget it eh? And that goes for Beckham too. The greatest passer of the ball we have, and continually lambasted, not because he (or Hargreaves) is playing badly, they're not, but more because English Supporters want to believe that if the player isn't on Football Focus, they must be rubbish.

I think you're doing the majority of 'real' English fans a disservice there. As fickle as fans can be, do you really think that most would like to see great players NOT play for England? Of course not, but the two players that you have quoted (Beckham and Hargreaves) when played, have consistently underperformed for England in recent times, and there are better in form alternatives than those two at the moment.

It's very nice to hear that Hargreaves has scored a stunning goal for Bayern the other week, but he has been given the chance to transfer his domestic skills to the World class stage several times, and has failed each and every time. With that, I really can't see any vindication in retaining him in the England side, and your stout defence of him really baffles me.

Meanwhile I would also ask who is better than him?? Well lets take the probable midfield. Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham, J Cole, Carrick? Well they may be better than him or the same. They are all playing well as is he. But with 3 berths left for midfielders he would be an inevitable choice for the squad, and then if he can play his way in then fine. He did last time!!

Well, I think the important issue to remember, is that most you listed there have consistently played much better than Hargreaves when given the chance to play for England. I cannot really think of any game where Hargreaves has really shone, I really can't.

When somebody is labelled a 'utility' player, which I believe many see Hargreaves as when he's talked about about in England terms, then you begin to read between the lines about what they really mean by this. Phil Neville has always been classed as a utility player, and although not a very poor player per se, I still don't believe is useful enough in World class situations.

This certainly isn't a witch hunt on Hargreaves, far from it. I want the best for England, as do most other English fans, but unfortunately, I don't think Hargreaves is that.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Hargreaves is a decent player, but is almost always used in the wrong way - e.g. on the left or right; not his ideal position. As a holding midfielder he could do a good job. He's always brought in with sven in the 'headless chicken' position when the game is already looking dodgy. If he started a game in the centre of midfield alongside gerrard or lampard, he would do a lot better.

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

...

 

[Gmart]

I have to agree that Carrick looks like a great player and would be in my first 11. I would like to have Hargreaves as a back up, and King could be a spare defender, ready to step in if needs be.

I think the England team would be very exciting with this, though i reckon that Rooney could play in the hole with Lampard or Gerrard on the left and Beckham or J Cole on the right. This competition for positions could only benefit England, and with Rooney behind 2 strikers, Owen (if he's fit, Defoe if not) and Crouch who has played himself in with his performances with Liverpool.

The defence picks itself, though I am hoping that A Cole will be fit soon.

An embarrassment of riches!!! Might end up winning it!!

 

[kained&able]

hargreeves is wank!

my squad:* = starting 11

keepers

Robinson*
James
Green?(who the fuck else is there???)

RB
gary neville*

lb
Ashley Cole*
Wayne Bridge

cb
Terry*
Ferdinand*
Carragher
King

rw
beckham*
SWP

lw
Cole*
Richardson

cm
Gerrad*
lampard*(i just can't drop either of em)
carrick
Nolan(wont happen)


striker
rooney*
owen*
crouch
defoe
bent


carragher is sub rightback so no point in taking one really especilly if sven is as rumoured tyaking 5 strikers. Oh and sol campbell can fuck off. If nolan doesnt get the shout then jenas is next inline by my rankings. Also richardsons place is under threat unless he gest games soon in which case downing or lennon can come into the squad.


dave

 

[Gmart]

Nolan!!! Words fail me

 

[Gmart]

I can't see how Hargreaves fails to be there before Jenas or Richardson. Neither have shown particular form, and both are just there for want of a great player. SWP i can understand coz he would be great to come on as a sub and terrorise a tired defence, but Richardson? What has he ever done?
What Feasible midfielders do we have?

 

[hungry 4 kicks]

I reckon that Lampard and Gerrard can't play on the same team as they're too similar. So give them a half each, play a defensive midfielder (preferably Hargreaves, if not, King i suppose, or maybe Carrick?), and the rest of the team picks itself. Beckham can be told to put in more crosses as he's started to do very successfully at Real now, and Rooney can be in the hole with 2 (yes 2) strikers ahead of him in rotation depending on who scores.

Any comments or variations?

Wrong wrong wrong....Shtop shtop shtop...this world cup winning team is not ready yet....

Robinson

A Cole (fitness assuming)
G Neville (hate to say it but he's got balls)
Ferdinand
Terry

J Cole on left
Lampard in middle
Gerrard out on right (you can't drop him)
Carrick behind them in holding role

(forget Beckam how can the migits deal with high balls)

Owen / Defoe (up front)

Rooney in the hole

Bring on Crouch when the going gets tough and beckham to supply the little lad....or Wright Philips to twist them up...

Basically, you can't leave out Gerrard or Lampard....their names end in 'ard for a start which implies they're 'hard'. A player's name is important - why do you think George Best was so good?

People need to get over Beckham. He's good. He can cross. But he's too slow and indirect to be a world class player.....

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

...

 

[Gmart]

We've got to admit that players who regularily play for top teams in the other leagues are probably playing really well, even if the English public don't get to see it. Beckham must be playing well to get into the Real Madrid side every week and the same goes for Hargreaves. Thus they get the nod before average midfielders such as Jenas and even SWP.

My first team would be 4-3-3, Robinson in goal
Cole Ferdinand Terry and Neville in defence
Lampard Carrick and Beckham in midfield
and Owen Rooney and Crouch in attack

The second 11 would be 4-4-2

Green (anyone but James)
Carracher King Young Brown (for lack of a better choice)
Gerrard Hargreaves Cole SWP
Defoe Bent (16 goals i suppose)

Richardson can fuck off as he's done nothing everytime he plays!
Should Campbell go instead of Brown?

What other options are there?

FA site:

http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Players/

 

[kained&able]

richardson has the advantage of being able to be an emeregncy left back and with the fitness worries of cole and bridge that could be a very distinct advantage.

Also who else have we got that can play on the left wing? etheringtonm and lennon are the next in line but have fucvk all experience and are not really prooven at premiership level.

Oh and anyone playing a formation other then 442 or possibly 4-1-3-2 if you really really want a holding player is just plain wrong.


dave

 

[Gmart]

My formation has Carrick as holding and Rooney in the hole, so please feel free to call it what you want.
Naturally I acknowledge the Left midfield hole and the lack of cover for left back, but i don't think we need to worry too much!! So we haven't got the players with a decent left foot, oh well, we have some great players and should use them. Maybe Downing will improve, but why call in Richardson as a botch cover? He does nothing and is a waste of a space. Carracher can cover if needs be, and Lampard/Gerrard are fine on the left. Hargreaves is a much better player than Richardson and actually plays regularily for his team - the number one team in Germany, Bayern Munich.

 

[kained&able]

behave lampard can't play anywhere other then the centre and gerrad is wank on the left and all.

Richardon was quality for the USA tour in the last preseason and has impressed me a lot whenever he hyas played for man utd either at left back or left mid. Hes not going to set the world alight but he will deliver good solid consistent performences which is what you need from squad players.




dave

 

[Genghis Cohen]

behave lampard can't play anywhere other then the centre and gerrad is wank on the left and all.

Gerrard did well on the left when he played there for england, think it was against Argentina, put shrek in a few times, though it was from the right that he turned the game with that cross.

 

[stavros]

Beckham must be playing well to get into the Real Madrid side every week and the same goes for Hargreaves

It's been said by at least one former Real Madrid managers (of which there are many) that when they wanted to drop Beckham they were told this can't happen by the chairman due to sponsorship-based obligations. There have also been reports this week that England sponsors have threatened to pull out unless he remains as captain, a position he should never have been considered for in the first place. The man is a walking, talking half-ego half advertising hoarding and the sooner he vacates our national team set up the better, although no doubt he'll be kept on as some kind of "ambassador".

In terms of the holding role, I can't see how anyone really challenges Carrick. He can tackle, is terrifically positionally disciplined, and has wonderful long and short passing with both feet. Lampard and Gerrard are incredibly similar and whilst we blessed to have them both, together they are much less than the sum of their parts. I may be wrong on this as I'm too young to remember it but I don't think in 1990 Bobby Robson tried to play all of Robson, Platt and Gascoigne in the same team. Scott Parker would be an able back up to Carrick.

 

[kained&able]

scott parker has glandulafever and wont recover in time for the world cup.


dave

 

[The Unseen]

dirty bugger anyway since he's gone up toon.

 

[Gmart]

I appreciate what yr saying about Beckham, but i don't really want to start believing in conspiracy theories about whether he can be dropped; sounds very unlikely that any team would allow this to happen, still if you know it for a fact...). Also whenever i've seen him play this season on the telly he has been playing really well. Continually running, tracking back, passing really well and providing energy for a team which seems to have lost much of their energy recently. Still like i say, if you've seen him play this season and have felt that he's played badly yr entitled to yr opinion.

Don't disagree with much else being said. Any ideas on who the 5th striker will be? Owen, Defoe, Crouch, Rooney and who? Bent on form (16 goals is quite impressive in such a difficult league and would IMO set a good precedent. If you score the goals yr in...

 

[kained&able]

I'd assume bent but to be honest i would be inclined to take beatie as he would offer something a little different and is in blinding form.



dave

 

[Gmart]

Fair enough! I've not seen either play recently and so would prefer to go on form for the reason stated above, but to be honest i don't care either way

 

[stavros]

Any ideas on who the 5th striker will be?

It won't happen but I'd take Sheringham as back up for Rooney. Lothar Mathaus played in the WC at a similar age and Ted's always relied on his superb football brian which hasn't really depreciated as he's aged.

 

[jammer]

with all respect,isn`t it obvious what the england first X1 will be?

 

[siarc]

It won't happen but I'd take Sheringham as back up for Rooney. Lothar Mathaus played in the WC at a similar age and Ted's always relied on his superb football brian which hasn't really depreciated as he's aged.

 

[learydeary]

robinson
neville terry ferdindand cole
beks stevieG lampard cole
rooney owen

carriger if cole not fit
defoe if owen not fit

 

[Blackmushroom]

I'd take Carrick rather than Hargreaves, but saying that Carrick tends to dwell on the ball a bit and gets caught in possesion far too often. A more interesting question would be should Jenas be in the squad?

 

[Gmart]

J Cole is good back up for Rooney, so i don't think Sheringham should go except as a possible extra coach.

I like Jenas, though he doesn't score many, he plays well for Spurs. 8 Midfielders would be Lampard, Carrick, Gerrard, Beckham, J Cole, Hargreaves, Jenas and who else?

A diamond midfield with Rooney and Carrick would give the 2 wings more space to cut in which would suit them nicely.