So are there any suprises?
Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon may be a suprise? but Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermain Defoe and Ledley King are left out....... is that a bigger suprise?
Provisional squad
Robinson (Tottenham), James (Manchester City), Green (Norwich); G Neville (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), Cole (Arsenal), Campbell (Arsenal), Carragher (Liverpool), Bridge (Chelsea), Beckham (Real Madrid), Carrick (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Tottenham), Downing (Middlesbrough), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester United), Owen (Newcastle), Crouch (Liverpool), Walcott (Arsenal).
Standby
Scott Carson (Liverpool), Luke Young (Charlton), Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace).
http//news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/4983618.stm
Why David James, isn't he past his sell by date and the same applies to Garry Neville twisted
Very upset about Sean Wright-Phillips but thats Mr Murinhos fault sad
And I still think Rooney should have been left off the list, he is taking a spot someone else could make more use of, just my opinion wink
I think the main man will be Joe Cole, this will be his time to excell mrgreen
Yeah I have heard others suggest Joe Cole could be the one ready to seize the moment.
Not convinced Rooney will play any part, despite his inclusion. I can easily see Man Utd going along with it up to a point and then throwing all kinds of medical opinions up nearer to the time, in order to guarantee Rooney's fitness for next season when he starts for United. I don't necessarily think they are selfish or wrong either - a very difficult situation.
I'd love to see him play as much as the next English(person!) but not if he's still got even a shade of a broken foot.
Robinson (Tottenham) not too much argument that he's probably the best English keeper at the moment.
James (Manchester City) He's had way too many chances and is way too dodgy in my opinion.
Green (Norwich) Don't know, never seen him play
G Neville (Manchester United) Getting on a bit but probably still about the best in that position although I'd be tempted to play young as first choice there.
Ferdinand (Manchester United) OK, I'd pick him.
Terry (Chelsea) Outstanding, totally agree with this choice.
Cole (Arsenal) Good going forward but I think he might be a liability defending.
Campbell (Arsenal) He's not been too hot for a while now....I'd pick King who is outstanding and can also play in midfield.
Carragher (Liverpool) Agree with this pick...underrated player.
Bridge (Chelsea) Another excellent player.
Beckham (Real Madrid) Who wouldn't pick him?
Carrick (Tottenham) Good but I'm not sure he's quite up to this level. (and I'm a Spurs fan)
Lampard (Chelsea) One of the world's best midfielders.
Gerrard (Liverpool) Another one of the world's best midifeilders.
Hargreaves (Bayern Munich) From what I have seen of him playing for Bayern, he looks great but has never quite showed the same form for England....Mamanaman syndrome.
Jenas (Tottenham) Overrated (and I'm a Spurs fan!)
Downing (Middlesbrough) Mmm dunno, not seen enough.
J Cole (Chelsea) Overrated.
Lennon (Tottenham) This kid is incredible. I've seen alot of him recently and he's been one of the main attacking forces for Spurs...causes everyone problems running at pace. I would have been surprised if he'd been left out....I'm excited at the prospect of seeing him play.
Rooney (Manchester United) I agree with Cel....he's injured, give Defoe a place, he's earned it.
Owen (Newcastle) He's almost fit and one of the best so he has to go.
Crouch (Liverpool) Donkey....but tall and good in the air
Walcott (Arsenal) I've heard of him but it's a bloody stupid selection...I say give that place to someone who has been playing regularly for thier team and is proven at least in the Premiership. (Defoe perhaps)
Standby:
Scott Carson (Liverpool) Who? Never heard of him.
Luke Young (Charlton) Probably should be in the main squad as cover for Neville
Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham) Never heard of him either
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) Cracking player, deserves a spot
Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace) Not seen much of him but I get the impression he's pretty classy.
Overall, I think Sven has gone round the bend.
Carson is currently Liverpool's third choice keeper but performed well in their CL run last season including the away game against Juventus. Definitely deserves James' place. He's a muppet.
I've seen pieces of Walcott and he is as good as Lennon but in a different way. I remember a really precocious goal he scored from about ten yards north of the corner flag and without even facing the goal. Him and Lennon are brave decisions but very exciting for a team looking at the prospect of missing its primary young talent.
Agree on Defoe replacing Rooney, I think we should have 5 forwards though. 4 in a squad of 23 is a bit thin.
Crouch is more than good in the air, in fact I think he is better with his feet than he is in the air. A great hold-up player who pace players like Walcott and Lennon will be able to feed off. If Owen and Rooney don't get results, stick Crouch and the two young-uns on and watch defences crumble.
Reo-Coker, haven't seen enough of him myself, not seen a whole 90m of a West Ham game in the Premiership. Will be watching for him on Saturday morning.
Surprised Richardson didn't get a mention, after his blistering game against Charlton on Sunday and his 2 goals out in the US last summer. He is one of the most underrated players in the England picture.
Carragher Top class player, never puts a foot wrong, always plays with his heart. Should be first choice alongside Terry after Campbell and Ferdinand's somewhat up and down seasons.
Robinson (Tottenham) Number one keeper so yeah.
James (Manchester City) Utter cack.
Green (Norwich) Decent but I'd have picked Carson ahead of him.
G Neville (Manchester United) Hate to say it but he and his 14 year old boy moustache have to be in the squad.
Ferdinand (Manchester United) Of course.
Terry (Chelsea) Should be captain.
Cole (Arsenal) Happy he's back but hope he gets fitter.
Campbell (Arsenal) Not a chance I would have picked him. He isn't fit and looks absolutely dreadful right now. Jason Roberts made him look awful last weekend.
Carragher (Liverpool) Second man on the team sheet for me.
Bridge (Chelsea) Good cover for Cole.
Beckham (Real Madrid) Plays his heart out fo England even if he's been poo for Real.
Carrick (Tottenham) So happy he's in the squad.
Lampard (Chelsea) Without a doubt.
Gerrard (Liverpool) Number one on my team sheet.
Hargreaves (Bayern Munich) Is phenomenal for Bayern - more importantly with both he and Carrick going it looks like Sven is going to play 5 midfields with a holding player.
Jenas (Tottenham) Shite. Shouldn't be in the 27 man squad at all.
Downing (Middlesbrough) Very good and alas our only attacking left-footed player. Nevertheless he is worth a squad place.
J Cole (Chelsea) Has been exceptional this season but I cannot understand why Sven thinks he is a striker.
Lennon (Tottenham) Very quick and very confident right now. Good risky addition to the squad.
Rooney (Manchester United) One of the best players in the world. But then he wont kick a ball for 16 weeks so it's a stupid stupid choice. If Ronaldinho were English and had the same injury I wouldn't take him either.
Owen (Newcastle) I hope he's fit. If he isn't we're fucked.
Crouch (Liverpool) Harshly belittled by non-Liverpool fans who seem to think he's just good in the air. Actually he isn't very good in the air at all but he is very sharp and deceptive. REminds me of Koller from the Czech Rep but I think he's sharper. Still, he's not played as well as Bent or Harewood.
Walcott (Arsenal) What a dumb dumb selection. No offense to the lad but when you haven't actually played for your own team it doesn't make any sense. Nobody should ever play for their country at a World Cup before actually playing a game for a club. Ever. He might be quick but then if that was important I'd pick Darren Campbell. David Dein has managed to get Walcott, Cole and Campbell into the team - who'se manager again?
Standby:
Scott Carson (Liverpool) Great keeper - better than Kirkland and he would be my standby choice.
Luke Young (Charlton) As good as Neville and done well for a cack Charlton team.
Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham) Great season and deserves a mention but he's not right behind our star midfield players.
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) Played like a mare this season but he'd be ahead of Walcott ever yday of the week.
Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace) Fantastic player and I think he should be the gamble man. Still, if he's on standby you have to have Defoe or Bent in the 23 man squad first.
Rooney will not play, Owen will be unfit, and as with every World Cup, players will be injured before and during. The idea that if Crouch is injured that Walcott will lead the line is insanity. Sven has a good record but this is nuts. I pray to God that Walcott is somehow the greatest player since Georgey Best.
Does Sven realise he's picking an actual England team for a World Cup and not a Subbuteo team?
Still haven't forgiven the man for his Scunthorpe United tactics against Brazil last time out - yeah, like that was going to work......
So how much has he been paid to throw England's chances?
I'm still hopeful the players will just do their thing on the pitch but won't be sad to see the back of SGE.
I get the feeling the board at Juve have Sven on their books.
So, officially no Rooney in any of the Group stage matches.
Not at all surprised so far...
Does Sven realise he's picking an actual England team for a World Cup and not a Subbuteo team?
:grin:
Think Darren Bent should have been given a shot.
Yep, one less midfielder, leave Rooney behind and include Defoe and Bent instead.
Think Darren Bent should have been given a shot.
He was. And he blew it. He can only play for a team like Charlton. If he was any good, a top team would have signed him by now.
Defoe wasn't even good enough to play for his club this year. Of course you could say the same for Walcott but (a) he's a teenager and (b) he has a lot of better players ahead of him on the depth chart.
It's not a case of Defoe not being good enough because he was, it was just that Keane and Mido were doing so well that it was a case of....if it ain't broke don't fix it.