Countdown to South Africa ... England Squad

[Tangled up in Blue]

Michael Owen definitely won't be in South Africa - out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

I doubt we'll see him playing for England again.

Yeah just seen this.Not exactly a great suprise.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Gutted for Owen, He's been showing glimpses of what he's capable of for United and I think he's done more than enough to warrant a deal for another season at least. You can't fault his contribution for what he's cost the club.

 

[southend4ever]

Do you know what his contract is ESB?

 

[Beefy]

He's got two more years on a Pay-as-you-play deal, I believe. Fergie and Owen himself have both said that he'll definitely be there next season.

Shame he has got injured because I still felt he was a genuine contender. For all Defoe's goals this season, if a chance fell to either of them ten yards out I know who my money would be on to score it.

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

He's got two more years on a Pay-as-you-play deal, I believe. Fergie and Owen himself have both said that he'll definitely be there next season.

Shame he has got injured because I still felt he was a genuine contender. For all Defoe's goals this season, if a chance fell to either of them ten yards out I know who my money would be on to score it.

His contract expires next summer.

I'm disappointed about Owen not figuring in Capello's plans. Like Beefy, I'd much rather see Owen there over Defoe.

You look at our 4 first choice strikers, Rooney, Heskey, Defoe and Crouch and the talk about options for a 5th striker being Carlton Cole, Darren Bent, Theo Walcott and Gabby A. I'd take Owen, as a replacement for Defoe, in a heartbeat.

Rooney and Defoe have never scored for England when they have partnered each other up front.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

Green, Robinson, James

Johnson, P.Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, A.Cole, Lescott, Brown

Walcott, J.Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Milner, Carrick, Young

Rooney, Agbonlahor, Crouch, Defoe,

 

[Beefy]

His contract expires next summer.

I'm disappointed about Owen not figuring in Capello's plans. Like Beefy, I'd much rather see Owen there over Defoe.

You look at our 4 first choice strikers, Rooney, Heskey, Defoe and Crouch and the talk about options for a 5th striker being Carlton Cole, Darren Bent, Theo Walcott and Gabby A. I'd take Owen, as a replacement for Defoe, in a heartbeat.

Rooney and Defoe have never scored for England when they have partnered each other up front.

I'd take Defoe, but had he been fit I'd have taken Owen too. I don't see the point of taking a fifth striker if that fifth striker is going to be a third targetman. But a third goalscorer will always come in handy.

Defoe has had a cracking season and deserves his spot. If Rooney were to get injured or suspended though, I just don't think he's capable to carrying an England attack like Michael Owen has on many occasions.

 

[Beefy]

James
Robinson
Hart

Johnson
A.Cole
Brown
Ferdinand
Terry
Upson
Lescott

Beckham
Lampard
Gerrard
J.Cole
Barry
Milner
Lennon
Wright-Phillips
Carrick

Rooney
Defoe
Crouch
Heskey

That's what I'd take. Green and Baines for Robinson and Joe Cole aside, I think it'll be what Capello takes, too.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Green, Robinson, James

Johnson, P.Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, A.Cole, Lescott, Brown

Walcott, J.Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Milner, Carrick, Young

Rooney, Agbonlahor, Crouch, Defoe,

Great shout for Phil Nev ! He seems a real leader these days and has flourished at Everton. I'd forgotten all about him, but I'd take him as second right back over Brown now that you've brought him back into my England radar ... :clap:

 

[Beefy]

He spends most of his time in midfield nowadays, doesn't he?

 

[shrimptank]

Keepers - James, Hart, Foster

Defence - Johnson (Brown if not fit), Milner, Terry, Ferdinand, Shawcross, Baines, Ashley Cole (Warnock if not fit)

Midfield - Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Beckham, Downing, Joe Cole (SWP if not fit), Lennon, Hargreaves (or Carrick if not fit)

Strikers - Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Walcott, Heskey

 

[Rob Noxious]

He spends most of his time in midfield nowadays, doesn't he?

Initially at Everton yes, but on checking today's edition of my 'Trotskyite comic' (cf Sir Rusty), I saw that Andy Hunter has him lining up as RB v Hull.

 

[GrumpyBlue]

Initially at Everton yes, but on checking today's edition of my 'Trotskyite comic' (cf Sir Rusty), I saw that Andy Hunter has him lining up as RB v Hull.

Certainly a better right back that Wes Brown, but so could I be and I`m twice his age

 

[Beefy]

Brown doubles up as centre-half cover though, which considering our injury problems there is a decent enough reason on it's own to take him.

No real need to take a second specialist right back when we have Brown to cover two positions and Milner and Gerrard in the squad both of whom can play there in an emergency.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Brown doubles up as centre-half cover though, which considering our injury problems there is a decent enough reason on it's own to take him.

No real need to take a second specialist right back when we have Brown to cover two positions and Milner and Gerrard in the squad both of whom can play there in an emergency.

Yeah, Milner seems to be the new Martin Peters! Don't think he's played in goal yet though ... like you, I think Lescott will get the nod for the very same reason as Wes Brown as he can (supposedly) play at full-back too -on the left - as he did for Wolves and Everton previously, and of course for England under ... McLaren ... :unsure: ... though I still shudder every time I contemplate his stewardship of our national team, it occurred to me yesterday that he deserves some credit for bringing Gareth Barry into the fold.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Certainly a better right back that Wes Brown, but so could I be and I`m twice his age

No doubt about it, Rich - he hasn't got your pace! :)

 

[Rob Noxious]

I think this would be the best bunch to go with if they were all fit.* I'm no big fan of Wes Brown but he could at least be called upon to cover at right-back or centre-half in a worst case scenario. Fabio once played Wright-Phillips in a defensive right-sided position during a reshuffle last year. I wonder whether he's thinking of him as an emergency right wing back for the squad in South Africa? Everything to play for, as they say ...

James, Robinson, Hart

Brown, Johnson, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, Ashley Cole, Warnock

Milner, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Ashley Young, Joe Cole, Lennon

Walcott, Rooney, Crouch, Heskey, Defoe

*PS Talking of fitness, I'd be delighted if Owen Hargreaves were fit enough to be in contention come May, but that's looking highly unlikely at the current time.

Hmm ... those concerns about Wes Brown seemed to have been answered by Fabs' inclusion of Carragher. I didn't think Warnock would go but Baines' defensive doolallies against Mexico did for him, as did Walcott's poor crossing in the two friendlies pre-naming the 23. Wonder how well you fared against Fabs' selections from this examination of three months ago?

 

[Beefy]

Carragher as one of seven defenders, covering two positions, was a good choice.

Carragher as a specialist right back and one of eight defenders is a stupid waste of a pick. Either he should have picked a genuine right back for that spot (Gary Neville probably) or should taken Bent/Huddlestone/Parker/Johnson/Walcott as another attacking option instead of a fifth choice centre-back.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Looking back on this thread, I noticed that no-one selected Ledley King. I salute Don Fabio - simply better than all of us. :clap: