I CANNOT believe that Sven has left Shaun Wright-Phillips out of the squad, yet has bluddy Owen, Ferdinand and a cripple (as in Rooney and I can say that cos I AM one at the moment too!!) named..............:wallbash:

I am GUTTED for Shaun Wright-Phillips, bless him! Wonder if its cos I fancy his Dad.............................:blush:

I really think that Sven doesnt give a flying f eck now that he is off........Im still really cross about it all and Im not THAT much of a fanatic!!!!

It's an interesting one isn't it?

I think, personally, it's not a bad squad. It's obvious that Erikkson must have another plan should Rooney not be fit, and that's why Downing, Lennon and Walcott are there.

I agree about Shaun W-P, he should be going. Personally, I'd give him a place over Jenas.

I think the defence is solid. I don't think that Campbell will be first choice at the back, and he has goone for the experience there should he need to play. I think I'd play with Terry and Carragher personally.

The strikers though, I think are an issue. It's all well and good taking Walcott (and that decision, alone, I am not against) but what about the others. Walcott will get experience from the World Cup, but I would have taken either Defoe or Bent, as back up incase Walcott bottles it. You have to bear in mind that Owen AND Rooney are injured, and therefore we only have one fit Premiership striker in Crouch (who I don't think is good enough for England)

Then again, I'm not a football manager, I'm sure Sven knows what he's doing

Is there a World Cup this year - I hadn't noticed:whistling: :whistling:

I just can't work out what he is thinking. Can understand leaving Wright-Phillips out, he aint played all season, and Lennon, who is a similar player, is in. Hargreaves? What's wrong with Scott Parker eh? Leaving King out, okay he's injured and we have plaenty of defenders anyway, but I'd still take him. Not sure the point in taking Jenas, he is using up a spot that could be filled by a STRIKER!

If Rooney and Owen aren't fit enough we are F***ed, with crouch up front with a kid who has never played top flight football. No Bent, despite scoring more goals than any other English striker, no Defoe, despite the instinctive strikers goal he scored yesterday. No Beattie or Harewood despite the good form they've both been in this year.

They should never have sacked sven before the world cup. It's like sacking a bank manager but leaving him the keys to the safe.

If you put 5 across the middle you can end up with Lampard, Gerrard and Joe Cole acting as back-ups to any one of the strikers. Each of these is capable of scoring and Ashley Cole and Beckham sending them in with in beckhams case long balls from behind the line of midfield and Cole pushing deep forward on the left.

Assuming Rooney doesn't make full fitness you still have the option of taking Genas out and adding two up front after 60/75mins to make for a fast striker duo and a powerful hard kicking deep mid-field.

Again, assuming we progress into the play-offs you can be sure that Owen will be 'fittened-up' for those giving Crouch the bench and supporting Owen with the fast Walcott. Ditto with Sol...cos Rio has been a bit erratic in the big games of late.

I think the squad sortta works albeit an odd one. I can't see why Hargreaves and Lennon are there though

Is there a World Cup this year - I hadn't noticed:whistling: :whistling:

But like the Murphys, Rob, you aint bitter :wink_kiss I DO hope you will be supporting the England squad Rob.........:w00t:

I'll get me coat before HE gets me.........:bag:

I think the defence is solid. I don't think that Campbell will be first choice at the back, and he has goone for the experience there should he need to play. I think I'd play with Terry and Carragher personally.

Then again, I'm not a football manager, I'm sure Sven knows what he's doing

What about Rio? I thought it was all about Rio vs Cambell before, maybe times have changed.

Sven know what he's doing? Only when he's got a Svenette between his legs allegedly.

Don't fancy it myself.

A paul in goal,
A Rio and Sol
Two Owens, one of which
really does fu*k all

Two Coles and a Neville,
One Steven one Frank
And I really must stress,
That hargreaves is wa*k
:pooh:
A John and a Terry,
but both the same bloke
And a captain called David,
Which is really a joke

Carragher, Carrick,
Two Waynes and Jermaines
And McLaren and Sven
Whom everyone blames
:bangin:
A young lad called Theo,
Who's really no slouch
And a breakdancing giant
Who's surname is Crouch
:yahoo:
A Stewart and Aaron,
Who won't play a game
A James and a Carson,
For them it's the same

But Please spare a thought
For Darren and Shaun
Their World Cup dreams
All shattered and torn
:(
I'll give a wee mention,
to Baddiel & Skinner
'Cos if they're on the telly
We're all on a winner!

:tv_happy:

PS: Are you gonna' put me in your league or not Haydon? - i've submitted me team of worldbeaters...or are you afraid of them?

I would have taken all the decent strikers from the Premiership...I even would have tried to pass Thierry Henry off as an Englishman.

You don't win games if you don't score goals, and on reflection of past tournaments, and in mind of the fact that we often end up in the dreaded penalty shootout predicament, then it's players who can put the ball in the back of then net that we really require.

So, I would have taken all of the following:

Michael Owen
Wayne Rooney
Peter Crouch
Jermain Defoe
Darren Bent

I would also have done all i possibly could (generous cash incentive if required) to persuade Alan Shearer to board the plane.

I'm utterly gobsmacked that Shaun Wright-Phillips has missed out...utterly gobsmacked! :ohmy: - I don't know how he feels but I should think it's not in the neighbourhood of joyful. He's performed superbly on each occasion that he's worn an England shirt. And i think Eriksson is taking a small cluster of players whom he has no real intention of playing, and who are just along for the ride, or to gain a bit of experience should England find themselves 3 or 4-0 up in any particular game/s at this World Cup.

Players I would have sacrificed are as follows:

Owen Hargreaves - useless!
Theo Walcott - not useless but still a little bit out of his depth at this level
Jermaine Jenas - I just do not see him featuring in this tournament

I think Aaron Lennon is a promising young player but what on earth was the point in playing Wright-Phillips in those qualifiers if they're not going to use him at this World Cup?. And i do rate Wright-Phillips as a better, more threatening player what Lennon is anyway.

It's a tangled World Cup web that Sven weaves.

I've been so wrong on two counts in comments/statements i've made during this World Cup...

* Wayne Rooney does still have much to learn...

* Owen hargreaves, when given a decent chance, is a feckin' good footballer!

...and i don't know about you lot, but i simply can't bear this...:unsure:

...COME ON ENGLAND!!!

I can't watch it. Rooney is a very talented, yet immature, hot-headed eejit who could have cost us this World Cup.

I think that boy's got enough on his shoulders without being held responsible for losing us the World Cup. Let's not make another Beckham out of him!

This kind of competition makes heroes and scapegoats and if we go out, Rooney could have set himself up as a scapegoat, that's all I'm saying.

I think that boy's got enough on his shoulders without being held responsible for losing us the World Cup. Let's not make another Beckham out of him!

..we don't really need to...he's doing a fine job of it himself! :laugh:

I think the squad sortta works albeit an odd one. I can't see why Hargreaves and Lennon are there though




I TAKE IT ALL BACK.................:good: The only two player s who added anything in the last 3 games..............I APOLOGISE PROFUSELY :bag: :blush:

I TAKE IT ALL BACK.................:good: The only two player s who added anything in the last 3 games..............I APOLOGISE PROFUSELY :bag: :blush:


It was painful to notice how massive an impact Lennon had on our games in the short amount of time in which he was afforded to do it in. Okay Beckham made a few goals and scored one - i'm just thinking we might have scored more goals, played better, and attacked more with Lennon in from the start, in favour of Beckham, who lets face it, should have stepped down as Cap'n before our World Cup campaign had begun.

Talk about ill-timed decisions! :huh:

As for Hargreaves, if he makes a solemn promise to play like he did against Portrugal (i used to call them that during Mexico '86 - thought i'd bring it back) in future England games then i want to see him as a permanent fixture in the team.:applause:

I take back all i said about him.