Could the North East alone...

****.

 

Can I just say, I'm not overly biased towards the England team just because I'm English. I genuinely don't take much notice of international games because I can't stand Capello, Rooney, Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Lampard etc. I haven't felt properly proud to watch England since the 90's.

The article was just hypothetical but remains a very valid point. The team that Back And Raring named above looks like it'd give any of the home nations a run for their money. In fact, I reckon most of the above could do a better job than many of the England first teamers due to a complete lack of passion and grit in the current setup. Passion and determination are what made England a great team once but that is sadly lacking these days.

 

He is fantastic. Can't believe we sold him for just £1m

 

Apart from the fullbacks - its a pretty good team imo

 

You won't find more passionate players than Gerrard and Terry for example, anywhere else. It's just a lack of talent in most positions that's stopping the team. There's no good enough out and out striker in the team. The midfield bar Gerrard is pretty poor (Wilshere might help that) and the defence past the first choice players is poor to say the least.

 

Tbh, Gerrard wouldn't get in my England line up - I would have Parker - Wilshere with Downing - Young changing wings and Rooney free role behind Bent. Would definetly be in the squad though. Agree about Terry - would be in my team for sure!

 

If Gerrard proved that he wasn't injury prone then I probably would put him in for Parker though!

 

He's played over 40 games in the last 10 seasons, I think that's pretty much proof he's not injury prone! He's only gone one season (last season) with a long injury, its not as if he misses half a season every season. Parker on the other hand has only managed over 40 games a season in 3 seasons in his career!!

 

I don't disagree entirely. Terry is great, Gerrard less so but he's still head and shoulders above Lampard, who I can honestly say has never impressed me in an England shirt for more than half a game. The whole system needs reforming, Lampard shouldn't play for England again and maybe Gerrard is too injury prone.

Mind I'm sure a lot of this is to do with our youngsters being frozen out of the Premier League due to foreign imports, we've almost killed the English game and it's no coincidence that it's all went down hill for England since the 90's, when the Sky money attracted the continental and more recently African players.

So yeah, it's Rupert Murdoch's fault.

 

Yeah but that one season was last season and he hasn't played yet this season - can't just walk into the team. Parker was player of the year last year - deserves his chance

 

just read earlier that Lampard is 5/1 to never start for England again, and Ferdinand 5/2!

 

Bet ya Lampard starts against Wales haha

 

Haha, Rupert Murdoch is a ****, and he's to blame for a lot of things, not sure if he's anything to do with England's failure to win anything for 40 something years!!

I think people tend to look back at past English teams with rose tinted spectacles if I'm honest. I think this is as good as its ever been, bar 1966 and 1990. Quarter final is about the place England have been getting for most tournaments for 40 years, I don't think its anything to do with Sky or foreign players.

 

Well I have to blame someone. I even got my pitchfork and paraffin torch out

 

Stuart parnaby
robbie Blake
Daniel leadbitter
matt jarvis

pretty sure they're all from up here

just as a side note, Birminghams team would wipe the floor with almost every regional team

 

I never knew those two were Smoggies!

 

Aye jarvis suprises most like

He's got to be a shoe in for the starting 11 somewhere as well

 

Is that because they derive from the superior North east club?

 

The North East actually has more professional footballers than any other region in England.

EDIT: Didn't read the whole thread and someone has posted a link to the County Durham article I was referring to.

 

We at the Yorkshire-XI committee are claiming Matt Jarvis and Stewart Downing. Thank you.