If England can't get past the group stages because one player misses the first two games the there's not much hope for the team. As rubbish as England are they should be able to get a result against a mediocre team like Sweden surely? And England aren't exactly blessed with world class strikers at the moment so Welbeck isn't a bad option considering the competition. He's certainly been a lot better than Sturridge this season, Carroll apart from the last 1½ games has been terrible, Holt is an old-fashioned hoofball player (the style England should try get rid of) and not a particularly good one, and Bent will be half-fit at best.
That is a very naive statement to make I feel. He is SO much more than the old-fashioned striker that he is too often labelled. He doesn't just whack it at the goal he has a great finish. Just look at the goals he scored against Everton, Wolves and Manchester United. You can't score those goals without being good. Holt is also very much a team player. Often helping out in defence when a full-back has been caught out of position and he has provided many assists.
Firstly mate i dont support England,as for the one player point,Beckham,Gazza and Rooney have all been seen as messiah's in England's past failings and check your 'mediocre Sweden''s stats against England,they were underestimated before and it came back to bite England's arses.
Because you included, Ferdinand and Cole. It's almost as though your obsession has given you an anit-LFC agenda, even at international level....
Did anyone notice that Sweden had such a good record against us in the Sven era? Just seems mildly amusing to me
Those two have one pretty big difference compared to Lampard, Terry, Gerrard etc.: they actually perform for England usually. That's why they are worthy of their places even though some others of the so-called golden generation, a misnomer of epic proportions, should be moved away from the international setup since they aren't getting any better or younger. After the Euros maybe it's time that Cole and Rio follow the same path too and are replaced by younger players but as stop-gaps they're fine. But yea, there's a good chance that it'll happen like you say, Roy will stick Lampard and Gerrard together in midfield despite that in 10 years it has pretty much never worked, and so on. I'm just giving my opinion, which is that we should try something new.
Whats your rationale for omitting Ashley Cole ?!!!, quite possibly the most dependable player in the England squad. Madness !
Gerrard and Lampard combined have scored around 50 goals for England so your talking bollox lad. Teams win/lose games not only through goals scored but also goals conceded so considering England have won jack since Rio and Cole have been internationals they like the others are part of the problem not the solution. See,its easy to point at flaws in the England set up,but you being a typical manc likes to hang Gerrard out to dry.
Hart (Man City), Ruddy (Norwich) and Forster (Celtic) Walker (Spurs), Baines (Everton), Richards (Man City) and Cole (Chelsea) Cahil (Chelsea), Lescott (Man City), Ferdinand (Man Utd) and Terry (Chelsea) Parker (Spurs), Milner (Man City), Lampard (Chelsea) and Barry (Man City) Young (Man Utd), Welbeck (Man Utd), Pilkington (Norwich), Johnson (Man City) Rooney (Man Utd), Holt (Norwich), Carroll (Liverpool) Crouch (Stoke)
If I'm being honest, I find it hard to argue that Gerrard should be in the England team. International requires discipline and strict tactical adherence given that the players don't have a lot of time to build a kind of "team chemistry", while Gerrard may still score goals for England and have some good games, I don't think he has ever been beneficial to the team at international level. Because, virtually everyone in anyone knows that while Gerrard is a lot of things to a lot of people, only Rafa was able to force any kind of tactical discipline upon him. So either omit Gerrard, or ever better play this XI: Hart Johnson Carragher Kelly Flanagan Henderson Spearing Gerrard Downing Carroll Sterling Possibly looking to bring on Joe Cole if we need to change things.
Well, not the ones that were at Liverpool whilst he was, so basically Gerrard and Johnson. Carragher will not come out of retirement again since he has since said he regretted doing so for the world cup, nor will he be asked anyway. Others are Shelvey, Spearing and Kelly who aren't good enough (yet). Carroll, Downing and Henderson all joined after Roy left. Can't see Jordan getting anywhere near the England squad, especially with so many Liverpool fans thinking he shouldn't be in the Liverpool team! Other two have a shout but not sure. I wouldn't take Downing, he has never delivered for England. Carroll has come into a bit of form and, as we suddenly keep hearing, he is unplayable when he is up for it. Worth a point/place on the plane...? I will be happier if none of them go to be honest but, if Gerrard goes, he should be captain!
No thanks! In that case this is my starting XI Ruddy Naughton R Martin R Bennett Tierney Bennett Fox Howson Surman Holt Rooney Guaranteed the above squad is far better than your choice!
Stick Ashley Cole instead of Fryers in there, Joe Hart instead of Amos and Gerrard instead of Cleverley and that would have a great chance of actually winning the thing. Well unless it was managed by Roy Hodgson of course.
I like that squad, then again I'm not England manager for a reason. This would be my team: Pilkington Rooney Young parker Lampard Barry Baines Cahil Ferdinand Richards/Walker Hart
