[Archived] The Plane To Sa

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

It's getting closer to that time so I thought it might be a good idea to make a separate topic from the general World Cup thread to discuss who we'd put on the plane.

Squad size is, I believe, 23.

I would go with:

Hart, Robinson, Green

Johnson, Ashley Cole (if not fit, Warnock), Bridge, Terry, Ferdinand, Lescott, Richards

Barry, Lampard, Beckham, Gerrard, Joe Cole, Milner, Lennon, Wright-Phillips

Crouch, Rooney, Zamora (or Heskey), Agbonlahor, Defoe.

[mellison24]

It's getting closer to that time so I thought it might be a good idea to make a separate topic from the general World Cup thread to discuss who we'd put on the plane.

Squad size is, I believe, 23.

I would go with:

Hart, Robinson, Green

Johnson, Ashley Cole (if not fit, Warnock), Bridge, Terry, Ferdinand, Lescott, Richards

Barry, Lampard, Beckham, Gerrard, Joe Cole, Milner, Lennon, Wright-Phillips

Crouch, Rooney, Zamora (or Heskey), Agbonlahor, Defoe.

I'd go with that, but Lennon and SWP are too similar for me. I'd have Downing, A. Johnson or Young instead of Lennon. SWP has played better overall than Lennon imo, and we need more cover at LM seeing as Barry is often a CM and that would just leave J. Cole.

[JAL]

It's getting closer to that time so I thought it might be a good idea to make a separate topic from the general World Cup thread to discuss who we'd put on the plane.

Squad size is, I believe, 23.

I would go with:

Hart, Robinson, Green

Johnson, Ashley Cole (if not fit, Warnock), Bridge, Terry, Ferdinand, Lescott, Richards

Barry, Lampard, Beckham, Gerrard, Joe Cole, Milner, Lennon, Wright-Phillips

Crouch, Rooney, Zamora (or Heskey), Agbonlahor, Defoe.

Good call but definitely no Robinson, hes bobbins it has to be James instead. Wouldnt take Bridge think hes bobbins aswell as Lescott.

Midfielders look Ok.

As for the forwards it would have to be Carlton Cole over Heskey and Zamora.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

I did consider C.Cole but he's injured pretty much constantly now and Zamora is hitting some proper Blobby Zamora form. Right Back is a hard one, if GJ isn't fit Neville, Brown or Richards could go there.

Didn't include A. Young as he's overrated (and a tosspot ).

Left Wing would be covered by J.Cole, Gerrard or Milner.

[tony gale's mic]

Definitely not Robinson.

Not that third keeper really matters though...

[Inta Beaver]

I think Walcot will go but he will have to find some form soon, does anyone else think when he comes on as a sub he looks like a rabbit looking into car headlights just before it's ran over!

[Hughesy]

Wouldnt take SWP, Defoe or Lescott - not international class and never do it on that top stage.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

SWP and Defoe have done it for England already. Lescott, you might be right. i just prefer him to Upson though.

Good shout on Walcott. He'd probably take Beckham or Lennons place for me.

The reason I included Beckham is because we will need his set piece skills before the end. Old or not, he's still the best.

[S15]

Wouldnt take SWP, Defoe or Lescott - not international class and never do it on that top stage.

I agree to an extent (the extent being they aren't international class) but I don't think any nation has 23 international class players, so I think you have to make the rest of the squad up from the most inform 'best of the rest.'

[LeChuck]

Okay...assuming everyone is fit (except Hargreaves as it seems he has no chance, he'd be in otherwise).

James; Green; Hart

Johnson; Neville; Terry; Ferdinand; Lescott; Upson; A. Cole

Lennon; Walcott; Gerrard; Lampard; Barry; Beckham; Carrick; J. Cole; Milner

Rooney; Defoe; Crouch; Heskey

With a starting eleven in mind of...

................... James

Johnson Ferdinand Terry A. Cole

.......... Lampard .. Barry

.. Walcott ... Gerrard ... J.Cole

.................. Rooney

We need to play Rooney in the position he's been playing in for Man Utd these last few months, and that's been as a lone striker with a supporting five man midfield.

[ewoodpo]

Unfortunately out weakest player will be the goalie. Gone are the days when we had a rock in goal.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Debatable candidates in bold.

Hart, Robinson, Green: Id stick with Robbo as 3rd choice. He's had time with England and wouldnt be daunted if he was thrown in. James is past it.

Johnson, Ashley Cole (or Warnock), Upson, Terry, Ferdinand, Lescott, Baines : Dont trust Richards, Baines is solid for Everton and should be ahead of Bridge. Upson as cover at CB.

Barry, Lampard, Carrick, Gerrard, Joe Cole, Milner, Lennon, Wright-Phillips : Carrick deserves his place ahead of Beckham.

Crouch, Rooney, Bent/Heskey(depending on fitness), Walcott, Defoe : You cannot leave Defoe out although I dont think he's ever done much internationally. Bent has kept Sunderland afloat this season and would do more then Zamora could

Other candidates: James, Richards, Agbonlahor, A.Young, Zamora, Wes Brown, Ryan Shawcross.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

XI:

.............Green

Johnson Terry Ferdinand A.Cole

.............Barry

.......Gerrard..Lampard

...J.Cole...............Lennon

.............Rooney

[Kelbo]

Unfortunately out weakest player will be the goalie. Gone are the days when we had a rock in goal.

And our captain, he is not a good Central defender, makes too many mistakes!!

[Hughesy]

I think id go with Hart as keeper.

What about Darren Bent? Not got a mention

[LeChuck]

What about Darren Bent? Not got a mention

Thought about him but I just can't justify it. Rooney is the main man, Defoe is the impact guy from the bench, Crouch is when you want to throw the kitchen sink and Heskey makes a good foil for Rooney if we need a plan B (or if we're protecting a lead and want a hard working forward).

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

I completely forgot Bent. He'd be in with the 'possibles' such as Zamora, Heskey, C.Cole etc.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

I put him above Zamora and Heskey in my squad.

Also, possible outsiders in Shawcross and/or Baines? Baines has done nothing wrong at Everton and yet never gets a look in. Warnock should also be included.

[Presty On Tour]

Certain unless injured

Hart, James, Green. I think Robbo has a chance if he's on top form for the rest of the season. Personally I'd take him over James and Green but I think Hart should be the number 1.

Johnson, Ashley Cole, Terry, Ferdinand. Warnock or Bridge will go as cover and one of Richards or Brown. The other selection headache will be between Upson and Lescott with Woodgate an outsider if he can get fit.

Barry, Lampard, Beckham, Gerrard, Milner. Then 4 places up for grabs between Joe Cole, Wallcott, Wright Phillips, Carrick, A. Young, Lennon and maybe Dunny if he can get fit and keep the goal scoring going.

Crouch, Rooney, Heskey, Defoe. Cappello will only take 4 strikers if he is playing the usual 1 up front.

So Probable imo

Hart, Robbo, James

Johnson, Ashley Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Warnock, Richards and Lescott.

Barry, Lampard, Beckham, Gerrard, Milner, Joe Cole, Carrick, Lennon and Wallcott.

Crouch, Rooney, Heskey, Defoe.

[grizfoot]

Interesting topic, like everyone Im going to make the probably unrealistic assumption that everyone is fit, I'd go for the following.

Keepers

James, Hart, Robinson

Defenders

G.Johnson, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, Shawcross, A.Cole, Baines.

Midfielders

Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Barry, Lennon, J.Cole, Milner, Huddlestone, A.Johnson.

Strikers

Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, C.Cole.

With the following starting line-up:

James

G.Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry, A.Cole

Lennon, Milner, Lampard, Gerrard

Rooney, Defoe

[neekoy]

Kevin Davies, Gavin McCann, Zat Knight, Frank Feilding, Mark Bunn, Lee Cattermole, Danny Murphy, Nathan Delfouneso, Nicky Shorey, Paul Konchesky, Jerome Thomas, Giles Barnes and Peter Crouch.

[Exiled_Rover]

GK: Green, Hart, Kirkland

DEF: Richards, Terry, Cole (if fit), Ferdinand, Warnock, Johnson, Lescott

MID: Milner, Gerrard, Carrick, Johnson, Lennon, Young, Beckham, Cole(J), Lampard

ATT: Rooney, Cole©, Defoe, Bent

[philipl]

Kevin Davies before Heskey or Carleton Cole.

Warnock ahead of Bridge.

Won't happen but those are the better choices- I could see Davies being particularly handy playing alongside Rooney.

[braddock]

capello

and then whoever he wants

[joey_big_nose]

Interesting debate about players. For me Rooney, Gerrard, J Cole (if fit), Barry, A. Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Defoe are all shoo ins (Defoe makes it into that category because of his exceptional domestic form). You could argue Lampard sneaks in due to experience at the top level. Johnsons is a guaranteed pick because of lack of competition.

After that there are literally billions of players who are all good but not really head and shoulders above anyone else. For that lot it will come down to form.

Virtually impossible to choose between Milner, Young, Walcott, Ablanghore, Dowining, Wright Phillips, Lennon etc etc. All good but not brilliant.

Concur that we will probably end up going 4231 at the tournament. Rooney has really matured into that lone striker role, and with Gerrard and Joe Cole supporting, plus one of the above, we will have a very able set of attacking players.

Barry and Lampard will get the holding roles I think. Lampard has looked good playing a bit deeper.

Keeping options are dire.

Probs XI for me:-

---------------Rooney

J. Cole-------Gerrard-----Wright-Phillips?

---------Barry-------Lampard

A Cole---Terry-----Ferdinand---Johnson

----------------James

It is a pretty settled side apart from the right wing.

A couple of injuries though and we are all over the place. No Rooney and we are buggered, also J Cole will make a massive difference if available.