Next England captain?

[Extended-Phenotype]

Not concrete on what would be the best side, but this:

----------------------- Harte ------------------

Richards --- Lescott --- Jagielka –-- Cole

---------------- Parker --- Barry ------------

Walcott ---------- Wilshire -------- Young

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

And happily:

1. Swapping Wilshire for Rooney and putting in Wellbeck up top.
2. Replacing the wingers with Lennon, Oxlaide-Chamberlin, Johnson
3. Swap Central defence with Smalling and Cahill.

Keeping an eye on Sturridge and Rodwell also.

In my opinion, I don’t even see a reason why the old guard need bother the squad.

[Hoop Blah]

Surprised to see Barry in there above other options, including Gerrard or course.

Agree with much if it otherwise (Walcott apart), apart from probably playing Wilshire so far up the pitch. He seems to me to be a player you want getting on the ball quite a bit more than the more advance player generally does in that kind of system.

I do think Sturridge might be the one to stake a late place, especially with the Rooney situation meaning an attacker who can play centre forward as well as on the wing might have a real chance.

[manny96]

Not concrete on what would be the best side, but this:

----------------------- Harte ------------------

Richards --- Lescott --- Jagielka –-- Cole

---------------- Parker --- Barry ------------

Walcott ---------- Wilshire -------- Young

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

And happily:

1. Swapping Wilshire for Rooney and putting in Wellbeck up top.
2. Replacing the wingers with Lennon, Oxlaide-Chamberlin, Johnson
3. Swap Central defence with Smalling and Cahill.

Keeping an eye on Sturridge and Rodwell also.

In my opinion, I don’t even see a reason why the old guard need bother the squad.

Agree that there's no obvious reason, if a balanced team is what we're after, the old guard need to make much of an appearance. I would look at playing Wilshere deeper though as I think he benefits from time on the ball or play Carrick for his range of passing.

[Vision]

Not concrete on what would be the best side, but this:

----------------------- Harte ------------------

Richards --- Lescott --- Jagielka –-- Cole

---------------- Parker --- Barry ------------

Walcott ---------- Wilshire -------- Young

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

And happily:

1. Swapping Wilshire for Rooney and putting in Wellbeck up top.
2. Replacing the wingers with Lennon, Oxlaide-Chamberlin, Johnson
3. Swap Central defence with Smalling and Cahill.

Keeping an eye on Sturridge and Rodwell also.

In my opinion, I don’t even see a reason why the old guard need bother the squad.

Agree that there's no obvious reason, if a balanced team is what we're after, the old guard need to make much of an appearance. I would look at playing Wilshere deeper though as I think he benefits from time on the ball or play Carrick for his range of passing.

Cleverley >>>Wilshire>>>Carrick for me really.

[Hoop Blah]

Interesting opinion there Vision.

I've not seen a hell of a lot of Cleverly, although always been pretty impressed when I have. Wilshire has just looked more likely to be able to run and dictate a game at the moment though. Cleverly may well be at that level too, I've just not seen it yet.

With the likes of the two of them, McEachran, Rodwell, Milner (bit older), Ramsey, Bale, Joe Allan (Swansea) and a few others coming through I do think it shows the youth structure changes have led to a more technical set of players being able to thrive. It's not just the big or quick athelete that are coming through these days.

Lets hope that's a sign of things to come.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Yeah, everyone has their preferences. I just think Wilshire's flair makes him ideal in an AM role where he can roam, perhaps the two holding players can protect him from his relative lack of international experience.

Barry more often than not, just seems to add a judiciousness to our team. He has his bad games like everyone else, and there is rarely anything fantastic about him – but I think that’s what England needs; there are far to many stars roaming about trying to be the hero. Even on a bad day Barry is playing for everyone else rather than himself.

As with Sturridge vs Wellbeck – I still can’t escape the idea that Rooney, as well as w&nker, is England’s biggest talent. If he plays, I don’t think you can go wrong partnering him with a player he plays with regularly.

That said, I wouldn’t care who was in the team as long as Beckham, Terry, Lampard and Gerrard are a long way from it. I’m just bored of listening to the sponsored pundits excusing a stream of mistakes made by these consistent failures, while new guy get’s lambasted for getting a pass wrong.

[FiNeRaIn]

Its not until you see Englands team on paper you realise just how horrid we are lol. Parker, Barry, Jagielka, Lescott.

I think the top nations would be who are these peasants when we play them. Where are the English match winners? We have none other than Rooney and he always gets sent off.

[BR2]

I find it quite depressing seeing EP's suggested line-up.
Only Joe Hart and Rooney (when avaiable) would have any chance of getting in the German or Spanish sides (if indeed they were German or Spanish before any smart ass posts).
What a mediocre central 4 there in Lescott,Jagielka,Barry and Parker and you can throw in another run-of-the-mill performer in Milner.
I wish both Downing and Adam Johnson hadn't gone backwards.
So many hopes for the future are being pinned on Wilshere,a player who has had a serious injury and is one of those that gets better as a player by the day,the longer he is injured.
The early euphoria over Sturridge has calmed down and like Walcott I think he is too soft to play centrally and that's why Chelsea persist in playing him out wide.
Good luck to 'Arry when he gets the job,he will certainly need it.

[who are ya?]

Only Joe Hart and Rooney (when avaiable) would have any chance of getting in the German or Spanish sides

Why does that even matter So we're not the best team in the world, get over it.

I wish both Downing and Adam Johnson hadn't gone backwards.

As for this, I don't think Johnson's gone backwards at all. He's a top quality winger and I've seen some world class passes made by him when given a chance, all he needs to do is get away from the circus that is the Man City squad.

[Hoop Blah]

It's not the most glittering array of household names and international superstars I admit BR.

However, you do remember that the German centre backs at the last World Cup were Mertesacker and Friedrich don't you? Both are pretty average defenders and I'd quite happily take the likes of Lescott, Dawson, Jones (if he gets to play there for his club and continues to kick on) or even Cahill over them.

As for Spain, they don't really need defenders with the way their team play, but even so, the likes of Arbeloa and the left back who's name I can't recall aren't as good as ours, and in Puyol they've had a sometimes suspect defender at the heart of their defence for years.

We don't have the out and out match winners that we'd like no, but given time and the right management the likes of Young, Wilshire and Rooney could well prove themselves.

[FiNeRaIn]

As for Spain, they don't really need defenders with the way their team play, but even so, the likes of Arbeloa and the left back who's name I can't recall aren't as good as ours, and in Puyol they've had a sometimes suspect defender at the heart of their defence for years.

Well that's not entirely the case though is it? They don't have to be top defenders...they do however have to be great passers of the ball...and that they are. They remain composed on the ball and distribute it so well they are better passers than most tops teams midfielders including england. They might not be the best at pure defending but they are by no means suspect at least in my opinion. Puyol is one of the most decorated defenders ever to play the game and he got that by being good in a good team. Spain are a bit unique though, germany, italy, holland and argentina are what we should be referring too but even they have the match winners in their sides that we simply don't. The only way we'll win something is via the Greece Euro method and lets face it....we don't have their sort of team spirit and unity.

[pea]

Not concrete on what would be the best side, but this:

----------------------- Harte ------------------

Richards --- Lescott --- Jagielka –-- Cole

---------------- Parker --- Barry ------------

Walcott ---------- Wilshire -------- Young

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

And happily:

1. Swapping Wilshire for Rooney and putting in Wellbeck up top.
2. Replacing the wingers with Lennon, Oxlaide-Chamberlin, Johnson
3. Swap Central defence with Smalling and Cahill.

Keeping an eye on Sturridge and Rodwell also.

In my opinion, I don’t even see a reason why the old guard need bother the squad.

Close to what I'd have although I would probably have King over Lescott and Walker over Richards, but theres very little in it. And as others have said, Wilshere in a deeper role instead of Barry and drop Rooney back behind someone like Sturridge or Bent.

Young is the key player for me

[manny96]

As for Spain, they don't really need defenders with the way their team play, but even so, the likes of Arbeloa and the left back who's name I can't recall aren't as good as ours, and in Puyol they've had a sometimes suspect defender at the heart of their defence for years.

Well that's not entirely the case though is it? They don't have to be top defenders...they do however have to be great passers of the ball...and that they are. They remain composed on the ball and distribute it so well they are better passers than most tops teams midfielders including england. They might not be the best at pure defending but they are by no means suspect at least in my opinion. Puyol is one of the most decorated defenders ever to play the game and he got that by being good in a good team. Spain are a bit unique though, germany, italy, holland and argentina are what we should be referring too but even they have the match winners in their sides that we simply don't. The only way we'll win something is via the Greece Euro method and lets face it....we don't have their sort of team spirit and unity.

Puyol and Pique are a class above but the full backs, especially the left back position is questionable. Albiol would be next in line at centre back and whilst he's not bad, he doesn't compare to other world cup winning teams.

[Ian Royal]

Not concrete on what would be the best side, but this:

----------------------- Harte ------------------

Richards --- Lescott --- Jagielka –-- Cole

---------------- Parker --- Barry ------------

Walcott ---------- Wilshire -------- Young

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

And happily:

1. Swapping Wilshire for Rooney and putting in Wellbeck up top.
2. Replacing the wingers with Lennon, Oxlaide-Chamberlin, Johnson
3. Swap Central defence with Smalling and Cahill.

Keeping an eye on Sturridge and Rodwell also.

In my opinion, I don’t even see a reason why the old guard need bother the squad.

Quite like it, much as I detest Cole he's still the best left back we have by a mile. Probably wouldn't go with Barry and would focus on the strikers available for the first two games rather than Rooney. So move Wilshere back in place of Barry and play a second striker perhaps.

[frimmers3]

my ten pounds at 2500/1 for a tottenan title,rednapp to england and mourinhio(sp) to spurs is looking good!

[Ian Royal]

my ten pounds at 2500/1 for a tottenan title,rednapp to england and mourinhio(sp) to spurs is looking good!

No, it's still looking like you'll never see it again.

[Extended-Phenotype]

But Finerain, without looking it up, can you name the Italian back four? The French back four? German? Argentinean? Brazilian? (do you see where I might be going with this…)

We’ve tried playing celebrities, and where did it get us? I say try playing a team this time.

And BR2, aye – I think some still believe we are for some reason a world football force. We haven’t been for some time, no matter what Shoot! Magazine says, nor how many cut-out-and-keep Gerrard faces The Sun gives away.

I’d say it would be fair to call England at least a top 16 side, on account of where we usually reach in the tournaments.

Personally, I’d go a bit better and say that we probably average out top 8, which isn’t really anything to be ashamed of.

Putting that to the test I’d happily concede that Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Uraguay and Portugal are better than us. France and Italy used to be, but I don’t rate either than highly anymore.

Other than that, I don’t think there is anyone who can really boast a better team.

Lescott and Richards might not be household names, but they are in the best team in arguably the best league in the world. Parker will be captain of a champions league side next season, Young strolled into the Man Utd team, while Rooney is highly regarded around the world. I don’t think it’s a side to be ashamed of (once you dump out the racists, DJ assaulters and fat, family-evicting, hooker spit-roasters.)

[Hoop Blah]

Agreed EP, as I said yesterday, if you look at the Dutch and German back fours then I wouldn't really swap any of them for the pick of the bunch we have available.

Going forwards we do miss a little bit of the quality that we think they have but we do have some very good and dangerous players.

Of course we're not the best team in the world. Of course we're not the most technically gifted squad but that doesn't mean we can't be an effective team that stands a chance of winning a tournament because it's not always the best team that wins these things.

Can Rooney be our Zidane or Iniesta? He's not quite at that level no, but he could still be a match winner against top sides if on form and used in the right way.

[Extended-Phenotype]

England need to stop being managed by people who insist they play in a European style. We can’t do it, as we don’t have the discipline nor the technical ability. Why compete in areas we already know we are runner-up in?

England’s strength has always been it’s, well, strength! Our players are fitter, faster and stronger than those Euro-fairy fckwits. I say sod all this technical sh|t Sven and Fab has us p/ssing about with, and just go f//cking MENTAL! KICKIT! KICK! KICKTHEBALL RUN! RUNRUNRUNKICCKKKKKK!!!!!!

[Wax Jacket]

lol

my point exactly