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Post by Saint on May 10, 2010 17:01:26 GMT
Capello names his 30 man squad tomorrow, this will then be wittled down to the 23 man squad which he will take to the world Cups finals.
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Post by Daedalus on May 11, 2010 11:37:23 GMT
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Post by Daedalus on May 11, 2010 12:10:45 GMT
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Post by Daedalus on May 11, 2010 13:15:30 GMT
England's 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup finals:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.
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bovysaint
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 248
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Post by bovysaint on May 11, 2010 13:55:44 GMT
No real surprises there then.
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Post by COYS on May 11, 2010 16:57:55 GMT
Everyone's 23 from that list of thirty?
Goalkeepers:
These are all already dead certs. My number one would probably be David James due to his experience, but I think Capello should give Joe Hart 180mins in the two warm up games, and if he plays well, he should start. I just don't think we should stick him straight into a World Cup as number one.
Joe Hart David James Robert Green
Defenders:
The back line picks itself, it is just down to who should go as back ups. Personally, I would have taken Gary Neville in front of Jamie Carragher, but since neither the United captain or Wes Brown are in the 30 man squad, Carragher has to go as right back cover. I picked Leighton Baines over Stephen Warnock as he is better on the ball, and poses more of a threat going forward, which is how Capello likes his teams to play. Matthew Upson is in for his impressive qualification and England experience, while King has had a good season with Tottenham and has proved he can play more than one game in a week. He was also very good against France in Euro 2004, so has experience with big tournaments.
Glen Johnson Jamie Carragher Ashley Cole Leighton Baines Rio Ferdinand John Terry Ledley King Matthew Upson
Midfielders:
Like the defence, surely the first choice midfield is already decided? Capello seems to favour a four man midfield of Barry and Lampard in the centre, with Gerrard tucked in from the left, and Lennon or Walcott's pace wide right. Therefore, those five are all on the plane for me, providing GazBaz (as I have nicknamed him) is fit. Milner must go as someone who can play across the midfield and has the ability to grasp the game by the scruff of the neck. Joe Cole was England's best player in 2006 (bar perhaps Hargreaves) and hasn't had a bad end to the season with Chelsea. Carrick is someone who can close out a game, as he never gives the ball away, and can tackle well.
Steven Gerrard Frank Lampard Gareth Barry James Milner Aaron Lennon Theo Walcott Joe Cole Michael Carrick
Forwards:
To be honest, I'm not even sure why that Wayne Rooney's even in the thirty man squad. He's immature, angry, a liability, and injury ridden. What's that? He's England's best player and we'd never have a hope of hell in South Africa if he wasn't there? Ah, we better take him then. Heskey would have to go too for his performances during qualifying - when he plays, Rooney scores for fun, Gerrard plays well and Lennon/Walcott's pace is made the most of. I would take Defoe as a modern day Michael Owen - who will nab a goal with his pace against the so-called lesser teams, while Peter Crouch, for me, must start. He can do Heskey's job but better, scoring goals in the process, and is just such a handful.
Wayne Rooney Emile Heskey Jermain Defoe Peter Crouch
I know you'll all disagree, but here is my 4-4-2 starting line up for England versus the United States.
GK - Joe Hart DR - Glen Johnson DL - Ashley Cole DC - John Terry DC - Rio Ferdinand MR - Aaron Lennon ML - Steven Gerrard MC - Gareth Barry MC - Frank Lampard FC - Peter Crouch FC - Darren Be... I mean, Wayne Rooney.
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Post by Daedalus on May 11, 2010 17:31:28 GMT
I think your 23 is probably spot on in my opinion COYS.
I read an interview with Capello which said that he will basically take 2 for each position. So the only thing I'm not sure about is whether he would drop another wide player (Joe Cole maybe?) for another defensive-minded central midfielder (Huddlestone maybe?) But otherwise, that is probably the squad I would go with.
As for the starting XI you've posted, I would agree with that as well. The only position I'm not so sure about is the goalkeeper position. As for up front, I hope Crouchy gets a shot alongside Rooney, as I really rate him.
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Post by Saint on May 11, 2010 20:03:15 GMT
My XI:
GK: Green RB: Johnson CB: Ferdinand CB: Terry LB: Cole MR: Lennon CM: Gerrard CM: Lampard ML: Milner ST: Crouch ST: Rooney
Subs: James Carragher King Barry Wright-Phillips Defoe.
I know that team is slightly strange, such as having Gerrard as CM and I know Capello plays him on the left, but Milner can swap and play in the centre aswell.
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Post by Daedalus on May 13, 2010 14:44:52 GMT
I've been thinking about the starting XI for England and having a few doubts over Capello's selections. The big thing for me is that Capello doesn't seem to have solved the age old question of fitting Lampard and Gerrard into the same team. When I saw England play Egypt at Wembley recently, Gerrard was really ineffective on the left flank, always drifting inside, leaving too much space on his flank and not forming any kind of partnership with his fullback. I also feel that the pair of them cannot really co-exist and play well together in the centre of the park. I'd be really tempted to have Gerrard as a 'hole' player behind Wayne Rooney and to play a sort of 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1 style formation. It's a role Gerrard has filled very well at Liverpool. Then Lampard could fit back into a central midfield role alongside Barry. From right-to-left: --------------------------Green -----Johnson -----Ferdinand -----Terry -----A.Cole ------------------Lampard ------Barry -----Lennon ------------------------------Milner -------------------------Gerrard -------------------------Rooney We all know that Capello is committed to playing two forwards though. He came out before the Egypt game and said that he wouldn't consider playing 4-2-3-1 with Gerrard behind Rooney. I seem to remember that he said that Gerrard would play that role as a midfielder and he wanted to play with two forwards. Capello likes the big man/little man combo. At the moment, he is going for the creative no.10 alongside a target man, which means you can put all of your money on one of Heskey or Crouch partnering Rooney in more of a 4-4-2. I'd prefer Crouch but I bet it'll be Heskey as Capello seems to like a real 'battering ram' of a forward to feed Rooney and give him space to work in, while Crouchy is a bit more refined. (I do quite like Heskey as a player though and feel that he does contribute a lot to the team). I'd probably put my money on Capello going with a line-up like the following (from right-to-left): --------------------------Green -----Johnson -----Ferdinand -----Terry -----A.Cole -----Lennon -------Lampard -----Barry -------------------------------------Gerrard -------------------Heskey -----Rooney A lop-sided 4-4-2 with Gerrard playing narrowly on the left almost like the old inside forward position between midfield and attack, as he did against Egypt. Ashley Cole will probably stay back and just support to give Gerrard free reign, much like Leighton Baines did versus Egypt (not forgetting that Barry, as a left-footer, could move across and cover). That's pretty much what I observed during that friendly anyway. This is all assuming that Gareth Barry is fit to go to the World Cup as well. I think it will be a real blow if not, as he has been an ever-present in Capello's line-ups. I'm not convinced by it anyway. Personally, I've always wondered if the answer was actually to drop one of Lampard and Gerrard entirely or to rotate them. I'm sure the Italians call this something like the 'relay' (I forget the Italian) where you have two similar players who cannot (or should not) feature together. For them it is usually their fantasistas (fantasy attacking players, e.g. trequartistas etc.) I've often wondered what England would look like in a 4-2-3-1 with a central midfield partnership of Barry and Carrick playing deep, with Lennon, Gerrard and Milner in front forming a three, and Rooney up top. Still I'm not Fabio Capello (only in my dreams) and it will likely be 4-4-2 with Lampard and Gerrard shoehorned in once again.
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Post by COYS on May 13, 2010 16:44:24 GMT
I'm going to have to disagree with your opinions on Gerrard, D, I'm afraid. I think he and Lampard fit very well into this system, as Heskey allows Gerrard so much freedom on that left, it is like we are playing with three strikers. Granted, Lampard is playing an undesirable more defensive role, but Gerrard is our best option on the left.
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Post by Daedalus on May 13, 2010 18:18:50 GMT
Fair enough COYS. I'm just personally not that sure how well it will work against top quality opposition should we progress in the tournament.
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Post by COYS on May 13, 2010 20:16:48 GMT
That's a very good point. Against Spain and Brazil (although the latter was with a weakened side) we were lacklustre - perhaps that shape didn't work particularly well. One thing I do hope is that Capello will have a plan B - something Eriksson never had.
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Post by Daedalus on May 14, 2010 12:32:50 GMT
There are strong rumours in the papers today that, in Gareth Barry’s absence, Fabio Capello is considering switching to a system featuring three centre-backs for the World Cup. See the following link: news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8681745.stmPresumably a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2 formation. I'd be really surprised if this turns out to be true as Capello has favoured his 4-4-2 style system throughout qualifying. It would be quite a big step to change things at this stage, surely? Maybe he should get on the phone to Steve Castle and ask for some tips, as Castle's 3-5-2 system was working pretty well for us at the end of the season! As for the plan B COYS, well, as I see it plan A is Wayne Rooney. And if Rooney is suspended or injured (as is probably quite likely to happen, as per your earlier comments), then plan B is to get knocked out of the tournament, I believe. ;D Who do you guys think would feature in Capello's 3-5-2? I'm mainly talking about the three man midfield. Are we to presume that this would feature Lampard and Gerrard together in the middle of the park. Who would be the third central midfielder? Presumably a 'holder'/more defensive-minded player? Hmmmmmmn.
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Post by Daedalus on May 20, 2010 11:07:59 GMT
If anyone is looking to get a World Cup guide, I recommend the one that has just come out written by World Soccer. It has profiles for pretty much every player as well as commentary on the likely tactics to be employed by each team. A good read. No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/thup.gif
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Post by Saint on May 23, 2010 17:59:21 GMT
World cup countdown: 18 days.
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Post by Daedalus on May 24, 2010 7:52:53 GMT
Not long now Saint!
So who is everyone's bet for the World Cup?
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Post by Daedalus on May 25, 2010 16:11:02 GMT
Good article about the England tactics here - www.zonalmarking.net/2010/05/25/england-tactics-fabio-capello/I'd tend to agree with the conclusions. Basically it says a lot of what COYS and I were discussing earlier. I'd like to see Capello's plan B because the current 4-4-2 with Gerrard on the left doesn't seem to be the answer to me. Then again, I'm sure Fabio knows what he is doing!
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Post by Saint on May 25, 2010 18:32:22 GMT
16 Days. ;D
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Post by Daedalus on May 29, 2010 12:32:48 GMT
You crossing each day off the calendar Saint?
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Post by Hatboy on May 31, 2010 10:14:58 GMT
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Post by Saint on Jun 1, 2010 12:57:34 GMT
England world cup news:
Most media outlets are recieving information from sources of the 7 seven left out of the squad, those 7 are:
Darren Bent Leighton Baines Michael Dawson Tom Huddlestone Theo Walcott Adam Johnson Scott Parker
These are not confirmed, the official announcement is due around 3pm today.
What do you make of the 7 omitted from the squad? A few suprises in Walcott and Baines.
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Post by Saint on Jun 1, 2010 15:20:26 GMT
Confirmed squad: www.thefa.com/England/News/2010/Squad_010610Goalkeepers: Robert Green, Joe Hart, David James Defenders: Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips Forwards: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney
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Post by Daedalus on Jun 1, 2010 15:50:57 GMT
Pleased that Barry is going.
Surprised by Baines particularly as I thought he would get in ahead of Warnock.
As for Walcott, I'm just disappointed for him more than anything. I'd still like to have seen him go but I don't know who would I leave out in his place. Wright-Phillips is probably the better impact sub so maybe it is the right choice.
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Post by Saint on Jun 1, 2010 16:25:00 GMT
Rumours suggest Baines is out the squad because he is home sick.
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Post by Boomer on Jun 1, 2010 17:38:38 GMT
Pretty much the 23 most people would have gone with, I think. Very pleased that Barry is going but, for me, Baines was very disappointing in the Mexico game. It seems that LB is a real problem position for us at the moment - I don't know too much about Warnock but what I do know is that if Cole comes up against anyone with real pace, he could be in real trouble.
What does everyone think the starting XI will be for June 12.
It probably won't be this but this what I think it should be -
Hart Johnson, Terry, Ferdinand, Cole A. Lennon, Lampard, Gerrard, Milner Rooney, Heskey.
Subs -
Green, Carragher, King, Barry, Cole. J, Crouch
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Post by COYS on Jun 1, 2010 18:01:51 GMT
If Cole comes up against anyone with real pace? Ashley Cole is one of the quickest, and best, left backs in the world. He kept Cristiano Ronaldo quiet at the World Cup 2006 - in my opinion left back is one of our strongest positions! Delighted Barry is fit - our possession problems against Mexico and Japan were down to his absence - he allows the likes of Gerrard to be more creative.
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Post by Hatboy on Jun 1, 2010 18:16:36 GMT
Rumours suggest Baines is out the squad because he is home sick. That and the fact that Capello was screaming at him because he wasn't doing his job closing the player down against Mexico
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Post by Saint on Jun 1, 2010 20:15:22 GMT
And if you didn't know, it's 10 days. ;D
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Post by Boomer on Jun 2, 2010 6:18:50 GMT
If Cole comes up against anyone with real pace? Ashley Cole is one of the quickest, and best, left backs in the world. He kept Cristiano Ronaldo quiet at the World Cup 2006 - in my opinion left back is one of our strongest positions! We may have to agree to disagree about that, COYS. I accept that he provides good attacking options; I am far from convinced about his defensive abilities, however. Some of his lapses have cost us more than once in recent international games. Let's see how he copes with the likes of Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Italy etc. when it counts.
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Post by COYS on Jun 2, 2010 12:26:48 GMT
Yep, I see what you mean, to be honest, Boomer. That Kazakhstan mistake was a bit disturbing! I still think there are worse positions in our squad - Rooney's strike partner for one - goalkeeper for another.
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