Predicting England's next world cup squad...

[RoyalMan]

Here's a little game in which you predict England's next world cup squad and if we're still around in 4 years we can hopefully save this thread somewhere and see how we all fared. My England squad would be:

Goalkeepers:
David James
Paul Robinson
Stuart Taylor

Defenders:
Danny Mills
John Terry
Rio Ferdinand
Ledley King
Sol Campbell
Ashley Cole
Gareth Barry


Midfielders:
David Beckham
Joe Cole
Steven Gerrard
Kevin Nolan (? I mean the young Bolton lad)
Kieron Dyer
Michael Carrick
Seth Johnson/Owen Hargreaves
Jermaine Pennant

Strikers:
Michael Owen
Jermaine Defoe
Alan Smith
Carlton Cole
Robbie Fowler

[Prenn]

Glad to see young Nolan in there, he's not getting the recognition he deserves. David Platt has never liked Bolton so it'll be a cold day in hell before he picks him.

Kevin Nolan is one of England's best midfield prospects and at 19 he can only get better (I hope ;) )

[Matt Clark]

Goalkeepers:

Robinson
Kirkland
James

Defenders
Wes Brown
Jonathan Woodgate
Wayne Bridge
Ledley King
Ashley Cole
Rio Ferdinand
Sol Campbell

Midfielders
Steven Gerrard
Paul Scholes
David Beckham
Joe Cole
Kieron Dyer
Micheal Carrick
David Dunn
“Wor lad Jenas”


Strikers
Micheal Owen
Jermaine Defoe
Alan Smith
Emile Heskey
Robbie Fowler

[DoctorSoccer]

What about Lee Boywer? He probably will be forgiven for his transgressions by 2006 and is the answer to some England's winger problems. he was a superstar in the CL two years ago.

[Motterman]

Nicky Butt did well for England in Japorea, he'll get more playing time starting this year for United as well.....

[Miguel88]

These are all starters, not subs, or reserves....because i don't have much time....
Well, as goalkeepers go, Seaman, well, maybe on the roster, but I'd put James as a starter
Defenders:Rio, Phillip Neivelle, Campbell, Ashley Cole
Mids: Becks, Gerrard, Scholes, and Dyer
Strikers:Fowler and Owen
Yeah, I'd also like to see Kevin Nolan get some action, maybe after he gets a little more experience under his belt......But he'd do quite nicely and impress some managers as well

[Doctor Stamen]

GK:
James
Robinson
Kirkland

DEF:
Ferdinand
Ashley Cole
Woodgate (if he isn't in prison)
Sol Campbell
Bridge
Gary Neville
Carragher

MID:
Beckham
Gerrard
Scholes
Butt
Jenas
Dunn
Owen Hargreaves
Kevin Nolan

FOR:
DeFoe
Alan Smith
Jansen
Owen
Carlton Cole

[Mc_Midas]

it really is a sad that the fact that david james is possibly in the frame as in england starter (based on what ppl think). he is a dodgy keeper - if he had the skills for international lvl liverpool wouldn't have gotten rid of him. a first choice england keeper can not play for a mid table team :o

[Matt Clark]

Why not? Never did Shilts any harm. Unless you think he was a dodgy keeper too.

And playing for mid-table West Ham didn't exactly hold Bobby Moore and Martin Peters back on the old international success front, now did it?

Besides, James is much better than people give him credit for. Playing behind England's defence is not exactly the same as watching Babb, Ruddock and Scales run into each other in front of you for five seasons.

[Mc_Midas]

that was back in the day - these days englands first choice has to be playing european football.

[Matt Clark]

It helps, sure. But Joe Cole, Micheal Carrick, Trevor Sinclair, Kieron Dyer, Wayne Bridge and Darius Vassell were also not playing European football when selected for the World Cup - should they have been omitted? I don't think so. Above that, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Danny Mills, Teddy Sheringham, and Nigel Martyn were not playing Champions League football and the likes of Nicky Butt rarely get a consistent run of games in Europe for their club.

That's just the way it is. No reason to omit James, given current resources.

[Clan]

Um..i can't believe only one person picked Terry.

He may not break up Campbell and ferdinand, but he sure as hell will make the squad.

[DEREK WHITE]

This may be a pointless exercise as they may not even qualify for the next world cup.This is typical of England fans one good result in the World cup over an Argentinian side that never looked like creating a goal scoring oppurtunity and then the worst attacking performance I have ever seen against a team that was down to 10 men.If they do qualify then John Terry will probably be doing time at her majesty's pleasure.

[Mc_Midas]

Originally posted by Matt Clark
It helps, sure. But Joe Cole, Micheal Carrick, Trevor Sinclair, Kieron Dyer, Wayne Bridge and Darius Vassell were also not playing European football when selected for the World Cup - should they have been omitted? I don't think so. Above that, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Danny Mills, Teddy Sheringham, and Nigel Martyn were not playing Champions League football and the likes of Nicky Butt rarely get a consistent run of games in Europe for their club.

That's just the way it is. No reason to omit James, given current resources.

the above are quality - james is an overrated keeper by miles - not worthy of international keeperage atm - martyn is a far better keeper :o tho he wont be around by next wc tho.

[Mc_Midas]

also - only rio ferdinand is a first choice england player ( bar trev ) - and he has played at champ league 8]

[Doctor Stamen]

James may not be 1st choice, as Robinson, Taylor and Kirkland would have a lot more experience by 2006, and they would probably have developed into the top keepers they promise to be. There may even be someone else who we've never heard of, or previously considered making a name for themselves.

[Matt Clark]

Originally posted by DEREK WHITE
This may be a pointless exercise as they may not even qualify for the next world cup.This is typical of England fans one good result in the World cup over an Argentinian side that never looked like creating a goal scoring oppurtunity and then the worst attacking performance I have ever seen against a team that was down to 10 men.If they do qualify then John Terry will probably be doing time at her majesty's pleasure.

No, this is typical of the lame, jaundiced view about "England fans" that some despos cling on to for whatever reason makes sense to them.

For ********'s sake, it's just idle speculation, on the England National Team thread of an Internet forum, four years prior to the event. It's not like we just invaded Poland.

When are the likes of you going to GET OVER IT? Jesus ...

[sinner78]

Originally posted by DEREK WHITE
This may be a pointless exercise as they may not even qualify for the next world cup.This is typical of England fans one good result in the World cup over an Argentinian side that never looked like creating a goal scoring oppurtunity and then the worst attacking performance I have ever seen against a team that was down to 10 men.If they do qualify then John Terry will probably be doing time at her majesty's pleasure.

Yeah good one yank.
We obviously haven't got the right to have a guess at a future england squad.
ooh how could we have the nerve to start such an offensive thread??
I hope we didn;t offend you too much.
You can crawl back under your rock now.
bye bye.

[DEREK WHITE]

Wrong again not a yank just living over here.

[Matt Clark]

WEll that's even dafter then innit?