Revamping the English NT

[KumarsS]

I don't want to step on anybody's toes, but I just wanted to see what you all would pick as a tentative starting XI and formation for England given that they won't actually need to perform in a major competition until 2010. That, to me, seems like a perfect opportunity for turnover and rejuvenation. So, with an eye on 2010 and the future, who would you drop in the name of evolution and progress, and what would your line-up be? An advantage of this team would be that young players who might have sat out of friendlies and qualifiers due to the prestige of big name veterans would get the chance to play at a high level for a couple of years before the vets would have retired.

Mine shall be forthcoming.

[Placid Casual]

An advantage of this team would be that young players who might have sat out of friendlies and qualifiers due to the prestige of big name veterans would get the chance to play at a high level for a couple of years before the vets would have retired.

.

We do actually have to qualify for 2010.

It will be the normal evolution of the team. A couple will retire and a couple of youngsters will emerge.

[Devil_78]

I dont have a huge problem with the players we have now. But we do need someone willing to kick them in the derriere and get them playing properly. Maybe a foriegn coach who is less beholden to their own self-inflated egos would be the one to do that.

[Mac_Howard]

I too don't think that the current squad is too far away from making a quality team particularly when rooney, Owen, Terry and Ferdinand are again available. But there is certainly one major problem I think needs solving and that is to produce a central midfield that can impose it's game on the opposition.

You will not get this domination from either Lampard or Gerrard and you will certainly not do it with the two of them together when they are less than the sum of the two. They may be exceptional in their goal scoring abilities from midfield and that's certainly a useful thing to have but neither of them impose themselves either defensively or offensively on a game. They don't carry out the primary function of a midfielder at all well.

We need to experiment a little (we have plenty of time now to do that now :( ) with our midfield options. Hargreaves is possibly our best bet or maybe even a pairing of Hargreaves and Barry in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Whatever, but we have to recognise that Lampard and Gerrard may be world class in their scoring abilities but are otherwise limited as midfielders and we need to come up with an effective alternative. These two, and managers who shirk the responsibility of facing down their supporters, have been a curse to England.

[Grinners89]

1ST TEAM

______________Carson_______________

Richards___Ferdinand___Terry____A Cole

_____________Hargreaves_____________

Lennon________Gerrard__________J Cole

__________Crouch____Rooney_________

RESERVES
GK: Green, Foster
RB: L Young
CB: Lescott, Taylor
LB: Shorey
RM: Bentley
CM: Lampard, Barry
LM: A Young
ST: Johnson, Agbonlahor

[Mikey10]

Gary Neville should be in there on the bench at least. I hate him with a passion, but he's a quality player, and I've no doubt he is going to be around for a while longer, despite his age.

[purpleronnie]

1ST TEAM

______________Carson_______________

Richards___Ferdinand___Terry____A Cole

_____________Hargreaves_____________

Lennon________Gerrard__________J Cole

__________Crouch____Rooney_________

RESERVES
GK: Green, Foster
RB: L Young
CB: Lescott, Taylor
LB: Shorey
RM: Bentley
CM: Lampard, Barry
LM: A Young
ST: Johnson, Agbonlahor

I pretty much agree with that. I think tactics have to play a key role now, we have a decent team but no more than that, the world cup qualifiers are going to be really tough with england not being in the top seeds. Only the winners go through, I simply cant see us winning a hard group. But I do believe a tactically aware manager could get the best out of the players and maybe teach them how to hold onto a lead. We have always looked like a nervous team we have to learn to kill games off.

[glennaldo_sf]

I don't want to step on anybody's toes, but I just wanted to see what you all would pick as a tentative starting XI and formation for England given that they won't actually need to perform in a major competition until 2010.

Erm... not exactly true mate! They have to qualify for that tournament first!

[thebigman]

garry neville is still a much better fullback than richards, whose positional awareness is shocking sometimes....like a headless chicken going forward

[KumarsS]

Here's mine, anyway. I didn't include anyone 29 or up since players like Ferdinand and Lampard, despite their class, probably won't be the best options for their positions soon.

------------------------GREEN--------------------------
-------------------TERRY-----LESCOTT-----------------
-RICHARDS-------------------------------------SHOREY-
-------------HARGREAVES-----CARRICK-----------------
-J. COLE--------------------------------------A. YOUNG-
-------------------------------ROONEY-----------------
-----------------OWEN---------------------------------

Subs:
GK - Carson
LB - A. Cole
CB - Dawson
CB - Taylor
RB - L. Young
LM - Downing
CM - Barry
CM - Gerrard
RM - Lennon
SS - Walcott
CF - Bent

[sinner78]

We pick a team to suit the way the opposition plays.
We dont play the same set tactics in every game and become predictable.
No player should be guaranteed a starting place.

[clynnog]

Gary Neville should be in there on the bench at least. I hate him with a passion, but he's a quality player, and I've no doubt he is going to be around for a while longer, despite his age.


IIRC he hasn't played since March, he is an arrogant prick, very prickly, and in all honesty what does he have to offer to England in 2010. If a player won't be around in 2010 I don't see the point in having them in the team that will be going through qualifiers in September 2008.

[dustcowpoke]

Ledley King has to be included in there somewhere. His pace compliments John Terry well.

And whoever put Lescott in the squad WTF are you thinking?

[KumarsS]

Ledley King has to be included in there somewhere. His pace compliments John Terry well.

And whoever put Lescott in the squad WTF are you thinking?

I did. Lescott has shown a lot of promise lately for Everton, and he's got about two years on King. He's versatile, a real threat in front of goal for corners and free kicks, and all around a very strong option to have in central defense in the coming years.

[thebigman]

kings been injured for about 3 years lol id rather have lescott than him especially at centre half rather than being shoved out wide kleft

wayne bridge dissapointed me the most on weds, he was awful, i rated him higher than cole when he played regularly anyway

[three lions]

Yep., and I was one of the people that said I would choose Ashley Cole over Bridge, everytime and twice on Sunday..Ash was injured and Macca played Bridge..

[OWN(yewu)ED]

why are you guys so hell bent on getting rid of Beckham??? This team had absolutely no bite until he came onto the pitch, his crosses are absolutely indespensable and there isnt anyone coming through the pipes that is remotely close of replicating it. This guy still needs to start, it would have likely been a different result if he did. Just the sheer principle of him picking out Crouch like its nothing, its rediculous you guys pass that up. Its like the US team bashing Donovan its clueless and baseless.

I mean naturally for a team in this state theres going to be some cullings, and everyone's first on the list is Beckham. Why not Lampard, SWP, even injury riddled Owen with players like The Walcott emerging and Crouch playing a more integral part to the team?

its not just about picking new ********** and sexy names, thats what got England in trouble in the first place. pick the best TEAM not the best players.

[dustcowpoke]

why are you guys so hell bent on getting rid of Beckham??? This team had absolutely no bite until he came onto the pitch, his crosses are absolutely indespensable and there isnt anyone coming through the pipes that is remotely close of replicating it. This guy still needs to start, it would have likely been a different result if he did. Just the sheer principle of him picking out Crouch like its nothing, its rediculous you guys pass that up. Its like the US team bashing Donovan its clueless and baseless.

I mean naturally for a team in this state theres going to be some cullings, and everyone's first on the list is Beckham. Why not Lampard, SWP, even injury riddled Owen with players like The Walcott emerging and Crouch playing a more integral part to the team?

its not just about picking new ********** and sexy names, thats what got England in trouble in the first place. pick the best TEAM not the best players.
http://web3.knallgrau.at/static/twoday_stable05/bmworacleracing/images/wtf.jpg

[Placid Casual]

why are you guys so hell bent on getting rid of Beckham??? This team had absolutely no bite until he came onto the pitch, his crosses are absolutely indespensable and there isnt anyone coming through the pipes that is remotely close of replicating it. This guy still needs to start, it would have likely been a different result if he did. Just the sheer principle of him picking out Crouch like its nothing, its rediculous you guys pass that up. Its like the US team bashing Donovan its clueless and baseless.

I mean naturally for a team in this state theres going to be some cullings, and everyone's first on the list is Beckham. Why not Lampard, SWP, even injury riddled Owen with players like The Walcott emerging and Crouch playing a more integral part to the team?

its not just about picking new ********** and sexy names, thats what got England in trouble in the first place. pick the best TEAM not the best players.

Any chance of having this in English instead of spazzo?

[Prenn]

why are you guys so hell bent on getting rid of Beckham??? This team had absolutely no bite until he came onto the pitch, his crosses are absolutely indespensable and there isnt anyone coming through the pipes that is remotely close of replicating it. This guy still needs to start, it would have likely been a different result if he did. Just the sheer principle of him picking out Crouch like its nothing, its rediculous you guys pass that up. Its like the US team bashing Donovan its clueless and baseless.

I mean naturally for a team in this state theres going to be some cullings, and everyone's first on the list is Beckham. Why not Lampard, SWP, even injury riddled Owen with players like The Walcott emerging and Crouch playing a more integral part to the team?

its not just about picking new ********** and sexy names, thats what got England in trouble in the first place. pick the best TEAM not the best players.

Captain ego offers a few good crosses mixed with plenty of poor set pieces, position indiscipline and little mobility. When Croatia started to press after we made it 2-2 we were unable to push out because of the lack of pace on the wings, that's what Beckham brings.

Beckham's time in the team is over, he may get his 100 caps in March and that will be it.