Sven Picks His England Squad

[Illuminattile]

Goalkeepers:
Paul Robinson, David James, Robert Green

Defenders:
Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Jamie Carragher, Sol Campbell, Wayne Bridge

Midfielders:
David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steve Gerrard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves, Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon, Stewart Downing

Forwards:
Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Theo Walcott(!)

Stand-By: Scott Carson (goalkeeper), Luke Young (defender), Nigel Reo-Coker (midfielder), Jermain Defoe (forward), Andy Johnson (forward)

The inclusions of Lennon and Downing were surprising enough, but Walcott? He hasn't played a single game for Arsenal since signing for them, how does he make the team over Darren Bent?

 

[DPG iz all I C]

Im truely shocked, Bent must be gutted.

also why does Hargreaves constantly get picked ? hes terrible IMO

 

[Sebastian]

lol@ picking wayne rooney

 

[DPG iz all I C]

lol@ picking wayne rooney

Its only a provisional squad he can drop Rooney out it if he is not going to be fit.

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

^and Owen.

Walcott over Bent? WTF...Bent was the highest English goal scorer and hes replaced for a player who's unproven in the Premiership AND Championship...Wow...

Defoe should possibly of been picked also.

Reo-coker > Hargreaves

 

[k69atie]

Goalkeepers:
Paul Robinson, David James, Robert Green

Defenders:
Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Jamie Carragher, Sol Campbell, Wayne Bridge

Midfielders:
David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steve Gerrard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves, Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon, Stewart Downing

Forwards:
Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Theo Walcott(!)

Stand-By: Scott Carson (goalkeeper), Luke Young (defender), Nigel Reo-Coker (midfielder), Jermain Defoe (forward), Andy Johnson (forward)

The inclusions of Lennon and Downing were surprising enough, but Walcott? He hasn't played a single game for Arsenal since signing for them, how does he make the team over Darren Bent?

i was thinking the same when i heard this on the news.

bent is quite good, but this walcott he has never even played! I feel sorry for bent

 

[DPG iz all I C]

^and Owen.

Walcott over Bent? WTF...Bent was the highest English goal scorer and hes replaced for a player who's unproven in the Premiership AND Championship...Wow...

Defoe should possibly of been picked also.

Reo-coker > Hargreaves

Agreed, also Kevin Nolan > Hargreaves.

I still think Bent will be brought in to the squad, possibly in place of a midfielder since there is no need for 9 midfielders.

But the reason i think he picked 9 midfielders is because he will play Gerrard behind the striker (if Rooney doesnt make it)

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

True, that might work, im glad Lennon got picked however he offeres something different with his pace..SWP must be kicking himself for joining Chelsea lol. He probably be in the England squad if he stayed with Man City.

btw i still have no idea why Hargreaves gets picked....

 

[DPG iz all I C]

True, that might work, im glad Lennon got picked however he offeres something different with his pace..SWP must be kicking himself for joining Chelsea lol. He probably be in the England squad if he stayed with Man City.

btw i still have no idea why Hargreaves gets picked....

Because he plays for a 'big team'

 

[Bobby Sands]

What a joke.

Imagine if Rooney doesnt make it,and Owen breaks down in the first match,which is very possible.England are fucked.

Only a god damn fool would select that squad.

 

[Illuminattile]

This isn't the final squad. If it was abundantly clear that Owen or Rooney (or Jenas, who's picked up an injury) wasn't going to make it they could be replaced.

I'm really hoping Sven comes to his senses before picking the finalised squad. With Rooney a major doubt and Owen possibly not 100%, having Crouch and Walcott - two players who aren't proven top-level goalscorers - is risky. If Rooney and Owen were fighting fit, it might be OK to take Theo as a surprise package.

If we take the Mourinho approach and look at two players for each position (plus a third keeper), and assume that Rooney won't even make the latter stages, I'd go with this squad:

Robinson/James (/Green)
Neville/Carragher, Rio/King, Terry/Brown, A. Cole/Bridge
Beckham/Lennon, Gerrard/Carrick, Lampard/Reo-Coker, J. Cole/Downing
Owen/Defoe, Bent/Crouch

Not the strongest England side, but better than Sven's.

 

[troublesome2004]

It's a shame that Bent isn't on this list. However, I'm suprised with Barton & Richardson absence even as stand-bys.

 

[Pittsey]

I like Sven. But WTF.

 

[Mr Matt]

I'm beginning to wish I could get my 50 quid bet back that I put on England to win the World Cup months ago. It's fucking unlucky that two of our four forwards are injured, and Walcott?! That was a suprise; he hasn't even played a minute of Premiership football, has he?

I was kinda expecting Sven to pick Wright-Philips too as he had a great game against Uraguay a couple of months ago, so I was shocked when he wasn't even in the standby list.

Nice to see that Norwich's Robert Green is still substitute keeper, he's had enough bloody practice recently though! I'd pick him over Calamity any day.

Sven's taking a big gamble and I really hope it pays off. I'm praying that Rooney and Owen get fit for the tournament however I think we sill stand a good chance without them and these tournaments can be a bit of a lottery sometimes, so I'm still really excited to watch it.

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

Richardson is good, but i dunno about international class but if Walcott is in....

Meh Bent shouldve been picked.

 

[Pittsey]

Richardson hasn't had enough chance to prove himself. But he plays on the left and has played outstanding whenever he has pulled on an England jersey. Downing however has been annonymous when he has.

 

[Taliq]

I hope the final squad selection is different than this. Is Sven having a homosexual affiar with Wenger? Wenger says include Walcott and Sven goes and includes him. And I'm with the majority here that Hargreaves is wank..I've yet to see him play a good game for England and he's only had 14 starts for Bayern Munich this season. Why does everything have to be done the hard way with Sven?

 

[Bobby Sands]

England could easily go out in the group stages.Paraguay and Sweden are well capable of beating them.

 

[Jibster]

This is the most exciting England squad for a long time. The only players i'd change would be Jenas for Defoe or Bent and Hargreaves for Nolan. Apart fromm that it's bang on and i think SGE has made a good move with Walcott. Just check out YouTube for his clips. Lightening quick, two good feet, can run at pace with the ball. Scored at every level he's played for England including under 21s and technically very good.

Another major plus point must be how keen Wenger was to spend big bucks on him and get him learning under Henry asap. The boy will have a stormer at the WC, imagine being a tiring defender when England bring on Walcott and Lennon, scary shit!

Although, i am bias as i put £10 on him to get in the squad at 33-1 when all the top clubs were after him, i'm just praying he doesn't get injured!

 

[Pittsey]

Lennon and Walcott both have potential and it's a brave move by Sven. If Rooney Isn't fit for the first games I'd be happy to blood either 1 of them and leave Rooney at home.