Thetownend.com

If you had to pick Englands World Cup 23 man squad now who would you pick?

My 23:

Paul Robinson
David James
Chris Kirkland

Gary Neville
Jamie Carragher
John Terry
Sol Campbell
Rio Ferdinand
Ledley King
Ashley Cole
Wayne Bridge

David Beckham
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Steven Gerrard
Frank Lampard
Michael Carrick
Scott Parker
Joe Cole

Michael Owen
Wayne Rooney
Jermain Defoe
Peter Crouch
Darius Vassell

Looking at that, my only worry is the lack of a left winger, id be tempted to drop one of Vassell or Defoe for a left winger if we had one!!

I wreckon joe cole would be up for having a crack down the left wing or cole .

Surely he'll be up front for T & T!!

No for Johnson, but i think if Bent carries on his form, then we should take him. Croucho Marx should go, imho

Think Richard Wright may have an outside chance of a goalkeeping spot, either for Calamity (preferred option) or more likely Kirkland will be injured.

 I wouldn't take SWP.....and only one of Defoe or Vassell


 Alan Smith might just get a place.

Im not Crouches biggest fan, but BWB is correct when saying he adds something different, the defender keep an eye on him and wait for the long ball.

Beckham completely ignores Crouch and slots it through to Owen who scores.....

He is shit, but effective

We can't have Andy Johnson in the team, he's playing in the championship and not doing anything amazing, he wasn't that amazing last year, just scored a lot of penalties.

I would say Darren Bent instead of Vassell, other than about right but Defoe is having a poor season so far and isn't playing much at the moment so it depends on the rest of the season whether he makes it.

Agree with Reg, it's Defoe or Vassell not both. I prefer Defoe but Vassell is in better form right now.

Crouchy is a must, nice quote from hansen on the bbc website



He can do the same for England.

Joe Cole is fine for the left and if he can't play then Gerrard can can play there.

Or you could even shove ashley cole there and put wayne bridge into left back if we get desprate.

Id agree, id rather take another left sided player than both Vassell and Defoe....as if you look I have two players for every position just about apart from left wing...but other than Stewart Downing who is there?

I'd have Bent upfront...

Oh Teddy Teddy
Teddy Teddy Teddy Sheringham

There's no cover in DV's squad for Gary Neville at RB - I think Luke Young may be in the squad to cover this.

Usual squad is 3 GK, 2 RB, 2 LB, 4 CB, 4CM, 2 RM, 2LM, 4 CF

Interesting thought Reg, Richard Wright ? He cant get his place back from 39 year Nigel Martin so on what basis could he be included in a world cup squad? I would rather take Robert Green and Nigel Martin than Sick note Kirkland and Calamity James.

Goalkeepers should be Robinson (No 1), James (No 2), Green (for experience)
Unfortunately only Robbo and James have international experience (more than 1 game)
No-one else does apart from Nigel Martyn....

Jamie Carragher can play anywhere across the back 4, Rio could play right back and I believe Shaun Wright-Phillips has played that role before to



Martin is injured, so Wright is getting a run in the Everton team...made a few good saves yesterday.

Robert Green is awful

Not sure who I'd leave out/include but I'd certainly look at Murphy, and for the Physical prescence Heskey maybe although he's struggled to repeat his early season form.  Hargreaves is a decent utility player who could do defence and midfield jobs and is undoubtedly a better bet than Phil Neville if a utility player is needed.  Alan Smith better not go, the guys an average striker and has been a midfielder for about 5 minutes, nowhere near as good as the likes of Parker.  A decent outside bet fot make the squad is Reo-Coker, at the expence of someone like Carrick, as it looks like Sven will persist to ignore Murphy however well he does.

So Wright-Phillips vs Ronaldinho ?!? I'd prefer to take an alternative specialist right back as cover for Neville, rather than say so and so could play there....
Remember Danny Mills played the whole WC tournament at right back last time out, cos Neville was injured....

But there isnt anyone good enough, Luke Young is not up to that standard in my opinion.

If we did come up against Brazil id have Rio Ferdinand man mark Rolandinho then play a back 4 myself...

Luke Young is fine.  I would leave SWP, as i think he's actually quite poor.

Ledley King HAS to go too.

On recent form, Dawson could possibly sneak in if there are injuries near the time.

im still in favour of trying cole down the left, basically does when he is apprantley 'defending'

i would agree with that line up dv85, except vassell for bent (depends on form obviously!)

I don't think we should take anyone who hasn't already got some international experience or has played with the rest of the England team at somepoint - it doesn't work.

His squad is nearly finalised and people like Dawson won't get a look in and rightly so....

he is still young, Euro 2008!

I'd keep Carragher out and Young in. I would also include Downing providing he can get some form after his injury. I still think a natural left footer will be better than playing a right footer on the left, even if he isn't as good.

Up front I would leave Johnson out and take Bent and Crouchy, as well as Owen, Rooney and Defoe.

Theo Walcott For the win

cant believe you wouldnt take carragher