World Cup Draw

[janaage]

Probably.

[RobertT]

I've previously hated the bloke, but I have to say Beckham is the only player right now I would say deserves a spot.  He so clearly wants to do well for England and is still a good quality player (so no coming back with the "I would want to play for England but that doesn't mean I should" arguments").

For me we should almost assume we will not qualify and assume even if we do we will not bein with a shout.  The that allows us to spend the next 2-3 years sorting out our National structure.  We have to sit down and really figure out if we give a fuck about England or if Chelsea can sign another couple of foreign talents to play in their reserves.

If it's the first option then we gut the team, backroom and youth set-up etc,  Start again from the bottom up.  Give the Manager all power to piss off team managers, get a group of players together who would rather tplay for England than be concerned if they get a bit tired for a league game.  Sort out the youth set-up right from the very bottom.  Quite frankly it's the way I would go but I fear people will continue to be brainwashed into the Sky TV League view that it's all about Bolton vs Wigan on a Sunday at 4.05pm.  The balance has gone to far this way I fear and we'll just have to accept England is like a day off for the players.

[Colin Todd]

I can't imagine Becks still playing in 2010 to be honest.

MEANT QUALIFIERS

Whats the point?  If someone isnt going to play in WC2010 (if we qualify) then they should'nt be playing in the qualifiers, especially as we have quite a few half decent young right wingers that may improve with experience

But surely you should play the players that will give you the best chance of qualifying first.  Worry about the WC when/if you get there.

Just seems a bit illogical to me. It seems like a perfect opportunity to thank some of the old guard like Campbell and Beckham for theior efforts and give some youngsters a try. Despite the bollocks about us not producing young talent, the likes of Bentley, Young, Agbonlahor, Taylor have real promise to me and should now be given a chance.

[neville w]

I can't imagine Becks still playing in 2010 to be honest.

MEANT QUALIFIERS

Whats the point?  If someone isnt going to play in WC2010 (if we qualify) then they should'nt be playing in the qualifiers, especially as we have quite a few half decent young right wingers that may improve with experience

But surely you should play the players that will give you the best chance of qualifying first.  Worry about the WC when/if you get there.

I see the point, but the qualifiers don't even start until next September. How many proper games do you think Beckham will complete in the meantime ?

[reeves4england]

I can't imagine Becks still playing in 2010 to be honest.

MEANT QUALIFIERS

Whats the point?  If someone isnt going to play in WC2010 (if we qualify) then they should'nt be playing in the qualifiers, especially as we have quite a few half decent young right wingers that may improve with experience

But surely you should play the players that will give you the best chance of qualifying first.  Worry about the WC when/if you get there.

Just seems a bit illogical to me. It seems like a perfect opportunity to thank some of the old guard like Campbell and Beckham for theior efforts and give some youngsters a try. Despite the bollocks about us not producing young talent, the likes of Bentley, Young, Agbonlahor, Taylor have real promise to me and should now be given a chance.

So we play Carson, Richards, SWP, Barry, Agbonlahor, Bentley and Young and Drop Robinson/James, Neville, Beckham et al purely on the basis that they might not be playing for England in 3 years time?

I accept your point - when Sven took charge he completely shook it up and got results. But I'd still play the best XI at that given time in a any competitive fixture

[STFC_Gazzza]

I can't imagine Becks still playing in 2010 to be honest.

MEANT QUALIFIERS

Whats the point?  If someone isnt going to play in WC2010 (if we qualify) then they should'nt be playing in the qualifiers, especially as we have quite a few half decent young right wingers that may improve with experience

But surely you should play the players that will give you the best chance of qualifying first.  Worry about the WC when/if you get there.

I see the point, but the qualifiers don't even start until next September. How many proper games do you think Beckham will complete in the meantime ?

Surprisingly about the same as players from the Premier League. The MLS season starts in the Spring I think and therefore he will play through the Summer getting match fitness etc and be at his best for the qualifiers.

[janaage]

I think a recent problem with england has been, people seem to get carried away about players like Micah Richards, Lescott, Agbonlahor, Bentley and others.

It's like they watch certain youngster play on Match of The Day and think what a star in the making, he's quality.  This isn't helped by Hansen, Shearer Lawrenson banging on about them week in week out either.

The truth is Richards, Lescott and agbonlahor haven't competed at the Champo League or UEFA Cup level on a regular basis, maybe a year?  They haven't competed at Premiership level for that long.  the Russians, Croatians, Italians, Germans, French all have champions league experience which helps.

Even the Scottish side now has a number of players who are playing either SPL/EPL each week, or playing in Europe on a regular basis.  The problem with us is strength in depth - we have none.

I know England have their stars but the youngsters shouldn't be relied upon so heavily, imho.

[Colin Todd]

I can't imagine Becks still playing in 2010 to be honest.

MEANT QUALIFIERS

Whats the point?  If someone isnt going to play in WC2010 (if we qualify) then they should'nt be playing in the qualifiers, especially as we have quite a few half decent young right wingers that may improve with experience

But surely you should play the players that will give you the best chance of qualifying first.  Worry about the WC when/if you get there.

Just seems a bit illogical to me. It seems like a perfect opportunity to thank some of the old guard like Campbell and Beckham for theior efforts and give some youngsters a try. Despite the bollocks about us not producing young talent, the likes of Bentley, Young, Agbonlahor, Taylor have real promise to me and should now be given a chance.

So we play Carson, Richards, SWP, Barry, Agbonlahor, Bentley and Young and Drop Robinson/James, Neville, Beckham et al purely on the basis that they might not be playing for England in 3 years time?

I accept your point - when Sven took charge he completely shook it up and got results. But I'd still play the best XI at that given time in a any competitive fixture

Yes. (except Barry isnt that young and i'd play Hargereaves instead if fit but thats not really my point)

Back to the point, I'm not suggesting ditching the whole squad as it stands now - as we've seen our 2nd choice back 4 really isnt very good, and the 1st choice players are all of the right age to be playing in WC2010. Our older players will be another 10 months older by the time of our next competitive game and closer to the scrapheap. We should try and intergrate some of the young talent into the 1st team along with the players we have who SHOULD be quality, Gerrard, Rooney, Terry, Ferdinand etc

McLaren would rather have capped Phil Neville again or called up Defoe who cant even get a game for spurs. I understand the point about lack of experience, but what better way to give players that are not at CL clubs experience than get them in and around teh nation team 1st XI. Agbonlahor for example is playing every game for Villa and is top Scoring Englishman in the premiership. Defoe has done fuck all for about 18 monts now, unless you count scoreing in the league cup and againts no mark opposition in the UEFA

[RobertT]

Jan, has Scotland benefited from having the young player quote thingy they have in the SPL?

[flammableBen]

The only way England is going gain the depth of experience at high levels is to encourage young players to play abroad.

[Colin Todd]

The only way England is going gain the depth of experience at high levels is to encourage young players to play abroad.

That is also a good point. They might actually learn something about ball retention

[axs]

and simulation.

[Colin Todd]

and simulation.

Indeed. Even the quality of our diving is poor. I'm looking at you Joe Cole

[Colin Todd]

and simulation.

Indeed. Even the quality of our diving is poor. I'm looking at you Joe Cole

[axs]

thats nothing, decent european players can get through a good 3 acts of showmanship and an interval in the middle.