Euro 2012 - England

[DV]

DV is evidently a pain in the arse sometimes, but i agree with him and jonny on this England thing. If the old guard bottled it and were shit in tournaments when they were in their prime, what makes anyone think they'd be any use this time round now they're ageing and in the twilights of their careers? I'd throw Barry in with the Gerrard/Lampard/Terry/Ferdinand. And even maybe Ashley Cole if his club form persists.

I'd have thrown in Ashley Cole if I could have found another left back. Up till now Cole has been a very good solid player (in a way similar to Gary Neville) but he's been poor the last year but who else is there? Stephen Warnock?

I'd stick with Barry - he was never hyped up as a golden boy. He's very workman like, good on the ball, good distribution but generally goes unnoticed. There is a reason why he still gets into Manchester City's star studded multi hundred million pound team.

On that note - I've not even mentioned Joe Cole. If he was playing regular football and playing well out in France I'd consider him. Mainly because he is one of those players who can change games.

My striking options do you look poor but what other choices are there? Defoe can't get a game for Spurs. The likes of Zamora, Crouch, Davies and Jay fucking Bothroyd are never ever going to be top class players and none of them are going to get better or have anything to do with England in 2 years time.

Andy Carroll I think is a good player. However, players are always better when they are playing every week (see Scott Parker Chelsea/West Ham or SWP Man City/Chelsea/Man City/QPR) if he starts hitting form for Liverpool then I'd take him. Shouldn't have left Newcastle.

Walcott and Lennon are pretty much all pace and little end product and always will be.

Has anyone ever told Tans how hilarious and witty he is? A successful future in stand up comedy no doubt.

[LucienSanchez]

Leighton Baines at LB? Consistent performer with good set-piece delivery (lacking since Beckham)?

[DV]

Leighton Baines at LB? Consistent performer with good set-piece delivery (lacking since Beckham)?

He's in my squad.

23 man squad - 3 keepers and 2 for every position. So Baines and who else if not Cole?

[tans]

Yeah i get told all the time.

fWIW i agree with you on this england thing

[Bob's Orange]

Anyone out of the current Under 21 setup think has a chance as a wild card (Oxlade-Chamberlain for example)?

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

I'd like to think that given the team that was put out in the recent games, Capello agrees about the old duffers.

No doubt though, they'll all be on the plane next year.

#

It's why I've lost so much interest in England now. No matter what Capello does or says the oldies are always back in the team for the next competitve game. What's the point? Tried, tested and failed. No point in playing the young players in friendlies only either.

Gerrard is past it, Lampard isn't far behind. Ferdinand has been a liability for some time now, Terry is a joke off the pitch and shouldn't be captain. Phil Jones, Micah Richards, Cahill, Walker could easily be our back 4 and a decent one at that. Potentially the likes of King and Lescott as well. We don't even need Terry or Ferdinand imo.

Midfield has plenty of potential as well. Rodwell, Johnson, Wilshere etc.

The big problem is the strikers. Wellbeck and Sturridge are the only strikers i'd really want in the team next summer. The rest of our options are utter garbage and that includes Rooney who is well below his best in whenever he puts and England shirt on.

[jonny72]

Whilst we're getting rid of the players that are past it, I'm in favour of getting rid of Capello now as well.

Replace him with Holloway, we won't win (no change there) but at least it will be fun. For double the enjoyment, appoint Di Canio as the part-time assistant. The two of them spouting incomprehensible bollocks would be such a head fuck for other countries we'd win some games just from the confusion it would create.

[Baggins]

#

It's why I've lost so much interest in England now. No matter what Capello does or says the oldies are always back in the team for the next competitve game. What's the point? Tried, tested and failed. No point in playing the young players in friendlies only either.

Gerrard is past it, Lampard isn't far behind. Ferdinand has been a liability for some time now, Terry is a joke off the pitch and shouldn't be captain. Phil Jones, Micah Richards, Cahill, Walker could easily be our back 4 and a decent one at that. Potentially the likes of King and Lescott as well. We don't even need Terry or Ferdinand imo.

Midfield has plenty of potential as well. Rodwell, Johnson, Wilshere etc.

The big problem is the strikers. Wellbeck and Sturridge are the only strikers i'd really want in the team next summer. The rest of our options are utter garbage and that includes Rooney who is well below his best in whenever he puts and England shirt on.

I think the last paragraph is a bit harsh on our strikers.  Granted, they're not world class, but Bent and Defoe are worth having around as they do get goals.  I think I'm the only one in the world who rates Agbonlahor.  Rooney has to be taken - if we get through the groups he's the best player we have. 

As I said - not world class, but certainly not garbage.

[flammableBen]

Where's gazzza and a post about taking Beckham when you need it?

[Swindon Please Win]

The group draw is on at around 5pm I believe. Hoping for a tough group, so we can't fluke getting through and then struggle in the Knockouts.

[Baggins]

The group draw is on at around 5pm I believe. Hoping for a tough group, so we can't fluke getting through and then struggle in the Knockouts.

You want us to lose earlier?  I'd rather we got as far as we can.

[Swindon Please Win]

No, I want us to start from game one and playing the better teams we mean we have to, We struggled in the World Cup group because it looked easy on paper and the players were far too complacent.

[Baggins]

Ah, I see.  I missed your point entirely - apologies.

[jonny72]

A strong group would increase the chances of Rooney being left behind, so I'm all for it.

[Reg Smeeton]

The group draw is on at around 5pm I believe. Hoping for a tough group, so we can't fluke getting through and then struggle in the Knockouts.

The groups stages of Euros tend to be tougher than those of the WC, which is why outside of 96, we normally struggle since the format was changed in the 80's.