Ive never bought into the opinion that Gerrard and Lampard dont work together, i think thats sometimes just an easy excuse to turn to when England lose.

Totally agree on Lampard mate, I am a big fan and I cant understand how he ever got criticism - consistently getting around 20 goals from midfield every season is a massive achievement.

As good as Milner has been I just dont think you can leave Gerrard out and considering Cappello has yet to play Milner in the centre I doubt hes suddenly gonna play him there now in place of Gerrard.

An average player who is in form is still an average player.

There are not many options and he certainly used to be a top midfield player, but he's been very mediocre this season. If he's out of form and continues that way in the WC, then he should be dropped without hesitation.

I think thats what he was getting at

I was obviously referring to picking in form players who are nipping at the heels of the incumbents and not the likes of Zamora (who is mediocre even when in form).

Ahh right I get ya BIK - sorry ive just got up!!

Zamora and Carlton Cole up front. Job done.

Heskey, Crouch and Davies on the subs bench. Sounds good to me.

At the risk of being shot with shite. Wonder how Carroll would fair with top flight service.

Guess we'll have to wait and see

Well considering how he has done this season, then id say its a fair assumption he would do better with better service.

Personally I think hes a better all round player than Crouch in that he can actually head a ball well but I cant see Capello taking a risk on an unknown and I wouldnt really expect him to.

Debatable as to wether he would get in ahead of Crouch but id certainly have him in ahead of Heskey

If England are going to the World Cup to have a crack at winning it, and I don't see the point in going at all if we're not, then we have to play our top class players and hope they hit form at the right time. If we play lesser players just because they have played well in the Prem over the last couple of months then we'll never have a chance of getting to the latter stages. We need Gerrard, Lampard, Joe Cole, etc. to play as they are the match winners and have skills and experience far beyond the likes of Young, Walcott, Lennon, etc.

For me we need to play the following:

---------- Green/James ------------

Johnson - Terry - Ferdinand - Cole

--------- Barry - Lampard ---------

Milner ------ Gerrard ------- Cole

------------- Rooney --------------


However, I think we will line up like this:

---------- Green/James ------------

Johnson - Terry - Ferdinand - Cole

Cole - Barry - Lampard - Gerrard

--------- Rooney - Heskey ---------

(J Cole could actually be one of several options on the right, though)

Todays spot of World Cup news - Torres could miss opener

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/w...010/8660437.stm

I think we are all well aware that missing the opener means he probably won't be match fit for the whole tournament. Bad news for Spain.

Massive blow for them, and given Spains mental fragility in major championships over the years this could push them over the edge again

Along with Inesta, Xavi and Cesc who are all doubts or not 100% fit if they do go.

no way! people underestimate crouch because of his height, but actually his techincal ability on the ball is a lot better than people give him credit for, (eg. his run on saturday) + he can hold the ball up better than heskey, I'm sorry but I'd have crouch anyday over carroll

"Good touch for a big bloke" damned by faint praise. Carroll is already a better player all round than Crouching Peter Hidden Talent, don't be fooled by the odd moment of "brilliance" remember the number of missed sitters, miscontrol's inability to see anybody let alone find them with a decent pass when he "holds the ball up", oh and last but not least the fact that he couldn't head a balloon at a party.

I like Crouch and think he is a very good player but having seen Carroll this season, i'm happy to say that i think we have a star on our hands.

With a decent service (which England wont have without Beckham), Carroll has the potential to go on to be one of the greats in my opinion.

Difference between him and Crouch is that he can win headers without fouling.

Wasnt really talking about Crouch's technical ability mate, he is a more than decent player on the deck. My issue with him is that for a big guy he is pretty shite in the air and more often than not just gives away free kicks.

Carroll is miles better in the air and the difference in that sense between him and Crouch is much greater than the difference between them on the deck as Carroll is certainly no mug with his feet even if not quite as good as Crouch.

For me Carroll's heading ability makes him a better option if Capello wants to take a target man.

And that is probably why we've seen in the news recently about Capello taking an interest in Carroll's progress despite playing at Championship level. I would agree that he has a better footballing ability than Crouch and certainly better than Heskey. He could play a good holding forward role behind Rooney in an England XI.

It may sound like me bigging up Carroll but when you hear of interest from a number of PL sides (most notably Everton) it must mean that we have a potential star in our ranks

There is no doubt that Carroll has the potential to become a great number 9 - if he can keep out of trouble!

Crouch looks gangly and awkward. His club strike rate is not great - 1 goal in every 3.5 games (poorer than Ameobi's) but he scores goals for fun for England.

There is nothing to say that Carroll wouldn't do as well, if not better, than Crouch for England but I cannot see Capello taking the gamble.

Having said that, Carlton Cole is crocked, Heskey has hardly played, Defoe has been woeful, Zamora is struggling with injuries and we will all breathe a sigh of relief if Rooney survives the weekend without further injuries.

Bent has made a good case for inclusion in the squad (even if he does play for the mackems) and, if there are any more injuries, Carroll could be a shock inclusion.

This is a strange set of posts - there is no way in hell that Carroll will be in the squad.

Have to agree with you, it's really odd. One season in the championship, a few goals for the team that finished top of the table... how can you start talking about him being picked for the world cup?

I think that picture of him from the 50cent concert would bring people back down to earth
and btw he wasn't even prolific this season he scored 19 in 42 appearances

Not to mention that a butterfly flapping its wings in leazes park seems to send him to ground, he falls over for fun

Nobody has said he should go to the world cup, they're just syaing he has more ability than Crouch and will be a better player than Crouch - which he will.

19 in 42 is nearly a 1:2 goal per game ratio - how fucking much more do you want?

That's a good tally - in the Championship.
Let's see what he can do in the Prem.

In fairness, most of those goals came in the second half of the season, enough to add weight to the argument that he is a fast-improving player. He won't score as many next season, but I wouldn't be surprised if he got into double figures.

Spot on mate, nobody has said he should be going to the world cup and he wont but when you actually look at it, if you were going on current form then apart from Rooney or Bent then it wouldnt be such a crazy idea.

Definitely has the potential if he can keep out of trouble and develop a couple of bits of his game.

He certainly has more chance of making the world cup squad than any fucking Blackburn player

That Adam Johnson lad looked pretty handy last night.
I wonder if Capello is wondering whether he made a mistake leaving out of the squad for the Egypt game.

Cappello has mentioned him, i think he will get a run out against either Mexico or Japan in the last 2 games before the World Cup.

Barry may be out of the WC now with ankle injury. Might not be that big a loss, but considering Hargreaves isn't fit and Carrick has had an awful season, it doesn't leave many defencive options in midfield... Parker?

Certainly not gonna lose any sleep over the loss of Barry.

Danny Guthrie??

huddlestone for me

Agreed

Guthrie is too good for England anyway, hes holding out for a spanish Grandma to be discovered

Barry would be a huge loss to the England WC campaign IMO. He'd be a starting player for me as he always plays well when he starts for England. Huddlestone would probably be a good replacement but has he even got a cap?

England games on the box -

England matches (all times GMT)

Saturday 12 June, 1930
England v US (ITV1)

Friday 18 June, 1930
England v Algeria (ITV1)

Wednesday 23 June, 1500
Slovenia v England (BBC One)

Further matches to be confirmed

Full list - its only about 35 more sleeps :)

Full group match list

June 11 1500: South Africa v Mexico (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - ITV

June 11 1930: Uruguay v France (Cape Town) - BBC

June 12 1230: South Korea v Greece (Port Elizabeth) - ITV

June 12 1500: Argentina v Nigeria (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - BBC

June 12 1930: England v US (Rustenburg) - ITV

June 13 1230: Algeria v Slovenia (Polokwane) - BBC

June 13 1500: Serbia v Ghana (Pretoria) - ITV

June 13 1930: Germany v Australia (Durban) - ITV

June 14 1230: Holland v Denmark (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - ITV

June 14 1500: Japan v Cameroon (Bloemfontein) - BBC

June 14 1930: Italy v Paraguay (Cape Town) - BBC

June 15 1230: New Zealand v Slovakia (Rustenburg) - BBC

June 15 1500: Ivory Coast v Portugal (Port Elizabeth) - ITV

June 15 1930: Brazil v North Korea (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - ITV

June 16 1230: Honduras v Chile (Nelspruit) - ITV

June 16 1500: Spain v Switzerland (Durban) - BBC

June 16 1930: South Africa v Uruguay (Pretoria) - BBC

June 17 1230: Argentina v South Korea (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - ITV

June 17 1500: Greece v Nigeria (Bloemfontein) - BBC

June 17 1930: France v Mexico (Polokwane) - BBC

June 18 1230: Germany v Serbia (Port Elizabeth) - BBC

June 18 1500: Slovenia v US (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - BBC

June 18 1930: England v Algeria (Cape Town) - ITV

June 19 1230: Holland v Japan (Durban) - ITV

June 19 1500: Ghana v Australia (Rustenburg) - BBC

June 19 1930: Cameroon v Denmark (Pretoria) - ITV

June 20 1230: Slovakia v Paraguay (Bloemfontein) - BBC

June 20 1500: Italy v New Zealand (Nelspruit) - ITV

June 20 1930: Brazil v Ivory Coast (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - BBC

June 21 1230: Portugal v North Korea (Cape Town) - BBC

June 21 1500: Chile v Switzerland (Port Elizabeth) - BBC

June 21 1930: Spain v Honduras (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - ITV

June 22 1500: Mexico v Uruguay (Rustenburg) - ITV

June 22 1500: France v South Africa (Bloemfontein) - ITV

June 22 1930: Nigeria v South Korea (Durban) - BBC

June 22 1930: Greece v Argentina (Polokwane) - BBC

June 23 1500: Slovenia v England (Port Elizabeth) - BBC

June 23 1500: US v Algeria (Pretoria) - BBC

June 23 1930: Australia v Serbia (Nelspruit) - ITV

June 23 1930: Ghana v Germany (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - ITV

June 24 1500: Slovakia v Italy (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - ITV

June 24 1500: Paraguay v New Zealand (Polokwane) - ITV

June 24 1930: Denmark v Japan (Rustenburg) - BBC

June 24 1930: Cameroon v Holland (Cape Town) - BBC

June 25 1500: Portugal v Brazil (Durban) - BBC

June 25 1500: North Korea v Ivory Coast (Nelspruit) - BBC

June 25 1930: Chile v Spain (Pretoria) - ITV

June 25 1930: Switzerland v Honduras (Bloemfontein) - ITV

Not sure he would be a huge loss, there are plenty of adequate replacements for me. Obviously would prefer him fit than not fit but I wouldnt say defensive midfielder is a key position that is going to really effect the team.

If the papers are to beleived Carragher is going to come out of international retirement for the world cup. The biggest tosser to ever wear and england shirt

Hopefully bollocks - apart from being a tosser he is shit and actually worse than the lilkes of Lescott, Upson etc

Season over. 30 man provisional squad to be annouced tomorrow. I reckon it will be this:

GK's - Green, James, Robinson, Hart.

Defenders - G.Johnson, Terry, Rio, A.Cole, Dawson, King, Baines, Upson, Brown/Neville*

Midfielders - Gerrard, Lampard, J.Cole, Lennon, Carrick, Barry, A.Johnson, Walcott, Huddlestone, Milner.

Forwards - Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Heskey, Bent, Zamora, Agbonlahor.

* Injury depending.

hope your right ^ that looks a good squad

As long as Carragher isnt in the squad im not that fussed - he gets back in i think ill switch my allegiance

We're going to need some seriously good luck or at least several players finding the form of their life from somewhere to have any hope. In my humble opinion, of course.

Yeah definitely mate.

Throughout the qualification with the good results I was going into the tournament fairly confident - not of winning it but doing ok but when you stand back and actually look at the potential squad on paper bar about 3 or 4 players its actually pretty poor.

Like you say just hope some people can find some form and step up to the plate and surprise us.

It sounds daft to say it, but ever since Beckham got injured I just feel less confident aout England's chances. I wouldn't have even had him as a starter but that injury plus a downturn in form from several players and fatigue setting in just saps me of any confidence all of a sudden. I assume we have a couple of warm up games before the tournament so there's plenty of time for me to get my false hopes back up before the first ball is kicked in South Africa.

Yeah totally with you on all of that mate.

They have friendlies coming up against Mexico and Japan, like you say hopefully a couple of moral boosting performances will inspire my confidence again.

If all our key players are fit then with some luck we may be able to get a bit further than usual but just dont think we have the depth or enough quality in all positions really.

All I want from the World Cup is for England to fucking hump the US 'soccer loving muther fuckers' 7 or 8 nil. I cannot stand those fat, waddling, fast food eating cunts and their 'we are mighter than thou' attitude.

Also they are all fucking morons!

That is my humble, and biased opinion and no-one will change that!