Oh well, 4 out of 6 Spurs players in the squad aint bad I guess ;-)
Feel gutted for Dawson. Never given a chance, deserves to be going instead of both Upson and Carragher but Capello's clearly gone with experience. He's still got time on his side. As for Huddlestone, bless him but his lack of mobility was clearly evident against the Japanese on Sunday.
As for those above up in arms over Defoe's inclusion over Bent, take into consideration that if Rooney does (god forbid) get injured, Capello will likely play 4-4-2, then presumably Crouch plays with Defoe as they do at Spurs with Lennon wide right. Can see the sense in that. As a forward pairing in the Prem, Crouch/Defoe have got a relatively good goals per game ratio and both have a good understanding with Lennon. However, I really would have took Bent too. Dont agree with taking only 4 forwards but Capello does have other options to play either Gerrard or Joe Cole behind a front man if needed.
As for Theomg Lolcott. Good. The most overrated right sided player in the Premiership and to grace an England shirt. Am absolutely chuffed to bits that he isnt going. Didnt deserve to go last time round and certainly didnt this time.
Emile Ivanhoe Hesky -----------------------------------5 seasons hasnt scored what Bent did in one. hasnt scored more goals in the Prem total in all his years of conning the people in the "know" more than Bent has in his last 4 seasons.
Capello said he would only play players in form and who are playing for their sides ------------------i give you Emile Ivanhoe Hesky ---------------7 games this season yet to score.
It baffles me that while England won 8 games in a row to qualify (including stonking 4-1 and 5-1 wins over our previous nemesis Croatia), and with Heskey starting nearly every game and playing very well, people still question Capello's methods. I sometimes wonder if people would rather we had a worse qualifying record but Heskey had scored 4-5 of the goals.
Wins don't just happen you know. It's not the case that we would have won all those games anyway. We've seen that well enough over the last few seasons, particularly in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
The only question that matters is: Would England be a better team and win more football matches with Bent playing rather than Heskey?
[cite]Posted By: Sussex_Addick[/cite]The only question that matters is: Would England be a betterteamand win more football matches with Bent playing rather than Heskey?
In my opinion they would not.
Agree, not a good argument suggesting he goes instead of Heskey. Crouch instead of Heskey, or Rooney up front on his own, maybe.
What is a better debate is should Bent have gone as a fifth striker, or instead of Defoe.
Heskey took a kicking for Rooney in the qualifiers, and Rooney shone. If Rooney is crocked, Defoe has done it for England in the qualifiers too. I like Darren Bent a lot, but doesn't mean he's the best player for the Cappello's system.
Joe Cole in the squad changes the dynamic a lot, and takes pressure off Rooney for me
Whilst I can see where Heskey detractors are coming from, not many defenders at the World Cup will be used to a physical battering all game. Lets face it, if Rooney is firing on all cylinders then we have a chance at this World Cup. (If Rooney gets injured I can't see us progressing very far anyway). Lets try and get the best out of that one player. If Rooney was injured then I'm sure a little/large partnership with Defoe would be half decent anyway. First good opposition we come up against we won't be starting with 2 up front anyway.
Surprised that Walcott isn't going, still think that despite his weakness at actually playing the game of football, his pace is frightening for defenders (see against Barcelona for Arsenal for example), however Lennon may provide that anyway. Would have liked to have seen A Johnson going - a left footed left sided midfielder would have been nice. If Gerrard starts left midfield I will pull my hair out, as the team looks so lopsided and unbalanced.
Feel sorry for Bent (again, as in 2006) but I can understand why - for different reasons - Defoe and Heskey were chosen ahead of him.
It might not be a popular view, and he has only had the odd half a game here and there, but can anyone really honestly say that he has impressed during the time he has been on the pitch for England?
I would have taken Bent over SWP. I can just about understand why the other forwards were picked ahead of him. We have more than enough in midfield and players that would cover each other all over the park. If Rooney gets crocked, Heskey is completely wasted, leaving Crouch and Defoe for 90+mins every game. Bent should have gone as a back up. You can get away with playing a midfielder to the left or to the right of their preferred position imo, but you will always need a goalscorer. Fingers crossed for Rooney's fitness!
The squad shows the importance of the friendlies in the last week.
Baines was poor v Mexico and is now out- there may be more to it though as Warnock has only played 8mins . SWP and Joe Cole were in serious danger of missing out until they came on v Japan and made a difference. Walcott looked nailed on until he played so badly in the two games.
Also the comments about picking players on form is clearly untrue:
Upson over Dawson- Upson been v poor whereas Dawson been excellent. SWP barely played since xmas. Carrick been average for Utd whereas Parler been West Hams best player and a genuine alternative to injured Barry. Carrick not a ball winner or holding mid. Heskey v Bent- joke looking at scoring records and form! although Defoe can count himself lucky as he has been average since xmas aswell.
Think it's foolish to leave Walcott at home. Milan Baros looked a headless chicken in the prem, but was a big threat in big comps for the Czechs. International football is much more likely to give chances to pacey footballers than top Euro comp.
Would take Heskey over Bent. He doesn't score goals no, but we quite clearly have played better with him alongside Rooney than any other partnership.
I'd play 4-4-2 with Heskey in the group stages and if we get far enough to play the likes of Spain, drop him for J Cole and go 4-3-3.
I would have prefered Bent to Defoe mind but as the Spurs fan said, Defoe has a proven partnership with Crouch and he's been a definite in since his 2 goals v Holland.
I dont get all this rooney plays best with hesky in the team. If that was a fact dont you think Alex ferguson might have bought him by now. Rooney does alright without that lumbering oaf for man u
Cant see why he has not taken 5 strikers.
Lennon, Cole, Milner could all do a job on the right midfield so no need for SWP.
Lets see what happens when Rooney gets sent off and Defoe's hamstring is giving him grief.
If you drop Heskey, you play like United, and Rooney by himself, two decent wide men, and Joe Cole behind Rooney. Bent doesn't get in then. Or you go with Crouch and Defoe as a pair, which is Capello knows and works for Spurs
[cite]Posted By: uncle[/cite]I dont get all this rooney plays best with hesky in the team. If that was a fact dont you think Alex ferguson might have bought him by now. Rooney does alright without that lumbering oaf for man u
It's worked though hasn't it, top scorers in European qualifying.Could say you don't change a winning team.
I'd imagine it's partly down to Man Utd playing differently to England, and the Premier League is a bit different to international football. England also want to find a way to fit Lampard and Gerrard in the team, I'd think they benefit from Heskey as well.
Not saying it's definitely the right way and the best way, but so far it's worked better for England than any other partnership/Rooney on his own. Anyway I'm not even sure Heskey will start every game in the World Cup.
[cite]Posted By: razil[/cite]Capello gives it all the form is everything etc, then reverts to picking his squad on tried and tested players, its Sven all over again
He's picked on England form as well, thought we looked better against Japan the moment Heskey came on, Walcott is out of form and been dropped, Joe Cole found form and got in.
I know we all love Darren Bent, but he doesn't fit the system, and if he's playing, it probably means Rooney is out, and we're not going to win the sodding thing anyway then
Only real mistake in the Squad is taking Wright Phillips over Walcott. Other than that no real surprise, Heskey was always going to go same as Bent was never going to go.
Walcott deserved to be dropped - didnt put a decent ball in once against Japan. A couple of decent crosses and a couple of goals for Bent and they might both have gone. Walcott is a headless chicken, and Bent's paid for it.
[cite]Posted By: Sussex_Addick[/cite]It baffles me that while England won 8 games in a row to qualify (including stonking 4-1 and 5-1 wins over our previous nemesis Croatia), and with Heskey starting nearly every game and playing very well, people still question Capello's methods. I sometimes wonder if people would rather we had a worse qualifying record but Heskey had scored 4-5 of the goals.
Wins don't just happen you know. It's not the case that we would have won all those games anyway. We've seen that well enough over the last few seasons, particularly in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
The only question that matters is: Would England be a better team and win more football matches with Bent playing rather than Heskey?
In my opinion they would not.
I'll remind you of this Sussex when Heskey trips over his own feet when one on one and misses a header from 3 yards (like against Japan) after we've drawn 0-0 with Germany in the second round and lost on penalties ;-)
I've calmed down a little bit about Bent's omission. He, Crouch, Defoe and Heskey aren't that good anyway. It's not as if we've left someone as good as Diego Milito, Zanetti or Cambiasso at home. Nice one, Maradona.
[cite]Posted By: Elthamaddick[/cite]I thought Milito was in their squad?
On another note I see Sven has picked 6 strikers
My bad. I read an article a while back saying Palermo was going to be picked ahead of Milito.
I don't see anything wrong with 6 strikers. We went to the last WC with 4, one of whom had never played (Walcott), one was injured (Rooney), one half fit (Owen) and one other (Crouchy). I know it's a bit different this time around, but I think it should be 5 absolute minimum, especially when one of our 4 never scores.
[cite]Posted By: Elthamaddick[/cite]I thought Milito was in their squad?
On another note I see Sven has picked 6 strikers
My bad. I read an article a while back saying Palermo was going to be picked ahead of Milito.
I don't see anything wrong with 6 strikers. We went to the last WC with 4, one of whom had never played (Walcott), one was injured (Rooney), one half fit (Owen) and one other (Crouchy). I know it's a bit different this time around, but I think it should be 5 absolute minimum, especially when one of our 4 never scores.
agree I think Upson and Warnock are wasted picks who won't get a look in at all.
[cite]Posted By: ValleyGary[/cite]Play Ledley King. Even if he only lasts one group game, id rather him than the others. Getting off to a good start is hugely important.
Agree with that. The other two teams in the group are pish - beating the yanks and topping the group is all that matters.
Comments
Feel gutted for Dawson. Never given a chance, deserves to be going instead of both Upson and Carragher but Capello's clearly gone with experience. He's still got time on his side. As for Huddlestone, bless him but his lack of mobility was clearly evident against the Japanese on Sunday.
As for those above up in arms over Defoe's inclusion over Bent, take into consideration that if Rooney does (god forbid) get injured, Capello will likely play 4-4-2, then presumably Crouch plays with Defoe as they do at Spurs with Lennon wide right. Can see the sense in that. As a forward pairing in the Prem, Crouch/Defoe have got a relatively good goals per game ratio and both have a good understanding with Lennon. However, I really would have took Bent too. Dont agree with taking only 4 forwards but Capello does have other options to play either Gerrard or Joe Cole behind a front man if needed.
As for Theomg Lolcott. Good. The most overrated right sided player in the Premiership and to grace an England shirt. Am absolutely chuffed to bits that he isnt going. Didnt deserve to go last time round and certainly didnt this time.
Capello said he would only play players in form and who are playing for their sides ------------------i give you Emile Ivanhoe Hesky ---------------7 games this season yet to score.
Rene Higuita - GK - 68 caps, 8 goals
Jose Luis Chilavert - GK - 74 caps, 8 goals
Emile Heskey - FWD - 58 caps, 7 goals got to laugh
Wins don't just happen you know. It's not the case that we would have won all those games anyway. We've seen that well enough over the last few seasons, particularly in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
The only question that matters is: Would England be a better team and win more football matches with Bent playing rather than Heskey?
In my opinion they would not.
What is a better debate is should Bent have gone as a fifth striker, or instead of Defoe.
Joe Cole in the squad changes the dynamic a lot, and takes pressure off Rooney for me
Surprised that Walcott isn't going, still think that despite his weakness at actually playing the game of football, his pace is frightening for defenders (see against Barcelona for Arsenal for example), however Lennon may provide that anyway. Would have liked to have seen A Johnson going - a left footed left sided midfielder would have been nice. If Gerrard starts left midfield I will pull my hair out, as the team looks so lopsided and unbalanced.
It might not be a popular view, and he has only had the odd half a game here and there, but can anyone really honestly say that he has impressed during the time he has been on the pitch for England?
Baines was poor v Mexico and is now out- there may be more to it though as Warnock has only played 8mins .
SWP and Joe Cole were in serious danger of missing out until they came on v Japan and made a difference.
Walcott looked nailed on until he played so badly in the two games.
Also the comments about picking players on form is clearly untrue:
Upson over Dawson- Upson been v poor whereas Dawson been excellent.
SWP barely played since xmas.
Carrick been average for Utd whereas Parler been West Hams best player and a genuine alternative to injured Barry. Carrick not a ball winner or holding mid.
Heskey v Bent- joke looking at scoring records and form! although Defoe can count himself lucky as he has been average since xmas aswell.
I'd play 4-4-2 with Heskey in the group stages and if we get far enough to play the likes of Spain, drop him for J Cole and go 4-3-3.
I would have prefered Bent to Defoe mind but as the Spurs fan said, Defoe has a proven partnership with Crouch and he's been a definite in since his 2 goals v Holland.
Lennon, Cole, Milner could all do a job on the right midfield so no need for SWP.
Lets see what happens when Rooney gets sent off and Defoe's hamstring is giving him grief.
I'd imagine it's partly down to Man Utd playing differently to England, and the Premier League is a bit different to international football. England also want to find a way to fit Lampard and Gerrard in the team, I'd think they benefit from Heskey as well.
Not saying it's definitely the right way and the best way, but so far it's worked better for England than any other partnership/Rooney on his own. Anyway I'm not even sure Heskey will start every game in the World Cup.
Couldn't agree more
I know we all love Darren Bent, but he doesn't fit the system, and if he's playing, it probably means Rooney is out, and we're not going to win the sodding thing anyway then
I'll remind you of this Sussex when Heskey trips over his own feet when one on one and misses a header from 3 yards (like against Japan) after we've drawn 0-0 with Germany in the second round and lost on penalties ;-)
I've calmed down a little bit about Bent's omission. He, Crouch, Defoe and Heskey aren't that good anyway. It's not as if we've left someone as good as Diego Milito, Zanetti or Cambiasso at home. Nice one, Maradona.
On another note I see Sven has picked 6 strikers
My bad. I read an article a while back saying Palermo was going to be picked ahead of Milito.
I don't see anything wrong with 6 strikers. We went to the last WC with 4, one of whom had never played (Walcott), one was injured (Rooney), one half fit (Owen) and one other (Crouchy). I know it's a bit different this time around, but I think it should be 5 absolute minimum, especially when one of our 4 never scores.
agree I think Upson and Warnock are wasted picks who won't get a look in at all.