England squad to face Spain on 11 February
Goalkeepers: Green (West Ham), Hart (Man City), James (Portsmouth).
Defenders: Bridge (Man City), A Cole (Chelsea), R Ferdinand (Man Utd), Jagielka (Everton), G Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (West Ham), L Young (Villa).
Midfielders: Beckham (LA Galaxy), Barry (Villa), Carrick (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Lampard (Chelsea), Milner (Villa), Wright-Phillips (Man City), A Young (Villa).
Forwards: Agbonlahor (Villa), C Cole (West Ham), Crouch (Portsmouth), Heskey (Villa).
I think this is a pretty good looking squad. I especially like that he's gone with a number of the Villa guys who look so good this year. Is Gerrard suspended? Where is he?
posted by gooner71 @ 10:36 AM
6 Comments:
I dunno - the forward line is fairly weak. Very worrisome. Sure the back line picks itself and the Villa boys can do the business in mid-field but who's going to get the goals in a squad like that?
Gerrard limped off with a hamstring injury in the mid-week match with Everton. He's out for several weeks.
I agree with the forward line. Heskey might have gone off hurt yesterday. I would think Gabby and Crouch
It's a friendly guys.
That's why it's important to try stuff out. I'd like to see if a Carrick and Barry midfield with Young and Milner on the wings would work.
It's clear that this isn't a WC qualifying side, so let's see if Aggy and Crouch can strike up a partnership.
Jags at the back would be an interesting option.
I think this is precisely what's called for here.
Yes, it's a friendly but in terms of the front line, who is Fabio resting? It's pretty much the group of forwards that we have with the exception of Rooney, who's temporarily injured, and Owen, who's perpetually crocked. Even if both were available, Fabio would probably be tempted to use Heskey, Crouch, or (gulp) Carlton Cole in some kind of role. That's may be good enough to get us into South Africa but how far will this squad take us?
From the bee's and under 21's and 19's, who do you suggest he bring in?
Is that your point, because certainly I agree then that we're thin on the ground in the forward ranks.
But Owen, Rooney, Defoe, now Heskey are crocked. But like it or not, unless some unknown kid with the skills and form of a 17 year old Diego comes out of nowhere, it's going to be the old guard strikers for the forward line in S. Africa, plus Aggy.
Whose inclusion are you advocating? Andy Johnson? Kevin Davies? That ilk?
Don't misunderstand me; I'm not challenging Fabio's squad selection in this regard. I'd quibble with him about Calamity, Becks and Glen Johnson. But that's what we've got. I've been hoping that some of the B's and U-21's would come through but other than the Villa lads (who are included) that hasn't happened. In the same way that over the years I'd hoped that Andy Cole, James Beattie, Kevin Phillips, AJ and scores of others would work out only to be disappointed, I've had my hopes dashed again by the likes of Matt Derbyshire. We seem to be producing of speedy wide men (Gabby Ag, Bentley, Lennon, SWP and so on) but quality strikers are just thin on the ground. Maybe wee Mikey could retire and start an academy for sniffers?
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