England Squad/Starting 11

[ACE2M]

i'm pretty sure we will win the world cup this year, i always am though. I can't wait, win or lose it's still a great few weeks.

[Josedinho]

How would you price up the main teams in the tournament Camel?

[gatso]

Darren Bent. he won't be on the plane but really should be

once again in world cup year he's playing out of his skin, his goals are single handedly keeping sunderland in the premiership. he now has 18 of their 36 goals with the next highest scorer on 7. only rooney and drogba have scored more this season and he's not just scoring against the crappy little teams, he has apparently (though I've not checked this) scored against all of the top 4 this season

[dino1980]

Darren Bent. he won't be on the plane but really should be

once again in world cup year he's playing out of his skin, his goals are single handedly keeping sunderland in the premiership. he now has 18 of their 36 goals with the next highest scorer on 7. only rooney and drogba have scored more this season and he's not just scoring against the crappy little teams, he has apparently (though I've not checked this) scored against all of the top 4 this season

Can't argue with the above, but who would you leave out for him? Up top it's Rooney+1, of course if England play 4-2-3-1 then it's just a 1, anyway... i'm assuming Rooney, Defoe and Crouch, barring injury, are on the plane which basically leaves one spot in the squad for a striker. That spot is probably going to go to a big/strong type striker and realisitically Bent is behind Heskey and Cole in that queue. Of course whether he should be or not is, I guess, the debate. What Heskey lacks in goals he makes up for in understanding, in terms of minutes played with Rooney.

[gatso]

Can't argue with the above, but who would you leave out for him?

that's the problem and also the reason I say he won't go even though he should

for bent to be behind cole in the queue is lol but sadly true

[Acidmouse]

Cole and Hesky wont ever change games or get you the goal you need in the last 10mins of a game, Bent will and he is a proven prolific scorer in both average and shit teams.

[Josedinho]

I'd happily leave out Defoe but they are both average. Cole isn't much better but would suit our style of play better i believe.

[TheChipPrince]

Cole and Hesky wont ever change games or get you the goal you need in the last 10mins of a game, Bent will and he is a proven prolific scorer in both average and shit teams.

 I take the point about the big man might not get you the crucial goal in the last 5 mins etc, but every time someone mentions Michael Owen (as an e.g.) its ''oh I'd take him to the world cup, if we need a goal in the last 20mins bring him on'' (ZZZZZZZ) etc etc, players like Heskey take the attention/space away for goalscorers to move into, as well as playing unselfishly...

When needing a goal, its not simple someone who taps it in from 5 yards solely responsible for it.

[Acidmouse]

Cole and Hesky wont ever change games or get you the goal you need in the last 10mins of a game, Bent will and he is a proven prolific scorer in both average and shit teams.

 I take the point about the big man might not get you the crucial goal in the last 5 mins etc, but every time someone mentions Michael Owen (as an e.g.) its ''oh I'd take him to the world cup, if we need a goal in the last 20mins bring him on'' (ZZZZZZZ) etc etc, players like Heskey take the attention/space away for goalscorers to move into, as well as playing unselfishly...

When needing a goal, its not simple someone who taps it in from 5 yards solely responsible for it.

Yep I know, but I would take a finisher who scores alot over two donkeys that cant hit a barn door from 1 yard.

[Josedinho]

Cole has scored more goals than Owen this season (there was a bet on it in our house so we have the tally on a white board) i haven't checked how many games played but i imagine its quite close and Cole plays for a much worse team.

[The Baron]

Anyone but Darren Bent for the love of gawd. Bent wouldn't suit Capello's ethic anyway tbh.

[pleno1]

Theo booked his place last night imo.

[sweet potata!]

Theo booked his place last night imo.

Maybe he can book himself a 1st team spot at Arsenal soon enough!

[gatso]

we should pick arteta for a laugh. apparently he's said he won't play for england but I wonder if he'd really turn down a chance to go to the world cup

[gatso]

cashley's back tomorrow. please stay fit