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England’s starting XI – Join the Debate

Today, 23 men were chosen by Fabio Capello to carry the hopes of the English nation at the World Cup in South Africa. Now the Italian needs to select his first choice eleven. Henry Cowen and Jake Farrell help him out

By Henry Strong and Jake Farrell Tuesday 1 June 2010

The Laird of Oldham via Flickr Creative Commons

Well, I guess we were all pretty wrong then. A few months ago the Nouse Sport team predicted the 23 that Capello would pick for South Africa and it’s fair to say that we weren’t quite thinking in the same way as the Italian maestro. None of us predicted Carragher’s return, not many thought Wes Brown wouldn’t get a look in and we certainly didn’t predict the big shock of today’s squad announcement; the omission of Theo Walcott. Surprisingly picked in 2006 and a surprisingly dropped in 2010, you have to feel for the Arsenal man. Here’s the squad in full, and from this 23 Jake Farrell and I will attempt to pick the 11 men that we would start with in the Royal Bakofeng stadium in Rustenburg on the 12th June.

Goalkeepers: David James, Robert Green, Joe Hart

Defenders: Glen Johnson, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Jamie Carragher, Ledley King, Matthew Upson, Steven Warnock.

Midfielders: Aaron Lennon, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Shaun Wright-Phillips, James Milner, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole

Forwards: Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch.

Henry Strong

Capello has generally stuck to 4-4-2 during England’s qualification, and until the second-half against Japan it had certainly been his first choice formation. I think he will stick with his preferred system for now, certainly giving it a chance against the USA and Algeria. For me it is how England play best, and it is http://nouse.co.uk/2010/06/01/englands-starting-xi-join-the-debate Archived 11 Dec 2018 00:22:34 Nouse Web Archives England’s starting XI – Join the Debate Page 2 of 5

certainly how I would line up if I was Signor Capello’s shoes.

Regardless of that, it would be foolish to start experimenting with a formation now. There was talk of a 5- 3-2 system but it surely would have been trialed against either Mexico or Japan; because of this I think it will be the good old 4-4-2 system that England adopt and this would be the team I would pick;

GK. David James RB. Jamie Carragher CB. John Terry CB. Rio Ferdinand LB. Ashley Cole RM. Aaron Lennon CM. Gareth Barry CM. Frank Lampard LM. Steven Gerrard CF. Wayne Rooney CF. Emile Heskey

David James is the best keeper in my opinion, although any of the three would do a good job between the sticks. He has both the experience and the talent to win games and just edges out Joe Hart for me. Jamie Carragher is a controversial choice but I just think he brings a stability to the side that Glen Johnson can’t offer. Johnson is great going forward but he lost his man against Japan and they scored and it’s exactly the kind of fragility that our backline doesn’t need.

If Barry is fit I think the midfield picks itself, if he’s not perhaps Joe Cole comes in and Gerrard moves into the middle. It might not be perfect but it’s preferable to Michael Carrick coming in, in my opinion. As for up front, say what you like about Emile Heskey but this fact – borrowed from sb1111 on Twitter – proves his worth; “Rooney’s last 10 England games with Heskey – 9 goals. Rooney’s last 10 England games without Heskey – 2 goals”. It’s not just about assists, it’s about creating space in which Rooney can thrive, and Heskey does that perfectly. I wonder how wrong I get it this time, maybe Capello will surprise us all by not surprising us, what would the Twitterati have to chat about then! Roll on the 12th of June.

Jake Farrell

It seems that the be-blazered old bluffers at the FA can no longer even manage to release a list of names in a satisfactory manner. It was all lovely and exciting hearing what Phil Mcnulty of the the BBC had heard at a cafe in Holborn or listening to the veritas spilling from Barry Gobshite from Tits of The Day as journalists proclaimed to anyone that would listen on Twitter that Ledley King was in the squad and Tim Flowers had been picked to play in the hole behind Mother Theresa. In the end there was one notable ommision from the squad accompanied by a numbing torpor. Things are the same as they always were.

Wayne Rooney may well have scored more goals when playing with the lumbering sack of potatoes that masquerades as Emile Heskey but stats can be fought with stats; how do you like these apples Emile fans: Emile Heskey, striker, 58 caps 7 goals. Rene Higuita, keeper, 68 caps 8 goals. Jose Luis Chilavert, keeper, 74 caps 8 goals. Regardless the Aston Villa striker will start against the US in Rustenberg and let’s hope that he really coaxes the goals out of young Wayne. We certainly can’t expect anything from him.

Walcott’s exclusion and Gareth Barry’s improved fitness essentially means that the starting 11 is confirmed. If they all remain fit England have a real chance but there is a startling lack of verve on the bench. Theo may sometimes roam around like Billy Whizz on acid but ask youself this: Should England find themselves 1-0 down against Germany with ten minutes to play would you really rather Shaun Wright-Phillips to come on? The real injustice is not that Walcott hasn’t been picked but rather that Adam Johnson (who is in form Fabio) wasn’t selected to go instead of him. So from the paltry excitement of a predictable and disappointing England squad here is the team I would send out in Rustenberg. I’m still tempted to pick Phil Jagielka such is my desire for all this meritocracy credo rubbish to actually be http://nouse.co.uk/2010/06/01/englands-starting-xi-join-the-debate Archived 11 Dec 2018 00:22:34 Nouse Web Archives England’s starting XI – Join the Debate Page 3 of 5 enforced. Enjoy South Africa Jamie Carragher it may be the last time you’re in a squad with Steven Gerrard, enjoy the Rainbow Nation Michael Carrick hopefully it’s the last time your sorry Puma-booted, rubbish hair styled hide will be at a major tournment, good luck to Steven Warnock who should slot right into the proud South African history of unimaginative hatchet men and as for Matthew Upson…

Following Drab Fab’s example there aren’t many surprises. I’d rather Steven Gerrard in the hole behind Wayne Rooney to allow Milner the chance to shine in the middle. Beyond that it’s business as usual. This is the worrying though that all England fans will have to contend with though; should this team start against the USA imagine the player’s we would have to bring on.

Joe Hart

Glen Johnson Phil Jagielka (possibly John Terry) Rio Ferdinand Ashley Cole

Aaron Lennon Gareth Barry Frank Lampard James Milner

Steven Gerrard Wayne Rooney

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4 comments

Stuart Pearce 1 Jun ’10 at 8:38 pm

Nice article. Loving the inclusion of Phil Jagielka!

I would go with;

Rob Green (Clearly England’s best)

Glenn Johnson Ledley King Rio Ferdinand Ashley Cole

Gareth Barry

Frank Lampard Steven Gerrard

Aaron Lennon Joe Cole

Wayne Rooney

A 4-3-2-1, Mourinho’s style. Get me in charge!

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Leigh Clarke 1 Jun ’10 at 10:32 pm http://nouse.co.uk/2010/06/01/englands-starting-xi-join-the-debate Archived 11 Dec 2018 00:22:34 Nouse Web Archives England’s starting XI – Join the Debate Page 4 of 5

I’m with Jake on this one. England play well when Heskey is in the team, but playing Gerrard behind Rooney is the only way we can become devastating. Based on the recent friendlies, however, I’d put Joe Cole in rather than Milner – he changed the game against Japan.

I’d love to see Hart start, but I reckon Fabio will play it safe and begin with James.

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The solution for England! 6 Jun ’10 at 11:27 am

England should play 4-3-3, so that Gerrard and Lampard could function optimally at midfield, while Rooney can attack from his beloved left flank:

Green

Johnson Carragher Terry A.Cole

Carrick Gerrard Lampard

J.Cole Rooney Crouch

Of course, James could be in goal as well, and Barry (when fit) can play defensive midfield. Also, J. Cole and Rooney can help defending so Capello can play “9-1” (9 men behind the ball when not in possession).

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The solution for England! 6 Jun ’10 at 11:28 am

Hmmm, spaces didn’t work… but I think you all know what i mean, it’s the Chelsea-style 4-3-3

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