Hahaha PLF - I know you like Bent.
Remember our massive Walcott/Bent debate at this same time 4 years ago?!
I imagine it will be Green (since he's started more and more games under Cappello - in fact the only gaps where when he was sent off - showing his liability - in the Ukraine and for friendlies).
Liability?!
Eh?
You mean when Green HAD to commit himself after that fucknut Rio made another mistake by letting the ball run behind him and the attacker through on goal?!
I like the squad and do not have too much arguments with it.
My only concern is Gareth Barry's fitness, which is why I would have looked at a way of getting Parker into the squad.
It's of monumental importance that you have a midfield destroyer in your team in games against the likes of Brazil, Argentina and Spain, who will like to keep the ball.
If you look back at Man Utd's CL final against Barcelona - Michael Carrick, for all his ball playing ability, got humiliated that night by the Barcelona midfield.
The one type of player they needed that night, more than most, was Hargreaves.
Arsenal this season against Barcelona again - how they'd wish to have had Flamini back in that midfield.
England have 3 serious contenders in that role; Barry, Parker and Cattermole - that's about it.
Hargreaves would have been my absolute first choice, but sadly it was just a step too far.
In the group stages, we will probably be ok with out midfield choices, but later on, if we face any ball playing teams, we'll need Barry at top form and fitness.
I never worry about our performances in friendlies as we tend to raise our game for proper matches.
I mean compare the last 2 games to the qualifiers - no comparison.
I like Johnson and sad he isn't going, as he is the type to have no respect for any defender. He's as likely to run and try to take on Evra and make him look foolish, as he is against Tony Hibbert.
I think this may have just come a little too early for him.
In the defence, Upson was never a doubt, despite a poor season for West Ham.
Capello likes Upson, trusts him and also likes the fact he is a left footed centre back.
One very crucial point that has been overlooked in the picking of Upson, is that he is the one player that has played alongside both Terry AND Ferdinand consistently, so will already have an understanding of the partner.
I think King is absolutely brilliant, but my only concern is that although he reads the game so well, it takes him a while to turn and hit full stride, which playing alongside Terry, against players at this level, we may get punished at times.
I personally rate Wright-Phillips.
Regardless of his form for Man City, he produces the goods more than most of the time for England - always looking a threat and chips in at times with a goal.
My line-up for the first match, with the news that Barry isn't fit, would be thus:
-----------------Green
-Johnson--- Terry----- King -------Cole
-SWP----- Lampard---- Gerrard ----Lennon
------------Cole
-------------------Rooney
When Barry returns:
SWP/Cole----Lampard---- Barry ----Lennon
------------Gerrard
---------------------Rooney
They all count.
