your possible euro08 squads.........

i would say there not many surprises in the german team

----------lehmann

friedrich-mertesacker-metzelder-lahm

-----frings-------ballack

---schneider----------schweinsteiger

----klose-----podolski

i prefer friedrich ahead of jansen, because hes a better defender

-----enke/hildebrand

fritz-m.friedrich--xxxxx----jansen

----hitzelsberger---borowski

hilbert--------------trochowski

-----gomez----kuranyi


in the german squad there is really a lack of quality central defeners after metze/merte

trochowski must now show that he is good enough for the german team, he never played that well so far

i really dont like kuranyi, this guy is too old school, to limited in my eyes, but there are no better alternatives in my eyes, for me he is the 4th choice striker

our "old" midfield (ballack, frings, schneider) all three played not much this year (all injured a long time), thats maybe a good effect for the euro, because they will be under fire at the tournament

What McClaren would play:

-----------Robinson------------

Richards--Rio----Terry-----Cole

SWP---Gerrard--Lampard---Cole

--------Rooney---Owen--------

What a new coach might play:

-------------Carson------------

Richards-Ferdinand--Terry-----Cole

Lennon--Hargreaves--Gerrard--Cole

---------Rooney---Owen---------

What I would play:

-----------Carson------------

Richards--Rio---Terry---Bridge

-----Hargreaves--Barry--------

Lennon-----Rooney------Young

-----------Ashton*------------

* or Heskey

I agree that Bridge, Barry, and Young are probably a more effective triumvirate than Cole and Cole.

You should apply for the job, although they’re probably only looking for another subservient weasel like McLaren. Sometimes the team a manager chooses is bewildering. But I guess the manager's interaction with his playing staff has more of an impact on who he chooses on any given saturday than the players' skills alone.

I'm not so sure about Ashton or Heskey and Lennon though, although I can see that Lennon would complement Young's pace and directness very well.

I wish I could offer an alternative to the three I mentioned but the cogs ain't turning!

*And I'd also have no qualms about dropping Lampard and Gerrard from my ideal XI

The choice of Lennon was a bit of a weak link, but I wanted someone with genuine pace who likes to cut in or stay out wide with equal measure. He may not have the required quality yet to last the full ninety. Other options are Bentley or Joe Cole

---------------- Goalkeeper

Richards --- Ferdinand -- Terry -- Cole

Gerrard --- Hargreaves -- Barry -- J Cole

--------------- Rooney -- Striker


Goalkeeper can be anyone between Robinson, James or Carson.

Striker can be anyone between Crouch, Owen or Heskey.

Just a shame Foster and Ashton are constantly injured.


Drop Lampard and Beckham, take Young as a back up for both wing position.

Have the team as a 4-4-2 but also adjust to 4-2-3-1 if needed as well.

For Holland they should really adopt the Milan system that they currently enforce.

Raifael wrote:For Holland they should really adopt the Milan system that they currently enforce.

Bribing the ref?

Italy probable squad

Goalkeepers: Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus), Curci (Roma);
Defenders: Barzagli (Palermo), Materazzi (Inter), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Grosso (Lyon), Oddo (Milan), Panucci (Roma), Zambrotta (Barcelona);
Midfielders: Ambrosini (Milan), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (Milan), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan); Aquilani (Roma)
Forwards: Di Natale (Udinese), Gilardino (Milan), Iaquinta (Juventus), Rocchi (Lazio), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).

The ones in red are the doubts:
1. Panucci - but I guess he has booked his ticket after the scotland game
2. Aquilani - If he gets fit, he will go. Else anyone from Rosina/Montolivo/Foggia/Doni will take his place
3. Rocchi - themost doubtful one, there is too much competition... Del Peiro, Vieri, Lucarelli, Tavano, Di Michele, Amauri, Miccoli, etc even young Palladino could make a late charge if he scores against Faroe. In the end, it will be whoever Donadoni thinks suits his system the best, and I have a feeling Lucarelli/Vieri might get the nod as the best Toni replacements.

Starting XI:

--------------------Buffon
Oddo - Materazzi - Cannavaro - Zambrotta
------- Gattuso - Pirlo - De Rossi
Iaquinta -------------------------- Di Natale
--------------------Toni

Against top teams, Donadoni may get a bit conservative and rely more on experience, so we will see Ambrosini instead of De Rossi, and Camoranesi instead of Iaquinta. Or maybe Aquilani.

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

Raifael wrote:For Holland they should really adopt the Milan system that they currently enforce.

Bribing the ref?

That's Plan B. What i meant is Milan don't play with much wingers. But a compact 4-4-2 (or 4-1-2-1-1-2 something like that)

Raifael wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

Raifael wrote:For Holland they should really adopt the Milan system that they currently enforce.

Bribing the ref?

That's Plan B. What i meant is Milan don't play with much wingers. But a compact 4-4-2 (or 4-1-2-1-1-2 something like that)

Yeh, I was joking

What players would you deploy in the positions though?

No room for the best player in La Liga Bluenine?

Spankeltoe wrote:No room for the best player in La Liga Bluenine?

Palladino, Pele and Pazzini are all better than him.

If I were Rossi I'd start thinking about sorting out a San Marinan passport.

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

Raifael wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

Raifael wrote:For Holland they should really adopt the Milan system that they currently enforce.

Bribing the ref?

That's Plan B. What i meant is Milan don't play with much wingers. But a compact 4-4-2 (or 4-1-2-1-1-2 something like that)

Yeh, I was joking

What players would you deploy in the positions though?

I'd play this (it will never happen though)

......................... van der Sar
.... Kromkamp - Ooijer - Mathijsen - De Cler
............................ Sneijder
.......... De Zeeuw ................... Seedorf
....................... Van der Vaart
............. Van Nistelrooy - Van Persie

Sneijder is not playing as a DM (like Pirlo). But when defending De Zeeuw and Seedorf will push back.

RVP should play as the right sided attacker Rai, IMO its far better that way as when he cuts inside he's got a better angle to shoot at and also can play in a much more dangerous cross

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:RVP should play as the right sided attacker Rai, IMO its far better that way as when he cuts inside he's got a better angle to shoot at and also can play in a much more dangerous cross

I think he and VDV could swap. With van Basten i don't even know what is going on.

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

Spankeltoe wrote:No room for the best player in La Liga Bluenine?

Palladino, Pele and Pazzini are all better than him.

If I were Rossi I'd start thinking about sorting out a San Marinan passport.

just tell him to go an play for the yanks

The-Frankinsense-Tavern wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

Spankeltoe wrote:No room for the best player in La Liga Bluenine?

Palladino, Pele and Pazzini are all better than him.

If I were Rossi I'd start thinking about sorting out a San Marinan passport.

just tell him to go an play for the yanks

Good point! Forgot he has an American passport.

Raifael wrote:

I'd play this (it will never happen though)

......................... van der Sar
.... Kromkamp - Ooijer - Mathijsen - De Cler
............................ Sneijder
.......... De Zeeuw ................... Seedorf
....................... Van der Vaart
............. Van Nistelrooy - Van Persie

For me atm :

......................... van der Sar
.... Melchiot - Ooijer - Opdam - De Cler
............................ De Zeeuw
.......... Kuyt ................................ ???
....................... Van der Vaart
............. Van Persie - Van Nistelrooy

Lots of choices for LM, but no perfect option :

* Seedorf
* Robben
* Aissati
* Drenthe
* Sneijder
* Emanuelson
* Zenden
* Van Bronckhorst

I think I would try out Zenden or Van Bronckhorst, might just balance out the whole team...


Also we might reconsider playing Makaay in his current form as support striker or maybe even as playmaker...

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

The-Frankinsense-Tavern wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

Spankeltoe wrote:No room for the best player in La Liga Bluenine?

Palladino, Pele and Pazzini are all better than him.

If I were Rossi I'd start thinking about sorting out a San Marinan passport.

just tell him to go an play for the yanks

Good point! Forgot he has an American passport.

He doesn't want to play for them. Nothing he can do in the next 5 months they wont call him up no matter what. But for 2010 maybe he can have a chance. Those 3 you mentioned are all older than Rossi by at least a year.

For England the squad is done for 20 places. The other 3 is up for grabs. Maybe Robinson also will not make it, someone said he's been making big mistakes in training and Mclaren has had enough.

Ideal first 11 for me

---------------Foster/Green------------

----Richards---Rio---Terry ----Cole

------Beckham----Hargreaves--Barry---Young

------------Rooney----Ashton

Joe cole instead of Barry or Young maybe.

Best player of La Liga, lol!

Personally I would have loved it if Donadoni had given some of these kids a chance - Rossi, Rosina, Palladino, Montolivo, Aquilani, Foggia, Chiellini, Pazzini, Nocerino, Curci, etc are a very talented bunch. I am still hoping that at least 3-4 of them make it, but I doubt it will be more than that.

For young Rossi, his injury couldn't have come at a worse time. It is very unlikely that he will make the squad now. Also, the strikers face a much tougher competition than the others...

My guess is that among these lot, the best chance to make the squad is with Aquilani, Chiellini, & Curci, followed by Montolivo/Rosina. But all these kids have another 6 months to prove their worth, and many things can change.

Spankeltoe wrote:No room for the best player in La Liga Bluenine?

L r d wrote:
For England the squad is done for 20 places. The other 3 is up for grabs.

What 20 do you reckon are guaranteed?

Maybe Robinson also will not make it, someone said he's been making big mistakes in training and Mclaren has had enough.

Who told you that? Do you think Carson may start tomorrow then?

I have to agree with the Sabio's choices

----------------Casillas-----------------

Ramos--Puyol--Marchena--Capdevila

----------------Albelda------------------

Iniesta-----Xavi----Silva----Riera-----

-----------------Villa--------------------

If Ibanez starts playing better than he has been recently, replace Marchena.

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

L r d wrote:
For England the squad is done for 20 places. The other 3 is up for grabs.

What 20 do you reckon are guaranteed?

Maybe Robinson also will not make it, someone said he's been making big mistakes in training and Mclaren has had enough.

Who told you that? Do you think Carson may start tomorrow then?

Yeah Carson will start, Robinson is finito. Think it was on inside sport yesterday. Providing no injuries and there will be some. the 20 robinson,carson james...neville richards neville terry rio lescott cole bridge beckham lampard hargreaves gerrard cole barry rooney owen crouch

On Inside Sport? Interesting... its about time!

I'd imagine SWP is guaranteed a spot.

Robinson
Carson
James

(too late for Green and Foster now)

Richards
G Neville
Terry
Ferdinand
Bridge
A Cole

J Cole
Lampard
Hargreaves
Gerrard
Barry
Beckham

Rooney
Owen
Crouch


All of those are guarenteed if fit.

Just need two more centre backs (maybe one and take an extra striker or midfielder). 2 more wingers out of Lennon, Young, Bentley & SWP. 1 or 2 more strikers.

Bentley and Young

For France

Coupet
Sagnol - Gallas - Thuram - Abidal
Vieira - Makelele
Ribery - Malouda
Henry - Anelka

My Ideal squad

Frey
Sagnol - Gallas - Abidal - Evra
Vieira - Toutalan
Ribery - Ben Arfa
Henry - Anelka/Benzema

El Tiki Taka wrote:I have to agree with the Sabio's choices

----------------Casillas-----------------

Ramos--Puyol--Marchena--Capdevila

----------------Albelda------------------

Iniesta-----Xavi----Silva----Riera-----

-----------------Villa--------------------

If Ibanez starts playing better than he has been recently, replace Marchena.

Cesc will be undroppable for Spain before the Euros

Every game he's played so far he's been Cr@p.

@ Alive and kicking

Is Mathieu Valbuena highly rated in france? seen him about twice and was quite impressed.