Alternative England team/squad...

...I've probably done this before but having witnessed another dire performance from England in Paris where we were completely lacking invention and, more suprisingly for the country that is home to the Premiership, pace (that's another matter) I was wondering who you'd pick for England based on nothing but technique/skill.

Ignore athleticism, experience, mental strength, end product, premiership performances and consistency at club level - just footballing ability

* Can't have Scholes obviously (I've also ignored Gary Neville as we don't know if he'll be good again and King 'cos he's a cripple.)

We haven't got one keeper who can kick so I'll stick with James.

James

Glen Johnson
Rio Ferdinand
Huddlestone
Samuel

Joe Cole
Carrick
Jenas
Young

Rooney
Ashton


Subs:

Foster
Richards
Hargreaves
Bridge
Dunn
Hendrie
Downing
Bentley
Adam Johnson
Defoe
Crouch
Haynes (Ipswich for those that aren't familiar)

Wouldn't you like to see us do it for a friendly ?!

We may lose but surely we'd actually be able to see an England team play football ?

Anyone obvious that I've missed out ?

Hart has an excellent kick.

Samuel doesn't have much footballing ability.-certainly no more than ACole or Bridge. Wouldn't say Jenas was particularly great without his pace/stamina either - I'd take Barry above him, for sure, in terms of just footballing ability.

I guess you could probably consider people like CCole, Dyer, Woodgate, Murphy, Pennant, Milner..

and surely Beckham has to be in there if you're considering just footballing ability without the trappings of athleticism, etc.

Having said all that, it's a pretty difficult criteria to define - if you take away things like end product and performances, what is left? It's pretty impossible to gauge innate ability, without some visible evidence of it - which comes from end product, consisteny, performances, etc.

If you were coming up with say a 'Best Passing XI' it would make a lot more sense to me.

Jenas ?
Samuel ?

What ability or skills are you exactly talking about and Huddlestone skillfully is a bad CB because his positioning sense and interception isnt that great.

Foster's kicking is pretty good actually I am hoping he can prove himself next year and get into the national team.

Woodgate is a big big miss.

I mean ball-control mainly.

Beckham wouldn't be in debaser because he can't use the outside of his good foot or his weak foot.

Its not just passing that allows you to keep ball its skill as well.

Gerrard, Beckham, Barry even Lampard can all pass but they play flat-footed rather than on their toes.

You're ignoring athleticism and you put JENAS in there?

Kimbo wrote:You're ignoring athleticism and you put JENAS in there?

Yes - he has good skill and control.

--------------------James-----------------

---Richards----Woodgate---Ferdinand---Samuels--

----------------Carrick----Huddlestone--------------


---Bentley--------------------------------Young-----

-----------------------J.Cole------------------

----------------------Rooney---------------------------

Very Curious to see how a Huddlestone/Carrick Partnership will work together. Would be similer to a Scholes/Carrick partnership, but less of a Goal-threat....

Juande Ramos wrote:--------------------James-----------------

---Richards----Woodgate---Ferdinand---Samuels--

----------------Carrick----Huddlestone--------------


---Bentley--------------------------------Young-----

-----------------------J.Cole------------------

----------------------Rooney---------------------------

Very Curious to see how a Huddlestone/Carrick Partnership will work together. Would be similer to a Scholes/Carrick partnership, but less of a Goal-threat....

Richards ahead of Glen Johnson !?

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Kimbo wrote:You're ignoring athleticism and you put JENAS in there?

Yes - he has good skill and control.

I must be blind.

Juande Ramos wrote:--------------------James-----------------

---Richards----Woodgate---Ferdinand---Samuels--

----------------Carrick----Huddlestone--------------


---Bentley--------------------------------Young-----

-----------------------J.Cole------------------

----------------------Rooney---------------------------

Very Curious to see how a Huddlestone/Carrick Partnership will work together. Would be similer to a Scholes/Carrick partnership, but less of a Goal-threat....

Actually Scholes and Carrick arent that big a goal threat because they seem to pass rather then have shots on the goal so its par but the alarming thing is Scholes is more mobile then Huddlestone.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Juande Ramos wrote:--------------------James-----------------

---Richards----Woodgate---Ferdinand---Samuels--

----------------Carrick----Huddlestone--------------


---Bentley--------------------------------Young-----

-----------------------J.Cole------------------

----------------------Rooney---------------------------

Very Curious to see how a Huddlestone/Carrick Partnership will work together. Would be similer to a Scholes/Carrick partnership, but less of a Goal-threat....

Richards ahead of Glen Johnson !?

I know...But I am inclined to have Johnson in there and I can't think of anyone else. And your right, Richards is more atheletic than anything...but...hard to think of anyone else!

Surely Shola Ameobi>>>Ashton?

borocooper wrote:Surely Shola Ameobi>>>Ashton?

Just because of his 30 yard volley at The Riverside.

------------------------Green--------------------

Johnson----Ferdinand----Woodgate----Bridge

Bentley----Hargreaves----Gerrard----Joe Cole

-----------------Ashton----Defoe-------------

.

Ashton is good for one thing, and thats breaking the jaws of goalkeepers. This much you know.

Shola Ameobi can do this and much more..have you seen him act ffs?

This was him in Bambi on ice..

borocooper wrote:Ashton is good for one thing, and thats breaking the jaws of goalkeepers. This much you know.

Shola Ameobi can do this and much more..have you seen him act ffs?

This was him in Bambi on ice..

Deano-Italia wrote:

borocooper wrote:Ashton is good for one thing, and thats breaking the jaws of goalkeepers. This much you know.

Shola Ameobi can do this and much more..have you seen him act ffs?

This was him in Bambi on ice..

Yes, speaking of actors, good ol' Marlon

Marlon should be added to the list anyway...Harewood for England .

borocooper wrote:Yes, speaking of actors, good ol' Marlon

never grows tired that pic. it's just beautiful

lol

@thread, Robinson has a fucking massive kick, so does James.

Carsons kicking has worried me recently.

Huddlestone in defense

Haynes, dam, he was supposed to be a $h!t hot prospect a few years ago, whats happened to him?

Jenas

What about David Dunn?

Was watching Euro 2000 England vs Portugal

Pretty decent balance that side that with obvious weaknesses.

Dark Savante wrote:Was watching Euro 2000 England vs Portugal

Pretty decent balance that side that with obvious weaknesses.

did you download that by any chance? or you just have it on vhs?

Just have it ?
Why?

Robinson (His kicking is the best part of his game)

Johnson
Huddlestone
Rio
Bridge

Joe Cole
Carrick
Dunn
Young

Rooney
Defoe.

There's a lot of unspoken criteria being taken into account here.

I assume this is supposed to be about paring everything down to pure footballing ability, but (apart from the fact that this is surely impossible at any remotely realistic level) all I'm really seeing is a selection of desperately average-looking teams. OK, some of them look to have half a dozen technically excellent guys in there, but really – it would help me if people would explain their criteria a bit better.

I mean, Robinson is a seriously average keeper whichever way you spin it, Huddlestone as one of the two most technically accomplished central defenders?? Wayne Bridge? David fecking Dunn?!? I gather he used to be highly rated technically but he's looked desperately average when I've seen him lately...

Is this the same school of thought that calls Kenwyne Jones a better player than Ronaldo?

Or am I just being thick?

Allez les rouges wrote:There's a lot of unspoken criteria being taken into account here.

I assume this is supposed to be about paring everything down to pure footballing ability, but (apart from the fact that this is surely impossible at any remotely realistic level) all I'm really seeing is a selection of desperately average-looking teams. OK, some of them look to have half a dozen technically excellent guys in there, but really – it would help me if people would explain their criteria a bit better.

I mean, Robinson is a seriously average keeper whichever way you spin it, Huddlestone as one of the two most technically accomplished central defenders?? Wayne Bridge? David fecking Dunn?!? I gather he used to be highly rated technically but he's looked desperately average when I've seen him lately...

Is this the same school of thought that calls Kenwyne Jones a better player than Ronaldo?

Or am I just being thick?

I agree regarding your point about Dunn - no idea why he is so highly rated, he's seriously lost his way since showing early promise

Disagree about Huddlestone though- he has played centreback for us before, and technically he is a MONSTER (to use an Ottoism): two footed, sweet first touch, amazing passing ability, capable of trickery.

Certainly capable of becoming a defender who brings the ball out of defence. His major problem has always been his mobility, so a Sweeper type role in this imaginary fantasy team could work well in theory.

And to answer your question - yes, generally speaking, you do tend to be a bit of a thick bellend, but thats to be expected supporting the Arse ;-)

Thanks as ever, der Bernd

Stand corrected re Mr Huddlestone, if you really see his future there – just surprising especially coming from you lot with Woodgate/King in your team too. Most ironic you might say, given the reputation of your defence (as in my sig from you...)

Allez les rouges wrote:Thanks as ever, der Bernd

Stand corrected re Mr Huddlestone, if you really see his future there – just surprising especially coming from you lot with Woodgate/King in your team too. Most ironic you might say, given the reputation of your defence (as in my sig from you...)

King is perma crock though - if we can get a proper defensive deep lying playmaker in midfield (ie NOT Zokora), then I can see the Hudd moving to centreback alongside Woodgate. Pace is a bit of an issue though, he aint the quickest by any means.

By the way, do you live in London Allez? Are you going to try and get to the Emirates for the Liverpool CL match?

Good point, reminded me to check on the Ticket Exchange thingy the club's set up so gold members can exchange their tickets online if they can't use them... That said it looks pretty forlorn, though may text a gold member I know on the off-chance. Not going to pitch up and pay a tout over the odds though – might end up watching it with a Liverpool mate