England Squad

[C C Csiders]

Here:

http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/11/EngCro_Squad.htm

First thing that strikes me is, is it really necessary to have three left-backs in the squad (four if you include P. Neville)?

Some other predictable but not too awe inspiring selections, such as Alan Smith, Downing and Defoe.

Beckham likely to win caps number 98 and 99 - and then we go out of the Euro Championships, leaving him high and dry on 99.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

If that's "the Golden Generation" then we're truly doomed!
How is Downing England standard? The modern-day Anderton!

 

[Mr. Benedict]

Beckham should win no caps IMO, we're better without him.

But no doubt McClaren will be weak about the issue once more and bend to public opinion. Quite how Phil Neville is in the squad again is beyond me, considering the amount of better players we have in his preferred positions...

 

[Mr. Benedict]

How is Downing England standard?

Because McClaren, his old club manager, is in charge. That's why... :p

 

[C C Csiders]

Beckham should win no caps IMO, we're better without him.

But no doubt McClaren will be weak about the issue once more and bend to public opinion. Quite how Phil Neville is in the squad again is beyond me, considering the amount of better players we have in his preferred positions...

59 England caps! I'd like to see a list of great players with less than that. I'll do a search and list them.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

I think it says something about the real quality and depth of the England squad over the past decade if Phil Neville can win so many caps. He's no better than avaerage. :(

 

[C C Csiders]

Here's a list, by no means exhaustive:

Gazza and Jimmy Greaves 57 caps
Stanley Matthews 54
Glenn Hoddle 53
Geoff Hurst 49
Trevor Brooking 47
Steve Coppell 42
Mick Mills 42
Jack Charlton 35

 

[Mr. Benedict]

It'd be interesting to see how many caps Neville has won in competetive internationals, given that there are so many friendlies played these days than there were in the days of Charlton, Matthews, Hurst et al.

 

[number11]

Id still have Becks in for these kind of games. One thing you can guarantee about him is he will run his heart out, play through injury, be willing to fly half way around the world etc to play for England. Maybe Im being naive, but given the status he has received I cant believe he is doing this for personal gain, but for the chance to play for his country. Too many of the current bunch just dont seem to care as they are all nice and cushty thanks with their fat pay cheques with their top clubs.

I read an interesting article from Bobby Robson, I think around the 06 world cup, when he was talking about people lauding our team as the golden generation and that the majority of the starting eleven were at the big 4. He said that during the reasonably succesful teams he had, he had the likes of Shilton & Wright (Derby), Parker (QPR), Pearce & Walker (Forest), Butcher, Stevens & Steven(Rangers), Platt (Villa) Beardsley (Newcastle during '86) and Barnes (watford during '86) making up the core of his side. Also at this time none of them were playing in the European Cup / Champions league. This meant that when those players were called up for their country it was THE highlight of their careers and their ultimate achievement. I do wonder now whether some of the players at the bigger clubs see England as a step down, or an inconvenience being away from their Chester / Surrey mansions.

 

[number11]

It'd be interesting to see how many caps Neville has won in competetive internationals, given that there are so many friendlies played these days than there were in the days of Charlton, Matthews, Hurst et al.

Were there though? The European Championships would have only started at the beginning of the 60's, world cups were smaller, so I would ahve thought there were more friendlies, though at the times the friendlies were viewed as more competitive / illustrious. Also, didnt they use to tour a bit more and therefore get a bunch of games in during a short period of time. Last time we did this was I think when we went down under during Taylor's reign and Lineker boosted his goals tally with some against the Kiwi's.

What would be intestesting is Nevilles number of starts as most times Ive seen him play he has come on. The increased number of subsittutes is something that can increase peoples appearances.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

What would be intestesting is Nevilles number of starts as most times Ive seen him play he has come on. The increased number of subsittutes is something that can increase peoples appearances.

Especially in recent times, where England managers have made wholesale changes to the 11 at half time.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

Id still have Becks in for these kind of games. One thing you can guarantee about him is he will run his heart out, play through injury, be willing to fly half way around the world etc to play for England. Maybe Im being naive, but given the status he has received I cant believe he is doing this for personal gain, but for the chance to play for his country. Too many of the current bunch just dont seem to care as they are all nice and cushty thanks with their fat pay cheques with their top clubs.

But there's no use running around the football pitch like a headless chicken if your end product isn't up to it. Although the team had a bad game against Russia, the players that constituted the midfield were far more effective as a unit than previous games where Beckham has been fit and played.

Beckham was a good player in his day but he is well past his best, and we don't need players to be included just because they can hit a dead ball well. He must know this himself as well, why else would he have gone to play in a league where the standard was akin to League One?

 

[number11]

But there's no use running around the football pitch like a headless chicken if your end product isn't up to it. Although the team had a bad game against Russia, the players that constituted the midfield were far more effective as a unit than previous games where Beckham has been fit and played.

Beckham was a good player in his day but he is well past his best, and we don't need players to be included just because they can hit a dead ball well. He must know this himself as well, why else would he have gone to play in a league where the standard was akin to League One?

Feathering his nest for when he has to hang up his boots. Signing a 5 year contract whilst at the end of his best will prove much more lucrative then signing a 3 year one down the line when his powers would have waned that much more. Plus also at the time he signed he was out of the Madrid and England team.

I thought Beck's last England games were pretty decent actually. Im not saying he should neccessarily start, but amongst the best 23 players we have available....Id say so if Downing, Neville etc are there. Plus with Becks you have a team man who will not be a disruptive influence if he is left out etc. Everytime I see Defoe's face on the bench looking like he would rather be somewhere else I want to throw a brick at it.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Everytime I see Defoe's face I want to throw a brick at it.

Edited to make more sense!
Well, that at least how I feel!

 

[number11]

Edited to make more sense!
Well, that at least how I feel!

Quite, to clarify, my brick throwing urges are directed at Defoe's face and not the TV.:)

 

[Mr. Benedict]

Edited to make more sense!
Well, that at least how I feel!

He's certainly not as good as he seems to think he is...! :p

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

But there's no use running around the football pitch like a headless chicken if your end product isn't up to it. Although the team had a bad game against Russia, the players that constituted the midfield were far more effective as a unit than previous games where Beckham has been fit and played.

Beckham was a good player in his day but he is well past his best, and we don't need players to be included just because they can hit a dead ball well. He must know this himself as well, why else would he have gone to play in a league where the standard was akin to League One?

To say he can only hit a dead ball is ridiculous. Have you seen how he plays 60 yard inch perfect passes time after time?

Beckham would still be my first name on the team sheet for qualifiers.

Time after time he's rescued England. Whenever England have faced awkward opponents and are only drawing 0-0 in a game they are supposed to win its Beckham who inevitably steps up and either scores or creates a goal. If you want someone for end product, there's no-one English better than Beckham. Hell, you could probably justify picking him on the basis of his set-pieces alone (how many world cup games were decided by set-pieces?) even if he didn't continually play those 60 yard perfect passes.

I couldn't care less that he's playing in America. How do you know the standard there is akin to League One? How many MLS games have you seen? Most of the people bad-mouthing MLS are bad-mouthing it on the basis that they are Americans and don't know anything about football - I mean they call it soccer, so MLS must be bad. I don't know what the standard is like. I know that the US have a decent international team, although many of their players play abroad, particularly at Fulham where they do quite well. It may not be competitive, but then how competitive is the world's greatest ever league (TM), when only 3 teams can win it and the team who finishes 4th is often closer to relegation than the title?

Is it necessarily a bad thing if it was an easier level as a player who is able to amble round for 40 games rather than play 60+ games in the premier$hite may actually be fresher. Class is permanent, and Beckham has class. He may not be able to last 90 minutes, but you are allowed to make substitutions.

The amazing thing about Beckham is how underappreciated he is in his own country.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

Feathering his nest for when he has to hang up his boots. Signing a 5 year contract whilst at the end of his best will prove much more lucrative then signing a 3 year one down the line when his powers would have waned that much more. Plus also at the time he signed he was out of the Madrid and England team.

.

As if he needed to feather his nest, he was already one of the richest players in the world before he signed that deal, let alone afterwards.
He could have gone to another - albeit lesser - team in la liga or the Premiership. That he didn't shows that greed has taken precedent over his playing career.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

As if he needed to feather his nest, he was already one of the richest players in the world before he signed that deal, let alone afterwards.
He could have gone to another - albeit lesser - team in la liga or the Premiership. That he didn't shows that greed has taken precedent over his playing career.

Plus he was also satisfying that vacuous boot of a woman (who's not only his wife but also a key stakeholder in his image rights agency etc) and for various reasons wanted a chance at life & opportunities LA Style!

 

[number11]

As if he needed to feather his nest, he was already one of the richest players in the world before he signed that deal, let alone afterwards.
He could have gone to another - albeit lesser - team in la liga or the Premiership. That he didn't shows that greed has taken precedent over his playing career.

He (or at least his wife) obviously want to lay foundations for what they do after Beck's legs invariable go, and I cant blame them for that. Greedy....maybe as they have plenty of money to go round, however so do ALL the players in or around the England team. However, Becks has managed the difficult feat of balancing a celebrity life style with a succesful career on the field, and when he is on the pitch he doesnt strike me as someone thinking about the money.

Becks has always been willing to play through pain, travel and give his all for England. Even in friendlies he never used to pull out through 'mysterious injuries' like so many others have. I sensed he was genuinly proud to play for his country, as well as being damned talented, and for that Id have him ahead of a Downing, Bentley or Defore any day.