Englands WC team. Theo Walcott?

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:05 pm

Theo Walcott. Surprise?

Am I right about this: You have four forwards. Two are injured. One is Crouch. One is seventeen years old and has never played in the premier league?

EDIT: just read that 23 players out of these will be selected the 15:th may. So I was wrong. Sort of.

Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), David James (Manchester City), Robert Green (Norwich).

Defenders.: Gary Neville (Manchester United)
Sol Campbell (Arsenal)
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
Ashley Cole (Arsenal)
Wayne Bridge (Fulham).

Midfield: David Beckham (Real Madrid)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Michael Carrick (Tottenham)
Joe Cole (Chelsea)
Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)
Jeremaine Jenas (Tottenham)
Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)
Owen Hargreaves (Bayern München).

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Michael Owen (Newcastle),
Peter Crouch (Liverpool),
Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

Reservs: Scott Carson (Liverpool),
Luke Young (Charlton),
Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham),
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham),
Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace)

Post by **snarl** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:18 pm

****** bizarre.

SGE - ****.

Get the [composite word including 'f*ck'] away sven, you're ill, you've gone wrong.

You're ******* insane.

Gutted for Ledley, Defoe a bit too.

Really pissed off by this.

Post by **snarl** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:09 pm

Actually, Besty and i both know people that work for the F.A.

I've told my mate to cut Sven and Dein's faces.

Betsy, you need do the same!

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:12 pm

I just posted this at the Archive. I can't be arsed to type anything new:

Theo Walcott is a God, and I won't hear a word to the contrary. He's not been in the Arsenal first team because there's a) no need for him to be and b) to give him time to settle in without any pressure.

And we of course know there's no pressure at the World Cup.

The kid can handle himself. I'm not saying he should be going, because he shouldn't, but he's got the talent and level head to be able to do something given the chance.

It's harsh on Defoe and Bent. They've done enough at both club and international level to prove they deserve a shout, but Sven obviously places more value on injuries and inexperience.

Owen Hargreaves... I mean why? Not why's he in the squad... just why. I see no point to his existence. Really. Ye gads.

Odds on McClaren having the balls to make changes to the established squad once Eriksson buggers off?

Post by **snarl** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:52 pm

Hargreaves is tripe.

Wallcott has the same amout of PL experience as myself - none.

I feel for Ledley. Sol Campbell is *****, he'll be a liability if he plays.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:57 pm

snarl wrote:Wallcott has the same amout of PL experience as myself - none.

But he ran a bunch of Premiership rejects ragged in the Championship, which is more than you've done.

Possibly.

I don't know that as fact.

He's played under Dennis Wise.

And Harry Bassett.

He's £5m worth of pocket change for the Burley, w00t w00t.

He's got more Premiership experience than Owen Hargreaves, at any rate.

I don't care - we've got Rasiak. And Drew Surman (see what I did there? And Drew... geddit... ugh. Tough crowd.)

Post by **Best First** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:29 pm

i'm glad downing is in there.

the striek force is a laff - gambling on one inured guy fine, two - nightmare

Bent & Defoe - agree

Walcott, not a bad idea to be honest.

Hargrieves is Sven's way of wiping his arse on the British public.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:53 pm

Walcott - seriously, this guy doesnt have any experience - not for me.

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:07 pm

Lots of criticism of Sven's decisions here, but nobody saying what he should have done instead. Given that Rooney and Owen are both injured, which other English players are good enough to play forward in the world cup team? Who should Sven have chosen instead?

Post by **Best First** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:09 pm

Bent?

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:15 pm

Walcott may not have much experience, but the kid is SO fast and skilled. I really think he could come off of the bench and scare people. It's certainly not much more of a ridiculous concept than calling up Rooney after he had played about 20 games for Everton.

Rooney wont be fit, Defoe will go to the world cup.

I think with Lennon and Downing we have some genuine talent on the wings. Its justa shame Sven didnt play them in some friendlies first.

King and SWP don't surprise me. It seems daft to take an injured defender to play the holding midfield role. Carrick and Hargreaves can do it much better and we have some good cover in defence in Carragher, Campbell, Terry and Rio. Hargreaves has his critics (including me) but he has just won another double with Bayern, playing the holding midfield role all season.

SWP has been utter poo for Chelsea this season. I'm much happier to see Lennon go. I do feel for SWP in the sense that he was in all of the England Squads and now not even on the standby list.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:16 pm

Yes, why not Bent - I mean he is Englands top goal scorer this season in the prem, guess thats not enough...

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:33 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:Yes, why not Bent - I mean he is Englands top goal scorer this season in the prem, guess thats not enough...

IIRC, Sutton, Phillips and Beattie all had that recognition, too... and all got shafted by England. The last two in favour of Emile ******* Heskey.

Theo's ******* electric. So what if he's never played in the Prem? Green got into the squad before he got promoted... Andrei Shevchenko's never played in the Prem. Walcott's torn through everybody he's played over the past two years. He may not have proven himself at the highest level, but neither's Hargreaves. If Mr Universe Lookylikey can go, I see no reason Theo can't.

Bent, Defoe, Crouch and Walcott is a much more sensible front line.

And no, I'm not biased towards Theo because he used to play for Saints - by all rights I should hate the ****** a) for the way he left and b) for going to ******* Arsenal.

Trinidad & Tobago are on a par with the average Championship team... I've no doubt Theo could rip them apart with ease. Which leaves us with the luxury of resting one of the more senior players.

He's good enough to have played in the Prem this year. The fact he hasn't is down to Wenger - not the kid's inferred lack of ability.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:08 pm

If he has a blinder good for him but for me a player not tested at Premm level wouldnt get into my squad based on current experience. I hope he proves me wrong.
I cant help but feel that if hes the next Rooney or somthing, then why didnt Wenger play him? and lets be clear here, there was a time this season when they really needed him, if Wenger cant risk him in the Premm again west Brom are we gonna risk him in the WC against Argentina or somthing?

Post by **snarl** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:11 pm

Walcott has featured in 24 games EVER, 10 as sub.

He has not played in his country's top flight.

He has scored 5 goals.

How the [composite word including 'f*ck'] does that equal going into the WC squad?

Hargreaves is absolute crap - [composite word including 'f*ck'] the ****, he should never play for England again.

How the [composite word including 'f*ck'] does Bent not even get in the backup list yet Andy Jonson does?

I'm gutted for King that he's not going. I'm positive he'll be fit - but fine, he can have the op on his groin that he needs, I hope that **** Campbell doesn't play - he's so **** now that he would shaft himself out of ever playing for England again but I dont want that mental ******* liability having to defend against top strikers. jason Roberts regularly makes him look a ****.

JASON ******* ROBERTS!

Jesus.

sidestreaker · Post by **sidestreaker** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:40 pm

well...odd choices

knowing that your forwards are all half injured or inexperienced you might want to have a reliable striker at hand....

walcott? no chance against the big teams....rooney will he even be able too play not to mention in anykind of form
owen has just healed from his latest injures and has to get in scoring form, and crouch is...well more of a pinch hitter....

why take all those risks?

Bent would've been a safer choice

anyways more chances for Trinidad & Tobago

Post by **Best First** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:57 pm

Sven is going to get ripped a new one on tomorrow's back pages...

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:37 pm

snarl wrote:Walcott has featured in 24 games EVER

24 first team club games.

If you're gonna throw facts about, throw actual facts about.

By your definition, you've never played football. EVER.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:56 pm

Yes but by that definition Snarl is just as qualified as TW ?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:59 pm

I'd be in favour of the Popsterinio going to Germany. Even if he just warmed the bench and did the post match interviews.

"Well, Lineker you ****, it's obvious that we won because God gave those ******* cock Germans bad aids."

I'd pay to see that.

Actually, that's not a bad idea. I wonder how much it would take for us to buy Owen Hargreaves' slot...

Post by **snarl** » Mon May 08, 2006 11:06 pm

I wouldn't swear at Lineker, he's a ledge.

There is nothing to justify taking Walcott.

Has an international manager ever picked a player he has never seen play or who has never kicked a ball in a topflight match before for a World cup final?

Post by **Best First** » Tue May 09, 2006 10:08 am

i'd still take him over Hargreaves...

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Tue May 09, 2006 10:54 am

Best First wrote:i'd still take him over Hargreaves...

True

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:41 am

One of year 11's just got a call form Sven to play for England. He has no Primer league experience, no professional footall experience, doesn't belong to a club and even hates a kick around in P.E.
Sven felt he was the perfect choice for Germany '06. Sadly he declined to get his GCSEs out of the way.

Sadly Walcott may be the next Henry, but it's madness taking him as one of the main 4 over Defoe and bent unless Sven and Wenger knows something the rest of us don't. Lennon was a good choice though. He has been outstanding at times. A real dangerous player.

Post by **snarl** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:51 am

I am not for 1 second saying Bent is a class act and should be straight on the plane, but come on, he has been shat on. 45 minutes in a ***** formation proves to Sven that he cant cut it?

Sven is a ****.

Johnson has scored less goals in the Championship and many have been spot kicks yet he gets in? Give me strength.

Owen Hargreaves. Oh my god.

Getaway · Post by **Getaway** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:52 pm

The midfielder I can't understand being in the squad is Jermaine Jenas, he simply will not get a game. As a attacking central midfielder he's behind Gerrard, Lampard and possibly depending on formation Joe Cole, as a Defensive midfielder he's behind Carrick and Hargreaves (Who is a very good DM - **** in any other position, which means Sven will probably make him play right back if Neville gets injured) So why is Jenas there instead of taking 9 midfielders he could have taken a second specialist rightback or more importantly another striker who is actually fit. If he wanted a third attacking midfielder then I would have taken Nolan who is criminally neglected in favour of Jenas and Dyer.

Post by **snarl** » Tue May 09, 2006 7:08 pm

I think Hargreaves is total cack to be honest, total cack in all positions.

I think Jenas goes as Sven will be looking at 4-5-1. He's versatile, and can go as cover to all midfield positions. He could even be shoed into left wing if he had to.

He started really badly for us but we have missed him in recent weeks. He and Carrick will be a very promising partnership next year. In his favour, he is an absolute engine. He's not an attacking or defensive midfielder, he is box to box, does it all and to a high level.

He is still only 22 remember.

He scores goals and is a big game player, something very handy in a major tourney.

He is the least likey to play, but worthwhile certainly. Nolan is very good though, I would have him over Hargreaves easy.

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Tue May 09, 2006 8:40 pm

snarl wrote:I think Hargreaves is total cack to be honest, total cack in all positions.

Accordingto all reports he's had an excellent season in Munich. It's not Italy or Spain but it's still one of he ebst leagues in Europe.

I think Jenas goes as Sven will be looking at 4-5-1. He's versatile, and can go as cover to all midfield positions. He could even be shoed into left wing if he had to.

He started really badly for us but we have missed him in recent weeks. He and Carrick will be a very promising partnership next year. In his favour, he is an absolute engine. He's not an attacking or defensive midfielder, he is box to box, does it all and to a high level.

He is still only 22 remember.

He scores goals and is a big game player, something very handy in a major tourney.

He is the least likey to play, but worthwhile certainly. Nolan is very good though, I would have him over Hargreaves easy.

I'd have Nolan over Hargreaves and Jenas. He's had a brilliant season and gives 100% no matter what. I'd love to see him at Arsenal actually.

Getaway · Post by **Getaway** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:08 pm

We'll disagree about jenas and hargreaves then:) What do people think about the overall squad makeup then as in numbers in each position 7 defenders, 9i midfielders, 4 strikers, is this right, should we have dropped qa midfielder for another defender or another striker. Pops is right I think in that we will probably be going for 4-5-1 so more midfielders is ok, but what if for example gary neville gets injured against Sweden, we will then have to rely on Carragher or Hargreaves at rightback for the rest of the tournament. The striker shortage we all know about.

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:45 pm

I think dropping a midfielder for a striker would be more sensible. After all we are only taking 2 strikers for all intents and purposes.