English National Team Improvments

[AstonVillaFan 2]

ok our goalie and our defence are top solid. Beckham and Gerrard I think can handle midfield with Hargreaves and Dyer coming in. Any ideas on who should replace Har and Dyer since paul is out of favor. Owen is a good forward, but I don't think Defoe is all that I think we can find a better striker than that.

[Will317]

ok our goalie and our defence are top solid.
Yes, the defence has always been a strong point - particularly with Ferdinand and Campbell playing centrally. And Robinson has been very solid since he's been given a chance recently.

Beckham and Gerrard I think can handle midfield with Hargreaves and Dyer coming in. Any ideas on who should replace Har and Dyer since paul is out of favor.
Well Paul Scholes is retired from international football! :silly:
I think Wright-Phillips should be used in a wide role if Beckham was out, with Butt coming in for Gerrard if injured (like now), relying on Lampard to create the chances. However my first choice midfield would be, now that Scholes is out of the equation...

Gerrard-------Lampard-------Butt-------Beckham


Owen is a good forward, but I don't think Defoe is all that I think we can find a better striker than that.
Owen and Rooney is fine up front, like at Euro 2004. Defoe on the bench.

[Will317]

Oh, and my first-choice XI:


---------------------------Robinson---------------------------
-------G. Neville-----Campbell----Ferdinand------A. Cole-------
-------Beckham-------Butt-------Lampard-------Gerrard-------
----------------------Owen------ Rooney---------------------

[AstonVillaFan 2]

I don't Like butt

My choice would be Robinson defence just like yours becks when not injured and Gerrard when not injured with dyer on the left and I think Joe Cole is better than lampard... Dyer is also injured right or something... Rooney is ok but he needs more experience I don't think he is that great to be honest.

[AstonVillaFan 2]

Hey I have been thinking guys in 2010 we will have a really strong team I think we could have a very good chance of winning a WC then.

[Gennadios]

I don't Like butt


Ahhh....I like ur style.

[Will317]

Rooney is ok but he needs more experience I don't think he is that great to be honest.
He's pretty good - I think very fast for a powerful player and has a great shot. Don't forget - how do you get experience? By playing matches. So that's what he should be allowed to do, then we'll have a hell of a footballer. Besides, who have we got that's better?

[Becks]

Lampard is actually doing very well during the qualifiers...6 goals in the past 9 games... That goal 3 minutes into ENG v. WALES was BRILLIANT. Rooney made some terrible mistakes. He just doesn't "fit" with the rest of the team...

[AstonVillaFan 2]

Rooney will be as good as Michael Owen probably when 06 comes around I think were gonna hve 2 find someone 2 replace Sol he is getting kinda old....

[Becks]

Sol played find. As far as Rooney goes, he needs to grow up.

[Will317]

Rooney will be as good as Michael Owen probably when 06 comes around I think were gonna hve 2 find someone 2 replace Sol he is getting kinda old....
You'd get rid of arguably our best defender just because he's 31? That's not even that old, he's got more years yet!

[AstonVillaFan 2]

You shouldn't keep a player past his prime thats what Italy did and now its having major problems... I am not saying he still doesn't have anywhere from 3-5 good years on him but still he is a little old.

[7becks7]

You shouldn't keep a player past his prime thats what Italy did and now its having major problems... I am not saying he still doesn't have anywhere from 3-5 good years on him but still he is a little old.

he is still capable of playing top football, plus, 31 isn't that old for a defensman. In fact, it is believed that for a defender, his prime is over the age of 29, since it's more about expirience and proper marking rather than simply running.

[Becks]

Beckham is 29...should we get rid of him, especially after his wonderful playing this season with both the NT and Real?

[AstonVillaFan 2]

To be honest yes I would get rid of him in my IMO if your 35 and you are still playing National team you need to train new people... this should be Becks and Sols last World cup well maybe not but we should find young talent.

[Will317]

To be honest yes I would get rid of him in my IMO if your 35 and you are still playing National team you need to train new people... this should be Becks and Sols last World cup well maybe not but we should find young talent.
There's lots of young talent, but will they be able to fill the boots of that kind of player? I'm not so sure just now...

[Becks]

You need a good balance of seasoned veterans and youngsters. That way it will make the transition easier because the older ones can slowly hand down what they know. Replacing the "old" players with younger talent would be like taking a fish and putting it on land.

[Will317]

You need a good balance of seasoned veterans and youngsters. That way it will make the transition easier because the older ones can slowly hand down what they know. Replacing the "old" players with younger talent would be like taking a fish and putting it on land.
Yes, that's it, we need to ease our promising young players gradually into the side.

[7becks7]

and it's not like england doesn't have young talent playing first team football - owen, rooney, lampard, gerrard, cole are all young players

[Becks]

We have young players, but that does not mean to get rid of the "old" as some say.

[davor_suker]

How can you say your goalkeeper is top solid??? I think that the keeper is by far Englands weakest point...
Defence, Sol Campbell will be fine, by the time the wc comes along he will be what? 32-33? I dont think that will be an issue, as previous posts have stated, defenders get better with age, and generally last a lot longer than other field players, just look at Maldini, Cafu etc...
Your Midfield i think will be at its peak at wc2006...Lampard, Gerrard etc are by no means greenhorns at this stage, but they will definitely be fully matured players by the time the world cup comes along.
Rooney...well i have never been a fan but you dont really have anyone better, he has great finishing ability but he is too slow and lacks agility. Remember Owen was just as hyped when he made his debut, didnt they say he was valued at 50 million pounds???