Provision England Squad Announced - Surprises Inc...

[Man Of Kent]

Details can be found here but the squad is:

Robinson (Tottenham), James (Manchester City), Green (Norwich), G Neville (Manchester United), R Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), A Cole (Arsenal), Campbell (Arsenal), Carragher (Liverpool), Bridge (Chelsea), Beckham (Real Madrid), Carrick (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Totenham), Downing (Middlesbrough), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester United), Owen (Newcastle), Crouch (Liverpool), Walcott (Arsenal).

Early thoughts are:

Why include Campbell, Hargreaves, Jenas and Walcott?

Hargreaves and Jenas because they are crap, Campbell because he spends more time on in the treatment room than the physio and Walcott because he hasn't kicked a senior ball for months.

[godscop]

Originally Posted by Man Of Kent

Why include Campbell, Hargreaves, Jenas and Walcott?

Who else is there?

[Martin_Bashir]

Now I thought the same thing about Walcott, taking him to the World Cup without a senior England appearance but with these injury problems it might, just might, pay off.

Most of you probably havent seen him in action but trust me he's the real deal, and I mean in the same way that Rooney was the real deal.

Still, experience may still be a problem for him, although I'd love to hear 'You're gettin done by a schoolboy' being sung toward the Argentinians this summer

[Lickalotapuss]

Originally Posted by Martin_Bashir

Now I thought the same thing about Walcott, taking him to the World Cup without a senior England appearance but with these injury problems it might, just might, pay off.

Its not just a senior England appearance though, he hasn't made a first team appearance for Arsenal since his move. But like you say it could pay off but I'm sure Sven would use others before him anyway.
Lennon is a good choice, another product of the Leeds Acadamy, he's playing well at spurs and I believe will frighten the life out of most defences when he runs at them, I would personally put him on before SWP as he has played a lot more games and is in form.
Think its pretty much the standard "expected" squad, with just a couple of surprises which I doubt will have any relevance on the team as they will probably not play any of the games.

[olaola]

I think its a good idea that walcott in the squad, he could proove to be an effective subsitute. But only taking 4 strikers with 2 of them unfit reeks of 4-1-4-1 formation. Its a bit unfair on other strikers such as darren bent that have missed out, to andy johnson (stand by player) who cant even cut it in the championship.

not suprised at all by the linclusion of hargreaves, sven seems to love him even though he does fuck all every time he comes on. scott parker would have been a better option surely.

defence and midfield is ok, although we could have done with SWP, and King would have been better the Campbell.

oh, and i really hope Robinson stays fit, the idea of having Robert Green + David James as our 1 and 2, would put my life savings on trinidad and tobabago knocking us out the world cup. I mean, Green, for fucks sake, hes been getting embarssed by championship strikers all season

[Braineater]

Walcott is definitely good enough to do the business on the world stage. I'm suprised he hasn't yet played for the Arsenal first team but he is something special. I can see him making an impact a la Michael Owen in '98. If there were some kid on the Brazilian bench the media would be raving about him.

I'm suprised Reo-Coker isn't in the full squad.

Harewood and Dawson had good shouts as well.

Hargreaves is probably the big suprise. He must be good to play for Bayern surely but really needs a move to England. Campbell was a bit of a shock too.

[Toadborg]

Just seen it



Sven has actually gone insane, and I don't mean that jokingly, i am worried for his mental health after admitting that he picked Walcott for reasons tha era "not too logical" (his words)

Jesus.........

[film_buff]

Its a joke, Sven is helpign Sweden out at least -> they'll win our group which will more than likely set us up to play Germany.

It seems to me that Arsenal (mainly David Dein) has too much say over the FA. First stops any chance of specking to Wenger then makes sure that all of Arsenals english players are in the squad. I mean Walcott hasnt even played a premiership game, i dont care how good he is, i just think its too much pressure on a young lad like that.

I do feel sorry for players like Bent, Harewood, Dawson, Reo-Coker, Nolan they have all had great seasons and just get looked over because they dont play for a fashionable team or it would mean one of them replacing one of Svens favourites (e.g. Cambell, Hargreaves).

[Braineater]

I'm sorry but Walcott or Lennon coming off the bench in the 70th minute will terrify any opposing team. Who outside of Britain will have heard of those two?

Sven is criticised for not taking a gamble and when he finally does he gets criticised again. Including Walcott could be a masterstroke.

I would say Walcott will make an excellent stop-gap in the group games until Rooney and/or Owen are fit. I doubt he would feature more than that, if he does feature at all.

This thread is going to get bumped if Walcott puts England into the knockout stages.

Also remember this squad is only provisional.

Do you honestly think England are not going to beat Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago and at the very least draw with Sweden?

[film_buff]

The thing is though i imagine that other countires will now deffo know quite alot about Walcott.

If i was an opposing manager of a side we are likely to face if we want to win the cup then i'd send someone to watch tapes of all his matchs (to be fair there isnt that many). You know what it would show me, to just get some defender to bully him out of the game. If Rooney and Owen were both fully fit then maybe i wouldnt be as bothered but the matter of the fact is that they are both injured and we could start our first game with Walcott and Coruch up front. I know its a provisional squad but Sven know cant afford to take him out of the squad because we have only called 4 strikers up.

At least he called Lennon up, who deserves his shot

[Man Of Kent]

Originally Posted by godscop

Who else is there?

You mean apart from Reo-Coker & Parker for Hargreaves and Jenas, or any number of central defnders (I'd include Wesley in that) instead of Campbell?

Seriously, Campbell is past it as far as I am concerned and Hargreaves and Jenas just aren't up to it...

I was surprised about Walcott but not disappointed and I would have had Downing and Lennon in my squad too. Wright-Phillips is paying the price for being greedy IMHO

[olaola]

Originally Posted by Braineater

Walcott is definitely good enough to do the business on the world stage. .

Thats a stupid thing to say, how do you know, hes completly unproven. Doesnt mean to say he will not be good for England, but you cannot rely on him doing the business for Arsenal let alone England.

From what i saw of him in the championship, he showed signs of being a potential superstar, so yes i could be one to gamble with. But ive seen him against the better sides in the championship, and he looked out completly out of his depth against the likes of 34+ year old malky mackay, and clarke carlise.

to conclude.. he could be a hero and work a bit of magic, so hes worth taking. but from seeing him play, i don't think hes all that

[Bri-namite]

I think Campbell (and Ferdinand for that matter) are both seriously prone to
concentration lapses, although I'd still have both in the squad. I'd go for Carragher and Terry at the back to start though.

Upfront, I think if Rooney and Owen are fucked, then I can't see what Svens gonna do. I don't think Bent is at the standard required yet, he doesn't rate Defoe (although I do) and I think any partnership involving Crouch would need to be worked at. Beattie would have been an option IMO.

Don't think for a second Sven would have picked this squad if a) England didn't have a straightforward group or b) He wasn't leaving after the World Cup. I think that'll work to Englands advantage really, they can go for it 100% fully focused and Sven doesn't have to give a shit about media backlash or any other shite.

[Braineater]

Originally Posted by olaola

Thats a stupid thing to say, how do you know, hes completly unproven. Doesnt mean to say he will not be good for England, but you cannot rely on him doing the business for Arsenal let alone England.

I may very well be getting carried away, but you know that feeling when you see a player and just know he's going to be a superstar? I've had it with Owen, Rooney, Cesc, Messi and now Walcott.

Whether he plays or not I am convinced when called upon he will be able to perform. I doubt he will play any more than the group games (if he plays at all) and it'll be a good stage for him going into next season.

[muse-]

hargreaves is a decent player.