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England Goalkeepers

GK :: Paul Robinson.
Has been playing quite well for Spurs. Bought from Leeds at the start of the last season for about 2 million pound, Robinson must have been pretty much the transfer coup of the season. In my opinion will not hold down the regular England goalkeepers spot like the likes of Peter Shilton or even David Seaman managed to. Still a decent international goalkeeper.

GK :: David James
As usual, is playing well for his clu. Davd James is probably the most talented England goalkeeper we've had for many a year. Big, strong, agile, decent reflexes, a good shot stopper and able to command the box so well that he ends up going for the outrageous, which gets James into trouble. Prone to errors under extreme pressure in the big game, prone to playing man of the match performances in big games too. Nicknamed Calamity James which is unfair really and goes back to the days of the Liverpool manager Roy Evans playing smallish defenders Babb and Kvarme at centre back, while benching quality lumps like Mark Wright and Neil Ruddock. All very unhelpful for a young goalie who ended up coming for every cross because the centre backs were getting done in the air over and over. Probably should be in the England team between the sticks.

GK :: Robert Green
Robert Green is not a goalkeeper I can really comment on very well. The only game I saw him play, he had a nightmare. Highly rated, I very much doubt if that performance was a fair reflection of Green's goalkeeping abilities, so I will reserve judgement for a later date.

By  Gamblog UK, at 12:23 AM  

England Defenders

Centre Back :: Rio Ferdinand.
Needs no introduction. A cultured centre back with top pace and can tackle properly. The fact Rio can actually pass goes gets missed at times because Rio generally keeps it simple, but is able to move foward and play comfortably up the pitch without looking like a dope. Quality defender. When Rio is absent, his worth becomes more apparent.

Centre Back :: John Terry.
Tearing up the speakers at high flying Chelsea, getting forward and nicking big goals while controlling the penalty box and the whole Chelsea defence at the same time. Arguably John Terry has earned the right to replace Sol Campbell in the spot next to Rio. The problem is I think Rio plays best standing on the right of a centre back partner, not on the left. Sol Campbell can play quite happily on someones left, while being a right footer wheras I am not sure Terry can do so. Maybe he can, I don't know.

Left Back :: Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole is being touted as the best left back in the world. Invloved in a tapping up scanda between Chelsea nd Arsenal, Cole's form has definately dipped. Fast and aggressive and good getting forward, Ashley Cole should arguably be playing at left midfield for England and at left back for Arsenal.

Right Back :: Gary Neville
Steady at Man Utd, steady for England, used to playing with avid Beckham, Gary Neville is a shoe in at right back and has been for a while now. Has improved his forward play lately, which can't be bad. Due a goal for England.

Centre Back :: Ledley King.
Has made a few errors for Spurs lately, but is a definate for the bench as King has never put a foot wrong while playing at the highest level for England. Can play in midfield too and is an ample replacement for the ball playing centre back Rio Ferdinand. Lots of rumours about whether Ledley King will stay at Spurs for much longer. Who knows? Probably not even Ledley right now.

RLC defence. Jamie Carragher.
Jamie Carragher plays centre back, left or right of defence and always played solidly for England and Liverpool when called upon in any position in the defence. Quality defensive back.

Right, Centre Defense :: Wes Browne
Wes Browne is a top quality right back if he can stay fit and is not a bad centre back either. I find he defends better on the run against wide men rather than standing at centre back facing up centre forward. More than capable of taking the right back spot from Gary Nevilly, but seems to be injury prone, therefore unreliable when it comes to planning a side, so Browne has'nt cemented the right back spot for England ~ yet.

Utility - Phil Neville
Phil Neville is a righ back, but fills in all accross the defence and midfield and gets lambasted for individual errors made while playing out of position at the highest level. Quality defensive cover, another who should be pushing to take Gary Neville's right back spot. The fact he has to move his older brother is not a point lost upon me. I am happy to have him around the England squad, like so many managers are, even though most of my fellow England fans seem to think he is a laughing stock. Quality defensive cover player.

By  Gamblog UK, at 12:50 AM  

England Midfielders

Right Midfield :: David Beckham
David Beckham needs no inroduction to England fans, nor anyone else who knows anything about football(soccer)

Beckham is the England captain and it is about time he got himself fit when playing for England in a big tournament final competition and lead us to some silverware. Annoyed with watching Becks play half fit to be honest.

Centre midfield :: Steven Gerrard.
Stephen Gerrard is a top quality footballer. I am inclined to ask him to play predominately as a ballwinning midfielder who can play properly when asked to, rather than as a central midfield creator who can tackle a bit. Can do it all. I am waiting for Gerrard to grab a hold of the international football scene and give it a good shake up by lifting the world cup with England. Not interested in the Gerrard tranfer talk atall.

Centre Midfield :: Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard is all stamina. He keeps going all day, forward and back and has an eye for goal, an eye for a pass and puts his foot in when necissary. In massive form for Chelsea. Almost a certain England starter these days since Paul Scholes retirement from the International football scene..

right, centre midfield :: Jermaine Jenas
Jermaine Jenas is a youth prodigy that has not done it for me as yet. Adds size and strength to a midfield with some nice touches and decent passing. I am waiting to see what Jenas is all about. Judgement reserved on a very telented player, but one whome I cannot work out what he actually does.

Left Midfield :: Stewart Downing.
Stewart Downing is some who England have been screaming out for under Sven Goran Eriksson, seeing that Sven is loathe to play Ashley Cole at left midfield and has been for about 4 years. Downing has played very well for Boro at the highest level domestically for his club, but his club manager and England coach Steve McClaren plus Sven saw fit to give Downing half an hour at the end of 2 friendlies in our last 2 games. All very wierd. If you can play in the premier league and the Uefa cup, you should be able to operate at International level. unless odf course, you are being carried at club level, which I very much doebt Stewart Downing is. An exciting prospect who should most likely be in the England team already, due to our apparent lack of left sided midfielders.

Utility midfielder :: Owen Hargreaves.

Hargreaves is a youngster that seems to be able to play in every position in defence or midfield. On the bench at Bayern am not sure Owen is worthy as an England call up right now, but is in because Sven is bringing him through for the future.

RLC Attacking Midfield :: Joe Cole
Joe Cole is by far our most skillful player. Should be scaring the world with his talents but is not doing so because managers have curbed his natural flair in exchange for work rate and strength and defensive duties. When Cole learns to do the defensive duties completely, which he will. he will be a dangerous player for England for years to come. Should be in for me and would be if he were Brazilian, but you need strewngth like Rooney to get a chance in the England team as a youth prodigy. Cole has been made to wok hard for everything he has achieved in the game, which is a shame because he is about as talented a footballer as it gets.

Utility Player :: Kieron Dyer
Kieron Dyer can play right left or centre midfield, but made a song and dance about Bobby Robson playing him out wide. I hope Sven actually gets round to playing Dyer wherever it is he thinks he goes rather than just making Dyer watch from the bench. I think Dyer should play in central midfield and not out wide as per Dyer's wish. The thing is Dyer is not as good as Lampard or Gerrard at the moment.

By  Gamblog UK, at 1:29 AM  

England Strikers

Striker :: Michael Owen
World class striker who is getting annoyed at sitting on Real Madrid's bench. I am delighted to see Owen on the bench. Owen was hammered into the ground from the age of 18 by club and country and ended up injury prone with a dodgy hamstring. The more rest Owen gets, the better he will play for England. Next year, Owen will be flying and in form and could well be the star of the next world cup finals.

Striker :: Wayne Rooney
Rooney has been touted as possibly being able to get as good as a Maradona or Pele once were. High praise indeed and possibly not misplaced. Pass, run, create, score, the boy Rooney has it all. Plays up front next to Owen so ends up taking the job of the big man up front, which will get him injured at times. Has the strength physically to pull it off. World class operator.

Striker :: Jermaine Defoe
Tottenham hit man, dangerous individual when it comes to football. An all round great striker who will push Owen all the way for the England spot over the years to come. Has more skill and finishing ability than Owen, just not the dangerousness, which is hard to explain in words. Quality striker.

Striker :: Andy Johnson
Crystal Palace lone striker who is all pace and work rate. Not quite sure why Sven played Johnson at right midfield in the friendly against Holland as the guy is a striker who wll get you a goal against all the odds, just when you need it. Mark my words. If Johnson stays around the international scene, he will make an impact.

Striker :: Emile Heskey
Lambasted by the England fans, dropped by Sven who refused to put Heskey on the pitch in the Euro quarter finals when Rooney got injured after we took the lead. I am not sure why Heskey is back in the squad. I prefer to have the big man in the squad too, but Heskey will keep doing what Heskey does, which is act as a battering ram next to the goalscoring striker. If that is what Sven wants then he should stand by Heskey and not forget his worth when we need exactly what Emile offers.

Worth of inclusion in my eyes, whatever the critics say.

By  Gamblog UK, at 2:03 AM