yup thats true dude ^^, top world class players in england but they dont seem to have an actual great selection of 23 players to be called up everytime the deadline is.
Just now at left back they have to bring in that guy lescott? surely there are more leftback players out there other than cole and wayne bridge (who I think shouldnt be at international level).
Watching the France vs Scotland game was crazy, what a star studded team and what an attack force they had but we defended great. Malouda and Ribery were immense but I think scotland owed it down to the defense and also our keeper Craig Gordon.
No world class players in the scotland team, not that I am complaining, as long as our guys are fit and getting a good run at games at club level then I am more than happy.
English left backs: Cashley, Bridge, Shorey, Baines, PNeville (possibly), Barry and Lescott.
Lescott is primarily a centreback though, so my first choice with current injuries would be Shorey or Baines.
The only truly world class player I think England have, is Gerrard. Rooney is great, but not world class.
I think your forgetting that football is a team game, if you get 11 players who work together in cohesion like fingers on a hand then you will do well.
Look at Germany, how many world class players do they have? They beat England 2:1 with their "B" team and did amazing things in the world cup, and were unbeaten (in qualifying) and the first to qualify for the competition.
Of course you need to have players on a certain level of fitness and ability, but its the recipe which makes the difference.
Clubs are much stronger than national teams imo because..
# They are chose by experienced managers to play together from all over the world.
# They train a lot more often than the national teams so they know each others habits and running paths etc.
# They play more games together, at least a game a week not every few months, which brings a team spirit & familiarity.
ah Germany, they are dominating at the moment. I think they will win the Euros if they keep up the way they are.
Nah England players in the national team would be welcomed into ANY world team, they likes of Ashley Cole, Lampard, Rooney, Joe Cole, SWP, Gerrard, Rio, Terry would be snapped up by the likes of AC Milan, Bara, Madrid, Juve, Inter....Aberdeen FC?? 😛
Nicky Shorey impressed me during the Brazil friendly match - is he injured or something that he aint getting the left back position?
NOW - watching the england U21's the past while since the championships, I think england have a good branch of players for the next 10 years or so, not so sure if there are any future Gerrards or Beckhams, but that Derbyshire seems to be doing well.
If we took; AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid as the 'best clubs outside the premiership' and worked through that list, hypothetically saying who would be interested should the player come available, we'd get this.
Cashley - Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid.
Lampard - Barcelona (supposedly they are, although I dont know why)
Rooney - AC Milan
Cole -
SWP - Real Madrid
Gerrard - Milan, Inter, Barca, Madrid
Rio - Barca
Terry - Milan, Inter, Barca, Madrid
Inter Milan's leftbacks are good enough for them not to want Cashley,
Lampard would not improve on any of their current first choice midfielders,
Rooney would not fit into Barca's system, Real Madrid have enough quality upfront without him, same as Inter.
Cole would improve none of those sides.
SWP is a quality right winger, which Real Madrid are in dire need of atm.
Gerrard is, imo, the best all-round central midfielder in the world and would improve any of those sides.
Rio is better than Puyol and Milito imo, and would improve Barca's defence.
Terry would improve the defence at any of those clubs... Even Milans, if you consider the age.
Yaya is a different player to Gerrard though; he's like a dynamic holding player. Gerrard hasn't got the discipline or necessary skills to do that.
Not taking away from what he is good at, obviously.
Especially considering he was 4th choice CM at his own club, and now he is playing there, they completely lack any invention at all, and are in terrible form.
my bad - i refute the idea of Joe Cole going abroad to a bigger club, its difficult with the english players at Chelsea....SWP,Terry would be the only 2 i could think wo could pull it off.
Joe Cole wouldnt be accepted to arsenal,liverpool or Man Utd - he would make a standard of Tottenham or Man City.
Barca would take Rooney, a HUGE investment due to how young he is, imagine Messi and Rooney side by side? ouch.
Gerrard is the complete package thats why Chelsea wanted him.
1A at Heading, passing, tackling, working, shooting with BOTH feet.
But I agree with a previous poster, he still is renowned for past glory's and needs to do more. Or Benitez might rotate him 🙂
I think Theo Walcott needs a mention, very talented young player.
Originally posted by Bicnarok
Gerrard is the complete package thats why Chelsea wanted him.1A at Heading, passing, tackling, working, shooting with BOTH feet.
But I agree with a previous poster, he still is renowned for past glory's and needs to do more. Or Benitez might rotate him 🙂
I think Theo Walcott needs a mention, very talented young player.
That's a bit crazy. Chelsea also wanted Shevchenko, Ferreira, Sidwell, Ben Haim, Glen Johnson, Smertin, Mutu, Veron, and so on. They aren't all the 'complete package'.
I don't think 'working' is a valid footballing skill.
Gerrard's passing isn't great, he can pull off the occasional Hollywood pass, but his decision making is terrible. His discipline is terrible, his positional sense is terrible.
His tackling is bad as well. Can't remember the last time I saw him head the ball.
Seems like you're too keen to praise him unduly.
Originally posted by Discos
Barca would take Rooney, a HUGE investment due to how young he is, imagine Messi and Rooney side by side? ouch.
Messi is currently one of the best players in the world, if not THE best. He is either just entering his prime or has a lot more to give before he even reaches it. He's quite easily the best at his club right now, which is saying a great deal considering they have Deco and Iniesta on top form, Henry doing reasonably well and Ronaldinho still doing what he does best.
Rooney is yet another player who will life for years off his long gone glory days. Rooney was never as good as Messi, and he certainly isn't now.
So yeah, ouch for Rooney.
As much as I hate giving VVD credit for anything besides being a huge gaym'n, he did once say Rooney will never again be as good as he once was, and it's proving to be true.
Of course, if he scores a single goal for England he'll automatically become the world's best again, regardless of if he doesn't score for another three years or not. People just praise who they are told to praise, who is hearing anything about Crouch lately? Nobody, cos the hype (Why there was any in the first place I'm still unaware of) had worn off.
It's like The Beatles. People confuse being timeless with "If we keep banging on about 'em, they'll never go away.".
-AC
Originally posted by Discos
my bad - i refute the idea of Joe Cole going abroad to a bigger club, its difficult with the english players at Chelsea....SWP,Terry would be the only 2 i could think wo could pull it off.Joe Cole wouldnt be accepted to arsenal,liverpool or Man Utd - he would make a standard of Tottenham or Man City.
Barca would take Rooney, a HUGE investment due to how young he is, imagine Messi and Rooney side by side? ouch.
I reckon Liverpool would take Cole, they take some right old crap. Also possibly Man Utd, because if I remember rightly, Fergie is a big fan of him, and used to continually ask Redknapp if he wanted to sell him.
I couldn't see him at Arsenal. Of those mentioned, probably only SWP on form, Rooney and Rio. Gerrard wouldn't fit into the style; the rest are shit.