I’ve been focusing on the England national team over the past week or so here, trying to divert attention away from the Premiership a little bit and to the new era under Fabio Capello.
Injuries have limited the options Capello was able to choose from for the friendly today against Switzerland, but if I had to pick a starting lineup from today’s roster, here’s who I would go with:
GK: David James (Portsmouth)
LB: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)
CB: Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
CB: Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham)
RB: Micah Richards (Manchester City)
LMF: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
DMF: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa)
CMF: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
RMF: David Bentley (Blackburn)
ST: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
ST: Peter Crouch (Liverpool)
Subs:
Scott Carson (Aston Villa)
Matthew Upson (West Ham)
Joleon Lescott (Everton)
Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham)
Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United)
Joe Cole (Chelsea)
Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth)
I have a feeling Capello might go a different way and possibly play a 4-5-1, with Hargreaves, Barry, and Gerrard in the middle. The Italian manager is known for playing with two holding midfielders and a lone striker and if that’s the case today, I don’t see how he couldn’t put Peter Crouch as the target man up top ahead of Wayne Rooney, who drops too deep for my liking.
What’s your take? I want to hear your preferred lineup.
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Dave M
February 6, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Wes Brown may not make it when you judge him 1:1 against his competition, but taken together with Ferdinand (who he works with week in and week out), he’s a good choice. A case of the sum being greater than the parts.
Jeff Hash
February 6, 2008 at 2:03 pm
The eleven has just been announced! Here is your lineup:
James
Brown
Ferdinand
Upson
A. Cole
Bentley
Jenas
Gerrard
Barry
J. Cole
Rooney
Lineup appears to be 4-4-1-1, as Cole is playing deeper than Rooney. Could still be considered a 4-4-2 though.
TheScout
February 6, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Whoops…you’re right. I had been looking at the 30-man roster. Swap out Davies for Lescott or Upson.
dragonki2012
February 6, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Oh no no no no, Wes Brown? Gtfo!
David Bentley, hell yeah, about time, imo.
Just because Ashley Cole is a good player doesn’t mean that he’s the best teammate, I’d give Mr. bridge a chance.
And why exactly are people so hostile and dislike Peter Crouch? He scores goals almost every time he plays, but w/e.
If they win, and it’s going to be hard against the swiss, there will be too many praises for Capello, maybe more than he deserves.
We will see though
Michael
February 6, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Lonnie, Davies didn’t make the 23-man squad though I don’t think, but I see what you’re saying.
The Scout
February 6, 2008 at 11:55 am
My lineup would be 4-1-4-1:
GK – Scott Carson
RB – Micah Richards
CB – Rio Ferdinand
CB – Curtis Davies
LB – Ashley Cole
CDM – Owen Hargreaves
RM – David Bentley
CM – Steven Gerrard
CM – Joe Cole
LM – Ashley Young
FW – Wayne Rooney
Let the midfield 4 push forward to support Rooney and leave cleanup duties to Hargreaves. Trying to play a wide game and knocking it into the box is unlikely to work unless Crouch starts.
Ian
February 6, 2008 at 11:37 am
rumour has it this is the XI:
GK – David James
RB – Wes Brown
CB – Rio Ferdinand
CB – Matthew Upson
LB – Ashley Cole
RM – David Bentley
CM – Steven Gerrard
CM – Owen Hargreaves
LM – Ashley Young
FW – Joe Cole
FW – Wayne Rooney
Adebayor
September 22, 2009 at 1:27 pm
yea right, joe cole as forward, over all the other player, bentley over lennon, when lennon has been carving up defenses