*Official Football Thread*

Agbonlahor needs to get experience coming on as a sub. Bent is way out of his depth. Crouch doesn't have a lot to prove but he's not scored vital goals in major competitions. Heskey works with Owen, ok with Rooney but needs service which would predominantly require Beckham on the right - the ones who can go past defenders Lennon, Wright Philips, Walcott simply haven't got a reliable enough final ball to play to that system. Andy Johnson has had sufficient attempts to show he's not up to it either. Defoe needs to score a few more to prove it. We went to the last world cup with only four recognised strikers and it cost us. So surely you go to the next world cup with Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Heskey and Owen and even Agbonlahor if he can get some time on the pitch to justify it in the meantime. You might only use owen as a 20/30 minute substitute but I know who germany, argentina etc would rather see come on with the score 1-1 and that would be darren bent not michael owen because history does count - those teams who you've turned over don't forget it and he's scored against the big three when it mattered. You don't need to take as many midfielders as we took last time. Yes it was a closed shop under Mclaren and sven but Mcclaren was out of his depth to the point where most of us could have done a better job and sven didn't have much of a clue when things weren't going our way - he's currently struggling to get mexico to the next world cup when they generally qualify because they are in the easiest region of all.

Sylar Wrote:I disagree, I think Capello is spot on leaving Michael Owen out.

The problem we had with McClaren & Sven was that players were picked on reputation rather than form. By leaving out Michael Owen he's showing that the England team isn't a closed shop anymore and everybody has to earn the right to play for their country. That's a much healthier environment and gives new players the confidence to step in and do well knowing that they've got the respect of the manager.

We'll put four past Ukraine tomorrow night, no problem!

So are you now suggesting he was right to pick Bent over Owen? cuz if you are you are just contradicting yourself! fair enough owen hasnt played much which is why he wasnt picked in the squad but Bent has NEVER been in form in the first place so how can you justify putting him in the squad???

mr gummidge Wrote:

Dreamlander Wrote:Frazier Campbell is a different matter,I'd pick him!

As a Man Utd fan, I'd have to agree with you, I wish we'd kept him at OT this season rather than buying Berba at least then we'd have a proper goalscorer in the side... We'll have to agree to disagree about Bent though, I think he's a fine striker; just a bit short of confidence at the moment. Hopefully the England call up will perk him up a bit and he'll regain the form he had at Charlton, good for both England and Spurs

I can't knock Bent's effort,he always gives the cliched 110% for Spurs and also he has got us goals. I just don't want an important England call up to get in the way of his 'comeback' for Spurs.If he continues to gain confidence with us until the end of the season Harry may hold onto him which,I think,will be good for Spurs.I hope everything he touches on Wednesday ends in a goal so England and Spurs can reap the benefits!
Michael Owen is probably the greatest striker England has ever produced but the 'injury years' have left him a shadow of his former self

Dreamlander

Picture the scene: Johannesberg July 2010. England versus Brazil, World Cup Final, it's 0-0. The fourth official has just held up a board saying one minute of added time. Brazil are hurriedly rushing back from a corner, a long ball finds one of the english strikers one on one with the Brazilian goalkeeper, (apart from Rooney) who do you want that striker to be?

Bent has actually proven himself to be very good in those situations, (just not heading the ball from 3 yards lol) but I would choose Defoe in that situation every day of the week if Rooney isn't there. And I don't get this bad talk of Bent, he has not played that often this season and he has scored 15 goals for us. That puts him only (In terms of English players) behind Rooney, who will be playing, Gerrard, who will be playing, and Crouch, who has a niggling injury but will probably still be playing. So Capello is doing exactly what he said and playing the in form players instead of the players with history, end of discussion.

m100 Wrote:Picture the scene: Johannesberg July 2010. England versus Brazil, World Cup Final, it's 0-0. The fourth official has just held up a board saying one minute of added time. Brazil are hurriedly rushing back from a corner, a long ball finds one of the english strikers one on one with the Brazilian goalkeeper, (apart from Rooney) who do you want that striker to be?

Teddy or Alan! !

Dreamlander

m100 Wrote:Picture the scene: Johannesberg July 2010. England versus Brazil, World Cup Final, it's 0-0. The fourth official has just held up a board saying one minute of added time. Brazil are hurriedly rushing back from a corner, a long ball finds one of the english strikers one on one with the Brazilian goalkeeper, (apart from Rooney) who do you want that striker to be?

...Geoff Hurst!


...rather him than Darren bloody Bent!

Gordon Banks would have a better chance than Bent.

astonv1 Wrote:So are you now suggesting he was right to pick Bent over Owen? cuz if you are you are just contradicting yourself! fair enough owen hasnt played much which is why he wasnt picked in the squad but Bent has NEVER been in form in the first place so how can you justify putting him in the squad???

If it was a WC Semi-Final I may think differently, but for a little qualifier against Ukraine you stick with your principles and pick players who have done something to earn their place. I read somewhere that Darren Bents scored 15 times this season so he's done far more to justify a spot in the squad than Michael Owen. FORM NOT REPUTATION!

Finally we've got a manager with a backbone.

Bent is allergic to scoring for England.