Fruit Machine Chat

This will be trimmed down again shortly obviously.

Jamie Carragher? The man who turned his back on England, cos he was sick of travelling and not getting a game, has somehow been recalled! That's a disgrace and a total joke. Other players competing for that position must feel sick. Perhaps he might throw a tantrum a few games in and fuck off because he can't get a game.

Heskey in again? It seems only England managers like the player!! Good to see Bent in the squad. His goal record speaks for itself despite playing in average sides, although he might get sacrificed in the final cut.

Thoughts on the initial world cup squad please.......

My biased towards carragher has nothing to do with the fact he plays fir the team I loathe more than I could ever attempt to explain by the way!!!

I can see why he came out of retirement, after all its an opportunity for him to play football against quality foreign opposition, something he won't be doing at Liverpool next season.

But it says it all about the state of the youth system when we have to rely on him and other past-it players, like Heskey and Ferdinand.

Heskey won't get a game anyway. Defoe and Crouch are ten times better and work together well. Though obviously Rooney 'has' to play!!!

What about a fruit machine team? Myself in midfield as i can find a machine in the middle of knowhere!, trayhop sounds like ideal captain material and logopolis could manage us with ease, might get lost on the way to the airport as its not in ipswich, only joking mate, powerful striker and centre half needed!

England have starting XI which will beat the majority of teams put in front of them, unfortunately the squad itself is not a World Cup winning squad. Heskey is a joke of a striker, Carra was a weak link for Liverpool last season, Lennon must have played less than 10 Prem games last term and Ledley King as centreback cover hardly inspires confidence.

If any of those make the final 23 it will be Lennon. Personally I wouldn't take him as we have SWP, Adam Johnson and James Milner who can play on the right....but I have no say in the matter.

Argentina look very, very good on paper but they have an oddball for a manager and depending on how far they progress I think Messi will win the Golden Boot.

Oh yeah, as for Carragher turning his back on his Country - he did so because he was constantly being overlooked when travelling all over Europe with the National team. He had a young family AND he was at his peak, playing the best football of his life with only Terry and Ferdinand being the two better centrebacks in the country, so I guess when your face doesn't fit its time to give it up. Can you blame him?

No real surprises with squad, talksport had predicted pretty much those 30 several days back. I think our odds of 11/2 or 6s are poor value and as much as I support my national team, holland at 12s, Argentina 8s and Germany 14s are decent bets. Will prob have a few quid on portugal Uruguay and Australia!! At long odds.

Precisely!! He was at his peak then(a good few years ago) he wasn't good enough then so why the fuck is he good enough now. He quit England cos he knew he wasn't good enough. The travelling thing was just an extra get out. How many players would do what he did? I'm not gettin a game so don't pick me anymore? Mmmmmmm..... Wanker comes to mind.

I hear scholes was also talked to about coming out of retirement also? Pundits surprised at Gary nevilles exclusion? What the fuck? As good as those players have been if u can't replace them in the last five years then it's a sad state of affairs.

OH OWEN HARGREAVES
You are the love of my life
Oh Owen Hargreaves
Ill let you shag my wife
Oh Owen Hargreaves
I want curly hair tooooooooo

Glendale wrote:What about a fruit machine team? Myself in midfield as i can find a machine in the middle of knowhere!, trayhop sounds like ideal captain material and logopolis could manage us with ease, might get lost on the way to the airport as its not in ipswich, only joking mate, powerful striker and centre half needed!

Yeah that Corby place is a bit of a maze if you don't know your way around it!

How come David Bentley wasn't included? Thought he was meant to be the new David Beckham!

I hope the two faced git Carragher doesn't get to start a game. Mind you wasn't that the reason why he got a strop last time. On England though i don't think the have a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere near the final, there style of play leaves me cold.

Now for a non drunk opinion!

Good squad

There's no doubt Carragher is going. They wouldn't cause this shitstorm by naming him in the 30 then cutting him, he'd just lose face. Plus realistically with Johnsons injury problems recently we have no cover for right back without him.

Bent has gotta be worth taking a gamble on, his goals record speaks for itself.

I don't think Upson deserves to go, I know he's played for a poor west ham side this season but he hasn't exactly shone for them.

I also think Dawson's call up is a little too late, you just can't take risks with your back 5.

Milner has to go, he gives cover for the entire midfield as well as Emergency Full back.

King should go, yes he's a crock, but as the last week has shown, he can play quick succesive games when something is at stake.

Regarding the Heskey debate, when your stuck watching mama sidibe week in week out you actually realise Heskey is half decent. But you just can't carry his goal scoring record in a tournament. You need both forwards to be a goal threat. So hopefully he'll get the chop from the strikers department.

Overall I'm quite happy with the squad, a very offensive looking line up.

So what would be everyone's starting line up (fitness permitting)?

And bearing in mind everyone is entitled to their own opinion, for me:

James

Ashley Cole
Terry
Carra
Johnson

Barry
Gerrard
Lampard
Joe Cole

Crouch
Rooney

green

cole
king
ferdinand
johnson

lennon
gerrard
lampard
barry
a.johnson

rooney

Terry has injured his foot and needs a scan to assess damage. It's possible he might not be fit for the World Cup.

One word.......

Karma