I'm just not convinced this group of players can get much further than the Quarters. There's too many weaknesses in the England team. The goalkeeping situation is a concern and I'd personally go with Joe Hart. He's young, but his reflexes are better than David James' and he's had a far better season than Rob Green. Glen Johnson is an awful defender. I just don't think we can have him and Ashley Cole in the side against strong teams, we'll be far too exposed. Rio Ferdinand looked very edgy yesterday and I fear he's not played enough games. Ledley King is our next best choice but there are concerns over his fitness. Midfield is the strongest area, but I'm not at all convinced by Theo Walcott. The right wing spot should go to Lennon. The left wing is open I'd say, although I think Milner, Gerrard and Joe Cole are worthy selections there. Will Barry be fit? If not, who the hell plays in the holding role? Huddlestone is tidy, but looked a bit lost in there at times yesterday and you don't get the best out of Gerrard, Milner or Lampard if they pay in that role. Barry is crucial to England's balance in the midfield. Will 4-4-2 work for us? For me, we looked far more balanced when Rooney was up on his own with Cole behind and Gerrard in the middle. Heskey did OK when he came on and I reckon Capello will pick him over Bent just because he frees up Rooney. Crouch and Defoe haven't really settled alongside Rooney, so you'd have to say 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 is more suited to us, even though it's pretty untested.
My team would be:
GK - Hart
RB - Carragher (better defender and makes us aot more soild than Johnson does)
LB - Cole
CB - Terry
CB - Ferdinand (Concerned over him, but would give him another chance)
RW - Lennon (give him some ball near the box and let him get crosses in, he put in one or two lovely crosses in the 2nd half)
LW - Cole
CM - Barry
CM - Lampard
CM - Gerrard
ST - Rooney
You could alternate with Gerrard and Cole really, but for me that's our strongest line up. The left hand side isn't really filled with an out and out player, but that's our best option. Milner could also fill the left hand side as I said before, but I genuinely think that's our strongest line up. SWP did OK on the left to be fair, but I don't think he'll make the squad.
Not overly confident we have enough quality and should we lose any key players particularly Barry, Gerrard and Rooney, then we're screwed.
. Its the performance with England fringe players thats worrying,it looks like we will have to go through the competition hoping nobody in the first eleven (and i dont think Capello knows it yet)gets injured or picks up a suspension.
