What Should England Look Like in 2010?
I’m an American, but only the most self-deluded fans here think we’re going to be a world power in the near future…though if Altidore progresses like he can, and we find a left back who doesn’t absolutely suck and we play like we did against Mexico in the Gold Cup, and we get a few lucky breaks…
Anyway, my point is, that I spend most of my time on the international level rooting for England. I like their players and I like the country. And since winning Euro 2008 looks like a lost cause (and if it forces the FA to drastically rethink how they approach the national team, it’ll be worth it), it’s never too early to start thinking about the World Cup in South Africa.
So, I’d like to share with you what I hope the Three Lions will look like in 2010:
Foster Richards Terry Ferdinand Baines Walcott Gerrard Hargreaves Young Rooney Bent
Subs: Carson, Lampard, Barry, Lescott, Derbyshire, Lennon
Rest of Squad: Andy Johnson, Crouch, Agbonlahor, Carrick, Woodgate, Steven Taylor, Downing, Bentley/J. Cole, Shorey/Ashley Cole, SWP
Now let me try to address what I think are the most obvious questions about this team:
Lampard on the bench? I think most people should understand this one, but I’ll explain it anyway. It’s not that he’s not good enough for England, just that he’s not as good as Steven Gerrard. Think about it this way: if we had Cech and Buffon, even though you could make a strong argument that they would be our two best players, we couldn’t play both in goal, and we wouldn’t play Cech at center-half just to get him on the field. In the same way, we can’t play two attacking central midfielders, and if you’re going to play one of them as a holding player, you might as well play Hargreaves instead because he does that job better. Not to mention that Lamps will be 32 (I think) by then, and who knows how good he’ll still be. His primary purpose in this team will be to come on when we’re chasing a game and fill in for Stevie-G if he gets injured.
Walcott on the wing? This is probably my most controversial pick. I think Walcott has as much potential as any English player other than Rooney, so my hope is that he reaches a lot of that potential by 2010. I know, long term, his best position may be as a second striker type, but there’s no way he can play up front with Rooney. So the wing it is. And if he’s not good enough by then, both Lennon and Agbonlahor will be.
Baines at Left Back? There are a lot of choices here. None of them are great, and none of them are bad. Ultimately, my thinking came down to this: I think Cole will have lost a step, Baines is significantly younger and basically already as good as Shorey, and I’d like Lescott on the bench because of his versatility.
Bent is the best we can do? Yes, I think he is. Of the English strikers who have the necessary characteristics to partner Rooney (i.e. can play as a target man), I think he is the best today and also has the most potential. That’s with apologies to Matt Derbyshire, who I think will be great but is more suited to changing a game by coming on as a sub.
Carrick isn’t even a sub? I had a hard time leaving him off because I think he’s very good (the Germany game notwithstanding), but we can’t have two players who only play central midfield on the sub’s bench. Barry can play the holding role and also LB and LM.
Will Terry still be good enough in his early 30s? Who knows? To be honest, he’s not that great for England now. But he’s a leader, I’ll give him that. He will probably still deserve a place in the team, and if not, Woodgate or Lescott (who I think is excellent) can take over.
Now, the BIG question:
Will this team play any defense?
Walcott and Ashley Young are as much forwards as they are midfielders, and Steven Gerrard is an attacking midfielder who thrives when playing without many defensive responsibilities. That being said, I still think it will work. Our back four are good, Gerrard does track back, Young and Walcott play in midfield for their club teams, and you can drop Rooney even with the wingers so he’s almost another midfielder. It can work. And since when has an England team ever been too exciting and attack-minded?
At worst, they’ll be whole lot more fun to root for than our current squad.
Welcome to Soccerlens Sam.
Is Ashley Young better than Lennon? I would have Lennon on the right and Young on the left, with Walcott as a super-sub on the bench (or switch Young with Walcott).
In central midfield, not sure if Hargo is the only option England have, but it’s a decent enough midfield. I also noticed that you missed out on Tom Huddlestone, who could be an excellent player for England by the time WC 2010 comes along and would deserve a spot in the squad.
Baines isn’t a bad choice, but you’re forgetting Wayne Bridge who is better than Shorey.
Up front, Bent doesn’t have the height. Not sure how tall Derbyshire is but Young is a bit taller than Bent, so depending on how he progresses in the next couple of years he could be ahead of Bent in the pecking order.
Overall, good article, and you’re right, this side would be more fun to watch - not least because we’d have a different manager by that time
Two good articles on soccerlens in two days.
And one written by a septic.
I need to lie down.
Interesting ideas. Foster is far too young. Goalkeepers reach their peak in football terms far later than other positions e.g around the age of 30. Foster’s about 12 at the moment isn’t he? Two years time we will have Robert Green in goal who by then will be playing for one of the big 4 rather than West Ham.
Baines really isn’t as good as Shorey or Cole by a long way. He will be one of those players who gets 3 caps as a sub when others are injured.
Lescott is really not that good either - McClaren had another rush of blood in picking him.
I think Derbyshire will not be ready in 2 years.
In 2012 I think Derbyshire and Mark Noble of U21s will be regulars but we shall see.
Good one Sam.
Great team - agree with most of it although I think a 24(ish) year old Taylor or even Dawson will be better than a 33(ish) year old Ferdinand. Also - no Ashton?? I think he’s gonna be in the England team for the next ten years.
as the righter am also not from england but i always root for them in international ties. i’d luv to see england with a new manager one who does not worship players and play them just because they are so and so,the point on gerro and fatlamps niot able to play in the same team is to the point.england needs a mourinho type of coach.
No way walcott on the right. I agree with your reasoning and especially how simply you put the gerrard/lampard situation .. but for me its got to be bently over lennon/SWP/Agbonlahor or anyone else. He is by far the best crosser and passer of the ball .. he can score goals(just ask other united supporters) and is pretty quick too .. reminds me of beckham a lot
simon
How did I forget Ashton? If you want someone big and strong up front Ahmed then Ashton’s your man. Great skills too.
Another one who will be banging them in for Man Utd/Liverpool in a couple of years.
Good article, especially with the Gerrard bit. As a manager you can’t just put people on to avoid flak. Don’t mind them calling you a septic, just keep writing good articles, and greetings from Washington.
I’d also add James Milner to the mix, on either wing. His crossing has improved tremendously this year, and his pace and work rate are fantastic. Has a damn fine shot as well.
Good article
Just on a slight change - what would england’s best current team be?
id go:
robinson? (who else is there)
Neville Rio Terry Bridge
Lennon Gerrard Hargreaves Cole
Rooney
Owen (if fit even though he isnt half the player he was but who else is there?)
Ashton! Forgot about him. Thanks FC.
You so worried about the quality, try your own bloody hand at it
SS - head to the england v israel article to discuss the current england team.
And yes, Milner too.
For people who say England don’t have talented players coming through, I suppose they’re talking about the U-17 level?
Good article, Id have Lennon instead of Walcott and Ashton instead of Bent though. Another thing, how old will Gerrard be in 2010? Once his engine starts going he’ll only be half the player. Can Bentley play in the centre or not?
Yeah, Ashton…he totally slipped my mind. Maybe because it seems like he’s never healthy. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen him play. We’ll see about him.
Yes, I do think Young is better than Lennon. I think Lennon’s one of England’s more overrated players. He’s pretty decent now because of his incredible pace, and he’ll be better in three years, but he doesn’t seem to me to be all that skillfull…anyway, hopefully he proves me wrong. Also, I should add that I just like Young a lot more than Lennon, so it’s not exactly an unbiased opinion.
Gerrard will be 30…I hope to god he’s still world class, for Liverpool’s and England’s sake. Otherwise, I suppose it’s Carrick in the creative midfield role, unless Bentley can do it. Carrick wouldn’t be terrible at that, but it’s not his best spot. Maybe it would provide a little more defensive cover for the team though.
And really, any of the choices on the right (Walcott, Lennon, Agbonlahor or Bentley) are good, and we’ll just have to wait and see who’s the best in three years though I’d also add that Bentley’s crossing wouldn’t be as valuable for England as for most teams as we’re not exactly flush with fantastic headers of the ball.
Also, I like Spurs, but I think Tom Huddlestone is one of those players that we only know about because their central midfield is so weak. He’s not aggresive enough to be a good holding player. Anyway, only time will tell.
Oh yeah, Mark Noble’s also there in central midfield. Maybe he’s Gerrard’s heir apparent? Might be too soon though.
My 2010 team for england…
Foster
Richards Lescott Taylor Baines
Reo Coker (c)
SWP Mark Noble Walcott
Rooney Agbonlahor
Bench: Carson , Terry , Huddlestone, Milner, Vaughn
[...] least the future’s bright, [...]
——————S.Carson—————-
——————————————
–Richards—S.Taylor–M.Dawson—Baines–
——————————————
————Carrick—–Barton————
–Milner————————-A.Young–
——————Gerrard—————–
——————————————
——————-Rooney—————–
SUBS
B.Foster
J.Woodgate
D.Bently
J.Cole
A.Carroll
Smins, that’s a good team…for 2014. You know, turning 30 doesn’t mean you forget how to play football.
yeah i agree with sam, i was gunna say it’ll probably look quite similar to today’s side - the squad may have changed a lot though.
————Robinson————
——————————–
Richards–Ferdinand–Terry–Cole A
——————————–
———–Hargreaves———–
—–Gerrard———Carrick—–
Bentley——————–Young
————-Rooney————
something like that, but who knows whether people like Steven Taylor or Mark Noble explode onto the scene much like Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards did
where the fuck is CHRIS EAGLES ???
Great article Sam, perhaps general manager or maybe chess is in your future. I’m a great admirer of your intuitive and logical grasp of the situation.
THE TEAM SHUD BE MORE LIKE
FOSTER
RICHARDS TERRY LESCOTT BALE
LENNON GERRARD NOBLE SWP
ROONEY
WALCOTT
I think Carson is a better keeper than Foster. Also, why has everyon forgotten about Owen? He’s only gonna be 30 in 2010…
Great formation overall.
Putting Lamps on the bench is right, Lamps and Gerrard are getting into each other’s way now and i do not forsee the situation improving in 2010. If one is playing, the other got to be benched and i will field Gerrard in the first XI anytime.
I would also prefer to start with Lennon than to use Walcott on the right.
my team for first qulifier
green
richards terry rio a cole
beacham noble gearard j cole
rooney owen (if fit if not wallcot)
Hart/Carson
Richards Terry Ferdinand Cole
SWP Barry Gerrard A.Young
Rooney
Agbonlahor
And gareth Bale is welsh