England Defenders

[karongwewolf]

Just a thought and a change of subject. McClaren seems short of defenders for Englands upcoming games. He is trying to get Carragher back and also thinking of bringing Campbell back in who is 32 now. What about Lescott? He was excellent for Everton last season and played in an England B didn't he?

[Kenny-11]

Just a thought and a change of subject. McClaren seems short of defenders for Englands upcoming games. He is trying to get Carragher back and also thinking of bringing Campbell back in who is 32 now. What about Lescott? He was excellent for Everton last season and played in an England B didn't he?

McLaren is a goon who will think that Lescott is now only a left back.

[scottishwolf II]

Be interesting to see what happens if he can't persuade Carragher to come back after saying its his no 1 priority and how vital he is to the cause.

As to Sol...well looks like he'll be back alongside Becks, so where are all these big wholesale changes from McLaren that he was bringing in?

[johnybig32]

He'd wrongly chose Dawson over Joleon anyway...

[Del Woppio]

We've got plenty of choices for the upcoming internationals. Ferdinand, Cambell, Carragher, Dawson, Lescott, Ferdinand, Craddock - even Gary Neville could play there.

[Salop Wolf]

would be very proud to see Lescott play for England

[henri_camara]

We've got plenty of choices for the upcoming internationals. Ferdinand, Cambell, Carragher, Dawson, Lescott, Ferdinand, Craddock - even Gary Neville could play there.

craddock is irish if i am correct

[Templeton Peck]

Worth bringing Campbell back for a one off game but not as a squad player - that should be left to younger players. To be honest though even without Terry, Woodgate, Carragher and King he can call upon Dawson, Lescott and Micah Richards so I don't think the situation is that dire.

[kennyB]

The situation is dire because McClown is England manager!!

[Powelly]

craddock is irish if i am correct

No he isnt.. was born in redditch, has never represented any national side

[Powelly]

No doubt Campbell will be bought back for the Russia game in Sept.. dont have a problem with that as its a must win and he was one of the most consistent centre half's in the prem last year. has also never let england down.

Lescott is still a way down the pecking order, now that Everton have signed Baines, Jo will need to prove himself at centre half in the prem ( if he gets that opportunity) before he even gets a look in.

as for the carragher situation, then i dont blame him if he tells mclaren to do one.. the only reason mclaren wants him back is because Ledley king is injured AGAIN.

[Akaman]

I don't think Lescott's that far away from a call up. The media was talking about him last year as being on the fringes of the England squad, when Carragher said he was retiring from England, he mentioned Lescott as one of the players to step in. He's now well known about in the game and I think he will pull on an England shirt for the first team this season. He's as good as half of them and still getting better. The fact he did a good job at LB for Everton last season should help him, because he has 'versatility'. But we knew he could play anyway, still remember him waltzing round half the Reading team down the right wing when we had them in the play offs at Molineux.

[glasgowwolf]

No doubt Campbell will be bought back for the Russia game in Sept.. dont have a problem with that as its a must win and he was one of the most consistent centre half's in the prem last year. has also never let england down.

Lescott is still a way down the pecking order, now that Everton have signed Baines, Jo will need to prove himself at centre half in the prem ( if he gets that opportunity) before he even gets a look in.

as for the carragher situation, then i dont blame him if he tells mclaren to do one.. the only reason mclaren wants him back is because Ledley king is injured AGAIN.

Agreed Powelly

[Woburn Wolf]

Just a thought and a change of subject. McClaren seems short of defenders for Englands upcoming games. He is trying to get Carragher back and also thinking of bringing Campbell back in who is 32 now. What about Lescott? He was excellent for Everton last season and played in an England B didn't he?
True but he mainly played left back for Everton.

[Woburn Wolf]

We've got plenty of choices for the upcoming internationals. Ferdinand, Cambell, Carragher, Dawson, Lescott, Ferdinand, Craddock - even Gary Neville could play there.
If he had not played for Ireland surely Breen would be the obvious choice!!

[fullmoon]

Lescott for England........Even my Everton mate says so!
McClown is a 100% certified goon not to pick him!

[wearewolves]

You have to be very, very good to get picked for England without a high media profile, playing for a side like Everton. Ridiculous situation but that's England for you. Lescott has clearly played well enough to start featuring in the squad but he may have to wait for a bigger club than Everton to step in for him.

[Powelly]

You have to be very, very good to get picked for England without a high media profile, playing for a side like Everton. Ridiculous situation but that's England for you. Lescott has clearly played well enough to start featuring in the squad but he may have to wait for a bigger club than Everton to step in for him.


Disagree 100%

there isnt a chance that lescott should be picked for england yet at centre half, even in injury circumstances.. whilst i dont doubt Jo's abiliity and that he will became an international, he hasnt played more than 5 games at Centre half for Everton.. Now they have signed a LB in Baines, he should now get his chance in the middle at Everton and he will now be able to prove himself.

Its not often i stick up for Mclaren but he cant pick a player to fill in at centre half when he hasnt been playing there for his club.

Everton are just as big a club as Spurs yet there are plenty of spurs players in the England set up.. and if were talking England players from "big " clubs, how did Nugent get a call up whilst at Preston, when he isnt a "very,very good player", Andy Johnson has also been involved in the squad consistently, along with Phil Neville who i definately wouldnt put in the very very good category

[wearewolves]

Johnson and Neville had already featured at international level before so had the necessary profile. I think it's not entirely true to say that Everton are as big as Spurs - in terms of media profile anyway there is a gulf between them that is a function of the London media's understandable focus on London teams and players.

Fair point about JL being out of position - but then why does he not feature at left back when Cole and Bridge are injured? He was Everton's players' player of the season last year so he must have done alright!

And a very good point about Nugent but where would I be if I let inconvenient facts influence my argument.

[Powelly]

hasnt featured at LB as Phil neville or Carragher have slotted into that role.. Carragher has only recently made it aware he doesnt want to be known as versatile for england

Ashley cole has only missed 3 england games this season.. Israel through suspension( Carragher played), Estonia ( Bridge played LB) and Brazil ( shorey was given a chance).. again with being relatively fair to mclaren the only game where Lescott would have had a look in, in terms of playing LB is the Brazil game as Mclaren cant afford to give players debuts in qualifiers...

Which is why the back 2 for the upcoming games ( barring further injuries) will be 2 of Rio, Campbell and Carragher.. Dawson may get his chance as he will get his first cap at some point against Germany

Long term it makes no difference how good a season Lescott has IMO as if all players are fit then the back 2 will always be Terry and Rio with woodgate and King as the deputies

[Deutsch Wolf]

Moyes has stated today that he sees Lescott as a centre-half (following the signing of Baines). We generally take five centre-halves to a tournament, so (if we get there!) it'll be Terry-Ferdinand-Woodgate-King plus one other, IF both Woodgate and King are fit. Joleon is competing with the likes of Dawson, Brown, Steven Taylor and Anton Ferdinand, and I think he's better than all of them.

[John]

Long term it makes no difference how good a season Lescott has IMO as if all players are fit then the back 2 will always be Terry and Rio with woodgate and King as the deputies
Which is why we will never win anything. Players picked on reputation, not current form.

[Powelly]

Which is why we will never win anything. Players picked on reputation, not current form.


agreed

but most of our defenders always have a consistent season and perform consistently well for england..Terry in particular

personally if all players were fit my choice for a back 2 pairing would be JT and Woodgate as Ferdinand can be prone to errors

The key to england ever winning anything in the near future is the midfield partnership and the left wing position which has been a problem area for the last 15 years

[John]

but most of our defenders always have a consistent season and perform consistently well for england..Terry in particular
But if he was in a rut of bad form, and it could happen on his way back after this injury, for example, he would still be picked if fit.
Owen is the same.

[Deutsch Wolf]

Agreed John, Ledley King had a blinder against France in Euro 2004, but was shipped straight out against Switzerland when Terry was fit again.

[Powelly]

Agreed John, Ledley King had a blinder against France in Euro 2004, but was shipped straight out against Switzerland when Terry was fit again.

im certain King asked to come home after the france game because his partner was having problems with their unborn child? or some other sort of family problem that meant he missed the switzerland game

[Deutsch Wolf]

You might be right, I can't remember. Regardless, I'm sure Terry would have been brought straight back.

[Powelly]

But if he was in a rut of bad form, and it could happen on his way back after this injury, for example, he would still be picked if fit.
Owen is the same.


fair point,

but i cant ever remember JT not coming back to being his normal self after an injury personally

Owen hasnt been the same player since 2002 anyway, the difference with owen though is we havent got anyone else at present who is natural a goalscorer when fully fit.. Darren Bent could develop into that position in the next year or 2 as he is the only english forward who scores consistently.. massive year for him at spurs

[Deutsch Wolf]

im certain King asked to come home after the france game because his partner was having problems with their unborn child? or some other sort of family problem that meant he missed the switzerland game

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledley_King

According to Wikipedia (yes, I know), it was the Portugal game that he missed.

[wearewolves]

Terry is superb for Chelsea - for England I'm not so sure. The blood and guts approach, always being the first defender for crosses is less valuable. I can think of a few errors at the last world cup against Sweden and Ecuador that were well below the standard you would expect.

That said, he's captain so if fit, he'll play regardless of form.

[johnybig32]

I think the England team is set in stone and only injuries will stop Mcclown changing it...
Robinson will stay in goal no matter what
A Cole will play at left back, although i think Bridge is better
Neville will play RB, although Richards should be given a chance
Terry-Ferdinand, no matter of form..

Its also proven that changes in midfield wont happen. Lampard should be dropped but wont happen because of "his name"...

It will always be Owen and Rooney up front when both fit also...

It ridiculous...

[walsall wolf]

i have tickets for all 3 home games coming up (2 more games on sale in the next few weeks) and i dont honestly think at the moment we have what it takes too qualify.

i think the likes of jo lescott would be a great addition and i genuinely hope carragher reconsiders his retirement as his presence in the squad is massive. He could become a vital part of the squad.

Terry isnt all that either, rio and sol would be a fantastic partnership (again)

[Black Suit]

Disagree 100%

Its not often i stick up for Mclaren but he cant pick a player to fill in at centre half when he hasnt been playing there for his club.



Why not? England Managers have regularly played a right-footed midfielder on the left-hand side for a number of years now.

[Black Suit]

For pity's sake, we do not need this talentless thug.

[Mr Wolf]

The defence is not a problem. Playing Gerrard and Lampard again and again after 2 good games in 5 years is. We would be so much stronger playing one then bringing the other on.