The Official World Cup 2010 Thread

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

I think he'll be alright.

Lampard & Gerrard can both play holding midfield as well. Milner's played defensively too. If one of them stays back there's still Lennon, Rooney plus two of Lampard/Gerrard/Milner who can get forward. Even Ashley Cole can get forward as well.

I don't think all the responsibility would be on him.

[wickedlk]

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

This would be my line up for the first game against the USA

Hart

Carragher
Ferdinand
Terry
A Cole

Lennon
Lampard
Huddlestone
Gerrard
Milner

Rooney

I agree with the theory of the five man midfield and not letting the game get too open against the US. Maybe put Milner in the centre with Joe Cole out on the left if you're going to ask Lamps/Gerrard to do a job?

[Mojo]

My line up would go like this.

James

Cole
Ferdinand
Terry
Johnson

Milner
Barry
Gerrard
Lennon

Rooney
Crouch

Id go for James for experience alone but Hart would be right in there if he wasnt at his best. Hart has had an amazing season but do you really risk someone with a lack of experience between the sticks at national level at a world cup?

Ferdinand is a risk. It comes down to fitness but if hes fit enough i think hes worth the gamble. King could be a great replacement for him if we need that but obviously hes not gonna be able to play every game if that happens. Then again we have Dawson who could be worth a shot, hes had a solid season and Upson whos a bit more tried and tested at national level. Carragher wouldnt make my team. Carragher at his best would be a rock but that hasnt been the case this season at all.

Lampard has also had an outstanding season but he and Gerrard are just too alike and Gerrard still gets the nod for me. The midfield can be shuffled in the latter stages, sacrificing Barry for Lampard. Maybe even shuffling Gerrard out left and having Lamps in the middle with Milner. I can see Gerrard being thrown out wide just for service alone as the quality of crossing from wide areas could be poor with the choices available. Joe Cole is proven quality for that wide left position, which i think is the main cause for concern out wide but is he fit enough either?

And Crouch gets the nod as tactically, hes a suitable partner for Rooney. Moreso than Heskey anyway. But as i said if we need goals, get him off and get Bent on.

[TheCunningStunt]

I think players who can swap roles would be good. Cole, Milner and Johnson all starting.

Cole and Milner can swap. As can Milner and Johnson etc.

It makes players harder to pick up when they're on the attack.

[TheCunningStunt]

I've just realised that I've been calling Adam Johnson, Michael Johnson, they both play for the same club. I get confused.

Apologies to Adam.

[Bulldog]

Originally Posted by wickedlk

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Scott Parker (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

Fairly solid squad there. As for who should stay home, if Bainsey and Cashley Cole are there, I see no reason for Warnock to come along. Ledley King would injure himself getting off the bus, so I wouldn't rely on him getting through the finals match-fit. Gareth Barry shouldn't really be there, although I guess it's worth testing his sharpness in the warm-up games, and Heskey's not really the kinda striker I'd take to the world cup.

As for the lineup I'd like to see up against the US of A...

James

A Cole
Terry
Ferdinand
Carragher

Milner
Huddlestone
Lampard
Lennon

Rooney
Crouch

I'm with Mojo that James has bags of experience, and that's exactly what we're gonna need. As far as I can remember, the last howler I've seen him pull in an England shirt was against Austria in the last round of WC qualifiers a good five or six years ago, so I'd feel safer with him in goal than, say, Paul Robinson. Joe Hart's perfectly good but, gain, lacks James' experience.

The back four explains itself really. I'm not really the biggest Glen Johnson fan, and Carragher's proven himself a lot more as a full-back in my eyes. He's the closest to a replacement for Gary Neville we're gonna get by my reckoning.

Milner on the left (he can take all our penalties too!), Lennon's had a great season, Lampard's been phenomenal and the same goes for Tommy Hudlestone. Stevie G's just been far too poor this last season to warrant a start.

Rooney's just...Rooney. I think Crouchey'd be a good foil up front for his talents too, not to mention his knack for holding up play and that. He's always a danger in the box, so having him start's a bit of a no-brainer for me.

[right-track]

Rooney up front on his own, with a 5 man midfield behind him.
So long as he gets support from an attacking midfielder and the flanks.
I'm against playing another forward with Rooney because it limits his involvement.
If he becomes the focus of the team going forward he'll cause any opposition problems.
Rooney never wastes possession and it doesn't matter where he receives the ball, he's capable of making things happen.
Playing another forward with him will only half his contribution.

[TheCunningStunt]

Originally Posted by right-track

Rooney up front on his own, with a 5 man midfield behind him.
So long as he gets support from an attacking midfielder and the flanks.
I'm against playing another forward with Rooney because it limits his involvement.
If he becomes the focus of the team going forward he'll cause any opposition problems.
Rooney never wastes possession and it doesn't matter where he receives the ball, he's capable of making things happen.
Playing another forward with him will only half his contribution.

x2

Although Capello likes playing with a big centre forward up front, so we'll see.

Rooney with Johnson Lampard Barry Gerrard Milner behind him.

[The Monkey]

So, any hopes for North Korea? I image their players to all be two meter tall robots, devoid of any display of emotions in victory or defeat. Will be very interesting to see them play.

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Netherlands!!! You should be supporting Denmark.

Why would I root for the eternal enemy? :P

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by The Monkey

So, any hopes for North Korea? I image their players to all be two meter tall robots, devoid of any display of emotions in victory or defeat. Will be very interesting to see them play.


Why would I root for the eternal enemy? :P

Not being too familiar with Nordic rivalries, why is there a rivalry with Denmark? Also how does Sweden interact with Norway and Finland?

I know this isn`t a history thread but just a quick outline.