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Probably the most hotly debated topic amongst football supporters in England since the invention of the game. And I'll be surprised if any two people in a hundred that would come up with the same squad of 18 players. I've gone for 4-4-2 as I think this is still the formation that best suits the English style of football. This is what I judge to be the best standard squad of 11 starters and 7 substitutes and some reasons why:
Joe HART
Glen Johnson
Gary
Cahill
Joleon Lescott Ashley
Cole
Jack Wilshere
Theo Walcott Steven
Gerrard Ashley Young
Wayne Rooney
Jermain Defoe
Subs:
12. Rob
Green
13. Phil
Jagielka
14. Leighton
Baines
15. Frank
Lampard
16. James
Milner
17. Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain
18. Danny Welbeck
First Eleven:
Joe Hart: Undoubtedly the best keeper in the
country, while I will accept that some of my other choices are debatable, you’re
a fool if he’s not in your first eleven.
Glen Johnson: After a very poor World Cup in 2010
there were a lot of people, including myself, who were on an instant hunt for a
suitable successor to Johnson and, to be honest, there weren’t many outstanding
candidates. I’d imagine that this was largely the reason that he kept his place
for Euro 2012 but at this tournament he fully justified his selection. Played
very well and there was no sign of the poor positioning or fitness that
blighted him 2 years previously.
Gary Cahill: In my opinion a much better
centre-back than David Luiz at his club side Chelsea, Cahill is a perfect
attack-minded centre back; he already has 5 goals for Chelsea this season, and
defends well too.
Joleon Lescott: Had a great season for Manchester
City in their title-winning season last year and is a good compliment to Cahill’s
more forward-thinking centre back. Lescott is a no-nonsense defender in the
mould of Sol Campbell and very little gets past him.
Ashley Cole: Less certain of his place than in
the past, disciplinary issues and a real threat in the form of Leighton Baines,
Ashley Cole is still worth his place in the team. The only full-back who can
really claim that he has regularly kept Messi and Ronaldo quiet in many games.
Jack Wilshere: Still playing his way back to
fitness, Wilshere does look like the real deal. A perfect all-rounder of the type
I haven’t seen since Luis Enrique. Wilshere needs to ensure that his
development continues as he is not yet the finished article but, for my money,
there is no Englishman better equipped to play this position.
Theo Walcott: Currently Arsenal’s best player, he
wants to play as a central striker. This I do believe is his best position but
for England he is the best right winger we have, Oxlade-Chamberlain not being
fully ready yet, and to play for their country many players have to accept a
slight position change.
Steven Gerrard: Still incredible on his day, this next
World Cup will, unfortunately, be his last major tournament for England. He
pulls the strings nicely in the centre of the pitch and, as proven when playing
for Liverpool with Torres, prefers a more advanced role with someone playing in
behind him.
Ashley Young: Left midfield has long been the bane
of the England manager, from Darren Anderton to Trevor Sinclair there has not
been a world class left winger from England for a long time. Ashley Young, on
his day, is as good as any we’ve had for a long time, but is disappointingly
inconsistent. Hopefully a run in the team for his club side Manchester United
will help give him his form.
Wayne Rooney: First name on the team sheet Rooney
is the focus of England’s attack. He has sadly been unable to repeat his early
international form on a regular basis in recent years. This makes no difference
to anyone however as when he is on top form he is in the top 10 players in the
world.
Jermain Defoe: A difficult position to fill, Danny
Welbeck has a good claim, but I have faith in Defoe and I have long disliked
the Tottenham managers’ dislike of making Defoe their main man. He is an
unbeatable finisher from inside and outside the box, and given the right
service, of the like that Rooney and Gerrard can give him, Defoe could be an
absolute goal machine.
Subs:
Rob Green: With no Ben Foster in the picture
Rob Green is still probably still second best.
Phil Jagielka: Puts in constantly good performances
for Everton and, while he hasn’t really done it for England, is definitely a solid
back-up.
Leighton Baines: Very unfortunate to be around at the
same time as Ashley Cole, able deputy.
Frank Lampard: A lot is made of his ability to play
with Gerrard but the fact of the matter is he doesn’t play for England as well
as he plays for Chelsea.
James Milner: Very versatile, a solid player who
will do a job in many positions.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Not ready yet, but a dangerous
impact player and worth having in the squad.
Danny Welbeck: Played well in the Euros but hasn’t
started this season that well and needs some more game time.
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