I’ve been focusing on the England national team over the past week or so here, trying to divert attention away from the Premiership a little bit and to the new era under Fabio Capello.
Injuries have limited the options Capello was able to choose from for the friendly today against Switzerland, but if I had to pick a starting lineup from today’s roster, here’s who I would go with:
GK: David James (Portsmouth)
LB: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)
CB: Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
CB: Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham)
RB: Micah Richards (Manchester City)
LMF: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
DMF: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa)
CMF: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
RMF: David Bentley (Blackburn)
ST: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
ST: Peter Crouch (Liverpool)
Subs:
Scott Carson (Aston Villa)
Matthew Upson (West Ham)
Joleon Lescott (Everton)
Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham)
Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United)
Joe Cole (Chelsea)
Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth)
I have a feeling Capello might go a different way and possibly play a 4-5-1, with Hargreaves, Barry, and Gerrard in the middle. The Italian manager is known for playing with two holding midfielders and a lone striker and if that’s the case today, I don’t see how he couldn’t put Peter Crouch as the target man up top ahead of Wayne Rooney, who drops too deep for my liking.
What’s your take? I want to hear your preferred lineup.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
rumour has it this is the XI:
GK – David James
RB – Wes Brown
CB – Rio Ferdinand
CB – Matthew Upson
LB – Ashley Cole
RM – David Bentley
CM – Steven Gerrard
CM – Owen Hargreaves
LM – Ashley Young
FW – Joe Cole
FW – Wayne Rooney
yea right, joe cole as forward, over all the other player, bentley over lennon, when lennon has been carving up defenses
My lineup would be 4-1-4-1:
GK – Scott Carson
RB – Micah Richards
CB – Rio Ferdinand
CB – Curtis Davies
LB – Ashley Cole
CDM – Owen Hargreaves
RM – David Bentley
CM – Steven Gerrard
CM – Joe Cole
LM – Ashley Young
FW – Wayne Rooney
Let the midfield 4 push forward to support Rooney and leave cleanup duties to Hargreaves. Trying to play a wide game and knocking it into the box is unlikely to work unless Crouch starts.
Lonnie, Davies didn’t make the 23-man squad though I don’t think, but I see what you’re saying.
Oh no no no no, Wes Brown? Gtfo!
David Bentley, hell yeah, about time, imo.
Just because Ashley Cole is a good player doesn’t mean that he’s the best teammate, I’d give Mr. bridge a chance.
And why exactly are people so hostile and dislike Peter Crouch? He scores goals almost every time he plays, but w/e.
If they win, and it’s going to be hard against the swiss, there will be too many praises for Capello, maybe more than he deserves.
We will see though
Whoops…you’re right. I had been looking at the 30-man roster. Swap out Davies for Lescott or Upson.
The eleven has just been announced! Here is your lineup:
James
Brown
Ferdinand
Upson
A. Cole
Bentley
Jenas
Gerrard
Barry
J. Cole
Rooney
Lineup appears to be 4-4-1-1, as Cole is playing deeper than Rooney. Could still be considered a 4-4-2 though.
Wes Brown may not make it when you judge him 1:1 against his competition, but taken together with Ferdinand (who he works with week in and week out), he’s a good choice. A case of the sum being greater than the parts.