Pick the England squad!

[Panda]

OK. YOU are the England manager. If you had to pick a 23-man squad now, who would be in it and who would make the starting XI?

For the purposes of this, you can assume all players are fit and not suspended.

Could be some interesting choices...

[Admin]

Kelly Brook to STIFFEN the back FOUR! ;D

[Oasis]

andy said:

Kelly Brook to STIFFEN the back FOUR! ;D

imagine falling on one of them if one tackeld u

[Shania]

FILTH

[Panda]

OK, how about this:

Paul Robinson (probably the best goalkeeper we've got, right now) 8 caps, 0 goals
Chris Kirkland (could challenge for the #1 spot if he can keep his Liverpool place) 0, 0
David James (plays well in the Premiership, but should be no more than a back-up for England) 30, 0
MISSING OUT: Rob Green has struggled a little this season. Nigel Martyn is still good enough to be in the squad, but would refuse unless he was playing.

Gary Neville (I thought he was finished a couple of years ago, but he's been one of England's best players this year) 72, 0
Jamie Carragher (Good, versatile player. Can play anywhere in defence) 15, 0
Ashley Cole (England's most improved player over the last 12 months) 35, 0
Wayne Bridge (Efficient back-up for Cole) 19, 1
Rio Ferdinand (Still our best defender) 35, 1
Sol Campbell (Still worthy of a starting place, but Terry is waiting in the wings) 64, 1
John Terry (Has proved himself at international level. Will win a lot of caps once Campbell has gone) 14, 0
Jonathan Woogate (Good when he's not injured (which isn't too often). If he was unavailable, Ledley King would get the nod.) 5, 0
MISSING OUT: Southgate is still good enough for England, but at his age, he's better off saving himself for Boro. Glen Johnson isn't quite ready yet and he won't be if he's not getting regular first team football at Chelsea.

David Beckham (Will always get a place in the squad. His recent improved form means he keeps his starting place, but out on the right.) 76, 15
Steven Gerrard (England's best midfielder.) 31, 5
Frank Lampard (Another who has improved a lot over the last year. Good enough for a regular place in the starting XI.) 28, 7
Stewart Downing (The answer to England's left-sided problem. Eriksson probably hasn't heard of him. Johnnie Jackson will probably get a cap before he does.) 0, 0
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Serious threat to Beckham. Definitely one for the future.) 2, 1
Nicky Butt (Solid, if unspectacular. Always handy as a defensive option in midfield.) 38, 0
Joe Cole (The opposite to Nicky Butt. Gives the ball away too much when trying to dribble through a whole team. Not a good thing when you're defending a 1-0 lead. Handy when you need that "spark".) 19, 2
Gareth Barry (Versatile. Can play in midfield or defence and is another left-sided option. Virtually ignored by Eriksson.) 8, 0
MISSING OUT: I think Owen Hargreaves only gets in the squad because he's at Bayern Munich. I don't think he's been great for England and feel he needs to play in the Premiership to really prove himself. I like Scott Parker but he needs to be playing regularly. Lee Hendrie is having a great season, but it's hard to see where he would fit into the England set-up. Phil Neville: How the hell has he got 50 caps? Jermaine Jenas is another good player, but has less to offer than those I picked.

Michael Owen (Still scores important goals. Playing well in Spain, now he's been given a chance.) 65, 28
Wayne Rooney (Spectacular. Good be England's top scorer one day. Having said that, he could do with being less selfish at times.) 19, 9
Jermaine Defoe (Another one for the future. Worthy of a place in the squad.) 7, 1
Alan Smith (Seems to have sorted his temperament. Could do with scoring more goals.) 12, 1
MISSING OUT: Darius Vassell is a rare example of player who plays better at international level than club level. I feel Defoe and Smith have more to offer, though. Emile Heskey's England career is probably over, now. He's never been much of a goalscorer and would probably make a better midfielder.

STARTING XI:

------------------ Robinson -----------------------
-- Neville -- Campbell -- Ferdinand -- Cole --
-- Beckham -- Gerrard -- Lampard -- Downing
------------- Rooney -------- Owen ---------------

[Hullboy]

Can't disagree with that starting xi misterhamster. Downing will surely get a chance against Spain.

[Panda]

Hullboy said:

Can't disagree with that starting xi misterhamster. Downing will surely get a chance against Spain.

If any sane person was in charge, yes, but Eriksson is in charge so I'll be surprised if Downing is even in the squad.