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"England's 4th Euro 2004 striker!"

Which 4 strikers will be travelling to euro 2004? It seems pretty certain sven will take 2 goalies, 7 defenders, 7 midfielders and 4 attackers to portugal. This most probably means that rooney, heskey and owen will go, but tord grip, svens right hand man has admitted the 4th striker is wide iopen, as he said there are probably 26 possible players going to europe, so he is considering a few strikers. Here are a possible few and their case for a euro place.

James beattie:

A potent striker, who very much made a name for himself last season in the premiership. He has not had the best of seasons this time around, somewhat denting his chance of a place. He hasn't really performed well with owen in his few england caps, but is still a big possabiltiy for a place.


Kevin philips:

The other half os southamtons attack, and after a place seemed unlikely, he has shown dazzling form of late. Has made a few caps and has looked good with an owen or rooney partnership, and always a chance of a goal. sturrock has urged sven to consider kevin, so there is a good chance.


Jon Stead:

Started the season at Division 3 minnows Huddersfield, ends the season at blackburn and probably thre main reason they survived. Has the second best strike rate (only second to collins john, who averages a staggering 2 goals a game!), averaging a goal every other game, and although unlikely to feature, a future england squad place lies ahead i think.


Jermain Defoe:

probably the favourite for the role, jermain has revived his premiership career at spurs, scoring some wonderful goals, including a stonker against blackburn on saturday. Shows some dazzling talent, and the main highlight of the recent sweden friendly, has been deservably hinted for a place by tord grip.


Alan smith:

A die hard leeds striker, gutted at his sides slump to the first division, scored a goal against holland on his only england cap. a capable striker, who would play a supproting role behind owen, similar to how heskey does, is a possibility for svens squad.


Darius Vassell:

Englans super sub who was a star of the korea/japan world cup. has not had the best of league seasons, but has still played a great part in villa's rise to ea top six finish. Seems to save his best form for england and probably the one of the favourites along with Defoe and Beattie.


Francis jeffers:

probably unlikely to receive a place in the squad, has never played foir england and has shown another poor season. Showed bags of potential at his first spell, but his career fell apart at arsenal, as he never got a game, and dosen't deserve a place in the squad.




So there you have it. probably some of the vcandidates for the final place for a strioker in the squad, say who you think should represent us in euro 2004, or anyone else i have missed out, and No, gazza isnt a candidate. personally, i think defoe and Stead should travel, with rooney and owen. although stead is young, he has shown potential and this could sparkle his career. You may have noticed i don't think heskey should travle, as i think he is a worthless fat lump who cannot play, and should not only be dropped from the squad, but should be dropped for the humber suspension bridge :)

Get voting!!!

Lil Bro wrote:
> Doonhamer wrote:
> Jeffers has played for England. He scored in the 3-1 defeat to
> Australia. So he probably has the best goals/game ratio of any
> international striker.
>
> Thats no reason for him to go though.
>
> You're forgetting Smith's. again, 1 in 1

Smith has played 8 times for England.

Exactly what Ashley said, he is the best English striker in the air other than Shearer.

EDIT: About Beattie obviously.

Owen
Rooney
Beattie
A smith

Although i maintain that rooney is not a striker and should be playing in paul scholes place instead of leading the line.

because he is a proper striker, not some whippet who just chases the ball and tries to give it a diagonal poke. he actually has an all round game

why beattie??, he is not good enough for england. he was good for southampton but not england.

personally i wouldn't take the first choice 3 if experience wasn't an issue, and thas only cos the wrong playuers were used in friendlies in no particular order:

owen
beattie
defoe
smith (poss rooney)

i have more chance of making the euro 2004 squad than jeffers.

Doonhamer wrote:
> Jeffers has played for England. He scored in the 3-1 defeat to
> Australia. So he probably has the best goals/game ratio of any
> international striker.
>
> Thats no reason for him to go though.

You're forgetting Smith's. again, 1 in 1

Defoe is fifth/sixth on my list:

1. Owen
2. Heskey
3. Rooney
4. Vassell

Best Of The Rest: Phillips, Beattie, Defoe

Must be Defoe, Rooney and Owen and 4th Smith

c u ya

Jeffers has played for England. He scored in the 3-1 defeat to Australia. So he probably has the best goals/game ratio of any international striker.

Thats no reason for him to go though.