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"England Squad v Denmark"

England squad:
Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), James (Man City), Green (Norwich)

Defenders: G Neville (Man Utd), G Johnson (Chelsea), A Cole (Arsenal), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Carragher (Liverpool), Upson (Birmingham)

Midfielders: P Neville (Everton), Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), J Cole (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Jenas (Newcastle), Carrick (Tottenham)

Strikers: Owen (Real Madrid), Rooney (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham), A Johnson (Crystal Palace)

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It's good to see Carrick, Upson and Johnson in there. Though I'm slighty suspicious that Johnson is only in there to show that dropping down a division doesn't make a difference..

I've only seen Scott Parker in one game - his debut for Newcastle in the Intertoto Cup. He really was outstanding, especially considering how long he'd sat on the sidelines for Chelsea.

He bossed the midfield as you would expect John Terry to do the defence and controlled possession in the central triangle throughout the game. His range and accuracy of passing rivalled even Gerrard's and he had pace and skill on the ball that allowed him to surge forward deep into the final third. On top of that, his work rate was incredible.

Given that he's also won the PFA young player of the year award, it would feel like wasted potential if he wasn't on his way to Germany next summer, and if he continues to give performances as he did on his debut and even improving on them, Sven surely can't leave him out.

I doubt that he would usurp either Gerrard or Lampard, but as a backup he's certainly got all the ability required, and if Sven seriously wants to think about a holding role midfielder in addition to Gerrard and Lampard (perhaps in a Chelsea-esque 4-3-3 formation) then Parker needs to be considered alongside Carrick, Hargreaves, Butt, Neville... etc.

Darren Bent is now in the squad for the injured Andy Johnson.

I wrote:
>I'd be surprised if he hasn't had a full cap before Euro '08 though.

Dringo wrote:
> Darren Bent is now in the squad for the injured Andy Johnson.

I win :-)

Actually, when it comes to Darren Bent - I win.

Fantasy football 4 eva!!1

Totally agree with everything you wrote their Mav. Although I also saw him when he was at Charlton and playing regularly. I've always thought he was an incredible player and one with easily enough present skill and future potential to be an absolutely quality England, possibly even a future captain.

Scott Parker is a good player. He's not an amazing player. He won't ever earn a place in the England team, because there's a player that can do everything he can, but is more skilfull and more versatile:

Owen Hargreaves. A favourite of Stryke's.

He's pacy, he's got beautiful control, great set-piece play, strong in the tackle, learnt his trade in the physical German League and can pretty much play anywhere across the midfield and at full-back. This is a guy who's equally superb as a Claude Makelele or as a Dennis Berkhamp.

Hargreaves > Parker > Jenas

Hargreaves has without a doubt always got to be in the squad (and always is). I just don't see him as a first team regular and neither does Sven by the looks of things. Correct me I'm wrong but he's never played a full game for England has he? Hargreaves is very useful indeed, especially considering his vast versitility but for me Scott Parker is a better midfielder, if only because it's the position he's trained for.

Hargreaves is trained to be a central midfielder. It's the position he plays for Bayern Munich, and he plays it well.

Medals Scott Parker has won - 0 (He didn't play enough for a Prem)
Medals Owen Hargreaves has won - Craploads

I bet you Sven will always play Hargreaves before Parker. And as for the 'Hargreaves has never played a full game for England' - no, he hasn't. But neither has Rooney, ahahah. And he's not a regular, I never said he was. I just said he was better than Parker.

He'd play in my England 4-3-3 though. A Hargreaves anchor to the 3 man midfield would let Lamps and Stevie bomb forward all the want instead of this stupid "You stay, I'll go. No, you stay. Er, what? Balls, I've done a crap backpass and France are 2-1 up. Big Scouse gay. Get some smaller ears, Londoner."

Hehe :-)

I simply wouldn't play a 4-3-3. Can't understand Sven's reasoning on that.

Stevie-Hargreaves-Lampard
SWP/Rooney-Owen-Joe Cole

It'd work wonders.