England: Choose the Squad — Part II: The Midfield

March 9th, 2006 | by: Shawn |

If the situation on the front line vexes us because of the paucity of first-class choices, England’s midfield is hard to choose because there is so much truly worthy talent.

Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Cole — right there you’ve got a first selection as good as any in the world.

Toss in Shaun Wright-Phillips for proven pace on the touchline, and Michael Carrick as a holding mid (remember, you can use Jamie Carragher there as well, I think) and you suddenly find yourself choosing among an estimable group for the remaining two spots: Paul Scholes (NOT — retired, my bad), Owen Hargreaves, Nicky Butt, Kieran Richardson, Jermaine Jenas, Kieron Dyer.

For sure I’d take Becks, Lamps, Gerrard, Cole, SWP and Carrick. Jenas too, probably, if I’m worried about pace, which I am. So for number eight, I’d think about a hard man: Butt maybe?

Anyone else have another view on the matter? Anyone I’ve forgotten who deserves a chance?

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http://footiegirl.blogspot.com Jen

I think of Scholes as a playmaker rather than a “hard man” — he makes too many late, wayward tackles, even when he can see straight, which he can’t at the moment. Not to mention he retired from international football after Euro 2004.

Nicky Butt has been having an abysmal season at Birmingham. I think Sven might take Phil Neville to fill the last midfield spot, assuming he doesn’t slot in a defender (like Ledley King) as the holding mid. I’d pick Scott Parker, if it were up to me, but sadly it’s not.
Shawn

Spot on, Jen.

A bit alarming to think that we keep having to move players forward to field a top-flight squad. We have to reckon SWP and Cole as front-line players of a sort, now you reckon we should think of P. Neville as a mid, which isn’t a bad thought.

Who’s gonna be left alongside Terry, Rio and Gary N., then?
http://footiegirl.blogspot.com Jen

Phil Neville was sort of a utility player at Man United, but I think he’s playing mostly in midfield for Everton. I think they’ve actually got lots of options in midfield, except that Sven’s got a bee in his bonnet about sticking a defender in there.

As for defenders: they’ve got a plethora of centre-backs — Terry, Rio, Carra (I think he’s an out-and-out defender, not a holding mid), Sol Campbell if he’s not having a sulk again, Ledley King, even Wes Brown’s been having a good season — and Sven will probably take the first four or five of those. Gary Neville on the right, Ashley Cole on the left, assuming he’s fit, and a backup left-back in case he isn’t.