Comments on: England: Choose the Squad — Part II: The Midfield http://england.worldcupblog.org/1/england-choose-the-squad-part-ii-the-midfield.html World Cup 2010 - South Africa Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:57:53 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jen http://england.worldcupblog.org/1/england-choose-the-squad-part-ii-the-midfield.html/comment-page-1#comment-92 Jen Thu, 09 Mar 2006 20:03:01 +0000 http://england.worldcupblog.org/1/england-choose-the-squad-part-ii-the-midfield.html#comment-92 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. 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.

]]> By: Shawn http://england.worldcupblog.org/1/england-choose-the-squad-part-ii-the-midfield.html/comment-page-1#comment-90 Shawn Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:14:43 +0000 http://england.worldcupblog.org/1/england-choose-the-squad-part-ii-the-midfield.html#comment-90 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? 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?

]]> By: Jen http://england.worldcupblog.org/1/england-choose-the-squad-part-ii-the-midfield.html/comment-page-1#comment-89 Jen Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:04:47 +0000 http://england.worldcupblog.org/1/england-choose-the-squad-part-ii-the-midfield.html#comment-89 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. 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.

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