World Cup Squad

[On the Left Wing]

That's not a very nice thing to say. Have you read the quote from the times with the stats of Crouch's England appearances or am I going to have to post it again?

Oh alright, just for you..

''Crouch’s five appearances for England have ended with five wins. The team has scored 10 goals in the 231 minutes (less than 2Å matches of playing time) he has spent on the field. His beneficial effect on Michael Owen, who has scored five times in 180 minutes operating alongside the big chap, is striking.

At home against Poland, Crouch came on with 23 minutes remaining and the score went from 1-1 to 2-1; against Argentina in Geneva, his 10 minutes as a substitute saw England go from 2-1 down to 3-2 winners; his last appearance was 25 minutes against Uruguay, during which he scored and helped turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win.

On statistics alone, there should be little debate about whom Sven-Göran Eriksson should pick instead of Rooney — unless you want to argue that Crouch’s impact coming off the bench is so extraordinary that it would be a pity to lose him as an “impact sub”.

Crouch is a superb shock troop to come off the bench ... but on this basis he is now our first choice striker ... what hapens then if he gets injured in the first game ...

this reminds me of our midfield limtations in the last world cup ... we have to have fully fit options .... IMHO!!!!!!

 

[REDLAND]

Walcott's Championship record:

13 (+8) appearances, 4 goals

Walcott's Premiership record:

0 (+0) appearances, 0 goals

The inclusion of such a player in a World Cup squad is absolutely astonishing.

I think the ONLY reason Walcott hasn't played for Arsenal yet is because, up to now hasn't been able to be contracted on a pro licence.

wenger is saying he WILL play a part in the Champs league final next week..

 

[McShane79]

I don't have a problem with Crouch going, but we need to take 5 strikers with 2 being injured. Walcott is not an option as far as I'm concerned. Hope I'm proven wrong though.

And SWP should definitely have gone.

 

[Sheikh Gull of Abu Dhabi]

Hargreaves is a German spy. Shouldn't be in the squad for that reason.

 

[humpy]

because he plays regular club football at the top level for one of the better sides in europe . .just in a different country.

just because he's not in the sun everyday behaving like a twat doesnt mean he's not good, look outside your own back yard for once anyone would think your American FFS

i may not see him play for munich (yes i do know who he plays for and where he plays twat) but i have seen him play enough times for england and he is shit .

 

[brighton rock]

AJ should go. South American refs are easily fooled in the penalty box.

pleased he,s on stand by

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

big gamble but the lad must be special

I saw him at Ninian Park just after Christmas. He was anonymous. City won 2-1, and if you hadn't known in advance that Walcott was supposed to be something special then you wouldn't have noticed him at all. He did nothing in 90 minutes.

Somebody said earlier that he's an unknown quantity on the international scene. Let's be honest here, he's an unknown quantity on ANY scene!

Astonishing decision.

 

[Basil Fawlty]

I'm very surprised that he went for Walcott instead of Defoe.

 

[On the Left Wing]

My other problem (aside from the forwards) is why pick Jenas and Hargreaves and leave out Shaun Wrightv Phillips and Richardson?

 

[brighton rock]

I saw him at Ninian Park just after Christmas. He was anonymous. City won 2-1, and if you hadn't known in advance that Walcott was supposed to be something special then you wouldn't have noticed him at all. He did nothing in 90 minutes.

Somebody said earlier that he's an unknown quantity on the international scene. Let's be honest here, he's an unknown quantity on ANY scene!

Astonishing decision.

fair point

 

[On the Left Wing]

pleased he,s on stand by

Seriously I'd rather have Andy Johnson than Jenas or Hargreaves - at least he gives us a forward option

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

It's incredible. Sven can't win. Throughout his tenure he's been accused of being negative, conservative and dull and now when he picks an exiciting, young squad, full of skill, flair and pace, he gets slagged off.

 

[Juan Albion]

A Swede takes the advice of a Frenchman to put an untried player in the England squad.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

Has any other team ever taken 2 uncapped players and player who is certain to miss at least half the tournament through injury to the World Cup

 

[Silent Bob]

Javier Saviola
Julio Cruz
Hernan Crespo
Carlos Tevez

Robinho
Ronaldo
Ronaldinho
Adriano

Robin van Persie
Roy Makaay
Arjen Robben
Ruud van Nistelrooy

Peter Crouch
Theo Walcott
Jermain Defoe
Andy Johnson

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I guess that Sven's thinking with Walcott that he's potentially a Rooney type short term impact player.

He's unknown to the rest of the world, but apparently he's like greased lightning, and might just be able to inject a bit of spark should the situation demand it, a bit like Rooney was when he first came in.

Can't help feeling the hand of Arsenal, and specifically David Dein, is at work again, a bit like it was rumoured to be with the England manager's job and the way Wenger wasn't even linked with it, but hey.

Hargreaves always looks crap but he couldn't be playing for Bayern Munich each week if he's total shit I suppose. I think Darren Bent is the unlucky man- I didn't think he was the answer to our Rooney-inspired problems, but to not even make the standby list while a Championship striker gets on seems a little unfair.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Javier Saviola
Julio Cruz
Hernan Crespo
Carlos Tevez

Robinho
Ronaldo
Ronaldinho
Adriano

Robin van Persie
Roy Makaay
Arjen Robben
Ruud van Nistelrooy

Peter Crouch
Theo Walcott
Jermain Defoe
Andy Johnson

Er... Michael Owen??

 

[Northstander]

I like it, I think there is more to Walcott than meets the eye, there must be a reason he is taking him, watch him become the Hero!

 

[Wilka]

We need more the 4 strikers if Roney isn't going to be fit from the start.

 

[SheffGull]

COME ON ENGLAND!