England Squad

[Hibernian Verse]

Of course we don't care that much but I'm really surprised that Adam Johnson and Darren Bent have been left out.

Chilavert has scored more international goals than Heskey and Bent was behind only Drogba and Rooney this season

[CB_NO3]

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Of course we don't care that much but I'm really surprised that Adam Johnson and Darren Bent have been left out.

Chilavert has scored more international goals than Heskey and Bent was behind only Drogba and Rooney this season

I cant believe Heskey is going instead of Bent. Steven Warnock is in the squad apparently. I think England will struggle, they cant rely on Rooney for the whole tournament.

[Hibernian Verse]

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I cant believe Heskey is going instead of Bent. Steven Warnock is in the squad apparently. I think England will struggle, they cant rely on Rooney for the whole tournament.

Given the way they performed against Japan I completely agree.

[Future17]

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Of course we don't care that much but I'm really surprised that Adam Johnson and Darren Bent have been left out.

Chilavert has scored more international goals than Heskey and Bent was behind only Drogba and Rooney this season

Good stat on BBC - Rooney has scored 9 goals in the last 10 games he's been partnered by Heskey. He's scored 2 in the last 10 games he's played for England without him.

A "forward" is not just about the goals he scores.

I suppose the question about Bent is - would he score as many for the Gel Boyz as Drogba?

[Holmesdale Hibs]

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I cant believe Heskey is going instead of Bent. Steven Warnock is in the squad apparently. I think England will struggle, they cant rely on Rooney for the whole tournament.

Totally agree. If Hibs signed Heskey over Bent I'd be raging. Glad I don't care.

Commentator for the Japan game said Heskey hasn’t scored since February. Not always first choice for Villa either and Agbonlahore (sp?) is a better player. Sure we could name a few more as well.

[Posh Swanny]

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Totally agree. If Hibs signed Heskey over Bent I'd be raging. Glad I don't care.

Commentator for the Japan game said Heskey hasn’t scored since February. Not always first choice for Villa either and Agbonlahore (sp?) is a better player. Sure we could name a few more as well.

Throughout football, a common criticism after games is "they have good individuals but not a good team". But all anyone talks about before the games is who the best individuals are. For some reason, unbeknownst to anyone with a modicum of footballing knowledge - England (and Rooney in particular) do well with Heskey up front.

Anyways, personally loving the outrage from some of the media establishments (BBC) over the cheek of Capello announcing the squad when he wants to.

[Musselbound]

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I cant believe Heskey is going instead of Bent. Steven Warnock is in the squad apparently. I think England will struggle, they cant rely on Rooney for the whole tournament.

I don't think the England squad is as good on paper as many seem to think. Yes, they have a few good individuals but Capello will have to produce a tactical masterclass to get them to the latter stages. And if anything happens to Rooney I think they will be struggling.

[Hibs On Tour]

I can exclusively reveal that Cappello has called and I'm *not* on the plane

[LancashireHibby]

Bent is a good goalscorer, but England have already got one of those in Rooney. There's no player that offers the same qualities as Heskey - he might have his (many) critics, but he's a huge threat when used correctly.

[M11BMO]

Another one that raised a few eyebrows in my work is Upson over Dawson.

Upson having just completed a season for a team down the bottom of the league, fair enough, probably one of their standout players... Then there's Dawson who's just had a magnificent season for a team that's just broke into the Champions league for the first time.

[Ritchie]

i would have had.....

johnston instead of wright philips or lennon, not sure which

dawson instead of upson

baines instead of warnock

same old predictable england picking experienced players instead of on form player....

[JimBHibees]

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Another one that raised a few eyebrows in my work is Upson over Dawson.

Upson having just completed a season for a team down the bottom of the league, fair enough, probably one of their standout players... Then there's Dawson who's just had a magnificent season for a team that's just broke into the Champions league for the first time.

Upson is a far better player IMO.

[JimBHibees]

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Bent is a good goalscorer, but England have already got one of those in Rooney. There's no player that offers the same qualities as Heskey - he might have his (many) critics, but he's a huge threat when used correctly.

About the size of it, you need to pick a balance and with Defoe in there also dont think there was the need to pick Bent and dont think he is a good enough player either.

[M11BMO]

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Upson is a far better player IMO.

I would agree with that. He also brings more experience...

[HibbyAndy]

Hope Engerland get feked again.

On SSN the presenter asked John Barnes if he could see any problems Engerland not reaching the final..Blowing there own trumpets as per usual.

[green.and.white]

I can see them getting through the group stages but they will really struggle against Serbia/Ghana or definitely get beat by Germany

[seanraff07]

Personally i'm delighted by the fact that quite a few of Cappello's choices are questionble.

[Woody1985]

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I can exclusively reveal that Cappello has called and I'm *not* on the plane

Me neither. I'm not even English but I think I should allowed to play.

[HibeeMG]

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Me neither. I'm not even English but I think I should allowed to play.

I didn't even get a phonecall! Had to hear the squad on SSN to realise I wasn't going. Unbelievable!

[marinello59]

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Hope Engerland get feked again.

On SSN the presenter asked John Barnes if he could see any problems Engerland not reaching the final..Blowing there own trumpets as per usual.

I honestly think there media goons have in the main been much more subdued this time around. Usually I would already been thinking about launching the TV out of the window by this stage but there does seem to be a sense of realism done there about their prospects.

[hibsbollah]

Reading the papers, you'd think there was no other teams in the world cup

In more interesting team news, South Africa have left out Benny McCarthy and theres no Totti for Italy or Quaresma for Portugal.

[Winston Ingram]

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Another one that raised a few eyebrows in my work is Upson over Dawson.

Upson having just completed a season for a team down the bottom of the league, fair enough, probably one of their standout players... Then there's Dawson who's just had a magnificent season for a team that's just broke into the Champions league for the first time.

I think Upson has had a very poor season in comparison to last year. His last International iirc was v Brazil where he got ripped up for erse paper. Dawson was absolutely magnificent in the big games. In the big games in the run in v Chelsea, Arsenal, Man C he was outstanding

I would however be very surprised if Upson kicks a ball in this tournament. If anythink happens to Terry ofr Ferdinand King will be brought in. If he's unvailable I expect Carragher to move from reserve right back to 4th choice CB ahead of Upson

[Pretty Boy]

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Reading the papers, you'd think there was no other teams in the world cup

In more interesting team news, South Africa have left out Benny McCarthy and theres no Totti for Italy or Quaresma for Portugal.

About bloody time. Complete underperformer in major tournaments. Talented player on his day but absolutely no discipline and a complete lack of heart when he played for Italy that magically corrected itself when he played for Roma. A bit like the difference in Gerrard when playing for England and Liverpool.

[allezsauzee]

Sadly Capello knows exactly what he is doing. Heskey gives them a physical presence and as has already been pointed out , Rooney's goalscoring record with him is pretty damn good. He doesn't start regularly for Villa because they have big John Carew.

I think England have a decent chance of getting to the semi final stage now that they have a manager who'll pick a team to win games rather than worrying what the media think.

[Gus]

MON ENGLAND

I would of taken Wright-Phillips over Johnson & yes for his experience & his final ball is better.

Granted Dawson should of got the nod over Upson, but IF Terry & Rio are fit then they are squad players & then you have Ledley King who is better than the lot of them anyway

As for warnock.........dont expect him to play, Ashley Cole will be fine

Bent - yes he has scored goals......but look at them, beach ball assists @ International level he would get found out

Heskey does the donkey work - stats with Rooney are fact & as Rooney is number one striker it does makes sense


ANYHOW..........they are going, & as for tactical masterclass, that is what Mr Capello is paid ALOT to do, so bring I say. Get what you pay for:



nuff said

[weecounty hibby]

Did Andrew Driver get in????

[Hibs On Tour]

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Me neither. I'm not even Scottish but I think I should allowed to play.

Hiya Andy Driver! Hiya Pal!

[Hibs On Tour]

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i would have had.....

johnston instead of wright philips or lennon, not sure which

dawson instead of upson

baines instead of warnock

same old predictable england picking experienced players instead of on form player....

For me, would have taken Johnson instead of SWP as he just doesn't deliver enough, whereas in the last year Lennon seems to have come on somewhat in that department. Upson I would have taken too, regardless of his poor season - experience counts at the WC and *if* you have to have someone coming in perhaps as unexpected cover, I'd take him over Dawson on the big stage. Baines/Warnock, hmmm not sure which way round I'd have went. Glad to see Joe Cole got in, although I think perhaps that is why Bent didn't. Bent has had a great seasons but again has had plenty chances in an England shirt and took none of them.

Overall, Cappello has called it just about right with what he had at his disposal. Semi's await them. I have them getting beat off Argentina in the final but then again I have Paraguay beating Brazil too!

England's draw couldn't have been much kinder to them overall and I expect them to do better than most expect. I'll be cheering them on wholeheartedly although like everyone else will ****ing hate their ridiculous media circus that has them winning it already. Fair play, if you DO win the thing go mental but not before the plane has left eh?

[hibsbollah]

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About bloody time. Complete underperformer in major tournaments. Talented player on his day but absolutely no discipline and a complete lack of heart when he played for Italy that magically corrected itself when he played for Roma. A bit like the difference in Gerrard when playing for England and Liverpool.

I think he's a bit overrated myself. Still surprising though.

[The Silver Fox]

Cole instead of Walcott. Definitely the correct decision. Not sure about leaving out Bent though. Heskey has always annoyed me as a player.