New England XI

[GhostOfDixie]

Ok, this has nothing to do with that poncy sport that you Yanks all play.

This is an England XI without any players from the Top 4.

GK - Robert Green

RB - Micah Richards
CB - Joleon Lescott
CB - Stephen Taylor
LB - Leighton Baines

RM - David Bentley
CM - Gareth Barry
CM - Nigel Reo-Coker
LM - Stuart Downing

ST - Andy Johnson
ST - Jermaine Defoe

I think this side could take on an all Top 4 side and beat them.

 

[TX Bill]

I think that side could take on beat many many international sides as well.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

To provide contrast, this would be a possible top 4 XI

GK - Foster

RB - Neville
CB - Ferdinand
CB - Terry
LB - A.Cole

RM - Gerrard
CM - Lampard
CM - Hargreaves
LM - J.Cole

ST - Rooney
ST - Crouch

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Ok, in 5 years time lets look at that side Bruce

GK - Foster (yes, but at a top 4 side? don't think he will be.)

RB - Neville (37 Most certainly retired )
CB - Ferdinand (34 Retired?)
CB - Terry (31 Still there more than likely)
LB - Cole (31 Still there? depends)

RM - Gerrard (32, maybe - but at RM? doubt it)
CM - Lampard (34 - should be finished)
CM - Hargreaves (31 - Still there no doubt about it)
LM - J.Cole (31 - Possibly still there)

ST - Rooney (27 - should be peaking)
ST - Crouch (31 - depends if he gets sold in January, won't be signing for another top 4 club.)

So, what other players are there coming through? How many of the players that I mentioned are likely to move to the current "top 4 clubs"?

Micah Richards?
Defoe?
Bentley?

Can't see our boys moving to top 4 clubs. I actually think in 5 years time, it will a top 6 as teams are catching up with the so called big boys. And if this foreign rule comes in, then expect a shake up.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I can see Micah Richards moving but I don't think any of the others will. Bentley strikes me as similar to Pennant, a decent enough player but not top class. Wenger is an outstanding judge of player and few leave there and go on to great things.

I've said it dozens of times but I wish some of our young players would move abroad. It did Hargreaves the world of good to grow up at Bayern and I'm sure it would help other young players if they tried life abroad. So maybe when asking why the England team fails repeatedely the gaze should look at players happy to ply their trade in the middle of the Premier League and pick up the big bucks in comfort.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Good point, money plays the major factor. But its not just the top 4 who pay astronomical wages, look at Spurs and Newcastle?

 

[SuitsBlue]

players coming through?

agbonlahor
young
moore
reo-coker

chelsea are making a lot of moves regards youth talent, sniffing around the stand out players at competing clubs - they tapped up the boro 16 y/o CB, and have allegedly made enquiries about kissock and rodwell.

heres a question, how many children have play stations and xboxes in the african nations?

heres another one, how many children have access and the means to consume fast/junk food in the african nations?

you reap what you sow, and mcdonalds - ipod - mobile phone generation... have life far to comfortable. no desire, no dedication, no commitment. Its either instant success or a lack of interest, work and practice rarely factor in.