England Squad

[dww]

I think viewing Heskey in those terms is just being a bit reductive. Obviously ideally you want someone who offers goals as well as the things he brings but when played with quality players he makes them more effective. It's the team rather than the individual which is important at the end of the day.

I really like Milner, think he is a very good player who would be near almost all squads at the world cup. While i don't think we are notably better than many other teams I think our squad has as much ability as all but Spain, Brazil and Argentina in it.

[Shaggy]

Emile Heskey is a pioneer....the non-scoring striker

Yep I'd also pick Gerrard in a free role behind Rooney.

[dww]

Emile Heskey is a pioneer....the non-scoring striker

Never let it be said again that England is not a country of tactical innovation.

[Reece]

To be fair Heskey played there for most of the qualifying games and England did pretty well in them.

But I'd personally rather Gerrard or Cole were played behind Rooney as others have mentioned.

[Vermilion]

'Malignant' is a bit strong.

'The Irrelevant Seven' has a nice sound to it.

Yes, but it needed to be as near to the 'Magnificent Seven' as possible.

If they all take it well they can be 'The Magnanimous Seven' then.

[dww]

To be fair Heskey played there for most of the qualifying games and England did pretty well in them.

But I'd personally rather Gerrard or Cole were played behind Rooney as others have mentioned.

The problem I have with this is that you then ask Rooney to defend from the front and he is the type of player to work to hard at that and take away the pivot of the attack. If Gerrard had had a better season then he could take some of that workload away, but he hasn't and he is poor with his back to goal which is a problem with Rooney being so diminutive as the striker.

I know Rooney does the striking role for United but they are a comparatively dominant team in the PL and hence play higher up the pitch. England often cede possession, play from deep and don't strike fear into the opposition.

[red g]

From cowboymartin on 606: "Here's your first proper scoop of the day. My Mrs works at Heathrow airport and Theo Walcott has just checked in with his girlfriend. They are off to the Caribbean, NOT South Africa. That's him out then."

From Daniel Quilmes, via text to 81111: "My girlfriend works at Fulham and she says they had the FA on the phone yesterday asking about the fitness of Bobby Zamora - let's hope Fabio does a U-turn."

From andy182 on Twitter: "My mate's mum works at the FA and apparently Adam Johnson is definitely going."

[PTP]

Milner

oops - yeah milner, then prob another defender. 23 man squad sorted.

[Tee]

I hope Adam Johnson gets in the final 23. He genuinely could be the surprise package of the tournament IMO.

[Shaggy]

BBC sports news correspondent Dan Roan: "The BBC understands that the initial fitness test on Gareth Barry was positive and that he looks good to be passed fit to travel to South Africa."

[dww]

Considering you are allowed to replace injured players after the announcement of the 23 there was never any danger of Barry not going was there?

[Kenneth]

I feel this tournament will go very badly for England, right from the off, with the USA getting a result. The squad just isn't good enough and we're relying on the manager to perform miracles. Gerrard gets injured and the team will hardly see the ball.

Even the Dutch squad is better than ours, and there will be a few surprises from unfancied sides. Maybe one of those strange euro sides who's countrymen insist on putting there nationality in their forum name followed by red or kopite or such like.

[Shaggy]

[Neil Young]

Emile Heskey is a pioneer....the non-scoring striker

Guivarc'h. France won the world cup with him in the starting line-up. If it worked once...

[dww]

Guivarc'h. France won the world cup with him in the starting line-up. If it worked once...

14 caps - 1 goal. A hero.