Blueprint For The Three Lions
REDville
Chelsea 4 United 0
As the huge disappointment of Wednesday night continues to bite, let’s not forget that there wasn’t one United player in the England XI when we were outplayed at home against Croatia.
How the team could have done with Neville, Rio, Hargreaves and Rooney to add sense and security to the floundering lions. Then of course, there is Carrick (inexplicably left out of the squad), Brown and Foster. What a great team England COULD have. Instead, injury, suspension and catastrophic mis-management deprived England of so many United stars.
Chelsea, by contrast, had four of their players on the park but the quality wasn’t there. Wright-Phillips seems to have got through his entire career on pace alone, while Wayne Bridge was lamentable. Joe Cole tried hard but had no final ball and ran down blind alleys all night. And has there ever been a more useless hunk of flesh in an England shirt than Frank Lampard?
The way I see it, one of England’s main problems is that they don’t look or play like a team. There is a simple solution and route to success of course. Get a great manager in and make him sign an agreement to field as many United 1st teamers as possible for every game from now until the next World Cup and beyond. Indeed, if this new manager is worth his salts, he will also cajole the evergreen Scholesy back into the mix. What a team we would have. And here it is. I, for one, think this side would beat both of the teams on show at Wembley on Wednesday.
4-3-3
GK Ben Foster
Considering there is no competition whatsoever for the jersey, we can safely say it’s his for a decade.
RB Gary Neville
Few would argue that he’s still one of the best in the world and, fear not, he’ll recover from this injury and play until he’s 36, getting better with age like Maldini has.
CB Rio Ferdinand
Had he played, we wouldn’t have conceded three, simple as. Sol Campbell is too old
CB Wes Brown
Having his best season for United and also seems to have shaken off the injuries that plagued his early career. John Terry already looks to be physically ageing and Richards is still prone to errors. Wes won’t let you down!
LB Leighton Baines
Already a better player than Bridge whilst Cole has peaked already.
CM Owen Hargreaves
Hasn’t been part of the abject recent England performances and should now replace Lampard long-term.
CM Micheal Carrick
Better passer than Gerrard or Lampard, he glues the midfield together whilst also adding solidity with his selfless running and tackling. How badly do England need a player who doesn’t waste the ball?
CM Paul Scholes
And speaking of not giving the ball away, let’s get the master back. He would excel in a midfield that is jewel encrusted with his club mates.
LF Gabby Agbonlahor
He and similarly potent team-mate Ashley Young could fight it out for the left forward birth in the attack.
CF Wayne Rooney
Little introduction needed. England’s saviour is now showing that he can be a prolific main striker at United, especially when he has pacey players either side of him.
RF Theo Walcott
Sven had his critics but I wasn’t one. To think it was just over a year ago that we were complaining about only reaching the World Cup quarter finals! What he saw in Walcott was an international quality that few other English players possess. Different league to Wright-Phillips but we could still keep Becks in the squad for the odd 20-minute cameo.
Manager Martin O’Neill
