Your international team: your view

[Guest MillionLiraMan]

The England squad is out there with much discussion ensuing but for all of us, not just the England fans, who would you choose for an international squad of 23 players, with six backup players and discuss why you would choose your players and/or what you think of your team's international status.

 

England fans please join in here as well if you like as it's not quite the same as World Cup discussion, but this is also really for discussion of other teams as well - maybe you're a neutral and you'll be supporting Brazil during the World Cup - what do you think of them? It's really up you as to who you want to discuss.

 

I'd choose, for Scotland:

 

Gordon (Hearts)

Mark Brown (Caley Thistle)

 

Anderson (Aberdeen)

McNaughton (Aberdeen)

McManus (Celtic)

Wilson (Celtic)

Murray (Rangers)

Smith (Rangers)

Naysmith (Everton)

 

Severin (Aberdeen)

Maloney (Celtic)

Hartley (Hearts)

Brown (Hibs)

Thompson (Hibs)

Fletcher (Manchester United)

Burke (Rangers)

Teale (Wigan)

 

Miller (Celtic)

McFadden (Everton)

Riordan (Hibs)

O'Connor (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Boyd (Rangers)

 

Standby (six guys):

 

Dargo (Caley Thistle)

Webster (Hearts)

Simon Brown (Hibs)

Hutton (Rangers)

Naismith (Kilmarnock)

McCulloch (Wigan)

 

Most people might have Webster and Pressley in before McNaughton and either McManus or Anderson but that's how I see it, Pressley can have his moments but he admits to having a problem defending to his right (thus the defence has to be configured to support him there) while you never know when he'll lose his man or give away a penalty. Webster is hit and miss, maybe worth putting in the squad but there are other options and with Euro 2008 possibly being a write-off (though I haven't given up yet believe it or not), it's perhaps better to look to the younger players where the standard is more or less the same (I'm thinking of McManus being hit and miss also).

 

Omissions - I'm sick of Barry Ferguson hiding for Scotland or just acting like he's the big man when he's hardly ever in most games. I'll tell you who I like even less than Ferguson though (since Ferguson does pull the odd five minutes out of the bag every ten games) - Jackie McNamara. He is bonk. Murray is a better utility player since he can play reasonably in a variety of positions rather than McNamara who is awful in a variety of positions. Marshall shouldn't be in there as I've said - the thing with Simon Brown at Hibs, Mowbray prefers to play Malkowski but he's dodgier than Brown while Brown when he does play is actually pretty solid so he might be reasonable backup from being used to periods of not playing, but then keeping decent form when he is called to some action in nets. If Marshall as a reserve is in the squad these days, why not Brown? At least Brown doesn't give up and just let everything in once two goals are already past him.

 

Don't even start on Rab Douglas. Please don't. After that game where the Netherlands beat us 6-0 and he was missing crosses with his eyes closed he should never have been allowed to start a match for any professional team again. He is the worst goalkeeper to play for Scotland ever.

 

Other plodders I'd keep from the side - there's Quashie, Alexander, Davie Weir who's not bad but he'll be 38 by Euro 2008 so let's move on please, Christian Dailly, Stephen Pearson, Neil McCann, the Caldwell brothers who simply aren't good enough, those are the main culprits. Nothing particularly wrong with them but we've got better and/or younger players who ought to get the chance ahead of them because we know what they can do and it isn't enough for international football - the exception maybe being Weir who's been of use but is too old to keep his place in the team when we have to prepare for international tournaments now.

 

All in all I just think we're going great at the moment with a lot of younger players actually looking like coming through with genuine competition for places, as long as the same old faces don't just waltz back into the team without having to prove themselves. The future for Scotland looks great at the moment, tough draw for the European Championships but it's all good just now.

Edited May 12, 2006 by MillionLiraMan

[Guest Wolverine]

There's not really much choice with Northern Ireland. I suppose I'd pick the following:

 

Maik Taylor (Birmingham)

Roy Carroll (West Ham)

 

Mark Clyde (Wolves)

Chris Baird (Southampton)

Tony Capaldi (Plymouth)

George McCartney (Sunderland)

Aaron Hughes (Aston Villa)

Stephen Craigan (Motherwell)

Colin Murdock (Rotherham)

Michael Duff (Burnley)

 

Keith Gillespie (Sheff Utd)

Steve Jones (Crewe)

Chris Brunt (Sheff Wed)

Ivan Sproule (Hibernian)

Steven Davis (Aston Villa)

Damien Johnson (Birmingham)

Phil Mulryne (Cardiff)

Paul McVeigh (Norwich)

 

David Healy (Leeds)

Stuart Elliott (Hull)

Dean Shiels (Hibernian)

Warren Feeney (Luton)

James Quinn (Willem II)

 

EDIT - Forgot about the backups. And Warren Feeney. Not to mention James Quinn.

 

Alan Mannus (Linfield)

Danny Griffin (Stockport)

Grant McCann (Cheltenham)

Steve Robinson (Luton)

Andy Kirk (Northampton)

Peter Thompson (Linfield)

Edited May 11, 2006 by Wolverine

[Guest The Crippler]

I follow both Scotland and Northern Ireland (my dad's parents are from Scotland and he was brought up there for a while, besides the fact I also follow the SPL closer than any other league). Both these teams are very much off the top of my head and I've maybe forgotten people.

 

Scotland

 

Craig Gordon (Hearts)

David Marshall (Celtic)

Neil Alexander (Cardiff)

 

Steven Pressley (Hearts)

Andy Webster (Hearts)

Robbie Neilson (Hearts)

Stephen McManus (Celtic)

David Weir (Everton)

Russell Anderson (Aberdeen)

Steven Smith (Rangers)

Gary Caldwell (Hibernian/Celtic)

 

Barry Ferguson (Rangers)

Shaun Maloney (Celtic)

Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)

Paul Hartley (Hearts)

Chris Burke (Rangers)

Gary Teale (Wigan)

Nigel Quashie (West Bromwich Albion)

Scott Brown (Hibernian)

 

Kris Boyd (Rangers)

Kenny Miller (Celtic)

James McFadden (Everton)

Gary O'Connor (Lokomotiv Moscow)

 

Standby:

Derek Riordan (Hibernian)

Ian Murray (Rangers)

Gavin Rae (Rangers)

Craig Dargo (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)

Graeme Murty (Reading)

Christian Dailly (West Ham United)

 

Northern Ireland, the selection is very limited really but I'd go for something like this:

 

Maik Taylor (Birmingham City)

Roy Carroll (West Ham United)

Alan Mannus (Linfield)

 

Michael Duff (Burnley)

Aaron Hughes (Aston Villa)

Stephen Craigan (Motherwell)

George McCartney (Sunderland)

Mark Clyde (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Chris Baird (Southampton)

Tony Capaldi (Plymouth Argyle)

 

Steven Davis (Aston Villa)

Keith Gillespie (Sheffield United)

Chris Brunt (Sheffield Wednesday)

Damian Johnson (Birmingham City)

Grant McCann (Cheltenham Town)

Philip Mulryne (Cardiff City)

Dean Shiels (Hibernian)

 

Stuarty Elliott (Hull City)

David Healy (Leeds United)

Warren Feeney (Luton Town)

Ivan Sproule (Hibernian)

Steve Jones (Burnley)

Peter Thompson (Linfield)

 

 

Standby

James Quinn (Willem II)

Paul McVeigh (Norwich City)

Andy Smith (Preston North End)

Glenn Ferguson (Linfield)

Jeff Whitley (Cardiff City)

Sam Morrow (Hibernian)

 

I wouldn't have Colin Murdock in the squad, he's a bloody onion. What's the deal with McCartney? Is he back in the reckoning now?

 

[EDIT]Just looking at that Scotland squad, I've probably picked far too many centre halves. I will have a better think about that and maybe come back to it.

Edited May 11, 2006 by The Crippler

[Guest Wolverine]

I wouldn't have Colin Murdock in the squad' date=' he's a bloody onion. What's the deal with McCartney? Is he back in the reckoning now?[/quote']

 

I agree about Murdock, but I honestly couldn't think of any other defenders. McCartney says he'll play for us again as soon as Sanchez is gone. And as I'd be the one picking the squad in this scenario, he'd be back playing. Looking at your squad, I notice that I also forgot about James Quinn. I'll put him in instead of Thompson then (and Whitley drops out of the stand-bys).

[Murph 93]

I follow both Scotland and Northern Ireland (my dad's parents are from Scotland and he was brought up there for a while, besides the fact I also follow the SPL closer than any other league). Both these teams are very much off the top of my head and I've maybe forgotten people.

 

Scotland

 

Craig Gordon (Hearts)

David Marshall (Celtic)

Neil Alexander (Cardiff)

 

Steven Pressley (Hearts)

Andy Webster (Hearts)

Robbie Neilson (Hearts)

Stephen McManus (Celtic)

David Weir (Everton)

Russell Anderson (Aberdeen)

Steven Smith (Rangers)

Gary Caldwell (Hibernian/Celtic)

 

Barry Ferguson (Rangers)

Shaun Maloney (Celtic)

Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)

Paul Hartley (Hearts)

Chris Burke (Rangers)

Gary Teale (Wigan)

Nigel Quashie (West Bromwich Albion)

Scott Brown (Hibernian)

 

Kris Boyd (Rangers)

Kenny Miller (Celtic)

James McFadden (Everton)

Gary O'Connor (Lokomotiv Moscow)

 

Standby:

Derek Riordan (Hibernian)

Ian Murray (Rangers)

Gavin Rae (Rangers)

Craig Dargo (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)

Graeme Murty (Reading)

Christian Dailly (West Ham United)

 

If Scotland could manage that squad, they could actually get a good run going, so I must praise that as a terrific squad choice.

[Guest Boyo]

There's not a great deal of choice for Wales, and I doubt I could name a full squad these days, seeing as old faves like Savage, Hartson and Speed have retired/been kicked out :P!!

 

I'll just try to name a starting eleven...

 

Paul Jones

 

Sam Ricketts

Danny Gabbidon

*Wotzizname* Nyatanga (the Derby kid)

James Collins

Mark Delaney

 

Ryan Giggs

Simon Davies

Jason Koumas

 

Craig Bellamy

Bobby Earnshaw

 

It's very much a "good team on paper, bad team in practice" line-up, especially in midfield where we have three very competant, skillful lightweights. Plus our Goalie is poop. I'm sorry but he is.

 

And who is Boyo apologising to!?

 

Gabs, Collins, Nyatanga, Ricketts and Delaney are 5 good defenders and Davies, Giggsy and Bellers are our attacking stars. Koumas and Earny flatter to decieve and how I'd love a couple of uncapped promising "English" players to claim their Welshness!!

 

You English b@st@rds took Micky Owen so we want first dibs on the next startlet! Ok, so England moved fast to nab Roon and Theo, but hey, if you don't want Owen Hargreaves I know a team who does :P.

 

Oh how I'd love Hayden Mullins (Aussie, isn't he?), Gareth Barry (how Welsh is that name by the way?) and, what the hell?, Guiseppe Rossi to claim Welsh birth. Come on, give us something to smile about.

 

EDIT: And you gits nabbed Cameron Jerome!!!!!!!

 

Cheers!

[Red05 343]

England never actually nicked Michael Owen.

 

He explains in his auto-bio how he actually couldn't hacve played for Wales, even if he wanted to. He either had no or too little Welsh blood in him to play for Wales.

[BRM 220]

Wales nicked Ryan Giggs. ;)

[Guest Boyo]

England never actually nicked Michael Owen.

 

He explains in his auto-bio how he actually couldn't hacve played for Wales, even if he wanted to. He either had no or too little Welsh blood in him to play for Wales.

So if "lil Micky" (calm down Mr Perfect...) was born in Wales (Wrexham) and is therefore of Welsh birth (despite his foreign parents) and still has too little Welshness, then how the bleedin' HELL ON A HORSE do you explain Ben Thatcher!?! :P

 

Wales nicked Ryan Giggs

Again, born in Cardiff and simply loaned to the English to help their youth teams out. ;) :P.

 

Cheers!

[Guest Jaymzy]

Did you know Harry Kewell could have played for England???

 

His parents are English and due to Commonwealth Dual Passport laws, he could have represented England, glad he didnt though......

 

Further, 3 of Croatias squad are Aussie born, Didiluca, Seric and Simunic all came up through the Aussie Youth system...... Their development was paid for by taxpayers like me and left to play for the country of their parents birth at the drop of a hat, bloody ingrates!!!!

 

Really makes my blood boil and I hope and pray we beat them cos of it!!!!!

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

I pretty much agree with the 23 that have been announced for Australia. I'll name my starting 11.

 

Mark Schwarzer (Middelsbrough)

 

Lucas Neill (Blackburn)

Craig Moore (Newcastle) ©

Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace)

 

Scott Chipperfield (Basel)

Tim Cahill (Everton)

Vince Grella (Parma)

Marco Bresciano (Parma)

Brett Emerton (Blackburn)

 

Harry Kewell (Liverpool)

Mark Viduka (Middelsbrough)

 

I personally am torn between Schwarzer and Kalac for the Keepers job. I've always liked Spider, but Schwarzer hasnt done anything to warrant dropping I dont think.

 

Its sad to see what happened to Tony Vidmar. This doesnt leave much depth in defence. Popovic and Neill keep their spots easily. Moore regains the captains armband. Milligan has done an outstanding job for Bling this season, and deserves his place in the squad, as does Beauchamp. But I'm going with 3 defenders, 3 central mids and 2 wingbacks.

 

Lazaridis hasnt played enough regular football lately, so Chipperfield is on the left wing, with Emerton on the right. Cahill and Bresciano pick themselves, and I'm putting Grella in there in a more defensive role, behind those two.

 

And Kewell and Viduka are fairly obvious, despite them not always firing for country. You cant leave them out.

 

That leaves guys like Thompson, Aloisi, Culina and Skoko on the bench. I hate to leave Aloisi on the bench.

[Guest HSM]

How on Earth Spider Kalac ended up at AC Milan I'll never know. He was complete and utter cack when he was at Leicester. Henderson is much better :P . Not to mention that Paddy Kisnorbo should be in the Aussie Squad, especially with Vidmar out. :evil

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

How on Earth Spider Kalac ended up at AC Milan I'll never know. He was complete and utter cack when he was at Leicester. Henderson is much better :P . Not to mention that Paddy Kisnorbo should be in the Aussie Squad' date=' especially with Vidmar out. :evil[/quote']

 

Hey, I like Spider :P

 

And I've always rated Kisborno, he's a good player. I havent seen enough of him lately to know whether he deserved a place in front of Beauchamp or Milligan.

 

You gotta feel for Vidmar. He's been through 4 campaigns, we finally make it and this happens. No luck whatsoever. Its heartbreaking. At least they're still taking him over.

[Guest Proudy]

My England squad would of been:

 

Robinson (Spurs)

Carson (Liverpool)

James (Man City)

 

Terry (Chelsea)

Carragher (Liverpool)

Ferdinand (Man Utd)

G.Neville (Man Utd)

A.Cole (Arsenal)

King (Spurs)

Bridge (Chelsea)

 

Gerrard (Liverpool)

Lampard (Chelsea)

Beckham (Real Madrid)

J.Cole (Chelsea)

Carrick (Spurs)

Wright-Phillips (Chelsea)

Lennon (Spurs)

Downing (Boro)

 

Rooney (Man Utd)

Owen (Newcastle)

Crouch (Liverpool)

Defoe (Spurs)

Bent (charlton)

[Red05 343]

So if "lil Micky" (calm down Mr Perfect...) was born in Wales (Wrexham) and is therefore of Welsh birth

 

He's not of Welsh birth.

 

He was born in Chester. And i think, i think, that's in England. ;)

[Guest Boyo]

Yes, you're right, but his family are from Wrexham definitely. And he grew up in Wrexham, because his family are from there.

 

So :P

 

Cheers!

[Guest Inno]

He's not of Welsh birth.

 

He was born in Chester. And i think, i think, that's in England. ;)

 

Isn't part of it in Wales as well? :D