Students of the Game - A selection of blogs from around the country @ OleOle

Pick Your England Team

Wednesday, 15 October 08, 08:20 AM

When it comes to England everyone has their opinion, whether it's shoehorning all the best players onto the pitch even if it means a lack of balance, or whether it's sacrificing star players for the sake of a collective identity.

Fitting together all England's best players

James - Gerrard - Ferdinand - Terry - Cole - Walcott - Lampard - Barry - Cole. J - Rooney - Owen

Balance for the sake of the team

James - Brown - Ferdinand - Terry - Cole - Walcott/W-Phillips - Lampard - Barry - Cole.J - Heskey - Rooney

Obviously we need to find a safer pair of hands than David James, a world-class right back, and a role for Michael Owen. I would start Lampard ahead of Gerrard at the moment (despite Gerrard being a better player) because Lampard is in great form. I would eventually like to see a Gerrard - Barry axis in the centre. I still think a Rooney - Owen partnership has great potential (Euro 2004) but for the time being would be happy to start with Heskey with Owen on the bench.

What are you thoughts for the Belarus game? I would start Gerrard and Bridge on the left, with the rest of the team as from Croatia (bar John Terry)

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