Capello has named a provisional 30-man squad for the friendly in Paris against France. He will reduce it to 23 on Saturday.

James (Portsmouth)
Carson (Aston Villa)
Kirkland (Wigan)

Bridge (Chelsea)
A Cole (Chelsea)
Johnson (Portsmouth)
Terry (Chelsea)
Brown (Man Utd)
Lescott (Everton)
Ferdinand (Man Utd)
Wheater (Middlesbrough)
Woodgate (Tottenham)
Upson (West Ham)

Barry (Aston Villa)
Young (Aston Villa)
Bentley (Blackburn)
J Cole (Chelsea)
Lampard (Chelsea)
Wright-Phillips (Chelsea)
Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Gerrard (Liverpool)
Hargreaves (Man Utd)
Downing (Middlesbrough)
Jenas (Tottenham)

Walcott (Arsenal)
Agbonlahor (Aston Villa)
Crouch (Liverpool)
Rooney (Man Utd)
Owen (Newcastle)
Defoe (Portsmouth)

Wow, Robinson's not even making the provisional squad now. Confidence is so important to a goalkeeper's game, it must be damaging for him.

Wow, Robinson's not even making the provisional squad now. Confidence is so important to a goalkeeper's game, it must be damaging for him.

It looked like he was set for a recall, but conceding 4 goals yesterday must have made up Capello's mind...

I see my least favourite player Hargreaves is back in. Is he ahead of Carrick in the pecking order at Man U?

Didn't Jenas go off injured yesterday?

I don't know if he was injured. I do know he was playing like a park player and when Huddlestone came on, the game changed. I'd be interested to see whether Huddlestone steps up now he's lost all that excess. Could be the answer to that holding midfielder problem perhaps.

I don't know if he was injured. I do know he was playing like a park player and when Huddlestone came on, the game changed. I'd be interested to see whether Huddlestone steps up now he's lost all that excess. Could be the answer to that holding midfielder problem perhaps.

He can open a can of beans with his strikes as well.

Oh christ, Beckham is back

Johnson
Wheater
Upson
Young
Walctott
Agbonlahor
Wright Phillips

Think they will be the ones to be dropped from Squad

I think Crouch should probably drop from that list, he isn't getting many games or goals to warrant inclusion.

Oh christ, Beckham is back

You'd rather wait till a game that matters before sticking him in to get the media morons off Capello's back? I'd rather they do it now and get it out of the way, then they can drop him for good.

Oh christ, Beckham is back

Give the bloke a break
Hes drIven us through games at times (Free Kick v Greece)
I know he ponces around at times and his lifestyle is a bit weird but he TOTALLY deserves his 100th cap.
Fair enough Capello is strict and emotions dont come into it with him but Becks deserves the ton

Give the bloke a break
Hes drIven us through games at times (Free Kick v Greece)


And that has exactly what to do with whether he's still good enough? That Greece game was eight years ago.

Should we pick Geoff Hurst? He won a world cup for us with his goals, surely he deserves a place even more.

Oh christ, Beckham is back

Well it is Easter :)

Give the bloke a break
Hes drIven us through games at times (Free Kick v Greece)
I know he ponces around at times and his lifestyle is a bit weird but he TOTALLY deserves his 100th cap.
Fair enough Capello is strict and emotions dont come into it with him but Becks deserves the ton

No he doesn't. How long ago was the free kick against Greece. There were times a couple of years ago where he did deserve his place when he was playing for Real Madrid after Capello dropped him but now he is playing for a micky mouse team in a micky mouse league. We are supposed to be looking forward and this is a backward step.

We are supposed to be looking forward and this is a backward step.

It is, but I'm fairly confident Capello is only doing this as a token gesture, so he doesn't get crucified by the media for denying Becks his 100th cap. I seriously doubt he will ever pick him again.

He shouldn't need to bow to media pressure, but .. hey, this is England.

Give the bloke a break
Hes drIven us through games at times (Free Kick v Greece)
I know he ponces around at times and his lifestyle is a bit weird but he TOTALLY deserves his 100th cap.
Fair enough Capello is strict and emotions dont come into it with him but Becks deserves the ton

Yep i have to agree on that Becks should be in the team or even be on the bench every match at least

Beckham should only be in the team if he is performing well. It really is that simple.

Eriksson's sentimentality towards an unfit Beckham and the 'untouchables' cost England dearly in major tournaments.

Its a friendly,it means nothing,we havent got nothing major to look forward to until World Cup Qualifiers,and fair enough the Greece game was 8 years ago but he has carried the team at times when the likes of Gerrard,Lampard and co havent produced club form.
Its a poxy friendly
Give him the ton

Capello will no doubt want to learn about the group he's picked and how they shape up against the World Cup finalists. I'm certain Capello doesn't share your view that the game is just a "poxy friendly".

It would be nice to think the players think that way too, and go out with something to prove.

Capello will no doubt want to learn about the group he's picked and how they shape up against the World Cup finalists. I'm certain Capello doesn't share your view that the game is just a "poxy friendly".

It would be nice to think the players think that way too, and go out with something to prove.

Agree about the players needing to go out and prove themselves,i just think its the ideal game to give Beckham his ton,even if its just for the last 20 mins

Personally I would start Beckham, let him get that bl**dy cap and then take him off when he proves how unfit and incapable of keeping up with the younger, hungrier players he is. Capello will then have proved his point and the silly idea that 100 is SO much better than 99 will have been honoured.

Dropped:
Matthew Upson
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Ashley Young
Shaun Wright-Phillips
David Wheater
Jermain Defoe
Scott Carson

Final 23-man squad.

Goalkeepers:
David James (Portsmouth)
Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur)
Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic)

Defenders:
Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)
Wes Brown (Manchester United)
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
Glen Johnson (Portsmouth)
Joleon Lescott (Everton)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders:
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Gareth Barry (AstonVilla)
Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United)
Joe Cole (Chelsea)
David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
David Beckham (LA Galaxy)
Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Forwards:
Michael Owen (Newcastle United)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Peter Crouch (Liverpool)
Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Is Shaun Wright-Phillips injured? I thought that he was one of our most consistent players during the last year.

Capello has just anounced that Rio Ferdinand will be captain against France!

Dropped:
Matthew Upson
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Ashley Young
Shaun Wright-Phillips
David Wheater
Jermain Defoe
Scott Carson

Final 23-man squad.

Goalkeepers:
David James (Portsmouth)
Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur)
Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic)

Defenders:
Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)
Wes Brown (Manchester United)
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
Glen Johnson (Portsmouth)
Joleon Lescott (Everton)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders:
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Gareth Barry (AstonVilla)
Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United)
Joe Cole (Chelsea)
David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
David Beckham (LA Galaxy)
Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Forwards:
Michael Owen (Newcastle United)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Peter Crouch (Liverpool)
Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Got 5 out of 7 right
Cant believe hes dropped Defoe and kept Walcott,what more does Defoe have to do to be considered?
Hes been on fire since joining Pompy and Walcott has had a very poor season by anyones standards,hes a good couple of years away from International class

I think Lampard has been lucky again. Being dropped might be the kick up the arse he needs from an international perspective.

I would have liked to have seen both Ashely Young and Agbonlahor get a run out. I think these two are very exciting talents.

Big Rio's got the captain's armband for it too.

I disagree with the ones he's dropped. Agbonlahor, Young and Defoe have done enough to get a chance. Owen, Crouch and Wallcott haven't.

I disagree with the ones he's dropped. Agbonlahor, Young and Defoe have done enough to get a chance. Owen, Crouch and Wallcott haven't.

Owen is in form and is a proven Scorer,Crouchy rarely lets team down and can make a real difference as a sub but doesnt get a sniff a Liverpool
TOTALLY agree about Walcott tho

Owen is in form and is a proven Scorer,Crouchy rarely lets team down and can make a real difference as a sub but doesnt get a sniff a Liverpool
TOTALLY agree about Walcott tho

I'm not saying Owen and Crouch aren't good players, I just feel that the other three lads are more deserving of the chance.

Owen needs to get away from Newcastle because they're awful.

Crouch needs to get away from Liverpool because he isn't getting games.

Defoe has gone to a team doing well, and has scored 6 in 6. He deserves this chance.

I'm not saying Owen and Crouch aren't good players, I just feel that the other three lads are more deserving of the chance.

Owen needs to get away from Newcastle because they're awful.

Crouch needs to get away from Liverpool because he isn't getting games.

Defoe has gone to a team doing well, and has scored 6 in 6. He deserves this chance.

Couldnt Agree more

What a truly awful game.

We created very little going forward in the first half, with Rooney looking ridiculously isolated. This was in stark contrast to France, who looked comfortable on the ball and made openings from all over the pitch. Anelka and Riberry in particular were outstanding.

In the second half, when we switched to our usual 4-4-2, there was absolutely no attacking threat from midfield and nobody supporting the strikers. Downing made a few good runs, but his final ball is awful.

France will be disappointed the scoreline wasn't 2-0 or perhaps 3-0.

Capello may be beginning to realise just how big a challenge the England job is...

What a truly awful game.

We created very little going forward in the first half, with Rooney looking ridiculously isolated. This was in stark contrast to France, who looked comfortable on the ball and made openings from all over the pitch. Anelka and Riberry in particular were outstanding.

In the second half, when we switched to our usual 4-4-2, there was absolutely no attacking threat from midfield and nobody supporting the strikers. Downing made a few good runs, but his final ball is awful.

France will be disappointed the scoreline wasn't 2-0 or perhaps 3-0.

Capello may be beginning to realise just how big a challenge the England job is...

I was bemused with Capello's after match comments. Not just because they were in Italian, but also because he said it was a step forward. Why doesn't the man just come forward and say it isn't good enough?

It was surprising to see him defend that performance. We had one shot on target in 90 minutes, and that was a long range header that Coupet caught with ease.

It was surprising at the lack of invention from Joe Cole and Gerrard, particularly as they were in roles they should thrive in.

Capello must realise that Beckham is past it.

Ho him. It's only the second game I suppose....

Despite that performance I do think there is some mileage in the 4-2-3-1, with Lampard, Gerrard and Cole as an attacking trio with Rooney coming deep. The key is those defensive midfield players, I'd like to see Carrick and Hargreaves there. Carrick is far more creative than Barry.

Brown clearly is not good enough for a full-back role, Micah Richards will be welcomed back with open arms.

I lost what little interest I already had in the game when Conference players like Steward Downing came on.

Technically miles apart from literally every other international side, bereft of any ideas or creativity, so ultra-boring to watch, in this day and age where we're told to watch our carbon footprints, it would have made more sense to turn the flood-lights off. It would certainly have made better viewing.

Indeed, the foreigners in the Premier League (and elsewhere) have contributed to setting England back 40 years at international level. And of course, a cupboard full of stooges at the FA whose knowledge of the game is precisely that: sweet FA.

Technically miles apart from literally every other international side, bereft of any ideas or creativity, so ultra-boring to watch, in this day and age where we're told to watch our carbon footprints, it would have made more sense to turn the flood-lights off. It would certainly have made better viewing.

Or not to fly the team there at all! :hihi:

What worries me about this team is that it looks worse then the England team looked during the end of McClarens short era. I'd thought that the teams chosen in the home games against Russia and Isreal showed good promise, with partnerships blossoming between the players all over the pitch. I'd thought that Wright-Phillips and Richards, A.Cole and J.Cole, Gerrard and Barry, and Hesky and Owen started to show an understanding with each other. I feel that if this team managed to stay together they may have qualified for the Euros.

My England team would be:

GK - Foster

LB - A.Cole
CB - Terry (capt)
CB - Ferdinand
RB - Richards

LM - J.Cole
CM - Gerrard
CM - Barry
RM - Wright-Phillips

ST - Heskey
ST - Rooney

Subs
James - Woodgate - Lampard - Hargreaves - Lennon - Owen - Walcott

It was surprising to see him defend that performance. We had one shot on target in 90 minutes, and that was a long range header that Coupet caught with ease.

It was surprising at the lack of invention from Joe Cole and Gerrard, particularly as they were in roles they should thrive in.

Capello must realise that Beckham is past it.

Ho him. It's only the second game I suppose....

Despite that performance I do think there is some mileage in the 4-2-3-1, with Lampard, Gerrard and Cole as an attacking trio with Rooney coming deep. The key is those defensive midfield players, I'd like to see Carrick and Hargreaves there. Carrick is far more creative than Barry.

Brown clearly is not good enough for a full-back role, Micah Richards will be welcomed back with open arms.

Richards has very little positional sense - only his pace saves him.
I agree Wes is just not good enough on the ball - he defends well enough, but more is needed these days.
I have actually been impressed with Glen Johnson this season. He seems to be maturing finally.

My team:

James

Neville (Johnson if Neville is finished)
Rio
Woodgate
Cole

Bentley
Lampard
Gerrard
Hargreaves
Cole

Rooney

But I should point out this is a 4-3-3, Bentley, Cole and and Lamps/Gerrard must get forward to support Rooney so as to make sure he isn't isolated.

Richards has very little positional sense - only his pace saves him.
I agree Wes is just not good enough on the ball - he defends well enough, but more is needed these days.
I have actually been impressed with Glen Johnson this season. He seems to be maturing finally.

My team:

James

Neville (Johnson if Neville is finished)
Rio
Woodgate
Cole

Bentley
Lampard
Gerrard
Hargreaves
Cole

Rooney

But I should point out this is a 4-3-3, Bentley, Cole and and Lamps/Gerrard must get forward to support Rooney so as to make sure he isn't isolated.

Rooney does not have the discipline to stay up forwards, as he always comes deep to collect the ball. When he's playing alone, it doesn't work. The World Cup in 2006 showed that and countless other times.

Rooney does not have the discipline to stay up forwards, as he always comes deep to collect the ball. When he's playing alone, it doesn't work. The World Cup in 2006 showed that and countless other times.

It works for United -Arsenal 4-0 and Liverpool 3-0 with Rooney up front in a 4-5-1/4-3-3 (depending on your point of view)
It works because when he drops deep, Ronaldo gets in the box, or Giggs etc. United just look more fluid, players interchanging positios etc. England are always too rigid.