defoe will go to the ball

[onthejazzin77]

normal service has resumed - jd will fly to Germany for the world cup. its coming home its coming home.

[England's No.1]

I wouldn't get too excited yet, it is still pending Rooney's scan on the 7th. If they him as being ready for the latter stages, Sven will still include him Defoe will be flying home early.

[mjbmedia]

he may be going to the ball, but he wont get to dance, in fact barring injuries/ suspensions i reckon only Robbo will start, Lennon may sub in some games, Carrick probably wont start and may only sub if we are having an easy time of it in one game, Jenas is just along for the ride.

Still robbo can be the penalty shootout hero

[shoot_ffs]

i'd fancy one of the midfielders to pick up a knock at some stage, and carrick and jenas will cover for both centres, and probably lennon for beckham.

[shoot_ffs]

and i wouldn't be surprised if james was subbed in for a penalty shoot out, i think robbo's only failing is his penalty saving, cos he doesn't save many. He's a bit of a chunky lad not built for speed.

[Welsh Spur]

Robbo will save some pens, he's been practising, as he's stated, and the first pen he faced since his research was against Sheringham during the last game and guess what....?
He saved it!

[Spur]

He saved more than he let in last season I think.

[England's No.1]

I gotta agree. I can think of more pens he has saved then let in last season. And he has been working hard researching them. If any England games go to penalties, I will feel save with Robbo in goal, my only concern with penalties is that the penalty-takers won't do their job.

[Welsh Spur]

Especially as there have been missed penalties in the last TWO friendlies.
My top 5 takers from a fully-fit squad would have to be:
Beckham, Owen, Rooney, Gerrard, Joe Cole

[England's No.1]

I'm hoping that they using up all their penalty bad luck now, so that when it comes to the WC they only have good luck. Would agree with 4 of your 5, would swap Cole for Lampard though. I know he missed one against Hungary, but he still a regular and reasonably reliable penalty taker.

[Spur]

I wouldn't let Joe Cole take one, he'd try something fancy like Crouch and **** up. And maybe Robbo can take one too.

[Welsh Spur]

I think if Robbo took one he'd score whether the keeper got in the way or not! Everyone's seen his goalkicks....a little bit of fine tuning and he'd send the ball and the keeper through the net not just into it!

[nuttyhotspurs]

theres a very good chance carrick will get a couple of starts if they get out of the group stages (thats if he is svens first choice in the holding role...who knows with sven) The holding player will be introduced against the better teams in the later stages

In my opinion england cannot afford to play both gerrard and lampard in the centre of midfield when you are up against the likes of brazil, spain, italy etc the defence does not get enough protection and i think (i think) sven knows that