Japan v England.

[Prufrock]

SWP has infinitely more of a footballing brain than Walcott, and is miles ahead of him in every single department, though in a straight race I'd not know who to bet on.

Prufrock, as I said, he should have been using this match to bed down his preferred 11, instead, he's dicking about with Bent, Walcott and Huddlestone. It's no wonder our players look like strangers!

Aye but at the same time I don't think you can go to the world cup with a bunch of players with no experience. In fairness to Capello, this time last week the England team had played one game in 2010. He hasn't had time to look at the maybes. Myself, I'd have tried to finish each game with a likely starting 11, but I'm sure Capello knows what he is doing! Of the likely starting 11 against USA, the back 5 are settled and experienced, Gerrard and Lampard have played together, Lennon has looked good out there, which leaves left wing and who plays alongside, or in behind Rooney. Myself I'd have Heskey up front, and Cole wide, but you could see maybe Milner coming in for Heskey, or Cole. Either way, the likely starting eleven have played a lot together, and looked good in qualifying.

[BWFC_Insane]

Walcott is quick and nowt else. But his pace will be useful late on in games so I'd definitely take him.

To be fair to the lad he's been ruined by Wenger signing him so young then putting him in the reserves for 2 seasons. Would have been better off at Southampton a bit longer!

[Tombwfc]

Jesus wept, some folk could write for the tabloids! It was a bastard friendly. With an experimental team. And Walcott is still only just 21. SWP is proven shite, Walcott has everything he has and is only a child. Lennon should and will start coz he's the best.

We'll be fine.

Walcotts age is irrelevent. If he's good enough he's old enough... He isn't good enough though. We are taking a squad of 23 players. You can't pick somebody and take him because you think he'll be good in the future.. It's about the here and now, this is all or nothing and there's no room for passengers

It's not irrelevant. SWP is 28 and I struggle to remember any truly special performances from him in recent memory, and certainly not consistently. This would suggest that he simply hasn't got it.

Walcott on the other hand, is inconsistent, but then you'd expect that. He also has games where he has defences shitting themselves (Croatia and Barcelona come to mind). In addition to that, I've always felt he's going to play through the middle eventually, so he'll be useful there if we only take 4 strikers.

[FD]

Aye but at the same time I don't think you can go to the world cup with a bunch of players with no experience. In fairness to Capello, this time last week the England team had played one game in 2010. He hasn't had time to look at the maybes. Myself, I'd have tried to finish each game with a likely starting 11, but I'm sure Capello knows what he is doing! Of the likely starting 11 against USA, the back 5 are settled and experienced, Gerrard and Lampard have played together, Lennon has looked good out there, which leaves left wing and who plays alongside, or in behind Rooney. Myself I'd have Heskey up front, and Cole wide, but you could see maybe Milner coming in for Heskey, or Cole. Either way, the likely starting eleven have played a lot together, and looked good in qualifying.

Capello has had ages to give the fringe players experience.

[Prufrock]

Aye but at the same time I don't think you can go to the world cup with a bunch of players with no experience. In fairness to Capello, this time last week the England team had played one game in 2010. He hasn't had time to look at the maybes. Myself, I'd have tried to finish each game with a likely starting 11, but I'm sure Capello knows what he is doing! Of the likely starting 11 against USA, the back 5 are settled and experienced, Gerrard and Lampard have played together, Lennon has looked good out there, which leaves left wing and who plays alongside, or in behind Rooney. Myself I'd have Heskey up front, and Cole wide, but you could see maybe Milner coming in for Heskey, or Cole. Either way, the likely starting eleven have played a lot together, and looked good in qualifying.

Capello has had ages to give the fringe players experience.

When exactly? There's about 16 or 17 who are international players, the rest are in because of their form this season. We've played 3 games in 2010, and two are these two we shouldn't be experimenting in apparently. When exactly was Capello supposed to have given Huddlestone games? Or Johnson? Or Hart? Parker and Dawson haven't even got games in these friendlies. Even Milner only has eight caps. Since the qualifiers ended we've played 4 games, Brazil, Egypt, and these two, when was he supposed to look at all these players? You can't even chuck them all in all at once as surely the point is how can they fit in as normal as possible team.

[FD]

There are a number of ways to "experiment"! You could bring back England B games, or arrange friendlies for this very matter.

The game before the World Cup starts is NOT the game to be trying out formations and players, it is the game to put your first eleven out, get organised and make sure you are ready.

[Prufrock]

There are a number of ways to "experiment"! You could bring back England B games, or arrange friendlies for this very matter.

The game before the World Cup starts is NOT the game to be trying out formations and players, it is the game to put your first eleven out, get organised and make sure you are ready.

Again, when? Every time the players aren't with their clubs, the A team meet up. Also, players would be withdrawn from those games if they sneezed. Added to the fact he's seen the players in training, but what these games are about is seeing a couple of players in a mainly first team, that's the only way to get a fair reflection of their ability.

[Tombwfc]

There are a number of ways to "experiment"! You could bring back England B games, or arrange friendlies for this very matter.

The game before the World Cup starts is NOT the game to be trying out formations and players, it is the game to put your first eleven out, get organised and make sure you are ready.

According to who?

It's personal preference. I'm sure Capello knows what he's doing. Letting everyone know what his first eleven is weeks beforehand isn't his style.

[BWFC_Insane]

There are a number of ways to "experiment"! You could bring back England B games, or arrange friendlies for this very matter.

The game before the World Cup starts is NOT the game to be trying out formations and players, it is the game to put your first eleven out, get organised and make sure you are ready.

According to who?

It's personal preference. I'm sure Capello knows what he's doing. Letting everyone know what his first eleven is weeks beforehand isn't his style.

Indeed and the first 11 will have played together enough more or less.

Giving the others a game close to the event means that they have a better chance of being prepared for the finals.

Bit concerned that we only have two warm up games. Would have thought one more might have been useful?

[CAPSLOCK]

Why does everybody think they know better than Capello?

[FD]

Glad it's settled then!

Can't wait to win the world cup!

[Prufrock]

Glad it's settled then!

Can't wait to win the world cup!

In all seriousness fella, I see where you are coming from, and as I said, I'd have liked to see the first team together at some point, but, whilst of course it's interesting to discuss different opinions, I wouldn't worry too much yet. The man has got hell of a track record, has won the title at every single club he's been at, so I'm confident we're in good hands. If you look at the top nations' coaches, him and Lippi stand out as being comfortably the best.

[Bruce Rioja]

Why does everybody think they know better than Capello?

I think you'll find that that's just a certain individual that's never even been to a game....... ever! Quite remarkable really!

[Prufrock]

Jesus wept, some folk could write for the tabloids! It was a bastard friendly. With an experimental team. And Walcott is still only just 21. SWP is proven shite, Walcott has everything he has and is only a child. Lennon should and will start coz he's the best.

We'll be fine.

Walcotts age is irrelevent. If he's good enough he's old enough... He isn't good enough though. We are taking a squad of 23 players. You can't pick somebody and take him because you think he'll be good in the future.. It's about the here and now, this is all or nothing and there's no room for passengers

It's not irrelevant. SWP is 28 and I struggle to remember any truly special performances from him in recent memory, and certainly not consistently. This would suggest that he simply hasn't got it.

Walcott on the other hand, is inconsistent, but then you'd expect that. He also has games where he has defences shitting themselves (Croatia and Barcelona come to mind). In addition to that, I've always felt he's going to play through the middle eventually, so he'll be useful there if we only take 4 strikers.

I missed this first time, but I think the bit in bold is a very good point. I don't think he'll be much use up front this time round, though perhaps as much as Defoe or Bent. However, Walcott struggles when he gets the ball wide right. In terms of a foot race, if he gets into a position where he can knock it and run, he'll beat any left-back, and, once he gets on a slaloming run, he beats people, draws fouls, and scares defenders. To use the SWP comparison, when in his entire career, has he terrorised top class opposition like Walcott did against Barcelona, or his hat-trick against Croatia, or scored a goal like his one against Liverpool. He's inconsistent, but he's young. The one thing he does have, that makes me agree with Tom's point here, is, despite running into blind alleys when he gets the ball wide, off the ball he makes far more intelligent runs certainly than SWP and I'd say even Lennon.