Ronaldo

I would too, but that's a fantasy Xl. What I was trying to get at, was just about every club would be interested in signing and starting those 5.

Terry, Ashley Cole, Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney would make all but the very best teams, imo.

Painters and decorators who made the QFs in the last 3 tournaments they qualified for. Not to mention the fact that 5 or 6 of them would get into just about any first Xl in world football. You don't get to be that good by looking for tea breaks.

Routledge is certainly more effective, but I don't think he would have been nearly as effective without Jonas in the side. Jonas ties up a big part of the opposition when he goes forward, and that gives Routledge the space he needs. Both are very important to the team, but it is hard to compare them using stats (assists, goals). I agree Jonas needs to be more effective if he is going to be an asset in the prem though. Especially when our other midfielders (bar Routledge) don't have goals in them. Thing is with Routledge, he'll beat his man and then whip a ball in without even thinking about it (or looking, half the time). It's very refreshing to see a winger of ours with that sort of confidence in his ability. Jonas on the other hand always wants that extra second, and you just can't afford it most of the time in this country. But I do appreciate what he gives us in a transitional sense.

Bobby didn't tell the senior players to f*** off when they approached him in 1990 and as a result they very nearly went all the way. If thing's aren't working, a touch of two-way communication is always positive. Thing is, true autocrats rarely work as football managers. Ferguson is an obvious exception but then even he seems to have respect for his senior players and i'd imagine will invite opinions from time to time.

Terry is a lot more likely to be there than Gerrard.

Yep, this is the reason I wanted it to stay with Terry. He's really the only natural leader in the current squad. Gerrard on the other hand minces his words like the coward he is.

You'd get the same answer in 2002.

Just for the record, I have no problem whatsoever with expats. Chances are i'll end up in a different country myself. Supporting another country and expressing joy at England's failure is the issue here.

We've played crap twice, doesn't make us a crap side. You want us to lose, fine. Says it all about you. And yes, you are less English than me.

SDo, you actually agree with me then? Why the comment regarding my assessment? Or are you just provoking another row? By the way, still fighting for your country, are you? That's the 8th time you've asked me that, nobody finds it funny. At least I have a country. What I was originally referring to is this: This coming from someone born English, man. You and all associated with you should be f***ing ashamed.

Slovenia are a decent side, we'll struggle.

Since 2004? He was our top scorer in qualifying for 2006. He's been poor since then, admittedly.

Says it all. About you, not England.

Someone the radio before the USA game (Colloymore?) said that Capello's one big weakness was his tendency to be stubborn. Couldn't have been more right.

4-1-4-1 is our best chance, always has been.

Drop back? They're attacking players, man. Just because they're more comfortable going forward doesn't mean they're incapable of 'the basics.' Would you accuse Sneijder or Xavi of the same thing?

I still think Lampard and Gerrard are scapegates to an extent. Nobody wants to point the finger at the strikers or wingers, who've basically been shite in ever major tournament of the last decade or so. A young Rooney is an exception in 04.

For what? To beat f***ing Algeria and Slovenia? Rubbish. Both those teams are better on the ball than us. Nonsense, tbh. Have you seen any of these players play for their clubs? The players in the England team lack the technical and tactical diversity to fit into a system together. Their deficiencies in terms of trapping the ball, maintaining possession and controlling the ball are cancelled out when playing for their clubs as they are surrounded by players who have the skillsets do this. When you try to mould all of them into a team they look useless because they can't do any of the simple basics that should be learned from a youngster. Lampard, Gerrard, Barry can't do the basics? Howay man. Lampard and Gerrard can't. been saying that for years. there's a reason their club managers surround them with the likes of Alonso, Mascherano, Lucas, Hamann, Sissoko, McAllister, Essien, Makelele, Tiago, Mikel, Ballack etc etc. Let Steve and Frank take care of running forward, taking shots and spraying long range, risky passes. leave the real midfield work of postional discipline, negotiating congested areas of the pitch with good first touch and intelligent short passing and tracking back for tackles and interceptions to others. i don't really think this issue was the major problem tonight though, as we had barry in there, poor as he was, and gerrard was shunted out wide. we had our fair share of possession and pushed algeria back most the time, especially in the 2nd half, but the cohesion to work up fluid attacks just wasn't there, not in the slightest. Absolute nonsense. Completely disregarding the stats which had Lamapard and Gerrard respectively as the top 2 creative players in the league in 08-09 and Lampard once again leading the way last season. Players need to be used corrently, you only need to look at Messi for Argentina to see that.

Where's that? Skybet? Yes. You still haven't decided on the World Cup winner? No.

Theres no excuse for them being in the squad let alone the team. SWP and Carragher, certainly. There's an arguement for Heskey to be there because of our lack of striking options.

I think the fact that WC represents last chance saloon for many of them isn't helping. Team selection has obviously been terrible, not to mention the lack of a genuine playmaker. There's no excuse for the likes of Heskey, SWP and Carragher to be in the team though, we have a lot better than that at our disposal.

But Lampard, Gerrard too? It's bizarre. These players have stepped up for their clubs at crucial moments. Yes, it is. But neither are 4-4-2 players.

I've said it loads on here, the reason the likes of Drogba are far superior players is that they rise under pressue, Rooney folds under it.

£60 on England not to qualify, returns £142.