May 31
The Dream Team
Ok, so this is England and we’re Manchester United fans. Apparently, by default that should make us despise England’s National team and poke fun at it, but for me that’s just way too stereotypical so, having been asked by Bwin to give them my England Dream Team, that’s exactly what I’m about to do.
In my opinion Roy Hodgson was appallingly treated by the sham of a newspaper that is (I’m not even going to name it, we know which one it is that has the lowest standard of all newspapers….and that’s saying something!). With the FA (yes I know we’re supposed to hate the FA too but I’m sorry, I’ll hate the things they do to United that I feel were unfair but I’m not reverting to type and hating them per se) promoting Respect and Anti this-and-that campaigns, it was important to hire an England manager that fit in with their ‘vision’ and their future preachings.
It’s with that in mind I think they chose the much educated, highly intelligent and well spoken services of the well travelled, fairly successful Roy Hodgson instead of the illiterate and possibly (no one can ever get any dirt to stick despite the dirt following him around from club to club over many years) bent Harry Redknapp. 
Despite that decision, the newspaper in question believed that bullying the new kid on his first day was a smart thing to do, hopefully Roy can prove the decision to hire him is as smart as he is and the newspaper can one day help to push the campaigns to make this country’s footballers better and more respectful.
However! The fact Roy hasn’t included Michael Carrick in the squad suggests he isn’t quite as intelligent as he makes out. Rio Ferdinand’s omission is questionable but understandable, John Terry’s inclusion is just unbelievably poor judgement and ignoring Matt Jarvis is criminal!
The state of English football is a mess, simple. You only need to look at the three (now four) chosen keepers and the four chosen attackers in the England squad to cross Europe and do battle this summer to realise that.
My Euro 2012 England Dream Team would be:
1. Joe Hart: Easily the best English keeper by a country mile at present and potentially as good as many of the greats such as Banks and Shilton.
2. Kyle Walker: Had a tremendous season with Spurs but unfortunately injured so misses out. Ventures forward, supports attacks and knows how to defend when needed. Not perfect but still learning, his potential is there for all to see though.
4. Chris Smalling: Another who misses out due to injury but in my opinion the answer to England’s centre back berth for years to come. Confident on the ball, intelligent and fast. Again still learning and prone to lapses of concentration but the best England has to offer right now.
5. Gary Cahill: Has improved since his move to Stamford Bridge and playing and training with better players again next season will see him make the next step up. A dogged defender who’s determined and has the heart of a lion.
3. Leighton Baines: Just keeps getting better with age. At 27, Baines will be making his first appearance in an International tournament if he forces his was ahead of Ashley Cole. Baines possesses great pace, a lethal cross and offers the added bonus of being a decent freekick/set-piece taker.
6. Michael Carrick: Inexcusably omitted from the squad. Michael is the best midfielder in the country right now. His passing accuracy, his intelligence to intercept, his new found willingness to drive into open spaces and his eye for a key pass would make him an absolute shoo-in. Shame on you, Roy.
8. Steven Gerrard: What can a United fan say about Gerrard without pulling a face? Not much in truth, but, it’s difficult to argue he’s anything short of a fantastic, dynamic central midfielder with power and pace and an influence that could, if harnessed correctly, drive the entire team.
7. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Young and unproven BUT extraordinary pace and power for his age and a directness that’s channelled and controlled with composure far beyond his tender years. Could well be the star of the tournament given the platform and the ball.
11. Matt Jarvis: Easily the the most talented English ‘winger’ and another shocking omission from the squad. Jarvis is industrious both in attack and defence. He has that rare English skill of being able to dribble and he can find a enough space in any situation to deliver a cross into dangerous areas with impressive frequency, with either foot, a rare talent who’s overlooked by many.
10: Ashley Young: A confident Ashley Young is a difficult animal to contain. Always looking to outwit his marker, Ashley darts infield, upfield and back again to receive the ball either to feet or in the channels. Either way, wherever he collects the ball he’s a danger and WILL create chances for himself and his team mates. Has the potential to be England’s star man.
9: Wayne Rooney: Wayne scores goals because Wayne instinctively knows where the goal is, unfortunately Wayne likes to get involved in deeper areas. If Wayne concentrates on playing forward he could easily bag himself a barrel full of goals, but can he keep his temper while those around are keeping theirs or trying to rid him of his? He may have cleaned up his act at club level but at International level, surrounded by players frustrating him both with him and against him, it’s anyone’s guess.
If you’re mad enough to think England can win the tournament in Poland & Ukraine, you can get odds of 12/1 with Bwin.
Good Luck!
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Tags: Manchester United
The_Philosopher (408)
Redrich (225)
Opti (210)
Stephen (152)
Moscow (147)
no!
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hart
walker
ferdinand
cahill
cole
walcott
gerrard
carick
a.young
welbeck
rooney
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Matt Jarvis ahead of Adam Johnson, Theo Walcott, Lennon or even Joe Cole? No Rio? Ashley Cole is arguably the best left back in the World….
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Rimmers, I know this is off topic mate, but you know about the reserves and youth – so has Pogba signed for Juventus or not??? I am so busy with work these days I am a bit out of touch!
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Not confirmed but it looks/sounds very likely he has/will. Imo, the decision to play Park & Rafael in CM v Blackburn sealed it. Big shame but who knows, until it’s confirmed I’m keeping my fingers crossed and my head in the sand!
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@Ian: Id heard from a few mates up in manchester, word going round was that pogba had decided to stay in light of the corruption bollocks going on in italy, and was set to sit down and sign the contract offer we’d put on the table for him months ago. This was tuesday night i think.
That could have just been reports off twatter though that my mates just relayed to me and passed off as fact. Dont know if you’ve heard anything bout that though?
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@tonymontanna4united: Not heard anything like that but I’m serious when I say I’ve got my head in the sand at the minute so it could easily be a rumour and it could easily have some truth behind it. The lad’s never quite seemed to have his emotions in check so nothing would surprise me with him.
Love to see him stay and actually get some games next year.
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@Ian: I’d love to see Tunners get some games next season too, he’s a tough little GIT! Got to blood these guys at some point, or no point them slogging themselves, if you get what I mean
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@tonymontanna4united: SO whose bollocks were corrupted then mate?
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The dream team is the perfect headline. As every time I see an Englnd match I fall asleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz “mummy I dont want to go to school yet ” zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Come on the repuublic, lets get behind Traps boys
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Hart
Walker Cahill Terry Cole
Lampard Carrick Barry
Milner Rooney Young
It’d still get schooled by a lot of teams but at least it could string a few passes together in midfield.
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Unfortunately i am the stereotypical “united > england” type fan. Just cant get behind a team that includes so many twats, has a major ABU element, and loves to push the blame on a united player where ever possible.
However in the interests of this article, my england dream team would be something like:
————-Hart————-
Richards-Smalling-Lescott?-Cole
——-Carrick–Wilshere——-
A.Johnson-Young-Oxlade Chamberlain
————-Rooney————–
Nice young team, made up predominantly of united and city players (that shouldnt matter, but surely if your picking a team you dont fill it full of players whose clubs finished 8th and 6th respectively. Especially when said players for those 2 sides, couldnt be arsed to play under their manager (avb) until their demands were met, and the other whose form after xmas mirrored that of a relegation team
im talking about the scousers here if you didnt already know).
, defoe, glen johnson. Really 
Honourable mentions to other players who deserve a look in at some point include jones, walker, shawcross (i really like him), rodwell, barkley, sturridge, clevs and welbeck.
As for the team we have actually gone with this euro, well bad is an understatement. Downing, carhole, terry
Its good to see that weve adapted with the times aint it. Leaving behind decent technical, exciting players like adam johnson, carrick, walker, richards and sturridge. Clever.
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Lampard is out of the Euros so step forward Jordan Henderson
Can it get any worse? 
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@Moscow: Christ. Any point in us really showing up now then.
Gerrard Parker Henderson
Dont get much worse really does it
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@tonymontanna4united: Gerrard is like the English Anderson these days, Hollywood passes, headless chicken style running etc.
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@Moscow: Its sort of almost sad in a way to see the decline in his game these days.
I mean as sad as you can be for a scouser anyway, but watching him back at his 2005-2007, briefly 2009 best, he really was a truely amazing player.
Like keano, robbo were for us, he really was captain marvel for the scousers.
Practically singlehandedly dragging liverpool back to win the CL in 2005, with the worst side ever witnessed was some achievement.
Hes still only 31 now. He should still be in his prime. Alas, like many great players before him though, he is now washed up and living off past glories.
Would almost feel sorry for him if he wasnt such a tosser.
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hart
walker
ferdinand
lescott
baines
Carrick
Gerrard
A. Johnson
Young
Rooney
Welbeck
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well well, It is amusing to see, all dream teams include Rooney in there, I hope that Rooney contribute something at this time, Is is embarrassment to see Rooney floundering around NT team. I feel Hodge can draw something good from Rooney at this time.
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@Yang: Apart from Darren Bent who else is going to play up front? Welbeck and Carroll wouldn’t make Moldova’s dream team.
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@Moscow: I know Rooney is best option, You misunderstand me, I just hope that Rooney play good football at NT team.
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Speaking of dream teams, Chelsea have agreed a £38 million deal for Hulk. So now it’s Hulk on the right, Hazard on the left and Mata through the middle feeding Torres/(insert £40 million striker). If they get a good manager they could be unstoppable.
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To be honest with you I don’t hate the England team, I hate the majority of their fans who use England as a way to show how much they hate us – the obsessed twats – the circus that surrounds the team and the majority of their players. Whether England win or not to me is completely irrelevant, and it’s fair to say that they won’t win anything this summer. Anyway, for the purpose of the article my dream team would be
Hart
Walker-Rio-Cahill-Cole
Carrick-Wilshere-Lampard
Young-Chamberlain
Rooney
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