23 For 2010: Choosing the England World Cup Squad pt.2 - Midfielders & Strikers

Will he be on the plane to South Africa?

Welcome to part 2 of our '23 for 2010' analysis of the England players likely to be boarding a plane to South Africa for the World Cup 2010 next summer. Having assessed the England goalkeepers and defenders likely to be chosen by Mr. Capello in Part 1, Just-Football.com's new columnist Steve Candy now looks at the midfielders and strikers likely to be handed the task of carrying England to World Cup glory for the first time since 1966, as well as those he thinks will be waiting nervously on standby:

Midfielders

4. Owen Hargreaves
7. Theo Walcott
8. Frank Lampard
11. Steven Gerrard
14. Joe Cole
16. Gareth Barry
17. Aaron Lennon
22. James Milner

From my list of midfielders there is one obvious omission that I did not want to make that could be countered by dropping a defender. However, this is why I included a standby list.

Owen Hargreaves, if fit, has to go to the World Cup. It seems insane that four and a half years ago most England supporters would probably have wished tendonitis on him. If we are lucky enough to count on him as a starter for the World Cup we could even let ourselves be more hopeful. His presence would enable those around him to be more liberated and the work load of the back four more manageable.

Theo Walcott’s overall game needs improvement but his pace and confidence in front of goal can be attributes that could take us through the group. I feel that his team game can be improved as playing with Gerrard and Lampard requires much more concentration than when being a speedy cog of Mr. Wenger’s easy on the eye machine.

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard seem to have figured out a way to play with each other. Namely; listen to what the manager is telling you to do. Lampard seems to thrive now on holding back a little while Gerrard can be indulged as long as Rooney does the job of ten men. These two players are regarded as world class. Let us hope, finally, it is justified when the world is watching.

Joe Cole is a victim of the system Capello has crafted as much as he is of the injuries he has suffered. Even if he does not start a game I feel that he will have an important to play in these finals. A good eight months back in Chelsea’s first team will see his versatility across the middle used in the tournament. Aaron Lennon and James Milner as of October 2009 have played their way into the squad at the cost of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stewart Downing. Milner has really impressed in an England shirt after his belated graduation from the under 21 side. He, again, is versatile and although not naturally left footed provides width and penetration on that side. Lennon, now he is beginning to look up and cross, may be a starter in place of Walcott and deserves the place.

Gareth Barry gets in ahead of Michael Carrick purely on the basis that he will play more than his cross-city rival up until the end of the club season. If we get to the latter knockout stages then Capello may be of the mind to anchor the midfield with Hargreaves and one other, sacrificing a forward. If that is the case then Carrick could be better suited to play alongside Hargreaves for his passing ability. Barry however offers more balance in this regard by being left footed and more disciplined at holding.

Forwards

9. Carlton Cole
10. Wayne Rooney
18. Jermain Defoe
20. Peter Crouch

With the forwards I have put Carlton Cole in ahead of Emile Heskey. It is abundantly clear that Heskey is important to the team for being a nuisance to opposition defenders and bringing those playing deeper into play. If Cole can learn from this and operate with a similar level of discipline he can get in ahead by offering one other thing; goals. Two or three well taken efforts would probably suffice.

Wayne Rooney needs to be fit and happy by the time he arrives in South Africa. From a very early stage in the job, Capello has identified the player as those the others play around. I would never wish injury on anyone but if Rooney has cause to be out of action for a month in the early part of 2010 then it might not be such a bad thing.

My two other choices provide versatility when it comes to forward play. Jermain Defoe can change our approach in the final third of the pitch with his deftness of touch and explosive shooting. His place is more and more certain as Michael Owen lurches from last gasp goal heroics to substitution within fifteen minutes; lather, rinse and repeat.

Peter Crouch is a different kind of target man and although it annoys me that the aerial balls into the box increase on his arrival, given he is no great header of the ball, he makes life difficult for defenders by giving them a new threat to try and deal with at any stage in a game. It can also be noted that Theo Walcott could take up a more central role if needs be, though I feel this would be an in game tactical change rather than in place at kick off.

On Standby:

Joleon Lescott
David Beckham
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Emile Heskey
Michael Carrick

It’s an encouraging sign that when picking a squad of twenty three I have to include five reserve choices to keep me happy. As mentioned earlier in Part 1 (goalkeepers & defenders), I feel that a defender (Richards) could make way for Beckham to be used as a late in the day substitute. David Beckham would be extremely beneficial to the squad as a whole and I would not be surprised if he makes the cut.

Joleon Lescott will go if Cole, Bridge or one of the centre backs gets injured and I wouldn’t be too upset. The Aston Villa duo miss out due to preference of goals (Heskey) or the need to further prove themselves internationally (Agbonlahor). Carrick is one of the five for reasons explained when writing about the midfield. The romantic in me would love to see the likes of Jack Rodwell be called up and be a hero though I’m not sure if Mr. Capello is as taken in by boy’s own ideals and that is probably a good thing.

So there it is, my numbered twenty three to take us up and down through June and early July (though probably just June). I should imagine that everyone can find at least four or five to dispute so please make this the basis of drink-fuelled discussion over the wintry months.

The question now is: Are these the right 23 to go and win this?