agree with x's thinking. That's how it should be. Although Smalling deserves a shout as well as baines. Hopefully now that Arry hasn't got the job, Carrick will be given a fair chance.

To be honest Rio probably wouldn't even be in the team?

Lewisonfire - Darren Bent is a better footballer than Wayne Rooney (U7958)

Rio is not crap.

His positional sense is up there with the best. He has lost a yard of pace, but has made that up with using is experience. He is so composed on the ball for a defender.

comment by Juan Zola (U6000)
posted 1 minute ago

To be honest Rio probably wouldn't even be in the team?

.................

Neither would Terry.

I think it's worth considering a first choice pairing of Lescott and Jaglieka, and maybe not taking either Terry or Ferdinand, with one eye on the future.

However I'd probably rather take Rio than Smalling, what do united fans think? x

I would say most of us would say make way for the youngsters, and Rio should retire from International football.

That is my view anyway, but Rio is very passionate about playing for England.

Rio and Terry cant both go. You cant have friction between arguably the two most influential voices in the dressing room. What will probably happen is that the England camp will get divided into team Terry and team Rio, and that would be a disaster.

I think one of them should go, and although I think Rio is the better defender, it should be Terry. Reason being because the Euros is a possible 6 games in 3 or so weeks. Is Rio up to that? He's barely managed 2 a week for United in the past couple of years.

I'd take: Lescott, Terry, Cahill and Smalling. Also Jagielka if we are taking 5.

It would be good to take Smalling just for the experience of what it is like playing at a major tournament with England. How to cope with the media, tournament football etc.
Remember it is unlikely that we will use all our CB. I would rather have Smalling on the bench than have Rio as it will be a bit pointless. Unless Rio is starting, he should not be taken to the Euros.

My first choice pairing would be Lescott and Cahill.

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Sideshow - I've not seen much evidence to support your premise, what makes you think they're the best partnership? x

If it were just based on football I'd Terry all day every day; he's still England’s best defender and Rio is probably not even making the first xv these days.

Not as simple as that thought is it? We don't know the loyalties of the squad and cliques and the rest so it's impossible to answer. It's possible neither go. I'd be half tempted to put a young squad out looking to the future.

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Rio is better than Terry? hell no

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comment by Elvis (U7425)


posted 1 hour, 30 minutes ago

Id leave them both out
------------
So would I

We need harmony in the England team and we had anything but that at the WC.

Recently we've been very solid so seeing as the players don't have long to get to play with each other we should stick with club partnerships
==================
Strong reason, add Cole and Richards as the starting back 4

Well if you think partnerships are important I'd say not only are City a stronger team defensively than Chelsea, the relationships between Hart, Richards, Lescott and Barry trump the fairly short-lived partnership of Cahill, Terry and even Cole, especially since it has delivered mixed results. Not to mention that Lescott and Jagielka form an excellent partnership.

As I said previously City and United are far and away the best teams in the league at the moment, both of which English players are integral members.

The England first eleven should be a mixture of both teams with no more than 3 o4 players from other clubs thrown in.

Personally I'd go for:
_________________Hart
Richards___Jagielka____Lescott_____Cole
_________Carrick_______Barry
Walcott__________Rooney_______Young
_______________Wellbeck

Lampard/Gerrard can sub in for Rooney while he is banned, and there are a lot of candidates for the right wing slot, such as Sturridge butWalcott is the in form player at the moment x

Lol bloodred u think rio is better than terry?
C'mon even the most blinkered fans know terry is a better player. Especially over the last 3 years. Every jt mistake is highlighted whether as too does several a game. Poor concebtration. Lost his pace and doesn't Hav vidic and an in form evra/vds to bail him out. On form it should be Cahill terry and lescott to go

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Wow Rooney is so good you want him twice?

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If you put this stuff to one side the fact is Cahill & Terry have been developing a great partnership together.......I would say that at his best Rio was a better defender than both, but everyone at United seems to agree Rio is no longer the same player, so for me Cahill/Tery makes a great deal of sense.

comment by Sideshow (U11809) posted 11 hours, 56 minutes ago

I would play:

Hart
Richards Cahill Terry Cole
Carrick Lampard
Walcott Rooney Sturridge
Rooney

-------------------------------
You wouldn't support Chelsea by any chance would you?

Just the 5 Chelsea players and only 2 from the team leading the PL and 3 from the team on equal points with them?

You do realise 13 of the players that played a part in the Derby were English don't you?

You chose 6 players from London and 5 of them are from your own club

Hillarious

UnitedRedMacca - agree
Playing Sturridge before Young is daft enough, but I can't help but think that a lot of England fans, especially southerners think the same way.

Obviously I hope City win the league, preferably with 89 points. Yet even if this happens I can foresee all the 'experts' arguing that only Hart is good enough to play in the first XI x

Also anyone who thinks Rio is past it, is either clueless or partisan. In fact he and Lescott are the two highest performing centrehalfs of the season x
http://www.eplindex.com/14251/england-best-xi-part-4-uncapped-players-opta-stats-analysis.html