From what material I have read, I think that is the main problem, that there are at least two camps in the team. In his autobiography Robbie Fowler stated that players were divided during training and mingled mainly with their club teammates. Younger players were ostracised from the rest of the squad. There is no longer a sense of camaraderie and togetherness like there was under Venables. Managers like Hoddle and Sven put an end to that, preferring instead to lay down the letter of the law and enforce strict discipline to the extent the players no longer enjoyed training much less playing for the team.

On the issue of national captain, it's pretty obvious to me that it's still a toss up between Gerrard and Terry. England as a team have been largely disappointing and if the captain should be selected on merit alone, I doubt many qualify.

Terry is probably the more vocal of the two and commands his defence with authority. When he is missing from the Chelsea lineup due to injury or suspension, they look really fragile at the back. This could however also be due to the fact that the lack cover at the back, especially last season. You stick 2 central midfielders in defence and you're bound to concede goals. Who is to say that Terry would not have been missed if they had ample cover? In any case, he is a solid defender who has a knack for scoring important goals. My only critique is that he tends to take a swipe at the referee once too often for my liking. If anything, he should be keeping his players away from the ref but it looks more as though he leads the protests.

Gerrard is one that leads by example. Time and time again, he's come up with important goals to pull Liverpool back into the game. At club level, he has the luxury of leaving the verbal abuse to Carra but at national level, he has to be more vocal. Might be a little hard when they players are divided and find it hard to have to listen to the instructions of a club nemesis. Gerrard has done it at club level and international level as well, in the Champions League. He scored a screamer against Olympiacos to put Liverpool into the knockout stages and he scored the first goal in the comeback against AC Milan. Immediately after the goal, he could be seen flailing his arms, asking for his troops to shift it up a gear and get stuck in. He also gave an inspired speech right before the team walked out into the stadium at half-time 3-0 down (i posted it before so i shan't repeat it).

There you go. Two reasons why I feel either of them deserve to be captain.

Again, Beckham will be 35 by the time England play in their next major international tournament. If you were England manager, would you not look to the future?

I understand that for some, a degree of sentiment is clouding their judgement and for others... well... they just like to live in the present I suppose, but planning for the future does create a brighter present.

Speaking of passion, I'm amazed your thread regarding "fan-ism" isn't receiving more attention. It thought it was a great topic to discuss. I mean we are fans and creating an electrifying atmosphere makes watching games a whole lot more fun. Seems not enough people are concerned about the lack of atmosphere in stadiums these days, perhaps because they aren't there and feel it isn't their concern? It's the same watching football at most pubs/outlets here, there is a distinct lack of passion and atmosphere. Most people just sit down quietly to watch.

You see him getting a game ahead of Casillas, Reina or Valdes?

It's pretty common though. I mean you have Alex playing for Japan, Eduardo for Croatia, John Barnes for Jamaica(he had never even been there before), etc. I have no real issues though. I mean if you change nationalities, it would mean you at least like living in a particular country and you respect it's culture and heritage. Not long ago, our ancestors came over to Malaysia from China. Migration happens all the time. I do however think a line should be drawn when it comes to being able represent a nation because your great grandfather stopped over for a holiday and like.

Well the same thing can pretty much be said about football clubs don't you think? I mean should Liverpool as an example not be represented by people living in Liverpool. A little too much perhaps. Should they not be represented by a majority of English players then? How can an English team field a team containing no English players?

The thing is, James will be 40 by 2010 and the only other keepers in recent times to have played in the World Cup at that age were Peter Shilton and Dino Zoff if memory serves me. There will be be a couple of friendly matches before the qualifiers and I hope to see Hart, Carson or Carson be given a chance in goal. Foster played well for Watford but I've seen many keepers who have impressed at small clubs like Kirkland. He'll at least need a regular run of games before playing for his country.

Lol! Thanks for pointing that out I mean Hart or Carson. Given the lack of top quality English keepers, don't be surprised if Bywater's name is thrown into the mix!

Although seniority does count, I disagree that the captaincy is given based on that alone. Fernando Torres was 19 when he was first made captain of Atletico. Bryan Robson was made captain of England in the 1990 World Cup although Shilton was 40 years of age. Leadership has little to do with age.

I don't buy this "more experience in international football" talk. I mean with the exception of major tournaments, international teams play mostly against crappy sides like Maldova, Iceland, Andorra, Luxembourg and like. I don't see how playing against these sides is any different to playing a mid to bottom table Premiership side. Aside from representing their national sides, both Terry and Gerrard play competitive European football in the Champions League against the best players in the world. My conclusion is thus that having more international caps does not necessarily mean you have more experience.

Key statement for me there. You get the feeling that McLaren picked his squad based on reputation rather than form.

What I think they meant is he hasn't been playing competitive football for some time. Capello said that he'll monitor Beckham's form when he starts playing again in the USA.

I think McLaren's reason for having to give Terry the captaincy is stupid. Does that mean he'll go hide in the corner to sulk and give 10% less if he's not captain? Why not make everyone captain then and get 10% more from everyone? Idiot.

I seriously doubt Capello's going to start Cole right up front.

Tell you what mate, I'm looking forward to this game more than the other one.

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Added on February 6, 2008, 12:11 pmNice avatar. You should let the younger ones know what it's all about. Just saw a short segment on Duncan Edwards last night. What a player he could have turned out to be. RIP.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Feb 6 2008, 12:11 PM

Any particular reason why? Lampard and Ferdinand aren't exactly low profile players either.

Agreed. Same reason I don't think Beckham should be back in the England squad. It's time to look to the future and not the past.

Bentley's inclusion in the squad is long over due. This is why I've been harping on about Beckham being dropped given that Bentley represents the future.

I've mentioned before that England have to look to their next major tournament after missing out of Euro. The World Cup is 2 years away and younger players should be groomed and readied for it. Would you have played Beckham in place of Bentley against Switzerland? I don't see the point. It is a friendly and if you don't blood youngsters in friendlies, when do you? Having said that, it's not like Bentley has no international experience having been a regular for the U-21's. The young lads have been unbeaten for some time now and that surely suggests that they have substance.

If anything I do think Capello will have the balls to field players who represent the future of England. Why do a McLaren and recall Sol Campbell when you have Steven Taylor waiting in the wings? I just think that posters have to stop living in the present and look to the future. Peter Taylor did this when he was interim manager of England and Capello has to follow suit. David Beckham is going to be 35 during the next World Cup and I don't see him playing a part in it.

Well Bentley is playing well at the moment so I don't see a reason for him to be dropped. Yes, he has only made a single appearance for the senior side but he has been in good form at club and U-21 level. There will be a host of friendlies coming up before the World Cup and it would be a good time to play the young lads.

He did say, "usually".