I think the team would be:
--------------------Carson------------------------
Hoyte-------Taylor-----Ferdinand-----Baines
Bentley---Reo-Coker---Richardson---Milner
------------Agbonlahor---Nugent--------------
The last squad (v Italy) was:
Name Club DOB Caps Goals
Goalkeepers:
Ben Alnwick Tottenham Hotspur 01.01.87 0 0
Lee Camp Queen's Park Rangers (Loan) 22.08.84 5 0
Joe Hart Manchester City 19.04.87 1 0
Defenders:
Leighton Baines Wigan Athletic 11.12.84 11 1
Gary Cahill Aston Villa 19.12.85 1 0
Anton Ferdinand West Ham United 18.02.85 16 0
Justin Hoyte Arsenal 20.11.84 13 1
Liam Ridgewell Aston Villa 21.07.84 8 0
Liam Rosenior Fulham 09.07.84 5 0
Midfielders:
David Bentley Blackburn Rovers 27.08.84 8 4
Lee Cattermole Middlesbrough 21.03.88 0 0
Tom Huddlestone Tottenham Hotspur 28.12.86 15 0
James Milner Newcastle United 04.01.86 23 2
Nigel Reo-Coker West Ham United 14.05.84 18 0
Kieran Richardson Manchester United 21.10.84 8 0
Wayne Routledge Fulham (Loan) 07.01.85 9 1
Strikers:
Gabriel Agbonlahor Aston Villa 13.10.86 3 0
Matt Derbyshire Blackburn Rovers 14.04.86 1 1
Cameron Jerome Birmingham City 14.08.86 7 0
Leroy Lita Reading 28.12.84 4 2
Ashley Young Aston Villa 09.07.85 5 0
When the U21s played Italy at Wembley, the defence was shocking, but the majority of the first choice defence wasn't available, Camp was in goal instead of Carson and Taylor and Curtis Davies (both CBs) were both injured.
A lot depends on whether players who have played in the senior team will drop back down for the U21s, including Richards & Nugent. I personally reckon Nugent will but Richards won't. I've been looking at the starting XIs for the last few England U21 teams and generally up front it's Walcott and Nugent, but I think Agbonlahor should be in there instead even if Walcott is fit.
Richardson always plays well for the U21s and he's often given that central role, depending on whether we want to play defensively or not though it'll be Huddlestone in for him or in for a winger with Richardson pushed out wide.
The team is good, probably good enough to at least reach the semis, the defence is usually very strong, they're all premiership regulars at UEFA Cup challenging teams.
The midfield is very quick and we have some very skilfull players there. Up front, we have quite a few options, some incredibly quick, some skilfull, some good box players.... but im not really sure what the best attacking lineup is.
Players to watch out for are definitely Bentley, he's being linked with a switch to United, came out of the Arsenal youth ranks, been Blackburn's best player (maybe other than McCarthy) this season, very very good player.
and Agbonlahor, he has 9 Premiership goals this season, and he's played most of the time on the wing, his pace is incredible but his touch lets him down sometimes, he scored a phenomenal left-footed smash yesterday though.
Huddlestone is also a very good talent, he's huge, very strong and good on the ball, he will definitely get his fair share of game time.
I think Leighton Baines is a good player too, when we had loads of LBs injured I thought he should have been called up, has a wicked shot on him as well.
Defensively we should do well, as long as our players stay fit. I'm not sure if they'll win, I doubt it, especially with Pearce as manager who I don't think is great tactically but they should do well all the same.
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