Captain Cheesestick

Before I bugger off for a few days - here's the England squad as picked by Stuart Pearce.

Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (Bursaspor), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Robert Green (West Ham United).

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

Forwards: Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Fraizer Campbell (Sunderland), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).

So - no Lampard or Terry. But he has picked Fraizer Campbell and Micah Richards which is a change. And - inexplicably - Stewart Downing - who has never ever played this poorly in his entire career. Actually he has also only picked 2 center backs and 4 right-backs - which is weird. Dunno how comfortable I am at the notion of Gary Cahill as the "rock at the back."

On the radio I'm hearing lots of people going on and on about how wrong it is that Barry was picked - which is bizarre seeing as he's marshaling the team at the top of the Premier League. Interesting strikers though. At least it's different.

Uncle Ebenezer

Ah ... so he's a kiddie-fiddler too, is he?!

paranoidandroid

Seems like there's a lot of them around.

mikelincs

Terry is out for the next two months as he has had knee surgery according to the UK press, so not surprising he isn't in the squad.

pommybird

North London Derby on Sunday, despite recent form I'm very nervous, this is just the sort of game we're good at cocking up. Anyone backing Arsenal to win?

paranoidandroid

Yeah, I am.

zargof

Yes, I think the Arse will win, purely because beating the Yids is going to be the only highlight from another poor season.

pommybird

Yeah exactly, this is what worries me, this is a 'do or die' match for them and they'll throw everything at it....shame the transfer window's not open, we could sneak in and sign RVP before Sunday....

paranoidandroid

I predict a 2-1 to the Arse.

hopeful_Mark

you know I am..

Uncle Ebenezer

You have the smell of a loser about you.

pommybird

Are you up the Effeminates on Sunday?

hopeful_Mark

Yep, first time in years I am not looking forward to a derby game. You going to be there?

hopeful_Mark

You must be smelling your own breath mate.

pommybird

Afraid not, hardly get to games these days, we'll be watching it on Sky, with a bag of crisps and half a shandy.

I just hope Spurs don't do their usual of turning up thinking it's in the bag, they did at Watford and they did at Stevenage and both games were dire...and tell your lot, no parking the bus.

To be honest I think both sets of fans are bricking it!