Emile Heskey? I'd have picked Grant Holt!

[3058BURGE]

Capello really has no idea!

Glad I am not going to the WC this year -Its going to end in tears!

[Mariner13]

Big Hesks - he's gonna nab the golden boot aint he

[Fella]

Agreed. Heskey seems like a nice bloke in interviews so I don't really like slagging him, but the fact is he can't hit a barn door at 3 paces & he goes down easier than 18-y-old Essex girl in a Burberry hat.

[3058BURGE]

Big Hesks - he's gonna nab the golden boot aint he

the only chance Heskey has got of getting the golden boot is if he steals it!

[craig.gibson]

Yeah I just don`t understand what managers see in him that the rest of us don`t...I don`t buy it that he helps Rooney any more than ANY other striker.

I`m hoping Capello plays Gerrard as second striker just behind Rooney....in theory should suit both players perfectly imo. Gerrard not had the greatest of seasons but the guy is class imo and better than all the other striking options. This also solves the problem of getting Gerrard and Lamps in the same team both playing to their strengths.

I`m not sure about Defoe at this level and I see Crouch as a very useful sub that just gives us an option to change things up if we`re struggling to get the break through.

[musicbox]

I don't really get the Heskey thing either but he has one attribute which works on the international level - holding his head and sitting on the floor when a defender has just jumped with him. From those free kicks, we can get some goals.

Am I fantasising or did Heskey look amazing for England at one point though, maybe when he first appeared... didn't he play on the left and look like a footballing Jonah Lomu against whatever team it was he was playing against? My original impression was a good one for England, Ibut now he seems to only be a foil and you need to be more than a foil when Rooney could get marked tightly and doubled on.

Crouch and Defoe look like sub players to me - the pace in the final 25 minutes when the defenders may be weary, the height when you've not been able to penetrate beforehand. (I think I got the descriptions backwards with my order of names there!)

I'm not a Bolton fan and I know he fouls a lot, but am I the only one who thinks Kevin Davies could have filled the lone striker role if that's the option Capello plays at any point with Rooney behind? He works hard, good in the air, holds up the ball, decent technical ability, some pace, will do some of the tackling Rooney is going to be left doing etc? Bit late now and I know he's not exactl played at the highest level but he's one who always seemed pretty reliable and I wouldn't like to mark myself.

(I just went on youtube to look for Heskey but there seems to be more goals scored by him in Fifa 10 videos than real ones!)

[Stickleback]

Hmm, Emile Heskey, or Darren Bent?

For me, it was Heskey every time - his ability to unsettle defenders with his "Frank Bruno-esque" presence is second to none, yeah he concedes too many fouls than he should but with a bit of international experience under his belt now hopefully that won't be such a huge issue at the WC.

Put the big fella up against those Algerians and watch how he causes chaos.

[craig.gibson]

Kevin Davies is a pretty good shout imo, although the 20 plus goals Bent scored this season in the prem would have him in my squad.

As for the Frank Bruno and Jonah Lomu references....I would have either of those in the squad ahead of Heskey! lol

For such a strong powerhouse he seems to spend an awful lot of time on his backside, he may win a few free kicks in decent positions but his lack of goal scoring ability cancels that benefit imo.

I reckon my mate Big Al at 17 stone would also cause havoc against the Algerians

Hope this doesn`t sound like i`m rubbishing anyones opinions, just a bit of banter

[TonyMarc]

Haven't you heard? Capello had an account at WHills and wanted to be the only winner of their recent competition...

[Diamondgeezer]

The reason Heskey is in is he is very good at creating space for others and he is also excellent at holding the ball up and bringing others into play. Also he is good defensively.

Kevin Davies is similiar in many ways and also a very underrrated player. I heard an expert saying (may have been Gabrielle Marcotti) that Capello was interested in Davies but WC referees see a lot of his challenges as fouls (which often they are lol). In the Prem he will back into and shove players a lot and that is seen as a foul much more abroad.

The thing about Bent is he really prefers to be alone upfront and also right upfront. He is never going to dovetail with Rooney so really would only be a direct replacement for Rooney. I'm not sure his style is quite suited to the way England want to play.