Your thoughts on England GKs

[Andre the Giant]

As England fans, I don't think we've ever had these many great choices to choose from. Here's my thoughts:

David James: Certainly my choice for #1 right now. He's been great all year and I think a 2010 World Cup curtain call (he can't go forever) would be ideal. Right now, he's my #1.

Paul Robinson: Just doesn't have the same confidence as before. I think that he may have played his last game for the Three Lions.

Scott Carson: The tradition of calamity continues. I don't think he has what it takes. Blowing our chances for Euro 08 didn't help his case and then you see things like yesterday and we're way too deep at this position now to start him in goal.

Ben Foster: my choice for long-term number 1. But with him not likely to be United's #1 until 09-10 at the soonest, I think he's got a better shot at Euro 12-forward.

Joe Hart: could challenge Foster if he continues his good play.

Robert Green: Acid's choice, but he isn't better than James right now and I don't know if he has the long term edge over Foster or Hart.

Chris Kirkland: Hard to bank on him while he's on a team like Wigan. But his good play as of late should give him a look in friendlies at the very least.

Manuel Almunia: this was a stretch and a pipe dream I think. With Arsenal coming back to Earth, I don't think we'll hear about this possibility again.

[Donpaulo Inc.]

None of them are ideal candidates at the moment.

James is in good form but will always make fans nervous

Robinson needs a fresh start I predict he will leave Spurs in the summer

Carson still has a future hes still very young but shouldnt be used yet

Foster will hopefully be pushing for a place at United but otherwise should go onloan again next season as we shuld not have a international keeper who doesnt get a game at club level

Hart has done well but hes not at international level yet

Green had been having a very good season until recently but I have to wonder about his confidence after conceding 12 in 3

Kirkland is worth a try by me, he seems to be over his injury nightmares and has the ability to push for the place

Almunia dont make me laugh, hes got lucky this season but he still sucks.

[Acid Ammo]

Guys. Even suggesting Green is not the obvious choice is appalling. Seriously, babies die everytime someone else plays in goal for England.

[Cytosine]

And, once again, an argument is raised by our good friend Acid Ammo without a hint of reasoning.

I agree that Foster is our long term keeper, but no one seems to fit the bill. Robinson's not doing particularly well, James is good but has bad games when it fits us the least. Kirkland is probably worth giving a shot, but no one else really has the ability/experience/whatever.

[Acid Ammo]

And, once again, an argument is raised by our good friend Acid Ammo without a hint of reasoning.
Except the reasoning that he is brilliantly outplaying all the other English keepers and showing how much class he has over the course of the current season (with the exception of the three 4-0s, but it was a whole defense going down sort of thing, more so then his fault). I'd like to see your reasoning for him not being picked instead of just "you're wrong because I think you're wrong".

[Rahul]

I'd take James now, but I was definately behind Green throughout this whole Robinson phase. I think he's been great for the last couple of seasons. Kirkland is good option too.

Foster and Hart both seem contenders for the future. Great potential there. I don't know if I agree on the Scott Carson analysis, kev. Publicly backing Robinson and then starting Carson at the last minute was a very idiotic move to say the least. Carson needed to be way more mentally prepared for that than he was. He didn't expect that. I think all three could have bright futures.

[Andre the Giant]

If you saw Carson this past Saturday, you'd see that the Calamity title could shift. Either way, those huge mistakes are not going to help. Green has proven his mettle but David James has just as well and has the experience to back it all up. I think he has to be given the first crack.

Fabs was at the game at Fratton Park and saw James turn on the show too so I think that will go to his favour.

[Xu Huang]

I think Green's chances have been hurt lately by playing in a West Ham side that has been woeful of late. But he's certainly been in great form this season.

James seems like the obvious choice based on current form though, but because of his age he could very quickly go past his peak, and it's very likely that he won't even be in contention for the World Cup finals.

Hart and Foster are ones for the future. Hopefully Hart will continue his spell at in the City first team and maybe Foster can break into the Utd team once Van der Sar moves on.

[Andre the Giant]

Why not? He'll only be 39, that's still good enough for a keeper. But it would be his curtain call.

Who is the greatest England GK ever btw?

[Crazy Jamie]

I actually agree with donpaulo's assessment. Foster has a lot of potential, but has to be playing regular club football at a high level before he can be considered.

[Juve]

Why not? He'll only be 39, that's still good enough for a keeper. But it would be his curtain call.

Who is the greatest England GK ever btw?


that keeper for england in 66 :)

[Acid Ammo]

Gordon Banks?

[Donpaulo Inc.]

Peter Shilton has to be up there

[Cytosine]

IMO Banks, Shilton and Seaman are the three best England keepers of all time, in that order.

Except the reasoning that he is brilliantly outplaying all the other English keepers and showing how much class he has over the course of the current season (with the exception of the three 4-0s, but it was a whole defense going down sort of thing, more so then his fault). I'd like to see your reasoning for him not being picked instead of just "you're wrong because I think you're wrong".

Green may be on form at the moment, but overall he doesn't have the potential of Foster. When James puts on a good show he's incredible, but he's just inconsistent. Robinson's just been going downhill. Carson deserves a shot, but IMO England won't have a keeper that can constantly cut it at the top level until we see what Foster can give.

[Xu Huang]

Why not? He'll only be 39, that's still good enough for a keeper. But it would be his curtain call.

Very few keepers can compete at the top level at that age.

[Juve]

gah you got to have a solid keeper to do well in tourneys, look at the likes of italy with buffon and brazil with dida, julio cesar etc

[Andre the Giant]

Rio Ferdinand gets the armband tomorrow. I knew he was going to bring in a third candidate, and I think Rio has a fair shot at keeping it.

[JoetheShow]

I'm personally glad Beckham will get to 100 before our match in May. Otherwise that's all they'd talk about rather than our own team and its chances.

[dimmerwit]

Good choice in bringing Rio as captain. It's a good reward for his performances of late. I think this should be done more - pick a captain for a few games based on recent performances, it might even motivate the players!

[Crazy Jamie]

I find myself agreeing with the idea of giving the captaincy to a few players to see how they respond to it. It could work well in the end.

[Andre the Giant]

Why haven't we heard from a certain Rio-hater as of late with Rio's dominant play? Hmmmm

Either way, do you fancy his chances to retain the band?

[The Outlaw]

I personally think he could, i was actually thinking about why he hadn't got the armband as of late last night.

Also there would be people like Gerrard, Terry, Beckham and possibly Gary Neville to take the armband so it should be interesting.

[Crazy Jamie]

Gary Neville is too old to take the armband in my opinion. He might well not make it to the World Cup in 2010 as a national team regular, indeed I'd be surprised if he did. I don't think Beckham will be given the armband again, either.

I also don't fancy Ferdinand's chances to retain, but it's fair that he gets a chance with it. Gerrard and Terry are the other two obvious candidates. Owen could be a possibility if he regains form. He was the vice captain previously, and had a great record of scoring when he had the armband. No other candidates jump out at me at the moment.

[Donpaulo Inc.]

I disagree, while I expect Terry to be the captain in the end I feel there are several candidates to be the fourth trial captain, Lampard, Owen, Rooney, Barry all possibilities for at least one game

[Crazy Jamie]

Lampard should probably be considered. I'm torn on Rooney. He shows a great deal of passion when wearing the shirt, but is far too hot headed and not mature enough for me.

[Andre the Giant]

Remind you of a certain Roy Keane?

[Donpaulo Inc.]

I just see people being judged as a clean slate, if Rooney impresses and shows leadership regardless of the armband he could be a candidate

[Crazy Jamie]

Remind you of a certain Roy Keane?
Not really. There is a difference between passion and aggression on one hand, and passion mixed with immaturity and foul mouthed anger on the other hand. Keane had far more control over himself than Rooney does.

I'm not denying that Rooney could be a candidate in future. In fact, if he does become more mature and can channel his aggression properly I think he'd be an ideal candidate. But he's not at the moment for me.

[Acid Ammo]

With Gerrard's poor overall performances as of the latest England matches, I don't think he should be captain. Nor Owen, since now he's crap. I feel Terry is the perfect choice.

But captain hardly matters anyway.

[Andre the Giant]

Not really. There is a difference between passion and aggression on one hand, and passion mixed with immaturity and foul mouthed anger on the other hand. Keane had far more control over himself than Rooney does.

I'm not denying that Rooney could be a candidate in future. In fact, if he does become more mature and can channel his aggression properly I think he'd be an ideal candidate. But he's not at the moment for me.

Theoretically you're right as he planned to do to Haaland what he did. Don't blame him either. I love Keane-o.

[Donpaulo Inc.]

Well I doubt James did himself any favors last night

[Andre the Giant]

Not with that play. Calamity James returns, even though I love the guy. It's Foster's job for him to lose, he just needs to get more games under his belt.