Ireland With A Chance? England Just The Same Again?

We have all waited a long time to see Ireland even approach the top spot in a qualifying group but this year Giovanni Trapattoni's men seem to have a belief like never before. Just across the water England however remain the same with another good qualifying campaign but still lack something.

Having seen defensive heroics in recent times Ireland look hard to beat. The game where this solidity was seen most was away against Russia. With Russia looking likely to score at every opportunity it was a master class from both Richard Dunne and Shay Given that saved Ireland. It was thought Richard Dunne would have gone off after he smashed his face against a steel bar on the sideline but no, he returned with a numberless jersey but was later sent back off to get a number put on in marker. It was after this game there were Lyons Tea ad jokes made (Lyons Tea 'I said 'Put on more weights' My trainer said 'There are no more') Richard Dunne said 'Put on more Russians' Trapattoni said 'There are no more'. 

We have seen another polished qualifying performance from England. We are somewhat getting used to this but I see many problems in the team selections. With the arrival of Phil Jones out right back I believe they are improved as a team but I propose a selection for Jones in centre back instead of the (in my opinion) vastly over rated Gary Cahill. Gary Cahill is a good player but he is not International standard. For a country expecting to win major competitions it puzzles me as to how players like James Milner, Bobby Zamora, Scott Carson and David Stockdale are in the squad. 

With the departure of Capello imminent the list of possible next managers is worrying to me. With names like Stuart Pearce, Roy Hodgson and Gareth Southgate being close behind favourite Harry Redknapp there is a great dip in manager quality from Capello. In my eyes Redknapp is a good club team manager but he would not make it to national management. His constant need to buy players and his cutting of ties with Darren Bent would not help the English team.

The teams I think both sides should play are:

Given, O' Shea, Ward, Dunne, St Ledger, Duff, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Keane and Doyle/Long. Ireland would be unchanged with maybe Shane Long coming in instead of Doyle.

Hart, Walker, Jones, Terry, Cole, Adam Johnson, Young, Lampard, Parker, Rooney and Bent.

Now with England in the Euros and Ireland with a chance we will see does my analysis effect either manager in their further changes (we all know I am most likely wrong and they are right).