Peter Taylor’s England team in Turin in November 2000

By Myles Palmer

I thought Darren Anderton would play!

So I was really looking forward to Italy v England.

I didn’t care about the result and I didn’t care about the performance.

I only cared about ONE THING.

Whether Peter Taylor could pick a balanced England team.

Kevin Keegan couldn’t. Howard Wilkinson couldn’t. But maybe PT could.

Keegan’s team for the 1-0 defeat by Germany was : Seaman, G. Neville (Dyer 46), Le Saux (Barry 77), Southgate, Adams, Keown, Beckham (Parlour 83), Scholes, Cole,Owen, Barmby.

Subs Not Used: Martyn, Heskey, Wise, Phillips.

Wilkinson’s team for the 0-0 in Finland was : Seaman ; P Neville,Keown , Southgate, Barry; Parlour , Scholes, Wise; Sheringham ; Andy Cole, Heskey.

Subs: McManaman, Martyn, Barmby, Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Brown, Owen.

I’m sorry to report that Peter Taylor’s starting X1 for Turin looks like the usual pig’s breakfast. So I’m disappointed already.

In 3-5-2 formation the team is : James / G. Neville Rio Ferdinand Southgate/ Dyer Parlour Butt Beckham Barry/ Barmby Heskey.

Scholes,Owen, Smith and Gerrard dropped out with injuries.

Nicky Butt and Gary Neville are not good enough, but Kieron Dyer should add some zip. Barmby is a nippy linkman whose supporting movement is the best in the country.

But I’m absolutely amazed that Peter Taylor took Anderton and didn’t start him.

David Beckham is skipper. I just wish Sir Stanley Rous was alive to see England captained by a 25-year old skinhead billionaire with two diamond earrings.

Prediction?

Impossible without knowing Italy’s team or attitude.

Trapattoni is a cautious,negative coach. Totti, one of my five favourite players,is injured.

The other four? Rivaldo,Shevchenko, Figo and Vieira.

We shall see. I still like Peter Taylor,but I don’t like this team.

A 1-1 draw would be respectable.It would certainly surprise coach-in-waiting Sven-Goran Eriksson.

14th November 2000.