The midfield does look lightweight but there are a few injuries at the moment, with everybody fit and available we could have a decent squad by 2016. Woy has a few hard decisions to make though but I feel he won't do and end up playing people out of position just to fit them in again. By naming Rooney as captain that shows he's guaranteed to play no matter how much people moan about it, but you don't pick your best player to 'do a job for the team' you tailor your team to get the best out of him, to get the best out of him he has to play him in his best position, not out wide or as a playmaker but up front preferably in a 433 or 4231 where his best performances and goals have come from in recent qualifications, this means dropping Sturridge (at leat we will have a decent striker on the bench if needed) with a midfield 3 of Henderson, Wilshire, Barkley, plus sterling and another out wide does look promising. I'm surprised Eric Dier didn't get picked, the whole defence needs rebuilding, in the world cup the full backs were poor and the distribution from Jagielka and Cahill was woeful as well as a lack of pace and technique, I just hope that RH doesn't start playing 3 at the back just because Man Utd are at the moment!
England Squad
- Thread starter FTM
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What a signal that sends to youngsters/young players in the squad. Be lazy, crap and uninterested for large amounts of your England career and you too can be England captain!
The same can be said for pretty much every one of our players in recent history (including our captains). I don't really see the problem with giving the job to Rooney; he's captain of his club and country now, so there are clearly sides to him that you don't get to see from the outside, and that the people who work with him do.
Because Beckham, Gerrard, Rio and Terry gave a scintillating performance as England Captain. Never understand why people always get so bent out of shape about a nothing job. The best England teams I have watched in my life where when we had a goal keeper and then Linekar as Captain. Neither were man motivators or gave great speeches. No one cares about international football, that's what matters not who is the captain. Just about anyone I hear talking about the last world cup thought it was a better world cup because England went out early.
I don't care who is England captain because it won't matter one bit to the results.
Ginger Pirlo. Hodgson.
Be interesting to see how Colback gets on but a ginger Pirlo he is not
One thing that made me chuckle was the sky report about him getting called up saying it was a shock (which it was) but he was only called up because of injury problems... Then listed a dozen injured players all of whom were strikers and defenders and one winger, how does that force you to call up a DM?
Caporegime
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You know neither were man motivators or gave great speeches.... how exactly?
Possibly the worst potential England first XI for 20 years more like
Comparing with say Euro 2004 team:
GK: James vs Hart - fair enough, Hart wins that
DF: Cole, Terry, Campbell, Neville - way better than current, not that I have anything against Jags and Cahill. Plus solid backup from Rio, Woodgate etc.
MD: Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham - lacking in width perhaps but at least genuine quality players
FWD: Owen and Rooney vs Sturridge and Rooney - tough call
People like to slate the golden generation for not winning anything at international level but you look at those names above and apart from James and Owen they all won either the EPL or CL (many of them both). Swap say Rio and Hargreaves for Campbell and Owen and you'd have even more 'winningness'. Also not many short-term wonders there, all delivering over an extended period of many years (although Owen went downhill from that point).
Colback, Delph, Rose.... really? Yes I appreciate Delph has been decent for Villa, but I haven't seen enough to warrant being called up to the national squad.
Hodgson should've been binned off after the world cup though, so nothing he really does particularly surprises me.
Perhaps this squad actually do deserve to be competing to play for their country, in which case it's simply a true reflection on how gash we are.
Hodgson should've been binned off after the world cup though, so nothing he really does particularly surprises me.
Perhaps this squad actually do deserve to be competing to play for their country, in which case it's simply a true reflection on how gash we are.
About time Fabian Delph got his long overdue call-up.
He's been superb in our distinctly average side for a while now.
I am surprised Ashley Westwood was overlooked though, but reckon he will get a deserved call up before the end of the season.
He's been superb in our distinctly average side for a while now.
I am surprised Ashley Westwood was overlooked though, but reckon he will get a deserved call up before the end of the season.
No point changing manager if the players aren't good enough, as it just means the new manager will get flak for the failures at Euro2016. Better to make Hodgson the fall guy and new bloke comes in with a clean slate.
Furthermore, I don't see a long list of suitable managers to take over from him anyway. If you only consider Englishmen who have been involved in management recently, the options are what.... Redknapp? Pearce? Allardyce? Bruce? Pardew?
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I just know tonight I'll start watching the game but will lose interest because we'll just be dull dull dull, much like we were in the world cup.. I'd take a draw now, 1-1 perhaps
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I'm going to sleep now. I assume you guys in England will be joining me in a few hours.
I'd have Hoddle back in a heartbeat, yes I appreciate he hates disabled people but it's all about the football!