England National football team thread

[Auwais]

Lee, you're the epitome of the Sun reading, pub dwelling, doesn't-know-his-arse-from-his-head, English football fan.

 

[thedon5]

Walcott isn't that great, but he's improved a lot and will always provide end product. I wouldn't call it just a purple patch, he has actually improved, he has developed his finishing and consistency, plus he's always had his great movement and pace. Not really good enough to be winning any major tournaments though.

Unfortunately for you guys though, he is head and shoulders above any of your attacking players, so he is a big loss!

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Walcott isn't that great, but he's improved a lot and will always provide end product. I wouldn't call it just a purple patch, he has actually improved, he has developed his finishing and consistency, plus he's always had his great movement and pace. Not really good enough to be winning any major tournaments though.

Unfortunately for you guys though, he is head and shoulders above any of your attacking players, so he is a big loss!

Head and shoulders above Rooney? I don't think so, especially the form Rooney's in right now.

 

[Auwais]

Or Sturridge, for that matter.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Or Sturridge, for that matter.

Yep - forgot about Sturridge. Welbeck's probably a better player for England as well.

 

[War]

Walcott is a big miss now because even though the wings tends to be a strong option for England, right now its pretty weak. Seasoned options to play down the right like Lennon & Alex Ox are injured & Young has regressed considerably.

Adam Johnson is still talented but i worry about his career now that he is at Sunderland. The obvious Walcott replacement now on form is Andros Townsend.

Good to see Phil Jones & Micah Richards back. Although they didn't conceed in Ukraine the Cahill/Jaigelka partnership doesn't give the greatest sense of assurance.

 

[thedon5]

Sturridge is in better form, he's still proven far less than Walcott has at club level.

Rooney is better than both and he's in great form.

Only in England will Oxlade-Chamberlain be considered a "seasoned option", the guy wouldn't be near the national team for a top nation.

 

[War]

Well yes technically Alex Ox isn't a "seasoned option" like a Walcott, Lennon or Young because of his obvious limited experience at club & international level. But obviously if he was fit he be in the ENG squad come the qualifiers next month & would be a front runner to start with Walcott injured.

He indeed may not make the squad for other big nations, but at the end of the day that's really not that relevant. Like many potentially good ENG players he hardly gets full 90 minutes at club level anyway - we just get to see what he can do in sub appearance flashes.

His goal and performance in Brazil showed what he can do - so i'm fairly contented with what Alex Ox brings to the table currently once fit.

 

[War]

BBC Sport - Everton boss Roberto Martinez praises Lukaku & Barkley displays

"Barkley is the sort of player who controls things in midfield, and that is unusual in a player his age. I think he is an exceptional ambassador, not only for Everton but English football as a whole.
"It is almost a question of keeping him away from the training ground because he is so eager to improve himself."

On current form he sure is. Playing the young legs of himself in Wilshire in the qualifiers next two weeks is almost absolutely certain for England right now.

 

[War]

England manager Roy Hodgson urges fans to raise Wembley's roof for vital World Cup qualifiers - Telegraph

So Hodgson picks his squad 2moro. He has a tendency of late to pick more than 23 players, but he has some interesting headaches to confront namely:

- Hart's form
- Where exactly to play Wilshire
- Johnson's replacement @ right back
- Promoting Baines
- Central defense

While Hart is better than Paul Robinson, this is indeed bringing back some dark memories of the 2008 EURO campaign last game vs Croatia @ Wembly due to bad form for Scott Carson replaced Robinson & everyone knows the rest.

I believe if Hodgson does replace for Hart, unlike 2008 ENG have far better equipped replacement in Foster or Forster who could do a good job. But damn that is going to be a big call.

Before Ozil came to Arsenal it was always obvious Wilshire would always play either alongside Gerrard or further forward in the hole behind the striker. But seeing him play on the left for Arsenal & interchanging positions with Ozil during a game, is something i think he could do with Rooney also for England.

Thus meaning Welbeck who has sort of being playing well down the left may have to be benched.

Kyle Walker for me still needs to work on the defensive side of his game didn't like how he played in Ukraine. So for these high pressure games i'n inclined to pick Jones in that role with Smalling or Richards backing him up.

Ash Cole is my player for life, but i feel its time Baines becomes # 1. Baines more potent threat these days going forward, plus his free-kick ability could just give ENG an extra attacking threat in these 2 tight matches.

Hodgson is showing great faith in the Cahill/Jaigelka partnership, but IMO they are still a bit shaky. Dawson for me who has been part of a very solid spurs defense this season has to start. Alongside Jaigelka he is the only ENG defender who is guaranteed to start every week. Cahill while talented is not guaranteed playing time as often as ENG would like ATM.

ENG wings are a problem now that Walcott is out. On form now Townsend has to start @ right-wing - but with Young, Lennon, Oxlade injured, out of form or crap - Hodgson needs a similar backup to Townsend just incase the lad aint that effective over 90 minutes.

Such a replacement isn't Milner & as many people continously complain ENG don't need Milner anyone. Despite being in a relegation team, i reckon A Johnson would be a bigger threat to Montengro and Poland's defense. Pick him or young Sterling.

So once no injuries this pre-weekend i'm hoping this XI & squad is picked:

GK: Foster, Forster

DEF: Cahill, A Cole, Richards/Smalling

MID: Barkley, Lampard, Townsend, A Johnson/Sterling

STR: Welbeck, Lambert, Defoe

 

[Bevab]

Adam Johnson is a bigger threat than Milner? Seriously?

Milner ain't that great, but I'd rather have him over Johnson who's extremely inconsistent nowadays.

 

[War]

Adam Johnson is a bigger threat than Milner? Seriously?

Milner ain't that great, but I'd rather have him over Johnson who's extremely inconsistent nowadays.

I've been watching Johnson pretty closely this season, despite Sunderland looking out of sorts he still produced a lot of trademark top individual moments by beating opposition full-back and crossing or cutting in dangerously @ pace and shooting with his stronger left foot.

That kind of directness ENG needs on the right flank especially now that Walcott is out. ENG don't need Milner's lethargic play on the right whether as a starter or sub for these games.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

This is the team I think Hodgson will field for the first game against Montenegro:

 

[thedon5]

Wilshere is a B2B midfielder plain and simple. Of course people are going to think he's overrated if he's forced to play out of position, it's a shame Hodgson doesn't even seem to watch Arsenal games. How can he be England's savior as well if half of the English supporters can't spell his name right?

 

[War]

BBC Sport - Joe Hart is my number one, says England boss Roy Hodgson

Ughh he picked Milner again. But no one should be that surprised. Adam Lallana, Sterling, Adam Johnson would be so much better picks right now...

Starting to wonder if Hodgson doesn't rate Dawson. Even if he is trusting the Cahill/Jaigelka partnership at the back, i don't see how Dawson can't at least make the squad as back-up over someone like Smalling who is talented but playing sparingly.

Think Leon Osman is also unlucky to not get a look in for similar reasons to Dawson. Despite his age, on form i'd say he is better mid-field option than Cleverley.