England National football team thread

[War]

Skill as in Ronaldo/Messi type step overs, flicks and tricks or Skill as in Passing, crossing, tackling etc..?

Ye basically..

Reckon Fabian Delph deserves at least a look in from Roy for the squad to Brazil.

Had a good game, but he way down the pecking order. Someone like Jay Rodriguez is making a very strong case however, second leading English goal scorer in the league currently.

 

[War]

Jermain Defoe already with two goals in Toronto FC debut | SIDELINE | MLSsoccer.com

MLS too easy for Sir Defoe

 

[thedon5]

Fabian Delph has been quality all season. He's just been so consistent and reliable. He can really push on from his current level now, his engine and his pace are outstanding.

He doesn't have a chance though since he plays for Villa. Underrated.

 

[Epic]

World Cup 2014: James Milner is dependable, not boring, and Roy Hodgson needs those who won?t let him down - Telegraph

I would not take Milner to the world cup, despite the well noted hardworking versatile traits that he has. Along with the fact that he gets some unwarranted criticism at times.

There is too much better and more exciting young mid-fielders and wingers available.

As a City fan I'd be more than happy for Milner to not spend his summer break playing international football, but I think he has to make the trip, he's a versatile player who you can use to mark out overlapping fullbacks and close out games if such a situation ever comes, and add up there being no DM in sight for England, and he's a must.

 

[War]

As a City fan I'd be more than happy for Milner to not spend his summer break playing international football, but I think he has to make the trip, he's a versatile player who you can use to mark out overlapping fullbacks and close out games if such a situation ever comes, and add up there being no DM in sight for England, and he's a must.

Phil Jones can do that role of of marking an opposition full-back, did it facing Ronaldo last season & a few other times. Welbeck could even be used in this role.

Plus of course he can also play the pure "DM" role if required among his other roles.


So if Jones is the Mr Versatile, it will allow ENG/Hodgson to pick the most of the pacy wing options in the squad (The Ox, Lallana, Sterling, Townsend, Rodriguez, Lennon, A Johnson) which is always a strong area for ENG. Or the majority the impressive young mid-fielder (Wilshere, Barkley, Henderson, The Ox, Lallana). It would be criminal if any one of those names is not in Brazil & Milner is.

Although the way i envision ENG will play in the WC - i don't see a need for them to ever set-up tactically to mark out opp full-back or play with a pure "DM". Gerrard plays a playmaker type DM role @ the base of ENG mid-field & you have Carrick backing him up.

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Fabian Delph has been quality all season. He's just been so consistent and reliable. He can really push on from his current level now, his engine and his pace are outstanding.

He doesn't have a chance though since he plays for Villa. Underrated.

Well other players like Caulkner, Adam Johnson & Huddlestone have got good reviews by pundits and selected by Hodgson this season, while playing at lesser clubs.

So I'm not sure if that would necessarily be something that is holding Delph back - although i'd admit I have not payed keen attention to Delph or Villa this season.

 

[thedon5]

The three you have listed I think have something to do with their previous clubs, especially Johnson and Huddlestone. Everyone knows who they are, everyone knows they used to play to a high level before and you'd be surprised how much of a role that plays.

Caulker has also been scoring goals and that is a great way for a CB to get praised.

Delph on the other hand does a much more quiet job.

 

[War]

Morgan Schneiderlin wants England call after turning back on France and could become another Southampton man in Roy Hodgson squad | Mail Online

 

[Epic]

Phil Jones can do that role of of marking an opposition full-back, did it facing Ronaldo last season & a few other times. Welbeck could even be used in this role.

Plus of course he can also play the pure "DM" role if required among his other roles.


So if Jones is the Mr Versatile, it will allow ENG/Hodgson to pick the most of the pacy wing options in the squad (The Ox, Lallana, Sterling, Townsend, Rodriguez, Lennon, A Johnson) which is always a strong area for ENG. Or the majority the impressive young mid-fielder (Wilshere, Barkley, Henderson, The Ox, Lallana). It would be criminal if any one of those names is not in Brazil & Milner is.

Although the way i envision ENG will play in the WC - i don't see a need for them to ever set-up tactically to mark out opp full-back or play with a pure "DM". Gerrard plays a playmaker type DM role @ the base of ENG mid-field & you have Carrick backing him up.

Yes, ofc there are other versatile players, but that doesn't change the fact that Milner is better in his natural position (CM) than the 2 you mention in theirs, I know all the plaudits have been coming in for Henderson in recent weeks for his hardworking, gritty displays, but I'd argue you'd see Milner equal that just about every time if he ever got to play in CM regularly.

I think part of the problem here is the stigma that surrounds Milner, which used to surround Henderson as well, where people genuinely feel like they're taking the place of someone more talented and skillful than them.

 

[War]

^^

Ye that stigma is around as i mentioned before, but i do agree that Milner would likely provide similar equal traits to Henderson in a CM role. The problem with Milner though is always when especially for ENG, when he is used as a winger - even in a defensive role. It'S always a waste of resources for ENG, since in the last decade or so, attacking with pacy wingers has always been one our the teams main attacking weapons outside depending on Rooney or Owen for goals.

In some ways picking Miler or Henderson is similar to the A Cole vs Shaw debate - experience vs youth, game time vs lack of game time.

I would be in the camp that says Cole has to go the cup even though Baines is 1st choice & he never starts for Chelsea for the rest of the season. That experience is too vital to leave at home - Shaw time will come in EURO 16 qualifiers in a few months.

But Milner is not on Cole's level despite being a ENG regular, so his lack of game time for City could count against him in final selection.

 

[War]

Roberto Mart?nez says Ross Barkley should be in Roy Hodgson's squad | Football | theguardian.com

 

[War]

Johnson: If you're not playing for a big club you can forget an England call-up | Mail Online

All ENG coaches in my lifetime have been guilty of this, whether consciously or subconsciously i think. Hodgson i think looks at all players, but he certainly didn't help his case by picking Cleverley in the last squad instead of Johnson or Huddlestone.

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World Cup 2014: ?Horrible? Manaus heat will leave Roy Hodgson?s men praying for rain - World Cup 2014 - Football - The Independent

 

[War]

No stage is too big for Ross, says Martinez as Everton boss joins chorus for Barkley to get a ticket to Brazil | Mail Online

Barkley is a must start vs Italy in Manaus IMO.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Personally i'd like to see something along the lines of this:

Hart

Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines

Henderson Gerrard

Oxlaide-Chamberlain

Sterling Rooney Sturridge​

 

[War]

Personally i'd like to see something along the lines of this:

Hart

Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines

Henderson Gerrard

Oxlaide-Chamberlain

Sterling Rooney Sturridge​

As the Denmark friendly showed, we would be wasting Sturridge in the national team by playing him wide. Got to have him playing centrally, that's where all his success versus Liverpool has come.

 

[ste_mc_efc]

No stage is too big for Ross, says Martinez as Everton boss joins chorus for Barkley to get a ticket to Brazil | Mail Online

Barkley is a must start vs Italy in Manaus IMO.

disagree.

no doubt in my mind that he could perform really well at that level now.

but there no doubt that he could have a really bad game too. consistency simply isn't there yet.