England National football team thread

Same thing with Trapattoni, if they don't think the players fit in with their "game plan" they'll freeze them out. Although tbf, Capello's been far more lenient than Trap.

What game plan for playing right-backs is that really i wonder?. Playing make shift full-backs in that position and making it clear that Glenn Johnson is his # 1 is his first choice when fit. Even though Johnson has yet the improve defensively from the 4-1 nightmare last year.

All we can hope now is that he starts Walker stars.

Anyway best ENG XI out of the selected lot to play vs Spain IMO, with the announcement that Terry wont play that game:

Hart

Walker Jones Lescott Cole

Milner Parker Lampard

Walcott Bent Agbonlahor/A Johnson

God i hope Spain don't embarrass us...
 
Apparently Richards isn't solid enough defensively according to Capello. But Johnson, Walker and Jones are!?
 
What game plan for playing right-backs is that really i wonder?. Playing make shift full-backs in that position and making it clear that Glenn Johnson is his # 1 is his first choice when fit. Even though Johnson has yet the improve defensively from the 4-1 nightmare last year.

All we can hope now is that he starts Walker stars.

Anyway best ENG XI out of the selected lot to play vs Spain IMO, with the announcement that Terry wont play that game:

Hart

Walker Jones Lescott Cole

Milner Parker Lampard

Walcott Bent Agbonlahor/A Johnson

God i hope Spain don't embarrass us...

That's my fear as well - that Spain teach us an even worse footballing lesson than Germany did.
 
Like the rest of you, I have no idea what Richards has to do to get into the England squad. Not even the first XI we're talking about here. He's outperformed Johnson consistently for the last 12 months. Probably been as good as Walker has, but I'd actually say Richards is more defensive minded with his performances at centre back.

Still, this is an England manager who has played John Terry as one of his first names on the teamsheet despite the fact that he's been found wanting against nearly every big team he's played against for the last 3 years. Continued to persevere with Lampard and Gerrard in the middle despite it never working and whenever he has had to play a young vibrant team that has impressed, has instantly gone back to the static and over complicated players that form his first XI when available.
 
What would be your best England XI, ignoring Capello's choices and injuries?

-------------Hart-------------
Richards--Terry--Smalling--Cole
------------Parker-------------
---Wilshere---------Gerrard----
Johnson----Rooney------Young

Although, I might be inclined to push Rooney out wide and play Bent as a poacher because he's quite good at that.
 
Bent is not good enough to play for England. His first touch is woeful, his passing ability is even worse and his finishing is at times suspect. Note how many of his goals always seem to be scuffed into the corner. He basically works in one system, which is to play every ball into the channels directly. You can not try and pass it around with him, as invariably the ball bounces of him in close quarters or he misplaces easy 5 yard passes.

Play a dull and direct game which relies on hitting ball after ball into his channels like Charlton and Villa do, then he'll get 15 goals a season. That'll also be pretty much all the goals that get scored by your team as he is incapable of linking up play.
 
Oh, I'm not suggesting he's a good footballer. However, he does seem to show up in very good goalscoring positions. That being said, I think Rooney could do just as good a job of that, if not better. Like you said, I don't think he's a good enough player for England to model their game around.

Ignoring the fact that Richards wasn't picked (for reasons only Capello knows), if Capello is watching Liverpool games, which he seems to be doing, then Kelly should be ahead of Johnson in the pecking order. He's much more solid defensively.
 
Last edited:
What would be your best England XI, ignoring Capello's choices and injuries?

-------------Hart-------------
Richards--Terry--Smalling--Cole
------------Parker-------------
---Wilshere---------Gerrard----
Johnson----Rooney------Young

Although, I might be inclined to push Rooney out wide and play Bent as a poacher because he's quite good at that.

I'm not too sold on Smalling or Jones playing CB for ENG ATM. They would need to improve a great deal IMO, between now and the EURO 2012 tournament.

Ferdinand still the best man to partner Terry regardless of his recent injury woes. And presuming this race current racist controversy with JT, doesn't force Rio to do like Wayne Bridge and retire from ENG or sum in the coming months.

Lescott/Dawson the best next three backs to partner JT, in case Ferdinand shows considerable decline for the remainder of the season though

I would also probably pick a rejuvenated J Cole over Johnson, if Cole's form in France is excellent come the Euro's.

Bent would make a great impact sub, since I dont 100% trust him to be a starting player.
 
Seems as though Spain don't intend to mess around in this game, they're wheeling out the big guns...
 
What game plan for playing right-backs is that really i wonder?. Playing make shift full-backs in that position and making it clear that Glenn Johnson is his # 1 is his first choice when fit. Even though Johnson has yet the improve defensively from the 4-1 nightmare last year.
I have no idea, mate. But it seems a similar scenario to when Capello was reluctant to use Joe Cole because of his tactical indiscipline.

I'm not too sold on Smalling or Jones playing CB for ENG ATM. They would need to improve a great deal IMO, between now and the EURO 2012 tournament.
Smalling has been excellent whenever he's played CB, far more comfortable there than at right-back. He's Rio's natural heir. But yes, it's a bit early to completely write Rio off. Unlike Terry, he has the excuse of getting over his injury problems and not having a consistent partner beside him.

Wonder how Spain will line up. Against Scotland, they completely replicated Barca's system, with the exception of the attacking width being provided down the left flank by Alba from left-back. Silva playing the false-9 role was a very interesting development.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top