England National football team thread

[War]

The clubs are right about one thing: the friendlies. As Sir Alex said, how does it make any sense to play an International friendly just before the season is due to kick off? And if Beckham can play like that vs Barcelona, he's still more than good enough for England. Who else do we have who can pass, cross and hit a dead ball like he can?

Ye those pre seasons friendlies are dumb. FIFA/UEFA certainly have to stop that & schedule those friendlies on a FIFA date before when the seasons starts before the usual September uefa/World cup qualifiers.

But these sort of redundant club/country arguments are essentially an English problem. We really dont ever hear such issues in germany, italy, spain, brazil, holland, france.

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Beckham had a Matuidi besides him, England have nobody similar to Matuidi in truth.

Yea, although i'd say Phil Jones has some of Matuidi's attributes.

 

[Epic]

Beckham had a Matuidi besides him, England have nobody similar to Matuidi in truth.

Gareth Barry? I know many don't rate him, but he does quite the job for us.

 

[War]

Ha nah man, Barry has no similar attributes to Matuidi. Matuidi is like Newcastle's M Sissoko, West Ham's Diame or Y Toure. A big physical defensive midfielder that covers a lot ground.

 

[Epic]

Ah, thought we were just talking holding mids in general.

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On that note, are there any quality young English defensive mids coming through the ranks? Because tbh, I haven't heard of any.

 

[War]

Probably this guy Nathaniel Chalobah - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Epic]

Ofc, it would be a Chelsea kid on loan at some Championship side.

 

[Bevab]

He's more of a center-back, isn't he?

 

[War]

He's more of a center-back, isn't he?

That is his main position i've heard. But in england's recent under 21 internationals in March he was playing DM.

 

[Epic]

Well, hopefully they can "convert" him into a solid DM, England really need some of those.

 

[War]

Well, hopefully they can "convert" him into a solid DM, England really need some of those.

Yea Phil Jones is the standout candidate, but Chalobah, Everton's Ross Barkley & to a level Huddlestone are others who could be good DM in the future provided they get more game time at the premier league level.

 

[Auwais]

Jones is a bonafide CB. He could do a job in midfield but I don't see his long-term future there.

 

[Epic]

Yeah, I'm sure he'll play the odd game or two in midfield, but that should be it.

 

[War]

I wouldn't want to pigeon hole yet, given his very impressive talent. He has shown enough competence in various roles to suggest he could be a master of all trades (center back, defensive mid, right back) like what Lothar Matthaus was.

 

[War]

Allardyce: England boss scared to recall Carroll - ESPN FC

Ha sometimes i wonder where club managers come up with these theories when pushing for their players to make the national squad.

AFAIK Hodgson was rightly not picking Big Andy because his form wasn't great and he was injured for a while. Its only in recent weeks he looks back to his old self & im sure Hodgson would recall him once he remains in this form for the end of season friendlies vs Ireland & Brazil.

 

[Bevab]

An upgrade over Welbeck for the moment really.