What's new

The England Thread

SUIYHA

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2017
1,723
8,579
Do you think he was the only 16 year old at MK Dons? He got those games because he was vastly superior to everybody else there, especially those in his age group. Same as Rooney at Everton, etc.

The point I’m arguing against is it being “probably true” that Loftus-Cheek is as good as Dele

Being good as a teenager means absolutely fuck all in the grand scheme of things.

heres-top-50-most-exciting-teenage-footballers-in-2007-according-to-world.jpg
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
I felt sorry for you last night. A team that includes both Livermore and Walker must be your worst nightmare.

Just for the record I'm not totally against Wilshere being included, but he would have to prove his fitness for half a season before I'd even look at him. We took him to the Euros half fit and it really cost us and yet half of the football experts you listen to are ready to make exactly the same mistake again.


Don't forget Dier in midfield too. With Paulinho thrown in for good measure on the other side. That game was like watching midfield quicksand.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Line-up next year will be very interesting.

I think you could be looking at 6 Spurs in the starting line-up:

Kane

Dele .......(Lallana/Rashford/Sterling)

Rose ..................Winks Dier ...............Trippier

Cahill Stones Maguire

Hart
Pickford
Butland

Walker probably starts ahead of Trippier, but its not a given. I think the part that will cause the most trouble is when people start to realize that there is really only one spot open for Lallana, Rashford, and Sterling. Southgate has already expressed a preference for 3 in the back. Even if Dier moves to the back-3, it still ends up being Henderson in the CM/DM role. The only way to get another attacking player on is to move Dele back to Winks' role. It could happen, but if Winks becomes a fixture in our starting XI, he is a lock to start for England next summer.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
7,405
13,785
Line-up next year will be very interesting.

I think you could be looking at 6 Spurs in the starting line-up:

Kane

Dele .......(Lallana/Rashford/Sterling)

Rose ..................Winks Dier ...............Trippier

Cahill Stones Maguire

Hart
Pickford
Butland

Walker probably starts ahead of Trippier, but its not a given. I think the part that will cause the most trouble is when people start to realize that there is really only one spot open for Lallana, Rashford, and Sterling. Southgate has already expressed a preference for 3 in the back. Even if Dier moves to the back-3, it still ends up being Henderson in the CM/DM role. The only way to get another attacking player on is to move Dele back to Winks' role. It could happen, but if Winks becomes a fixture in our starting XI, he is a lock to start for England next summer.

I've learned over the years that with England there's what should happen and what will happen. Despite the likes of Winks being clearly the way forward, I guarantee you it'll be the same old tired faces like Henderson regardless. Always the same with England.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
I've learned over the years that with England there's what should happen and what will happen. Despite the likes of Winks being clearly the way forward, I guarantee you it'll be the same old tired faces like Henderson regardless. Always the same with England.
We will see, but I don't think so. I think Southgate has a strange fascination with Poch - and is trying to build the England squad in the same set up as Spurs. He has also put Rooney out to pasture, told Smalling that he has better options, and has given a lot of younger players a chance. I think Southgate, like Poch, realizes you need a creative outlet in that 2nd CM role. Its obvious that they both love Dier - so he is going to be in the line-up somewhere. Just a matter of where, and who partners him, if he stays in the CM/DM role.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
7,405
13,785
We will see, but I don't think so. I think Southgate has a strange fascination with Poch - and is trying to build the England squad in the same set up as Spurs. He has also put Rooney out to pasture, told Smalling that he has better options, and has given a lot of younger players a chance. I think Southgate, like Poch, realizes you need a creative outlet in that 2nd CM role. Its obvious that they both love Dier - so he is going to be in the line-up somewhere. Just a matter of where, and who partners him, if he stays in the CM/DM role.

I hope you're right but I've been waiting for this to happen for about 10 years
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
I hope you're right but I've been waiting for this to happen for about 10 years

It probably feels like it's the same old players all the time, but there's only about six or seven players left from the 2014 squad.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
7,405
13,785
It probably feels like it's the same old players all the time, but there's only about six or seven players left from the 2014 squad.

I think we're moving in the right direction recently but even though Rooney has finally been sent to the fucking glue factory, there are still people who get picked if they're fit regardless of performances e.g. Hart and Henderson, and a couple of experimental friendlies aren't enough to convince me that Southgate won't revert to type and just pick the most famous players from the big clubs like England managers always seem to.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,956
I've learned over the years that with England there's what should happen and what will happen. Despite the likes of Winks being clearly the way forward, I guarantee you it'll be the same old tired faces like Henderson regardless. Always the same with England.

My preseason prediction of Winks being named in the initial larger England World Cup squad before being cut from the final 23 for wilshere is still looking good unfortunately.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
The biggest problem will be balance. Yes there are technical and tactical problems and deficiencies, but selecting a complimentary team is always where England falls down before a ball is kicked.

For instance, if you're going with the 3-4-2-1, why are people selecting two of Sterling, Rashford and Alli behind Kane? They are more finishers who need the ball coming to then, they're not going to be on the ball dictating play. It's one of them paired with a creative hub type who will get ball and keep things ticking (almost certainly Lallana from the slim pickings) in that formation. Just going 'I've selected Winks in the deeper role' isn't going to cut it, there would still be a massive void in that crucial space between the lines.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
I think we're moving in the right direction recently but even though Rooney has finally been sent to the fucking glue factory, there are still people who get picked if they're fit regardless of performances e.g. Hart and Henderson, and a couple of experimental friendlies aren't enough to convince me that Southgate won't revert to type and just pick the most famous players from the big clubs like England managers always seem to.

I can't understand why Hart is still first choice. I'm not even sure why he's in the squad. Henderson seems very ineffective, but he's not the liability that Hart seems to be now.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628

I'm not really sure what else he could say. Southgate's got a four year contract and they aren't going to publicly talk about axing him if things go wrong as that could unsettle the squad before the tournament even begins. If we fail to get out of the group I'm sure his position will be reviewed and I wouldn't be surprised if Southgate resigned under those circumstances.
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
9,414
11,620
The biggest issue with that Daily Fail starting 11 is Hart.
He is a liability at the moment and should be dropped to the bench in favour of someone like Pickford.
 

panoma

Well-Known Member
Jan 16, 2012
3,901
12,188
Lots of spots up for grabs in this England side. Other than Walker, Sterling and Kane it's hard to say anyone else really nailed on to start the world cup

This is good though. Will reward those who have a great season
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
Lots of spots up for grabs in this England side. Other than Walker, Sterling and Kane it's hard to say anyone else really nailed on to start the world cup

This is good though. Will reward those who have a great season

I'm not even certain about Walker or Sterling. Trippier might get the nod because of his set piece delivery and Sterling hasn't looked good for England for a while.
 
Top