England for 2014 vs. other nations

[InOffMeLeftShin]

OK, so the England squad has been named for Euro 2012 and despite the FA naming Roy Hodgson as coach because he was committed to the development of players and the future of English football he has named a squad full of ageing players who in a lot of cases are living off their reputations. We have almost no chance to win Euro 2012 and the timing might have been right with a new coach to bring in a new group of players to prepare them for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. In fact I think fans around the country would have been far more interested to see how new faces would have done and generally been more excited about the Euro championships, where as now it seems like nobody cares at all.

Assuming this is the last hurrah for this crop of English players, how do you envision England will be by 2014, squad, style of play etc. Any predictions for other teams?

I have to say that Spain have been the dominant team in the World for a few years but I can really see Brazil at home coming back with one of their best sides for many years. I mean by 2014 how good will a side including this be:

Sandro Ramires​

Ganso​

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Lucas Neymar​

Leandro​

​

All that flair built on top of a midfield with the strength and dynamism of Sandro and Ramires is frightening. Which ever players England choose, I am not sure we have a good enough crop to be able to compete.​

 

[kishman]

There's not that much promising talent coming up for England. We don't have any strong central midfielders, like Brasil.
Players that could potentially feature in England's squad for 2014 that aren't in it now:

Walker
Caulker
Gibbs
Rodwell
Cleverley
Livermore
Wilshere
Zaha
Wickham

Future isn't that great for England. Especially when not enough English players get a chance for their clubs at the top-level.

 

[beats1]

There's not that much promising talent coming up for England. We don't have any strong central midfielders, like Brasil.
Players that could potentially feature in England's squad for 2014 that aren't in it now:

Walker
Caulker
Gibbs
Rodwell
Cleverley
Livermore
Wilshere
Zaha
Wickham

Future isn't that great for England. Especially when not enough English players get a chance for their clubs at the top-level.

Rodwell is one of the most hyped up players in English history imo, definitely has potential but not shown as much as is banded about him, you hear journo's name him in their team for the next years england team for the last 4 years

Hart​

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Walker Jones Caulker Gibbs​

​

Hudd Wilshere​

​

Lennon Rooney Oxlade​

​

Welbeck​

​

Thats a very good team imo, I would rather have Smalling than Jones and with the likes of Carroll, Barkley, McEachran and 1 or 2 others pushing for those midfield places, I just hope Mason as fills his potential as he would be brilliant in the hole​

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[DEFchenkOE]

Yea from what little I've seen of Barkley he is a real talent. Raheem Sterling could do a Michael Owen at that tournament if he makes the breakthrough in the next few years.

I don't see Hudd making the breakthrough, he'd have to become a regular with us first and that's doubtful.

 

[spursandbarca]

whats the point with the squad Hodgson has picked for euro 2012??? Lampard will be 35 by world cup and Gerrard 34. Neither will play in Brazil.

Why the likes of Rodwell, Caulker, Holt, not just picked immeaditly??

 

[mpickard2087]

whats the point with the squad Hodgson has picked for euro 2012??? Lampard will be 35 by world cup and Gerrard 34. Neither will play in Brazil.

Why the likes of Rodwell, Caulker, Holt, not just picked immeaditly??

Holt is 30/31, so not exactly one for the future either

I do agree, we should have ditched pretty much all of the old players who have failed on numerous occasions. I fear though that they are still going to be stinking out the place when the World Cup comes around again. Would rather we have taken a host of promising players (although I do recognise there isnt a huge amount of players coming through who look obvious stars in the making) who would play with no fear and give them tournament experience which would stand them in good stead for future competitions.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I hope England try and make the most of the players who can actually pass the ball. I think in Cleverley and Wilshere we have a Xavi/Iniesta style pairing (not comparing them in terms of quality, more in terms of style) and if they can both stay fit they could form a useful combination with a more dynamic midfielder like Rodwell alongside them. That would then actually give England a basis to get their attacking players into the game whether it be Sturridge/Wellbeck/Johnson/Chamberlain etc etc.

Still think we'll stay in the international doldrums for a while though. I think Belgium are currently a better team than us...and their team is full of Belgians.

 

[beats1]

Yea from what little I've seen of Barkley he is a real talent. Raheem Sterling could do a Michael Owen at that tournament if he makes the breakthrough in the next few years.

I don't see Hudd making the breakthrough, he'd have to become a regular with us first and that's doubtful.

I personally rate him and does harry, but it all depends on if he can get fit again because he has been injured for 2 years now

 

[spursandbarca]

No point at Lampard will be 35 and wont have legs to play a world cup in Brazil in the heat and humidity. Ditto Gerrard who will be 34.

Even though Xavi is 32. Munian(19 or 20), Thiago, Gerard deulofeu(17). They are all capable of replacing him in 2 years in the same role.

Surely the fa, brooking,tecnical directors etc should have sat down with Hodgson etc and asked what his plans would be regarding this sort of thing

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

No point at Lampard will be 35 and wont have legs to play a world cup in Brazil in the heat and humidity. Ditto Gerrard who will be 34.

Even though Xavi is 32. Munian(19 or 20), Thiago, Gerard deulofeu(17). They are all capable of replacing him in 2 years in the same role.

Surely the fa, brooking,tecnical directors etc should have sat down with Hodgson etc and asked what his plans would be regarding this sort of thing

Munian is pretty awesome but is more attacking than Xavi, I heard Deulofeu was attacking too. I'd have thought even for the world cup in 2014 Spain wouldn't need to rely on kids they still have players like Fabregas, Javi Martinez, Iniesta in their prime. Not exactly bad options.

I still think it might be the best Brazil side for a really long time, substance and style and they will take a lot of beating at home.

Hart​

Walker Jones Caulker Gibbs​

Hudd Wilshere​

Lennon Rooney Oxlade​

Welbeck​

Thats a very good team imo, I would rather have Smalling than Jones and with the likes of Carroll, Barkley, McEachran and 1 or 2 others pushing for those midfield places, I just hope Mason as fills his potential as he would be brilliant in the hole​

It really isn't a very good side. I can't imagine Hudd or Lennon being in the England side for world cup 2014 and Welbeck doesn't strike me as a world class talent.

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[C0YS]

In england you have players such as adam Johnson, Sturridge, Oxlade, Walcott, caulker, jones, smalling, walker, Wilshere and lots more still to hit their prime. Not all at the level now but in a couple of seasons could really form a good solid base for England. In all honesty I am sick of the current lot, and we need some fresh air. My guess of the line up of 2014

Hart (C)​

Walker Caulker Cahill Baines​

Milner Wilshere​

Sturridge Young Oxlade​

Rooney​

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[InOffMeLeftShin]

In england you have players such as adam Johnson, Sturridge, Oxlade, Walcott, caulker, jones, smalling, walker, Wilshere and lots more still to hit their prime. Not all at the level now but in a couple of seasons could really form a good solid base for England. In all honesty I am sick of the current lot, and we need some fresh air. My guess of the line up of 2014

Hart (C)​

Walker Caulker Cahill Baines​

Milner Wilshere​

Sturridge Young Oxlade​

Rooney​

​

​

That should have been a lot closer to what the 2012 squad should have looked like. Obviously some injuries made a difference but I just think it is so short sighted to pick those same old players again. They aren't good enough and we won't win the competition so we may as well have gone for youth, pace and energy.

 

[Kingellesar]

It doesn't matter who we pick, we will go out on penalties no matter what. We need the keeper from the mars advert...

 

[SugarRay]

It's not all doom and gloom. Hart is approaching the world class bracket, a good Euro's could seal such a position.

The defence will be our strongest area for years to come. Smalling, Jones ( him and Micah Richards have so much more to come, I'm convinced both will end up top class centre halves if they put enough in ) Caulker, Walker, Baines. Cahill, Jagielka and Lescott will still be about for a few more tournaments yet. So not many problems there.

Midfield could be an issue but Wilshire and Ox, as much as it pains me to admit, will be top, top class players. Barkley looks a player too as mentioned by a few already here. Wide and attacking midfielders are not elite class but we have a few solid options. Sterling looks good but he is no Owen or Rooney ( genuine wonderkid )

Forwards are where we are going to really struggle! Rooney is quality obviously and any success we have will be based on him being fit and on form. We could do with Carroll getting it together and Wickham fulfilling his potential. Sturridge, Welbeck and the likes won't make much of an impact.

I think under the right man and subsequently right system we could achieve what should be expected of us ( qualification for major tournaments, although that is getting easier with the increase to 24 for the Euro's and then aim for a quarter final and pray fr some luck once we get there! )

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

It's not all doom and gloom. Hart is approaching the world class bracket, a good Euro's could seal such a position.

The defence will be our strongest area for years to come. Smalling, Jones ( him and Micah Richards have so much more to come, I'm convinced both will end up top class centre halves if they put enough in ) Caulker, Walker, Baines. Cahill, Jagielka and Lescott will still be about for a few more tournaments yet. So not many problems there.

Midfield could be an issue but Wilshire and Ox, as much as it pains me to admit, will be top, top class players. Barkley looks a player too as mentioned by a few already here. Wide and attacking midfielders are not elite class but we have a few solid options. Sterling looks good but he is no Owen or Rooney ( genuine wonderkid )

Forwards are where we are going to really struggle! Rooney is quality obviously and any success we have will be based on him being fit and on form. We could do with Carroll getting it together and Wickham fulfilling his potential. Sturridge, Welbeck and the likes won't make much of an impact.

I think under the right man and subsequently right system we could achieve what should be expected of us ( qualification for major tournaments, although that is getting easier with the increase to 24 for the Euro's and then aim for a quarter final and pray fr some luck once we get there! )

But the World Cup is only 2 years away and we look miles off, especially midfield and attack.

 

[SugarRay]

Hart

Walker
Jones
Cahill
Baines

Rodwell
Ox
Wilshire

Rooney
Carroll
Young

Bit young in midfield I grant you, and Rodwell would need to get fit, stay fit and play regular which probably won't happen so might need another in there sitting, but that's not a bad side. Certainly good enough to qualify and then get to the knockout stages I think.

 

[talkshowhost86]

What we lack is a young Parker/Sandro type player who can offer a bit of protection defensively. Really not sure who could fill that role in two years time. But other than that I'd go:

Hart​

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Walker Smalling Cahill Gibbs/Baines​

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Cleverley Jones? Wilshere​

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Young Rooney Sturridge​

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Obviously that all depends on who is actually playing for their team, and sadly I suspect we'll still see the likes of Gareth Barry, John Terry and Ashley Cole still in the team come 2014.