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The England Thread

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
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47,055
Has Foster retired again? I know he retired years ago when his kids were small, but he's been in various squads since then.

Maybe he reversed that decision and I didn't hear about it.

I've been pretty lax with keeping up to date with my Ben Foster newsfeed recently.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
7,405
13,785
Just been looking at lists of players who are in the frame for the squad - Has there ever been a time in recent history that we've been so thin on the ground for even half decent keepers? Sure, Pickford isn't really bad, but he's not exactly consistent, second choice is a 22 year old playing in the Champs, but Joe Hart is STILL the third option - is this really all we've got? Or is this just a page where they throw up the last team that was selected? (considering there's no Kane listed, i suspect this might be the case).

At this rate the FA could do worse than sending a man out to India to poach David James back from managing Kerala Blasters for a recall.

Really? I actually think we've got a decent selection of keepers to be honest. Pickford, Heaton and Butler are all good options. Hart is shit and shouldn't be anywhere near the team, but I reckon those three are all better than the 2nd/3rd choice options we've had in the past.
 

Spursh

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2009
2,558
6,514
We’re not too far off the WC, and based on current form/fitness (of course this can change), what would be your squad?

Butland / Pope / Pickford

Walker / Trippier
Maguire / Stones
Jones / Smalling
Rose / Bertrand

Dele / Lallana
Dier / Drinkwater
Wilshere / Henderson

Sterling / AOC
Kane (c) / Vardy
Rashford / Lingard


Heaton, Cahill, Keane, Shaw, Clyne, Winks, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Redmond, and Antonio are all just about in contention, but have had injury/form issues.

Tarkowski, Mawson, Lascelles, Arnold, Chilwell, L Cook, Ward-Prowse, Sessegnon, Gray, Sancho, and Lookman are outside bets/dark horses.

Supposedly Leon Bailey of Bayer Leverkusen could be eligible for England. If so, and if he picks us, he’d be straight in the squad.

It’s far from the strongest squad at the WC, but there’s still enough quality to make some sort of mark.
 
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nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
We’re not too far off the WC, and based on current form/fitness (of course this can change), what would be your squad?

Butland / Pope / Pickford

Walker / Trippier
Maguire / Stones
Jones / Smalling
Rose / Bertrand

Dele / Lallana
Dier / Henderson
Wilshere / Milner

Sterling / AOC
Kane (c) / Vardy
Rashford / Lingard


Heaton, Cahill, Keane, Shaw, Clyne, Drinkwater, Winks, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Redmond, and Antonio are all just about in contention, but have had injury/form issues.

Tarkowski, Mawson, Lascelles, Arnold, Chilwell, L Cook, Ward-Prowse, Sessegnon, Gray, Sancho, and Lookman are outside bets/dark horses.

Supposedly Leon Bailey of Bayer Leverkusen could be eligible for England. If so, and if he picks us, he’d be straight in the squad.

It’s far from the strongest squad at the WC, but there’s still enough quality to make some sort of mark.

Milner's retired from international football hasn't he?
Livermore has been included in most squads, but it's fair enough that you've forgotten him.
 

Spursh

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2009
2,558
6,514
Milner's retired from international football hasn't he?
Livermore has been included in most squads, but it's fair enough that you've forgotten him.

Had forgotten that he had retired. Let’s hope that Winks can regain some form, as we really lack in central areas.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
Really? I actually think we've got a decent selection of keepers to be honest. Pickford, Heaton and Butler are all good options. Hart is shit and shouldn't be anywhere near the team, but I reckon those three are all better than the 2nd/3rd choice options we've had in the past.

Generally they would but when you realise that they're coming off season's where they've let in a lot of goals it doesn't bode well for their confidence, Heaton' s been Injured as well hasn't he?
 

rabbikeane

Well-Known Member
Mar 29, 2005
6,884
12,675
Formation must also be taken into consideration when selecting a squad. If Southgate want to stick with a 3 at the back then there's need for more central defenders, and perhaps a different type than a flat 4 would need.
Think it's a big concern that so many are out of form (Hart, Rose, Winks, Lallana).

Butland, Pickford, Pope

P.Jones, Stones, Mawson, Maguire, Gomez
(?)

Walker, Trippier
Rose
(?), Bertrand (?)

Dier, Henderson, Winks
(?), Wilshere (?)
Lallana (?), Lingard (?), Dele, Sterling

Kane, Vardy, Rashford
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Is Henderson injured? If not, and he is not making the starting XI in a big match against United - that is telling...
 

WiganSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
15,974
32,682
We’re not too far off the WC, and based on current form/fitness (of course this can change), what would be your squad?

Butland / Pope / Pickford

Walker / Trippier
Maguire / Stones
Jones / Smalling
Rose / Bertrand

Dele / Lallana
Dier / Henderson
Wilshere / Milner

Sterling / AOC
Kane (c) / Vardy
Rashford / Lingard


Heaton, Cahill, Keane, Shaw, Clyne, Drinkwater, Winks, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Redmond, and Antonio are all just about in contention, but have had injury/form issues.

Tarkowski, Mawson, Lascelles, Arnold, Chilwell, L Cook, Ward-Prowse, Sessegnon, Gray, Sancho, and Lookman are outside bets/dark horses.

Supposedly Leon Bailey of Bayer Leverkusen could be eligible for England. If so, and if he picks us, he’d be straight in the squad.

It’s far from the strongest squad at the WC, but there’s still enough quality to make some sort of mark.
I don't think our centre halves and midfielders are good enough to mount a challenge.

Despite the lack of options in CM Dier is our best centre half so fucking play him in his best position.

I'd go for:

GK- Butland (1st), Pickford, Heaton

Butland and Pickford are no brainers. I've gone for Heaton because of his experience. Pope is obviously in contention but is taking 3 young keepers necessarily a good idea? If there were to be two injuries i'd rather have a calming influence in there. At the moment I don't want that bag of nerves Hart anywhere near the squad.

RB- Walker, Trippier

Walker is our best RB and Trippier is obviously decent too. Clyne could be in contention but he needs to build up some fitness and form. As of yet he hasn't so Trippier gets the nod for me. TAA is too inexperienced particularly defensively.

CB- Dier, Stones, Smalling, Maguire, Gomez

As I said, at centre back we have lots of average options and not many good ones. Dier and Stones are probably the standouts. Backup options are open to debate and will probably change on form but as of now i've gone for Smalling because of his experience and Maguire because he's done OK in the appearances he's made for England so far. Others under consideration for me should be Cahill and Tarkowski. In the case of a midfield injury crisis, Dier can play backup DM.

LB- Rose, Delph

Rose despite his fitness issues should go and perhaps controversially i've gone for Delph over other options. This is because not only has he performed well there for City, he's also got that versatility and can easily slot into a midfield if we are struggling for quality options. Shaw and Bertrand should be monitored as backup options.

Midfielders- Lallana, Dele, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Wilshere

Lallana should be one of the first names in this squad. We have nobody of his creativity. There's not a wealth of options other than him and Dele. We need plenty of footballers here and that's why i've included Wilshere. He will help us keep possession and hopefully Loftus-Cheek too. I think this WC is too early for Winks but of course he should be on the periphery and be monitored. Other backup options i'd have would be Chalobah, Cork, Shelvey and Drinkwater.

Forwards- Sterling, Rashford, Lingard, Sessegnon

Wildcard pick would be Sessegnon, could play left wing, LWB and emergency LB cover. Supremely talented so don't see why he can't be good enough. The others pick themselves, especially due to lack of options.

Strikers- Kane, Vardy


Kane and Vardy shoe ins. Only debate is over 3rd choice and Rashford can do that. In the event of injuries i'd bring Callum Wilson in.

Backups:
Pope
Bertrand
Cahill
Chalobah
Winks
Young
Barkley
Wilson

Starting XI:

Butland
Walker---Dier -- Stones----Rose
Henderson
Lallana ---- Dele
Sterling-----------Lingard
Kane
I think 4-3-3 makes the best use of our players available in general. We've got decent full backs who can provide width, some good number 8s who would be best utilised in a three and we've got a couple of in form wingers too. The main weakness is DM. For me that's a battle between Henderson, Delph and Dier.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
I don't think our centre halves and midfielders are good enough to mount a challenge.

Despite the lack of options in CM Dier is our best centre half so fucking play him in his best position.

I'd go for:

GK- Butland (1st), Pickford, Heaton

Butland and Pickford are no brainers. I've gone for Heaton because of his experience. Pope is obviously in contention but is taking 3 young keepers necessarily a good idea? If there were to be two injuries i'd rather have a calming influence in there. At the moment I don't want that bag of nerves Hart anywhere near the squad.

RB- Walker, Trippier

Walker is our best RB and Trippier is obviously decent too. Clyne could be in contention but he needs to build up some fitness and form. As of yet he hasn't so Trippier gets the nod for me. TAA is too inexperienced particularly defensively.

CB- Dier, Stones, Smalling, Maguire, Gomez

As I said, at centre back we have lots of average options and not many good ones. Dier and Stones are probably the standouts. Backup options are open to debate and will probably change on form but as of now i've gone for Smalling because of his experience and Maguire because he's done OK in the appearances he's made for England so far. Others under consideration for me should be Cahill and Tarkowski. In the case of a midfield injury crisis, Dier can play backup DM.

LB- Rose, Delph

Rose despite his fitness issues should go and perhaps controversially i've gone for Delph over other options. This is because not only has he performed well there for City, he's also got that versatility and can easily slot into a midfield if we are struggling for quality options. Shaw and Bertrand should be monitored as backup options.

Midfielders- Lallana, Dele, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Wilshere

Lallana should be one of the first names in this squad. We have nobody of his creativity. There's not a wealth of options other than him and Dele. We need plenty of footballers here and that's why i've included Wilshere. He will help us keep possession and hopefully Loftus-Cheek too. I think this WC is too early for Winks but of course he should be on the periphery and be monitored. Other backup options i'd have would be Chalobah, Cork, Shelvey and Drinkwater.

Forwards- Sterling, Rashford, Lingard, Sessegnon

Wildcard pick would be Sessegnon, could play left wing, LWB and emergency LB cover. Supremely talented so don't see why he can't be good enough. The others pick themselves, especially due to lack of options.

Strikers- Kane, Vardy


Kane and Vardy shoe ins. Only debate is over 3rd choice and Rashford can do that. In the event of injuries i'd bring Callum Wilson in.

Backups:
Pope
Bertrand
Cahill
Chalobah
Winks
Young
Barkley
Wilson

Starting XI:

Butland
Walker---Dier -- Stones----Rose
Henderson
Lallana ---- Dele
Sterling-----------Lingard
Kane
I think 4-3-3 makes the best use of our players available in general. We've got decent full backs who can provide width, some good number 8s who would be best utilised in a three and we've got a couple of in form wingers too. The main weakness is DM. For me that's a battle between Henderson, Delph and Dier.

You leave out Phil Jones when he's better than at least 3 of the other CB's and he's far better than Smalling lol
 

WiganSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
15,974
32,682
You leave out Phil Jones when he's better than at least 3 of the other CB's and he's far better than Smalling lol
I've watched United a fair bit this season and Jones had plenty of stinkers too tbh. Neither are really good enough and there isn't much between them. I wouldn't be particularly bothered either way. Dier and Stones aside our other options are either too inexperienced or not good enough unfortunately. We don't have a choice though.
 

WiganSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
15,974
32,682
England squad announced and Hart's been rewarded for his impressive performances...


What's with 4 keepers as well ffs.
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
9,413
11,620
England squad announced and Hart's been rewarded for his impressive performances...


What's with 4 keepers as well ffs.
Meh, friendlies... have no issue with him being called up per se, other than I wouldn't have said he has deserved it, but this isn't the final WC squad here, just a chance to look at how players are doing leading up to the WC. Also serves as a reminder to the other GK's that they need to work hard.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
DYVaujYW0AAOOWB.jpg
 
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