The England World Cup Thread

[Gbspurs]

The squad must be announced soon, I'm praying Southgate does not pick any Spurs players. I'd rather they be given the summer off and not be infected by the stench of mediocrity that infests this England team. If we get beyond the group stage I'll be amazed. We have no decent goalie, no good centre halves, no creativity in midfield and a manager whose only claim to fame was that he got relegated with Boro. It's going to be embarrassing, I'm dreading it.

Seeing as we have zero possibility of winning the world cup, or even getting to the knockout stage if we're being honest, why bother turning up? Hopefully the Russians will try and kill another Spy or something so we can boycott the whole thing and not humiliate ourselves.

If your attitude in life is the same (not going to win so why bother) then you are going to be in for a rough ride.

 

[nailsy]

Should we have a separate thread for people who want to tell us how much they don't care about England? It'll probably be more popular than the original thread.

 

[wirE]

Curious to know the fan's take on who's gonna make the England Squad. any surprises?

 

[nailsy]

Shelvey seems to be the only possible surprise at this stage. I can't see Sessegnon getting a call up because we seem well covered in his position.

 

[NickHSpurs]

I'd take:

GK: Pope, Pickford, Butland
RB: Trips, Walker
LB: Rose, Bertrand
CB: Stones, Smalling, Jones, Maguire
CM: Dier, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Wilshere
AM: Alli, Lingard, Sterling, Sessegnon
ST: Kane, Vardy, Rashford
Utility: Delph

Hart's confidence is shot, forget his experience.
Shelvey's discipline would worry me.
I don't think you can risk both Wilshere and Lallana so I'd take Wilshere.
I think it's time to leave out the likes of Welbeck and Walcott in favour of a wildcard like Sessegnon who is the future.

 

[nailsy]

I don't get why we would think about taking Joe Hart for his experience. If we want to take along an experienced keeper why don't we see what someone like David Seaman is up to and take him along as a coach.

 

[nailsy]

I'd take:

GK: Pope, Pickford, Butland
RB: Trips, Walker
LB: Rose, Bertrand
CB: Stones, Smalling, Jones, Maguire
CM: Dier, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Wilshere
AM: Alli, Lingard, Sterling, Sessegnon
ST: Kane, Vardy, Rashford
Utility: Delph

Hart's confidence is shot, forget his experience.
Shelvey's discipline would worry me.
I don't think you can risk both Wilshere and Lallana so I'd take Wilshere.
I think it's time to leave out the likes of Welbeck and Walcott in favour of a wildcard like Sessegnon who is the future.

I was about to ask if four center backs was enough when we're probably going to play three at the back, but I've just remembered that Walker played there in the last game. Dier can obviously fill in as well, but I don't like having to move a first choice player out of his established position to fill in.

 

[Marty]

I'd take:

GK: Pope, Pickford, Butland
RB: Trips, Walker
LB: Rose, Bertrand
CB: Stones, Smalling, Jones, Maguire
CM: Dier, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Wilshere
AM: Alli, Lingard, Sterling, Sessegnon
ST: Kane, Vardy, Rashford
Utility: Delph

Hart's confidence is shot, forget his experience.
Shelvey's discipline would worry me.
I don't think you can risk both Wilshere and Lallana so I'd take Wilshere.
I think it's time to leave out the likes of Welbeck and Walcott in favour of a wildcard like Sessegnon who is the future.

Shelvey instead of Wilshere and I'm with you.

 

[DanielCHillier]

I'd take:

GK: Pope, Pickford, Butland
RB: Trips, Walker
LB: Rose, Bertrand
CB: Stones, Smalling, Jones, Maguire
CM: Dier, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Wilshere
AM: Alli, Lingard, Sterling, Sessegnon
ST: Kane, Vardy, Rashford
Utility: Delph

Hart's confidence is shot, forget his experience.
Shelvey's discipline would worry me.
I don't think you can risk both Wilshere and Lallana so I'd take Wilshere.
I think it's time to leave out the likes of Welbeck and Walcott in favour of a wildcard like Sessegnon who is the future.

Probably Ashley Young for Bertrand, as much as I dislike him.

 

[wirE]

I'd take:

GK: Pope, Pickford, Butland
RB: Trips, Walker
LB: Rose, Bertrand Young
CB: Stones, Smalling, Jones, Maguire
CM: Dier, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Wilshere
AM: Alli, Lingard, Sterling, Sessegnon Welbeck
ST: Kane, Vardy, Rashford
Utility: Delph

Hart's confidence is shot, forget his experience.
Shelvey's discipline would worry me.
I don't think you can risk both Wilshere and Lallana so I'd take Wilshere.
I think it's time to leave out the likes of Welbeck and Walcott in favour of a wildcard like Sessegnon who is the future.

Lallana I don't think is gonna make it back in time from his fitness issues. I'd pick young over Bertrand or Rose. Welbeck over Sessegnon. Not realistic imo

 

[jondesouza]

Mine would be:

GK: Pickford, Pope, Butland
RB: Walker, Trippier, Alexander-Arnold
LB: Rose, Bertrand
CB: Stones, Jones, Maguire, Tarkowski
CM: Dier, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Wilshere
AM: Alli, Sterling, Lingard, Sancho
S: Kane, Vardy, Rashford

I struggled whether to include the three nominal RBs but Walker played really well on the right side of a back 3 so I imagine he could sit in the CB section.

I like Lewis Cook and it felt a shame to leave him out and both Delph and Young have good cases for the LB slot. Others just missing out are Lascelles, Jack Cork, Lallana (who I think has returned from injury too late) and Ademola Lookman.

 

[tototoner]

not a shock but no Hart in the final 23 being reported

 

[tototoner]

for me

GK: Pickford, Pope, Butland
RB: Walker, Trippier,
LB: Rose, Young
CB: Stones, Jones, Maguire, Smalling,
CM: Dier, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Shelvey, Delph
AM: Alli, Sterling, Lingard, Sessengnon
S: Kane, Vardy, Rashford

couple of unlikely ones in Sessengnon and Shelvey but I would take them as they both make things happen.

Delph I have put CM but can play RB/LB also if needed

 

[DJS]

not a shock but no Hart in the final 23 being reported

Brave decision by Southgate if true as previous managers may have just stuck with him.

Interesting season for Burnley's Pope as Heaton was previously their first choice and also on cusp of England squad.

Funny how things can change with an unlucky injury.

 

[Riandor]

not a shock but no Hart in the final 23 being reported

The only shock is that that is already being reported, given that GS has until Wednesday to submit squad. Anything can happen between now and then, shower accidents and all...

As someone who manages youth Teams and has to submit squads, I always wait until the last minute (though actually in truth the players do know before hand).

 

[mpickard2087]

Butland, Pickford, Whoever.
Dier, Stones, Maguire, Tarkowski
Walker, Trippier, Rose, Bertrand
Henderson, Delph, Wilshere, Alli, Lallana, +1*
Sterling, Lingard, Rashford, Kane, Vardy, +1**

*Needs to be another 8/10 creative type. However there aren't many of those about. Seems like the options are going with Loftus-Cheek, or another chance for Ross Barkley.

**Another attacking wide player, wouldn't be against a wildcard gamble on someone like Lookman/Sancho or Sessegnon for that last slot.


As for the rest of the squad:

Personally I'd play Dier at centre back given the shortage of options. No Phil Jones or Chris Smalling anywhere near the squad please. Maguire is established now and has ability with the ball at his feet, and (though I don't think he would have gone even prior to his injury) I would have selected Mawson as the other backup as he is decent in the air and offers that long range passing option to switch play, but as he is injured I guess Tarkowski by default is next in line.

Fullbacks pick themselves. For flexibility it might have been better to pick Ashley Young, as if Walker is covering centre back in a back three then he can cover RB whilst Delph can cover LB, but I prefer Bertrand's forward intent.

Midfield is another weak point. Henderson can sit, Delph's LB role at Man City this season has seen him sitting in midfield basically, so you'd assume he is well versed and can cover that role. We need some players with ability on the ball, and create and control games. Slim pickings. Lallana has to go, even if he has played so little football this year. Wilshere as well. Alli is in contention, and then whoever else gets the nod (as I say, between RLC and Barkley I think).

Attack is easier. Vardy, Kane, Rashford can play central striker. Sterling and Lingard from wider, both had good seasons. Then it just depends on who else is the wildcard selection.....


Though I guess Southgate will play a back three formation, my team (if no injuries) for the opening game would probably be:

Pickford
Walker Stones Dier Rose
Henderson
Sterling Lallana Wilshere Rashford
Kane
​

So very Man City-esque. No place for Alli in that set-up you will notice..... If I was going to select him then I'd personally play him off the left hand side, but I went for Rashford's extra pace and directness.

 

[NickHSpurs]

Joe Hart been told he's not going is good news and gives me a tiny bit of faith that Southgate isn't driven by reputation and "experience".

 

[Riandor]

Pickford
Walker Stones Dier Rose
Henderson
Sterling Lallana Wilshere Rashford
Kane
​

So very Man City-esque. No place for Alli in that set-up you will notice..... If I was going to select him then I'd personally play him off the left hand side, but I went for Rashford's extra pace and directness.

You would pick Lallana and Wilshere over Alli??
That's nuts. Neither of them have done enough to warrant getting in the squad, let alone start!

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Love the look on Hart's face: "Huh. So what exactly does that mean?"

 

[Riandor]

Joe Hart been told he's not going is good news and gives me a tiny bit of faith that Southgate isn't driven by reputation and "experience".

Yeah the issue is that Hart has unfortunately shown that he is just not reliable. I wouldn't mind picking him if he was at least mr reliably average, but in the last tournament he was shocking and has been ever since. His "experience" is of no use to us and in my view has been rightfully dropped.

It's a sad fall from grace as he was very promising. Hoping Pickford can step up and fulfill his potential and isn't affected by tournament jitters.