The England World Cup Thread

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

What the buggery fuck is that announcement video. I think it just gave me cat AIDS.

Every other country releases a list. We release a sodding video that clearly took weeks to make.

We are a joke.

I hear that they had to cut the Wilshere segment out of the video following his exclusion from the team. Apparently it was a guy muffling 'Wilshere, if he doesnt get injured when picking up the phone to Southgate"

The guy in the video looked like this:

 

[WiganSpur]

Walker I assume will play CB and Dier will play in midfield, not sure on what the thinking is about Young/Delph, maybe he wants to play Delph in midfield, certainly an option.

I don't disagree with Delph at all but Young I certainly do when you've got Rose in there. Is Rose and Delph not enough? This team lacks creativity and Southgate could have given himself another option by relying more on the versatility of a few players like Dier and Delph.

Cahill, Young and Welbeck should not be in. I doubt any of them will play and they're not going to add anything different to the squad.

 

[C0YS]

But personally I don't want us lining up against Tunisia with 3 CBs. If you need extra you can just drop Dier back there? It's his best position anyway.

Why not? I mean having three cb's is no more defensive than having two, it just is a different way to set up. My bigger problem is we shouldn't be playing 3 at the back to begin with. Of course we tried it, it was super fashionable last season, but CB for me is the weakest part of this England team, Attacking midfield is our strongest, Surely its better to play 4-5-1 and get three of Alli, Lingard, Sterling and Rashford playing behind Kane. Literally in the current set up you could make an argument for any two of those players to start, its a very strong position for us.

 

[Shadydan]

I don't disagree with Delph at all but Young I certainly do when you've got Rose in there. Is Rose and Delph not enough? This team lacks creativity and Southgate could have given himself another option by relying more on the versatility of a few players like Dier and Delph.

Cahill, Young and Welbeck should not be in. I doubt any of them will play and they're not going to add anything different to the squad.

Problem is what other creative options are out there?

 

[spursfan77]

Danny fucking Welbeck. We might as well not bother boarding the plane

Its ridiculous. He's horrendous. Might win us a penalty with one of his dives though

 

[WiganSpur]

Problem is what other creative options are out there?

Wilshere surely. Especially with Lallana being a doubt.

 

[Klinsmannesque]

I don't disagree with Delph at all but Young I certainly do when you've got Rose in there. Is Rose and Delph not enough? This team lacks creativity and Southgate could have given himself another option by relying more on the versatility of a few players like Dier and Delph.

Cahill, Young and Welbeck should not be in. I doubt any of them will play and they're not going to add anything different to the squad.

I'm with you on Cahill and Welbeck but Young has been good for United, he can play either flank and like him or loathe him, he's very experienced. Don't ever see him make mistakes really either. Delph can play full back but not quite a wing back.

The argument is for a creative midfielder, but we have none, and those on the shortlist are either Jack Wilshere, or have very limited exposure to top level football. They aren't going to play so whats the point in taking them.

If we can get solid comfortable wins in the first two games, the squad actually sets us up reasonably well for the latter stages when we play teams that come out at us. Maybe that's what has gone into GS's thinking. We go into every tournament trying to outplay everyone when technically we aren't good enough - pace and counter attack could do us well. It's how Leicester won the league.

 

[Zippy1980]

All 5 of our players are going to make the starting 11 given that squad selection.

 

[Shadydan]

Wilshere surely. Especially with Lallana being a doubt.

Both not fit though.

 

[WiganSpur]

I know exactly what's gonna happen in the WC.

We'll look alright against top teams, playing on the counter but this team will look utterly clueless when we play someone who will sit back and soak it up.

3 CBs with Dier and Henderson in front. No tempo and no penetration.

 

[LSUY]

If England wins the World Cup does that mean we get to do a West Ham and spend the next few decades claiming we won the World Cup?

 

[WiganSpur]

Both not fit though.

I'd rather just gamble or one or even both tbh. At least if they are fit they will serve a purpose. I can't see what purpose Welbeck, Young and Cahill are going to serve.

 

[C0YS]

I don't disagree with Delph at all but Young I certainly do when you've got Rose in there. Is Rose and Delph not enough? This team lacks creativity and Southgate could have given himself another option by relying more on the versatility of a few players like Dier and Delph.

Cahill, Young and Welbeck should not be in. I doubt any of them will play and they're not going to add anything different to the squad.

Young has probably been the best LB in the league this season, if thats your argument than Rose is the one to stay home.

I guess Young can play further forward as well.

Also I think Young will start for England. He played very well against Italy.

If it was simply on ability to defend Cahill makes sense, he isnt great but the other options really arn't either. There is logic as well in having him, he is very experienced and that can really help in tournaments.

Welbeck might play, because he offers a bit of graft in the front line, he could be a useful option.

I think every one of those decisions has logic. The team lacks creativity but only because there isn't much creativity anywhere in the England set-up, everyone is england. Its a workmanlike midfield, but that not necessarily a bad thing. Though maybe taking a risk on Lallana or Wiltshire wouldn't of been a bad idea, or even brining in Cook, who isn't a special player but at least moves the ball around quickly.

 

[allatsea]

The cupboard is bare. Lucky to get out of our group.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

If England wins the World Cup does that mean we get to do a West Ham and spend the next few decades claiming we won the World Cup?

If England wins the world cup it means no other fuckers turned up.

 

[WiganSpur]

Young has probably been the best LB in the league this season, if thats your argument than Rose is the one to stay home.

I guess Young can play further forward as well.

Also I think Young will start for England. He played very well against Italy.

If it was simply on ability to defend Cahill makes sense, he isnt great but the other options really arn't either. There is logic as well in having him, he is very experienced and that can really help in tournaments.

Welbeck might play, because he offers a bit of graft in the front line, he could be a useful option.

I think every one of those decisions has logic. The team lacks creativity but only because there isn't much creativity anywhere in the England set-up, everyone is england. Its a workmanlike midfield, but that not necessarily a bad thing. Though maybe taking a risk on Lallana or Wiltshire wouldn't of been a bad idea, or even brining in Cook, who isn't a special player but at least moves the ball around quickly.

My point regarding Young concerns 3 left back options yes. It should be Delph plus one more left back.

My concern regarding Cahill is numbers. Why not make use of Dier's flexibility too. If there's an injury just play him there. He's actually our best CB option. Having Cahill is redundant.

What does Welbeck offer in comparison to Rashford, Sterling, Lingard etc? I'd have even taken Sancho or Sessegnon over him, even Ross Barkley. If you want a grafter then even JRod is better.

 

[Shadydan]

I'd rather just gamble or one or even both tbh. At least if they are fit they will serve a purpose. I can't see what purpose Welbeck, Young and Cahill are going to serve.

I think we did that last time out in the Euro's when we picked Wilshere (which I championed) and played him, he was shocking because he couldn't keep up with play.

Honestly we've seen how these things go, I'd rather have a 6/10 player if he's 100% than an 8/10 player if he's 60%, makes all the difference.

 

[Spursh]

Cahill is there for experience and for the fact that he's played in a back three for the past two years.

Welbeck - I have no idea, he's awful. Would have picked Lookman or Sancho above him.

Sad that Shelvey isn't there. His vision and range of passing would have been brilliant to pick out our wingers and wingbacks. Without him, Wilshere (dare I say), Lallana, and Cook, we haven't got a midfielder who can play a sharp pass let alone a defence-splitting diagonal. Shame Ox, Milner, and Winks are all unavailable too. Our midfield options would've looked much better if we had some of those names in there.

 

[thinktank]

Thank god clinical finisher Wellbeck has made it.

Lethal weapon.

 

[C0YS]

The cupboard is bare. Lucky to get out of our group.

Right I hate the England overblown optimism, but I can't stand this kind of thing either. Partly because its been the mentality for sometime now and frankly its giving the failures of the FA a bit of a free ride.

Southgate was and still a bizarre appointment, and he really has yet to convince. This is after all a manager who has failed in any significant job he's had. Given an incredibly gifted U21 he failed to get them playing. But this England team isn't actually that bad, its the best England have had in any tournament since 2010 if this team fails to get out of the group it would be a colossal failure. Its a plucky but not impressive panama side and Morroco is a well organised middle of the road team with decent unpredictable attacking talent. Neither are world beaters. England shoud get through, if they dont it would be a colossal failure with the team they have.