JerryGarcia
Dark star crashes...
- May 18, 2006
- 8,694
- 16,028
I wouldn't call him a legend personally but neutral fans might see him that way.
World Cup Build Up Thread - Form Players
- Thread starter NickHSpurs
- Start date
I wouldn't call him a legend personally but neutral fans might see him that way.
Gbspurs
Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
- Jan 27, 2011
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Because having the best league means we attract a large number of players from other countries limiting playing time for our home grown talents thus stunting development.
It also means that our homegrown players all stay rather than travel abroad and experience different styles of football/management/leagues.
teok
Well-Known Member
- Aug 11, 2011
- 10,874
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edit - God dammit sorry for it being so big I tried to resize it but I can't for some reason
http://www.football365.com/f365-features/9150429/The-Ladder
F365 did a good build up piece:
Football365's Famous World Cup Ladder
1 (1) - Wayne Rooney
Whether he deserves a five-year contract (he doesn't) worth £300,000 a week (he doesn't), the captaincy (he doesn't) and inside information about transfers (he doesn't) is a moot point: England's World Cup side will be built around Wayne Rooney, whether he plays in the No. 10 role behind Daniel Sturridge or as a lone striker in front of a midfield three. No Englishman has contributed to more goals in the Premier League this season. No, not even Danny Graham.
2 (2) - Steven Gerrard
England's captain and - excuse us while we do a little sick in our mouths - heartbeat of the side. There will always be those who question Gerrard but England do not yet have a better all-round central midfielder. The rule of thumb here is that if you call him Stevie Me, or that nickname amuses you in some way, you're a bore. And probably have a small penis.
3 (3) - Joe Hart
'Can we move on now?' we asked in October and then 'Now can we move on?' in November. In February we're saying, thank f*** we moved on.
4 (6) - Gary Cahill
One goal conceded in his last six games for Chelsea and entirely comfortable as a starting centre-half in a team challenging for the title. We like to think he goads John Terry by openly learning Portuguese and practising the samba.
5 (5) - Phil Jagielka
We're choosing to view the Merseyside derby as an anomaly caused by the confusion of playing alongside Antolin Alcaraz.
6 (10) - Jack Wilshere
Yay, he's back in form with a goal and three assists in three Premier League games. Boo, he's got injured again. And so the Wilshere story continues. When he's good, he's very, very good. And when he's bad, he's probably injured.
7 (4) - Glen Johnson
Woefully out of form but still England's best right-back/world's tallest dwarf.
8 (12) - Daniel Sturridge
He's scored 28 goals in 35 games for Liverpool; he's scored seven goals in his last six matches. The only question should be whether Hodgson has the balls to start both him and Rooney in a partnership that looks better on paper than it looked on the pitch against Germany in England's last friendly. And now we're accidentally thinking about Hodgson's balls. We hope you are too.
9 (7) - Danny Welbeck
How much is he really going to play at United with Robin van Persie, Rooney, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj fit? Will he have to leave in the summer? But never mind that little conundrum, he's practically nailed on to go to the World Cup as England's first-choice left-sided attacking option.
10 (11) - Michael Carrick
'The answer against better sides is clearly to play three in the middle with Carrick keeping things ticking along and then going off at the 70-minute mark (like he did against Poland) when he starts getting fatigued or England need a goal,' we said in November. That would seem the sensible plan against Italy in Manaus.
11 (8) - Ashley Cole
Included by Hodgson in his nominally first-choice XI v Germany but since then he has started just three Premier League games with Chelsea. Is he still England's first choice? That question would be a lot easier to answer if Leighton Baines was in any kind of form. An embarrassment of riches may be turning into plain embarrassment.
12 (9) - Leighton Baines
And here he is, the lovely mop-top. Frankly not looking brilliant since his return from injury but nailed on to go and share left-back duties with Cole.
13 (16) - Frank Lampard
Involved in eight England games before the clash with Germany that he was always going to miss. He's not being eased out of England or Chelsea any time soon, even though he might spend more time with Ben Foster and Mark Schwarzer than he would ideally choose.
14 (19) - Phil Jones
The words 'embarrassing ease' came readily to mind when Samuel Eto'o gave Jones the eyes and the 'midfielder' eagerly bought everything in the shop last month. But for the most part, Jones has been half-decent when called upon at centre-half, right-back and central midfield. Which is exactly what any team hoping to win the World Cup needs from the 14th name on their squad list.
15 (17) - Ben Foster
Even he admits that Joe Hart should start. But Foster is at least fit and in form once again. Whoop.
16 (15) - James Milner
Useful. Like a chopping board.
17 (26) - Adam Lallana
'No outfield player in Hodgson's latest squad plays outside the top eight; Southampton probably have to stay there to keep Lallana in the reckoning,' is what we wrote in November. But we'll give him ninth as long as he's scoring and creating goals for fun (and money; probably quite a lot of money). Offers something different ie. invention. And you know what's the mother of invention, don't you? Yes, it's necessity. No, that doesn't make any sense.
18 (18) - Chris Smalling
Hodgson likes him a whole lot more than most Man United fans.
19 (20) - Fraser Forster
Simply because John Ruddy is in rotten nick.
20 (14) - Andros Townsend
There's probably a World Cup place for one pure speed merchant and Townsend - expected to be fit later this month - is probably winning that really sodding quick race ahead of Aaron Lennon, Raheem Sterling and WIlfried Zaha, purely because this particular pony's one trick helped England to the World Cup. He has rather a lot of credit in the Hodgson bank, which he will presumably spoon over the bar from distance.
21 (23) - Andy Carroll
That physiology-defying header for Kevin Nolan's second on Saturday is the reason a fit Carroll will go to the World Cup as an option off the bench. No other player in the Premier League would have made that header. Sorry Rickie Lambert, but you're almost too good with your feet for a big man.
22 (24) - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Showed the kind of versatility valuable at summer tournaments when he scored twice from central midfield against Crystal Palace. Edging ahead of Ross Barkley in the 'technically excellent but built like a brick s**thouse' role.
23 (30) - Jordan Henderson
We said in November that Tom Cleverley was 'far, far more likely' to go to the World Cup despite being so much worse than Henderson. We were wrong. Henderson has shown maturity and versatility (there's that word again) this season, with goalscoring the only real abence from his armoury. And we already know that Hodgson is a fan - he took him to Euro 2012 to almost-universal bafflement.
24 (21) - Tom Cleverley
There was a time when it seemed impossible that Cleverley would not go to the World Cup. Thankfully that time has passed.
25 (22) - Ross Barkley
Playing with painkilling injections and it shows. If the Ox continues to do quite well in his stead, Barkley may have to wait and be part of the post-World Cup, post-Gerrard re-build.
26 (36) - Raheem Sterling
Bizarrely in the squad for the World Cup qualifier against Poland at a time when he could not get near the Liverpool first-choice XI so now he's playing and playing well...he probably just needs Townsend not to get back in the Tottenham side. But preferably not because Aaron Lennon is brilliant.
27 (25) - John Ruddy
We're happier the lower down this list he drops.
28 (27) - Kyle Walker
Still preaching the 'nobody takes two specialist right-backs' sermon.
29 (28) - Rickie Lambert
Not as good as Carroll at the heading; not as good as the other strikers at the kicking and that. It will probably see him miss out.
30 (39) - Jay Rodriguez
This is what we said in November: 'Lucky to get one chance; unlikely to get another.' We were really, really wrong. Before his England call-up, Jay Rodriguez had scored four goals in 14 matches; since his debut he has notched eight in 15. Still likely to miss out to Welbeck, mind.
31 (32) - Ashley Young
Should we be worried that he's getting games for United?
32 (RE) - Adam Johnson
It couldn't happen, could it?
33 (29) - Kieran Gibbs
Seemingly cannot stay fit for more than seven minutes.
34 (31) - Jermain Defoe
He's right to think moving to the MLS would have no real impact on his World Cup chances.
35 (35) - Gareth Barry
Not to be ruled out as a stand-in for Carrick in the 'ticking over' role.
36 (NE) - Luke Shaw
Too soon? Probably.
37 (37) - Aaron Lennon
He's playing at least. Just not incredibly well.
38 (34) - Steven Caulker
The four centre-halves are so nailed on, it takes this long to get to the fifth.
39 (45) - Curtis Davies
And the sixth.
40 (38) - Michael Dawson
And the seventh.
41 (44) - Fabian Delph
42 (46) - Wilfried Zaha
43 (42) - Tom Huddlestone
44 (33) - Ravel Morrison
45 (44) - Jack Butland
46 (40) - Joleon Lescott
47 (47) - Leon Osman
48 (NE) - Joel Ward
49 (RE) - Mark Noble
50 (50) - Phil Neville
http://www.football365.com/f365-features/9150429/The-Ladder
F365 did a good build up piece:
Football365's Famous World Cup Ladder
1 (1) - Wayne Rooney
Whether he deserves a five-year contract (he doesn't) worth £300,000 a week (he doesn't), the captaincy (he doesn't) and inside information about transfers (he doesn't) is a moot point: England's World Cup side will be built around Wayne Rooney, whether he plays in the No. 10 role behind Daniel Sturridge or as a lone striker in front of a midfield three. No Englishman has contributed to more goals in the Premier League this season. No, not even Danny Graham.
2 (2) - Steven Gerrard
England's captain and - excuse us while we do a little sick in our mouths - heartbeat of the side. There will always be those who question Gerrard but England do not yet have a better all-round central midfielder. The rule of thumb here is that if you call him Stevie Me, or that nickname amuses you in some way, you're a bore. And probably have a small penis.
3 (3) - Joe Hart
'Can we move on now?' we asked in October and then 'Now can we move on?' in November. In February we're saying, thank f*** we moved on.
4 (6) - Gary Cahill
One goal conceded in his last six games for Chelsea and entirely comfortable as a starting centre-half in a team challenging for the title. We like to think he goads John Terry by openly learning Portuguese and practising the samba.
5 (5) - Phil Jagielka
We're choosing to view the Merseyside derby as an anomaly caused by the confusion of playing alongside Antolin Alcaraz.
6 (10) - Jack Wilshere
Yay, he's back in form with a goal and three assists in three Premier League games. Boo, he's got injured again. And so the Wilshere story continues. When he's good, he's very, very good. And when he's bad, he's probably injured.
7 (4) - Glen Johnson
Woefully out of form but still England's best right-back/world's tallest dwarf.
8 (12) - Daniel Sturridge
He's scored 28 goals in 35 games for Liverpool; he's scored seven goals in his last six matches. The only question should be whether Hodgson has the balls to start both him and Rooney in a partnership that looks better on paper than it looked on the pitch against Germany in England's last friendly. And now we're accidentally thinking about Hodgson's balls. We hope you are too.
9 (7) - Danny Welbeck
How much is he really going to play at United with Robin van Persie, Rooney, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj fit? Will he have to leave in the summer? But never mind that little conundrum, he's practically nailed on to go to the World Cup as England's first-choice left-sided attacking option.
10 (11) - Michael Carrick
'The answer against better sides is clearly to play three in the middle with Carrick keeping things ticking along and then going off at the 70-minute mark (like he did against Poland) when he starts getting fatigued or England need a goal,' we said in November. That would seem the sensible plan against Italy in Manaus.
11 (8) - Ashley Cole
Included by Hodgson in his nominally first-choice XI v Germany but since then he has started just three Premier League games with Chelsea. Is he still England's first choice? That question would be a lot easier to answer if Leighton Baines was in any kind of form. An embarrassment of riches may be turning into plain embarrassment.
12 (9) - Leighton Baines
And here he is, the lovely mop-top. Frankly not looking brilliant since his return from injury but nailed on to go and share left-back duties with Cole.
13 (16) - Frank Lampard
Involved in eight England games before the clash with Germany that he was always going to miss. He's not being eased out of England or Chelsea any time soon, even though he might spend more time with Ben Foster and Mark Schwarzer than he would ideally choose.
14 (19) - Phil Jones
The words 'embarrassing ease' came readily to mind when Samuel Eto'o gave Jones the eyes and the 'midfielder' eagerly bought everything in the shop last month. But for the most part, Jones has been half-decent when called upon at centre-half, right-back and central midfield. Which is exactly what any team hoping to win the World Cup needs from the 14th name on their squad list.
15 (17) - Ben Foster
Even he admits that Joe Hart should start. But Foster is at least fit and in form once again. Whoop.
16 (15) - James Milner
Useful. Like a chopping board.
17 (26) - Adam Lallana
'No outfield player in Hodgson's latest squad plays outside the top eight; Southampton probably have to stay there to keep Lallana in the reckoning,' is what we wrote in November. But we'll give him ninth as long as he's scoring and creating goals for fun (and money; probably quite a lot of money). Offers something different ie. invention. And you know what's the mother of invention, don't you? Yes, it's necessity. No, that doesn't make any sense.
18 (18) - Chris Smalling
Hodgson likes him a whole lot more than most Man United fans.
19 (20) - Fraser Forster
Simply because John Ruddy is in rotten nick.
20 (14) - Andros Townsend
There's probably a World Cup place for one pure speed merchant and Townsend - expected to be fit later this month - is probably winning that really sodding quick race ahead of Aaron Lennon, Raheem Sterling and WIlfried Zaha, purely because this particular pony's one trick helped England to the World Cup. He has rather a lot of credit in the Hodgson bank, which he will presumably spoon over the bar from distance.
21 (23) - Andy Carroll
That physiology-defying header for Kevin Nolan's second on Saturday is the reason a fit Carroll will go to the World Cup as an option off the bench. No other player in the Premier League would have made that header. Sorry Rickie Lambert, but you're almost too good with your feet for a big man.
22 (24) - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Showed the kind of versatility valuable at summer tournaments when he scored twice from central midfield against Crystal Palace. Edging ahead of Ross Barkley in the 'technically excellent but built like a brick s**thouse' role.
23 (30) - Jordan Henderson
We said in November that Tom Cleverley was 'far, far more likely' to go to the World Cup despite being so much worse than Henderson. We were wrong. Henderson has shown maturity and versatility (there's that word again) this season, with goalscoring the only real abence from his armoury. And we already know that Hodgson is a fan - he took him to Euro 2012 to almost-universal bafflement.
24 (21) - Tom Cleverley
There was a time when it seemed impossible that Cleverley would not go to the World Cup. Thankfully that time has passed.
25 (22) - Ross Barkley
Playing with painkilling injections and it shows. If the Ox continues to do quite well in his stead, Barkley may have to wait and be part of the post-World Cup, post-Gerrard re-build.
26 (36) - Raheem Sterling
Bizarrely in the squad for the World Cup qualifier against Poland at a time when he could not get near the Liverpool first-choice XI so now he's playing and playing well...he probably just needs Townsend not to get back in the Tottenham side. But preferably not because Aaron Lennon is brilliant.
27 (25) - John Ruddy
We're happier the lower down this list he drops.
28 (27) - Kyle Walker
Still preaching the 'nobody takes two specialist right-backs' sermon.
29 (28) - Rickie Lambert
Not as good as Carroll at the heading; not as good as the other strikers at the kicking and that. It will probably see him miss out.
30 (39) - Jay Rodriguez
This is what we said in November: 'Lucky to get one chance; unlikely to get another.' We were really, really wrong. Before his England call-up, Jay Rodriguez had scored four goals in 14 matches; since his debut he has notched eight in 15. Still likely to miss out to Welbeck, mind.
31 (32) - Ashley Young
Should we be worried that he's getting games for United?
32 (RE) - Adam Johnson
It couldn't happen, could it?
33 (29) - Kieran Gibbs
Seemingly cannot stay fit for more than seven minutes.
34 (31) - Jermain Defoe
He's right to think moving to the MLS would have no real impact on his World Cup chances.
35 (35) - Gareth Barry
Not to be ruled out as a stand-in for Carrick in the 'ticking over' role.
36 (NE) - Luke Shaw
Too soon? Probably.
37 (37) - Aaron Lennon
He's playing at least. Just not incredibly well.
38 (34) - Steven Caulker
The four centre-halves are so nailed on, it takes this long to get to the fifth.
39 (45) - Curtis Davies
And the sixth.
40 (38) - Michael Dawson
And the seventh.
41 (44) - Fabian Delph
42 (46) - Wilfried Zaha
43 (42) - Tom Huddlestone
44 (33) - Ravel Morrison
45 (44) - Jack Butland
46 (40) - Joleon Lescott
47 (47) - Leon Osman
48 (NE) - Joel Ward
49 (RE) - Mark Noble
50 (50) - Phil Neville
Tottenham_God
Well-Known Member
- Nov 6, 2011
- 2,940
- 5,619
Terrible
Gbspurs
Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
- Jan 27, 2011
- 26,985
- 61,896
Luka Van der Bale
Well-Known Member
- Jan 29, 2011
- 6,041
- 13,611
Jags is a cert.
THFCSPURS19
The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
- Jan 6, 2013
- 37,891
- 130,525
No sturridge? Only 3 CBs?
Tottenham_God
Well-Known Member
- Nov 6, 2011
- 2,940
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Hooper over Sturridge.. I don't think so
yido_number1
He'll always be magic
- Jun 8, 2004
- 8,692
- 16,890
Hardly setting the prem alight? Sturridge, Abonglahor or the big pikey are much more likely imho
yawa
Well-Known Member
- Aug 9, 2005
- 12,592
- 9,417
Not sure what the problem in Johnson going if he carries on as he is at the moment. He's the 4th highest english scorer in the premiership and id much rather we take in form players than just taking the likes of Cleverly etc just because they play for Man U.
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beats1
Well-Known Member
- Feb 22, 2010
- 30,030
- 29,611
WALLOB
Firstly on this season showings
Henderson >>>> Gerrard
Walker >>>> Johnson
As for Oxlade-Chamberlain, 1 game in the last 12 months and now he's a shoe in, this is whats wrong with England, obsessed with the name and hype. As for Morrison and Butland
.
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THFCSPURS19
The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
- Jan 6, 2013
- 37,891
- 130,525
One thing that is going very well for England right now is that a LOT of English players right now are in good form and hopefully that will keep up
absolute bobbins
Am Yisrael Chai
- Feb 12, 2013
- 11,656
- 25,971
It won't they're always Lions in January, Lambs in July
nailsy
SC Supporter
- Jul 24, 2005
- 30,536
- 46,630
If he carries on in good form until the end of the season then it would be fair enough to consider him. I haven't actually seen much of him recently. I know he's scored a lot of goals recently, but is he actually playing well in his overall game, or his he just scoring now?
yawa
Well-Known Member
- Aug 9, 2005
- 12,592
- 9,417
Hes been playing fantastic from what ive seen and one of the most inform players in the league. Poyet seems to be getting the best out of him and seems to be adding consistency too.
I knew I missed a couple
- Oct 2, 2004
- 48,267
- 47,354
- Staff
- #59
Based on current form I'd probably go with:
As for the other wing position, I suppose Johnson has it on form at the moment, but Sterling and Townsend will presumably also be in the mix. Theoretically we could also play Wilshere in a more advanced role.
Hart
Walker Cahill Jagielka Baines
????? Gerrard
Lallana Rooney ?????
Sturridge
In midfield I suppose the options are Carrick, Wilshere or Barkley. Ideally I wouldn't put Gerrard in the team but as he's captain that seems unlikely. I'd probably go with Carrick because he is the best defensively, but we really lack a top quality defensive midfielder.Walker Cahill Jagielka Baines
????? Gerrard
Lallana Rooney ?????
Sturridge
As for the other wing position, I suppose Johnson has it on form at the moment, but Sterling and Townsend will presumably also be in the mix. Theoretically we could also play Wilshere in a more advanced role.
Mouse!
Fookin' Legend in Gin Alley
- Aug 29, 2011
- 6,303
- 19,263
23-man squad:
Hart;
Walker, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines;
Carrick, Wilshere;
Johnson, Barkley, Lallana;
Rooney.
Subs: Foster, Jones, Davies, Gerrard, Townsend, Carroll, Sturridge.
Others: Butland, Shaw, Barry, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rodriguez.
Dare I say things don't look that bad? Well it doesn't make me want to kill myself, anyway.
Hart;
Walker, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines;
Carrick, Wilshere;
Johnson, Barkley, Lallana;
Rooney.
Subs: Foster, Jones, Davies, Gerrard, Townsend, Carroll, Sturridge.
Others: Butland, Shaw, Barry, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rodriguez.
Dare I say things don't look that bad? Well it doesn't make me want to kill myself, anyway.
