World Cup Qualifiers

[Mr Pink]

I actually think the Wilshire, Gerrard and Lampard trio will work. The issue is the wingers for me.

Theo plays nothing like he does for Arsenal, doesn't run at anyone and just looks to avoid injuries. Hodgson never picks a natural wide player on the left either, we've always had just a CM playing on the wing. Why the hell aren't Lennon and Townsend starting?

I don't. Wilshere is over rated, there is no doubt about it. He was awful for me last night. His decision making is incredibly bad. Lampard shouldn't be anywhere near this team anymore. Gerrard has been better, although I didn't think he was anything better than average last sight despite the pundits waxing lyrical, and should move on after this World Cup IMO.

England need to get a young enough team/group of players together and stick with them. Rooney should be in the group of senior players now, not Frank Lampard who will be 36 at the world cup. Its a joke to be honest. But that's not going to happen in time for this world cup....but after you would think they'd really start to think about this. Its the suits at the top who are the real problem.

Rooney, Wellbeck and Sturridge should be the way forward for England's attacking options. Carrick would be an absolute no brainer for me. How he isn't in the team absolutely baffles me senseless.

First eleven I'd pick for the world cup would be:

Hart

Walker*
Cahill
Jag
Cole

Carrick
Gerrard

Walnut
Rooney
Welbeck

Sturridge

That would be a bloody start. That midfield and attack is actually pretty good looking.

* toss up between him and Johnson.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I don't. Wilshere is over rated, there is no doubt about it. He was awful for me last night. His decision making is incredibly bad. Lampard shouldn't be anywhere near this team anymore. Gerrard has been better, although I didn't think he was anything better than average last sight despite the pundits waxing lyrical, and should move on after this World Cup IMO.

England need to get a young enough team/group of players together and stick with them. Rooney should be in the group of senior players now, not Frank Lampard who will be 36 at the world cup. Its a joke to be honest. But that's not going to happen in time for this world cup....but after you would think they'd really start to think about this. Its the suits at the top who are the real problem.

Rooney, Wellbeck and Sturridge should be the way forward for England's attacking options. Carrick would be an absolute no brainer for me. How he isn't in the team absolutely baffles me senseless.

First eleven I'd pick for the world cup would be:

Hart

Walker*
Cahill
Jag
Cole

Carrick
Gerrard

Walnut
Rooney
Welbeck

Sturridge

That would be a bloody start. That midfield and attack is actually pretty good looking.

* toss up between him and Johnson.

That team would be asking a lot of Carrick defensively, and the problem with that front 4 is that none of those players bar Walcott really play in that position for their team (maybe Rooney sometimes).

Having said that I don't know if I have a realistic alternative. We don't have a decent defensive midfielder, none of our 'wide-forwards' know how to play the position and we don't seem to have a creative player as an option at all at the moment.

I think I'd just pick the best long ball specialists, stick Crouch and Carroll upfront and see if we can long-ball our way to victory.

 

[Wardy]

I don't. Wilshere is over rated, there is no doubt about it. He was awful for me last night. His decision making is incredibly bad. Lampard shouldn't be anywhere near this team anymore. Gerrard has been better, although I didn't think he was anything better than average last sight despite the pundits waxing lyrical, and should move on after this World Cup IMO.

England need to get a young enough team/group of players together and stick with them. Rooney should be in the group of senior players now, not Frank Lampard who will be 36 at the world cup. Its a joke to be honest. But that's not going to happen in time for this world cup....but after you would think they'd really start to think about this. Its the suits at the top who are the real problem.

Rooney, Wellbeck and Sturridge should be the way forward for England's attacking options. Carrick would be an absolute no brainer for me. How he isn't in the team absolutely baffles me senseless.

First eleven I'd pick for the world cup would be:

Hart

Walker*
Cahill
Jag
Cole

Carrick
Gerrard

Walnut
Rooney
Welbeck

Sturridge

That would be a bloody start. That midfield and attack is actually pretty good looking.

* toss up between him and Johnson.

I wouldn't say Wilshire is over rated, clearly not fit yesterday. I agree with the defence and attack in the above though, just we didn't have Welbeck, Sturridge or Rooney available yesterday.

Problem really is Hodgson is very defensive minded, so not even sure he would have that 4 up front. We also have so little options! If we played like that against a decent team, we would have been smashed yesterday. I've tried to have faith in the England setup for many years, but just about giving up now

 

[Mr Pink]

I wouldn't say Wilshire is over rated, clearly not fit yesterday. I agree with the defence and attack in the above though, just we didn't have Welbeck, Sturridge or Rooney available yesterday.

Problem really is Hodgson is very defensive minded, so not even sure he would have that 4 up front. We also have so little options! If we played like that against a decent team, we would have been smashed yesterday. I've tried to have faith in the England setup for many years, but just about giving up now

Yeah I know they weren't available yesterday, but nevertheless you wouldn't see that dinosaur field the team above.

I think Wilshere is over rated, definitely. The media and pundits in this country have built him up to ridiculously high levels because he has a slight resemblance to some of the technically gifted players plying their trade in La Liga. Don't confuse what I mean though, I'm not saying he isn't a good player, he is. But he's been built up way over his actual level of ability - IMHO of course - and this opinion isn't based on one game either.

 

[Mr Pink]

That team would be asking a lot of Carrick defensively, and the problem with that front 4 is that none of those players bar Walcott really play in that position for their team (maybe Rooney sometimes).

Having said that I don't know if I have a realistic alternative. We don't have a decent defensive midfielder, none of our 'wide-forwards' know how to play the position and we don't seem to have a creative player as an option at all at the moment.

I think I'd just pick the best long ball specialists, stick Crouch and Carroll upfront and see if we can long-ball our way to victory.

Rooney is best in that position. He's a complete number ten, playing between the lines. By far his best position. Welbeck has been playing from the left as well in a lot of games. Sturridge can definitely play up top, so these are positions they are most definitely use to.

Do agree, from a defensive point of view - but Carrick is pretty good defensively, positionaly he's excellent.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Rooney is best in that position. He's a complete number ten, playing between the lines. By far his best position. Welbeck has been playing from the left as well in a lot of games. Sturridge can definitely play up top, so these are positions they are most definitely use to.

Do agree, from a defensive point of view - but Carrick is pretty good defensively, positionaly he's excellent.

I certainly agree that Carrick should be one of the first names on the team sheet, but if he plays I think he needs someone with a lot of energy alongside him (not sure Gerrard fits that bill these days).

As for the strikers, Rooney will always play upfront for England because that's what we do. Welbeck needs to do a lot more to show he deserves a regular start (even though he's started well for United this season) and I think everyone is getting very excited very early about Sturridge as well.

Unfortunately this is all a pointless argument as Roy will go with Lampard and Gerrard and basically build a team around that, owing to the fantastic success we've had with that pairing in the last 10 years.

*sigh*

 

[fedupyid]

Should get Schneiderlin from Southampton to become British through domestication and play him next to Carrick then we would have a solid base to the team and build around them. Forget Wilshire he is overrated. The fact is you could dump most the England squad and be better for it. Most these overpriced stars do not want to play for England. So my view is drop the lot I believe till they start talking about what an honour it is the likes of Cole and Rooney should not hope to be any where near the squad.

 

[Kendall]

I think this is possibly the best team we could put out at this moment, but fuck it still looks average.

Hart​

​

Walker Jagielka Cahill Cole​

​

Carrick __ Lampard​

Wilshere​

​

Walcott ____ Rooney​

Sturridge​

This front line could work well:

Walcott Rooney Welbeck
Sturridge​

But we don't have a dynamic midfielder to work alongside Carrick or Lampard (in the way Ramires/Paulinho do for example).

 

[Mr Pink]

I certainly agree that Carrick should be one of the first names on the team sheet, but if he plays I think he needs someone with a lot of energy alongside him (not sure Gerrard fits that bill these days).

As for the strikers, Rooney will always play upfront for England because that's what we do. Welbeck needs to do a lot more to show he deserves a regular start (even though he's started well for United this season) and I think everyone is getting very excited very early about Sturridge as well.

Unfortunately this is all a pointless argument as Roy will go with Lampard and Gerrard and basically build a team around that, owing to the fantastic success we've had with that pairing in the last 10 years.

*sigh*

Ah yes indeed, but its what I would do

Not saying that side I picked would transform all hopes lol, but its what I would pick!

But yeah, its pointless. I don't see the hopes of the national team changing for a very long time. We all know England won't go far in the world cup no matter how prudent Hodgson's approach is. I think most people would settle for a few good moves and a couple of goals and then bowing out instead of the dross we have to watch like drawing 0-0 with Algeria!

 

[mpickard2087]

I don't. Wilshere is over rated, there is no doubt about it. He was awful for me last night. His decision making is incredibly bad. Lampard shouldn't be anywhere near this team anymore. Gerrard has been better, although I didn't think he was anything better than average last sight despite the pundits waxing lyrical, and should move on after this World Cup IMO.

England need to get a young enough team/group of players together and stick with them. Rooney should be in the group of senior players now, not Frank Lampard who will be 36 at the world cup. Its a joke to be honest. But that's not going to happen in time for this world cup....but after you would think they'd really start to think about this. Its the suits at the top who are the real problem.

Rooney, Wellbeck and Sturridge should be the way forward for England's attacking options. Carrick would be an absolute no brainer for me. How he isn't in the team absolutely baffles me senseless.

First eleven I'd pick for the world cup would be:

Hart

Walker*
Cahill
Jag
Cole

Carrick
Gerrard

Walnut
Rooney
Welbeck

Sturridge

That would be a bloody start. That midfield and attack is actually pretty good looking.

* toss up between him and Johnson.

Wilshere just seems too desperate to impress right now, which is causing him to make bad decisions time and again and try too much. Someone needs to get into his head and tell him to calm down and keep it simpler. If he does that then there isn't really a player in England who can receive the ball in the centre of the park and drive forward with it. There is definitely a place for him in the team.

I largely agree with that team, Wilshere for one of the attacking players though, and I would also have Baines instead of Cole based on what I have seen recently.

 

[Mr Pink]

Wilshere just seems too desperate to impress right now, which is causing him to make bad decisions time and again and try too much. Someone needs to get into his head and tell him to calm down and keep it simpler. If he does that then there isn't really a player in England who can receive the ball in the centre of the park and drive forward with it. There is definitely a place for him in the team.

I largely agree with that team, Wilshere for one of the attacking players though, and I would also have Baines instead of Cole based on what I have seen recently.

The one person I'd leave in that side and not touch is Rooney as a number 10. He's still England's best player and the team should be built around him - IMO anway.

4-3-3 wise, I guess you could go:

Carrick
Gerrard
Wilshere

Walnut
Rooney
Webeck

 

[Kendall]

Wilshere just seems too desperate to impress right now, which is causing him to make bad decisions time and again and try too much. Someone needs to get into his head and tell him to calm down and keep it simpler. If he does that then there isn't really a player in England who can receive the ball in the centre of the park and drive forward with it. There is definitely a place for him in the team.

I largely agree with that team, Wilshere for one of the attacking players though, and I would also have Baines instead of Cole based on what I have seen recently.

Yep, Wilshere over Welbeck any day, with a shift in system. Wilshere is the type of player I want to see coming through more regularly.

 

[Kendall]

The one person I'd leave in that side and not touch is Rooney as a number 10. He's still England's best player and the team should be built around him - IMO anway.

4-3-3 wise, I guess you could go:

Carrick
Gerrard
Wilshere

Walnut
Rooney
Webeck

Can't pick Welbeck over Sturridge surely.

 

[Gassin's finest]

That team would be asking a lot of Carrick defensively, and the problem with that front 4 is that none of those players bar Walcott really play in that position for their team (maybe Rooney sometimes).

Having said that I don't know if I have a realistic alternative. We don't have a decent defensive midfielder, none of our 'wide-forwards' know how to play the position and we don't seem to have a creative player as an option at all at the moment.

I think I'd just pick the best long ball specialists, stick Crouch and Carroll upfront and see if we can long-ball our way to victory.

This, with Ricky Lambert and Danny Graham thrown in for good measure. Would get us to last 16, which is about the level of this pool of players imo. The fact that Sturridge and Welbeck are our best attacking options otherwise would make me weep if I gave a shit.

 

[Mr Pink]

Can't pick Welbeck over Sturridge surely.

As a wide left forward I would. Not in a central forward role I wouldn't though.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I'm not quite sure what Wilshere's best position is at the moment. I don't actually think he's very good going forward, and his skills are in finding space and picking a pass. So in that sense I certainly wouldn't have him in an attacking position, but I don't think he's good enough defensively to play as part of a midfield two.

Every time I go to pick a team I struggle.

We need a decent defensive midfield player to allow the likes of Wilshere/Carrick/Cleverley to play a bit of football.

Has Phil Jones played that role any more at United?

 

[thinktank]

Don't care about the england team. Just looking forward to seeing the good teams in the WC.

Spurs > England

 

[The Apprentice]

We might start improving when we stop picking players because they "work hard and do a job" for the team...Milner. It is inherent in the English footballing philosophy to value these types of players. How about picking a Left midfielder who offers something going forward rather than worrying about the protection they might offer once a game when someone is out of position?

Why was Wilshire playing number #10? He gets so few assists and goals. If he plays, he should be a deeper creative, taking the ball off of the back four and playing. It really depresses me still seeing Lampard and Gerrard ambling around the centre circle at a combined age of nearly 70.

Hodgson is a dinosaur and how Carrick doesn't start is beyond me. I wouldn't be so confident of beating Montenegro and Poland at home; yet some how we're top of the group having only beaten Moldova and San Marino!

 

[Wick3d]

Watching Carrick being wasted by the national team, fucking deja vu. When will England learn!

 

[Wick3d]

Hodgson is a dinosaur and how Carrick doesn't start is beyond me. I wouldn't be so confident of beating Montenegro and Poland at home; yet some how we're top of the group having only beaten Moldova and San Marino!

That man just sets up his team so that they are hard to beat. Ever seen him play a proper attacking team? Nope. Never.