The England Thread

[Cronky]

A much better crop of players than usual? Really? I'm only 20 but this is the worst England squad I can remember.

 

+ 7 years. There is arguably one world class player in the squad (Cole) and he's on the wane.

 

Wilshere and Chamberlain aside there is little coming through either currently.

 

Smalling, Jones, Cleverley, Welbeck and Sturridge are also coming through and playing international football at a good age.

 

Yet to make a breakthrough, but I’d add Ross Barkley to that list. He looks a very good player in the making, and I could see a midfield of him, Chamberlain and Wilshere operating very well in the future. We’ll see.

 

This current England side hasn’t performed anywhere near to its potential, partly due to the frequent absence of Wilshere, but also the conservatism of the manager. But against Brazil, I saw a glimpse of how the side can perform and with Wilshere and Gerrard to come in, I think the future is starting to look bright.

 

[Ronaldo]

Same boat as Disco and Sewelly. Worst England side I've seen by a mile.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Under Hodgson we are the same as we were under Sven, but with fewer quality players. Boring, but tactical, but not long-ball or offensively direct like under Capello. If he can strike the right balance selection wise and give our more attacking players some freedom, we can hold our own as we did against Brazil.

[The College Dropout]

Same boat as Disco and Sewelly. Worse England side I've seen by a mile.

Ditto.

[Jayson]

Think Sturridge is underated due to how Chelsea used him. In his preferred position upfront for both Bolton on loan & Liverpool he hasnt stopped scoring.

[Deuce]

Think Sturridge is underated due to how Chelsea used him. In his preferred position upfront for both Bolton on loan & Liverpool he hasnt stopped scoring.

 

 

He's better than Welbeck by leaps and bounds too. The latter should never be played over him.

 

Sturridge up-top flanked by Rooney is probably the strongest front-2 England can play at the moment.

[Cronky]

Think Sturridge is underated due to how Chelsea used him. In his preferred position upfront for both Bolton on loan & Liverpool he hasnt stopped scoring.

 

 

He's better than Welbeck by leaps and bounds too. The latter should never be played over him.

 

Sturridge up-top flanked by Rooney is probably the strongest front-2 England can play at the moment.

 

Yeah, those two were looking promising against Ireland, and it's a shame we didn't see more of them.

 

Welbeck is a class player, and I hope he can carve out a role for himself at international level. He doesn't look ideally suited to a wide role, but he's a player who can make things happen.

[The College Dropout]

Welbeck is a tremendous outlet. In the air or with pace skill and direct running. Also very helpful defending set-pieces. But yes Sturridge is a greater goal threat. Just think there's a lace for Danny in the squad and in some situations.

[Incognito]

I think the side Sir Bobby put out against the Soviets in 1984 is the worst I've seen . We lost 2-0 , which flattered us desperately. And the central midfield pairing of Steve Hunt and John Gregory were unsurprisingly found wanting. Ron Greenwood selected some decidedly shite sides too. Steve Foster ffs.

[Cronky]

I think the side Sir Bobby put out against the Soviets in 1984 is the worst I've seen . We lost 2-0 , which flattered us desperately. And the central midfield pairing of Steve Hunt and John Gregory were unsurprisingly found wanting. Ron Greenwood selected some decidedly shite sides too. Steve Foster ffs.

 

I can remember us losing at home to Holland 2-0, in the late 1970s, and Don Revie picked 5 players who normally played centre back for their clubs.

 

That was an example of Englandmanageritis, where a competent club manager's judgement and composure starts to unravel under the pressure of the national job.

[Guest taps01]

I think the side Sir Bobby put out against the Soviets in 1984 is the worst I've seen . We lost 2-0 , which flattered us desperately. And the central midfield pairing of Steve Hunt and John Gregory were unsurprisingly found wanting. Ron Greenwood selected some decidedly s**** sides too. Steve Foster ffs.

 

Graham Taylor fielded some shocking teams.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Welbeck is a tremendous outlet. In the air or with pace skill and direct running. Also very helpful defending set-pieces. But yes Sturridge is a greater goal threat. Just think there's a lace for Danny in the squad and in some situations.

 

I really like Welbeck for all the reasons you say, for some reason it's trendy to criticise him. IMO he's quality.

[BrettNUFC]

Welbeck is a tremendous outlet. In the air or with pace skill and direct running. Also very helpful defending set-pieces. But yes Sturridge is a greater goal threat. Just think there's a lace for Danny in the squad and in some situations.

 

I really like Welbeck for all the reasons you say, for some reason it's trendy to criticise him. IMO he's quality.

 

I'm not sure I’ve changed my opinion more on a player so early in a career. I'm just never sure what to expect anymore. I originally thought he would fall short this season thinking he wasn't good enough but then in big games this year he has shown a lot of ability and quality at times. So i think yeah he's looking like a player but then you'll watch him the following week against a poor premier league side and he won't really contribute anything really noteworthy other tidy play in a decent side. Seems like he steps up his game for the big boys but then can't set games alight against the lesser opposition.

[Incognito]

Remember when Graham Turnip dropped Gazza at his peak, before knee ligaments injury for Gordon fucking Cowans.

 

And the midfield artistry Turnip created by pairing Geoff Thomas and Carlton Palmer ffs.

 

[Incognito]

I think the side Sir Bobby put out against the Soviets in 1984 is the worst I've seen . We lost 2-0 , which flattered us desperately. And the central midfield pairing of Steve Hunt and John Gregory were unsurprisingly found wanting. Ron Greenwood selected some decidedly shite sides too. Steve Foster ffs.

 

I can remember us losing at home to Holland 2-0, in the late 1970s, and Don Revie picked 5 players who normally played centre back for their clubs.

 

That was an example of Englandmanageritis, where a competent club manager's judgement and composure starts to unravel under the pressure of the national job.

 

Jan Peters with a double if I remember rightly.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Welbeck is a tremendous outlet. In the air or with pace skill and direct running. Also very helpful defending set-pieces. But yes Sturridge is a greater goal threat. Just think there's a lace for Danny in the squad and in some situations.

 

I really like Welbeck for all the reasons you say, for some reason it's trendy to criticise him. IMO he's quality.

 

I'm not sure I’ve changed my opinion more on a player so early in a career. I'm just never sure what to expect anymore. I originally thought he would fall short this season thinking he wasn't good enough but then in big games this year he has shown a lot of ability and quality at times. So i think yeah he's looking like a player but then you'll watch him the following week against a poor premier league side and he won't really contribute anything really noteworthy other tidy play in a decent side. Seems like he steps up his game for the big boys but then can't set games alight against the lesser opposition.

 

TBH I expected not to like him, but every time I've seen him he's really impressed me. Even wide of a 4-3-3 I think he's mobile enough to do a job.

[Guest taps01]

Welbeck is a tremendous outlet. In the air or with pace skill and direct running. Also very helpful defending set-pieces. But yes Sturridge is a greater goal threat. Just think there's a lace for Danny in the squad and in some situations.

 

I really like Welbeck for all the reasons you say, for some reason it's trendy to criticise him. IMO he's quality.

 

I'm not sure I’ve changed my opinion more on a player so early in a career. I'm just never sure what to expect anymore. I originally thought he would fall short this season thinking he wasn't good enough but then in big games this year he has shown a lot of ability and quality at times. So i think yeah he's looking like a player but then you'll watch him the following week against a poor premier league side and he won't really contribute anything really noteworthy other tidy play in a decent side. Seems like he steps up his game for the big boys but then can't set games alight against the lesser opposition.

 

TBH I expected not to like him, but every time I've seen him he's really impressed me. Even wide of a 4-3-3 I think he's mobile enough to do a job.

 

I like him great work rate and always seems to play well in the big games.  Just needs to add goals to his game now.

[Ishmael]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jun/18/england-under-21-stuart-pearce-gareth-southgate

 

From no hope to no hope.  Just chucking very important roles at ex-Englanders who have not proven to be competent.

[Froggy]

On the Welbeck issue I'm pretty sure he was Englands top scorer in 2012. 5 in 10 IIRC.

[SEMTEX]

Ricky Lambert.

[Disco]

[TaylorJ_01]

Rickie.

[Jack Flash]

Need more top 6 players.

[SEMTEX]

That's not an acceptable way to spell Ricky. Sounds like a Scottish twat anyway. Bet he's Scottish as fuck.

[Cronky]

Need more top 6 players.

 

Interesting, isn't it. A few years ago, England players were drawn from a much wider spread of clubs, including the lower divisions on occasion. Now the best talent is much more concentrated at the top clubs.

 

They talk about the influx of foreign players into the Premiership making it difficult for the England manager, but it doesn't look like it there. The one problem area is goalkeeper.