England

[Guest firetotheworks]

I genuinely don't think it makes a difference really, there's just not a lot of talent in England right now.

 

You could make an argument for certain people but it's not like they make a massive difference to the end result.

It makes a difference in that people just want something to get behind and maybe see some momentum build. I can't see anyone thinking it'll take us much further or anything.

[Cronky]

Delph and Young are there on merit but shouldn't be taking up spots as midfielders.

 

Delph has played the vast majority of his career in centre midfield. He's played there for England and done okay.

 

I think Young is there as a wing-back.

 

He hasn't played a full season at central midfield since he was at Villa 3 years ago, and was never an England stalwart at that point. How does his form at left back justify selection in a completely different position?

 

Well I don't think he's forgotten how to play centre mid. City have picked him at left back because it suits their squad, not necessarily because they think it's his better position.

 

I've always rated him. He made a career mistake in going to City, where I think right from the start, they saw him as a squad player.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I genuinely don't think it makes a difference really, there's just not a lot of talent in England right now.

 

You could make an argument for certain people but it's not like they make a massive difference to the end result.

It makes a difference in that people just want something to get behind and maybe see some momentum build. I can't see anyone thinking it'll take us much further or anything.

 

In terms of that I agree, didn't think of that really as I'm so disillusioned with England tbh.

[Cronky]

Our three keepers have got 9 caps between them. That's a worry.

 

 

[Hanshithispantz]

I genuinely don't think it makes a difference really, there's just not a lot of talent in England right now.

 

You could make an argument for certain people but it's not like they make a massive difference to the end result.

It makes a difference in that people just want something to get behind and maybe see some momentum build. I can't see anyone thinking it'll take us much further or anything.

 

In terms of that I agree, didn't think of that really as I'm so disillusioned with England tbh.

This is why I wanted Shelvey and Lascelles to go

 

They've unquestionably earned the right imo so it's massively annoying that we cannot see then in an England shirt. Beyond that the squad he has picked is just dull and tbh really fucking weird - the fact he somehow achieved that oxymoron is a testament to him I suppose.

[joeyt]

Our three keepers have got 9 caps between them. That's a worry.

 

 

 

It's certainly better than picking Hart

[Pilko]

Our three keepers have got 9 caps between them. That's a worry.

 

 

 

It is, but when you consider the only realistic choice to bump up the "keeper cap count" was Hart then it's nowhere near as bad IMO.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I genuinely don't think it makes a difference really, there's just not a lot of talent in England right now.

 

You could make an argument for certain people but it's not like they make a massive difference to the end result.

It makes a difference in that people just want something to get behind and maybe see some momentum build. I can't see anyone thinking it'll take us much further or anything.

 

In terms of that I agree, didn't think of that really as I'm so disillusioned with England tbh.

This is why I wanted Shelvey and Lascelles to go

 

They've unquestionably earned the right imo so it's massively annoying that we cannot see then in an England shirt. Beyond that the squad he has picked is just dull and tbh really fucking weird - the fact he somehow achieved that oxymoron is a testament to him I suppose.

 

Aye agree, tbh I'm starting to think maybe you should call up kids like Sessegnon just because of the whole something to look forward to and hope for like KI mentions even if they are not ready.

[tgarve]

18 of the 23 play for the top 6.

 

without looking surely that would be the case for most major nations with a strong national league (germany, spain, italy etc.)?

 

I doubt there is another nation that will pick 18 of it's players exclusively from the top 6 of it's own domestic league and have aspirations of going far in the competition. We are shit from top to bottom and hope the big teams can prop us up as we have nothing to offer from decent foreign teams and don't trust players outside the top 10.

 

Embarrassing really.

 

Will keep this in case we win it

[Ikon]

18 of the 23 play for the top 6.

 

without looking surely that would be the case for most major nations with a strong national league (germany, spain, italy etc.)?

 

I doubt there is another nation that will pick 18 of it's players exclusively from the top 6 of it's own domestic league and have aspirations of going far in the competition. We are shit from top to bottom and hope the big teams can prop us up as we have nothing to offer from decent foreign teams and don't trust players outside the top 10.

 

Embarrassing really.

 

Will keep this in case we win it

 

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Wullie]

18 of the 23 play for the top 6.

 

without looking surely that would be the case for most major nations with a strong national league (germany, spain, italy etc.)?

 

I doubt there is another nation that will pick 18 of it's players exclusively from the top 6 of it's own domestic league and have aspirations of going far in the competition. We are shit from top to bottom and hope the big teams can prop us up as we have nothing to offer from decent foreign teams and don't trust players outside the top 10.

 

Embarrassing really.

 

17 of the Spain squad that won the 2010 WC were from their top six. They've not announced their latest squad but the last one had 15 in. Don't really understand the correlation.

[triggs]

If he wanted a player who could reliably cover at full back and in midfield, he should have been on bended knee to James Milner imo.

Milner's a much better midfielder than Dier and Henderson IMO

[Twinport53]

18 of the 23 play for the top 6.

 

without looking surely that would be the case for most major nations with a strong national league (germany, spain, italy etc.)?

 

I doubt there is another nation that will pick 18 of it's players exclusively from the top 6 of it's own domestic league and have aspirations of going far in the competition. We are shit from top to bottom and hope the big teams can prop us up as we have nothing to offer from decent foreign teams and don't trust players outside the top 10.

 

Embarrassing really.

 

Will keep this in case we win it

 

Frame it marra.

[OoOGazOoO]

I'm always pretty excited about tournaments and meaningful internationals, but have to be honest, I wasn't that excited when the squad was announced.

 

Just do not like the look of our midfield at all. Think The Ox is a big miss given his form prior to injury, and I will never, ever get the hype that surrounds Henderson, let alone fathom how he is Liverpool & England captain. Dier is pretty anonymous too these days. Let's hope Sterling can at least re-produce some of his form this season.

[afar]

18 of the 23 play for the top 6.

 

without looking surely that would be the case for most major nations with a strong national league (germany, spain, italy etc.)?

 

I doubt there is another nation that will pick 18 of it's players exclusively from the top 6 of it's own domestic league and have aspirations of going far in the competition. We are shit from top to bottom and hope the big teams can prop us up as we have nothing to offer from decent foreign teams and don't trust players outside the top 10.

 

Embarrassing really.

 

17 of the Spain squad that won the 2010 WC were from their top six. They've not announced their latest squad but the last one had 15 in. Don't really understand the correlation.

 

To back that up further Bayern Munich have 7 players in the German squad, if we take 6/18 we get 3, so the point doesn't really hold. The most successful clubs will naturally provide the bulk of a nations player base. There is nothing wrong with that. The problem we've had with England squad's is that for too long it's been a case of if you can get a game (now and again) for Manure or Chelsea or whoever, you get a call up, rather than looking at the player with a critical eye and comparing him to other players playing at clubs outside the limelight. Arnold, Rose, Stones and Loftus- Cheek are prime examples of that in the current squad.

 

 

[Twinport53]

18 of the 23 play for the top 6.

 

without looking surely that would be the case for most major nations with a strong national league (germany, spain, italy etc.)?

 

I doubt there is another nation that will pick 18 of it's players exclusively from the top 6 of it's own domestic league and have aspirations of going far in the competition. We are shit from top to bottom and hope the big teams can prop us up as we have nothing to offer from decent foreign teams and don't trust players outside the top 10.

 

Embarrassing really.

 

17 of the Spain squad that won the 2010 WC were from their top six. They've not announced their latest squad but the last one had 15 in. Don't really understand the correlation.

 

To back that up further Bayern Munich have 7 players in the German squad, if we take 6/18 we get 3, so the point doesn't really hold. The most successful clubs will naturally provide the bulk of a nations player base. There is nothing wrong with that. The problem we've had with England squad's is that for too long it's been a case of if you can get a game (now and again) for Manure or Chelsea or whoever, you get a call up, rather than looking at the player with a critical eye and comparing him to other players playing at clubs outside the limelight. Arnold, Rose, Stones and Loftus- Cheek are prime examples of that in the current squad.

 

Exactly, the players we take from our top 6 are either shit, never play, or in the case of Delph etc won't be in the same position. We aren't taking strength from these teams. We take them under the assumption they are in the top 6 so must be top 6 quality.

 

Surely that's the entire point of being annoyed Cahill is ahead of Jamaal and Tarkowski? I might be wrong but I don't see Spain, Germany and Italy picking such dross options just because they hang around the BvB, Napoli, Atleti dressing rooms.

 

Maybe I should have said other nations won't take 17-18 players from top 6 teams of such horrific quality?

[Dave]

On the radio on the way home all the praise was for Southgate picking a versatile squad full of players that can cover different positions, then also praising him for picking on form rather than reputation.

 

You can't have both.

[Dave]

Kyle Walker for example, has been excellent this season playing at right back. England are apparently going to play him in a back three. What the fuck?

[Hanshithispantz]

It's stupid like, a lot of Tottenham fans don't even rate Trippier either (who'll be playing RB if Walker is in the middle).

 

[afar]

It's stupid like, a lot of Tottenham fans don't even rate Trippier either (who'll be playing RB if Walker is in the middle).

 

 

And just in case both Walker and Trippier go down we have Arnold backing up the back up, it's a ridiculously lopsided squad.

[triggs]

Walker's best attribute is his pace and power like, don't know why you'd play him anywhere but full back

[SEMTEX]

Probably because our centre backs are that bad.

[Stottie]

Great points about the full-backs and Milner being the one versatile player you'd want. Pray that Henderson stays fit, because I think the whole formation will have to change if he can't play.

 

With the pace and finishing there, the likely 11 will have goals in it, but its going to be ropey at the back and is not going to control the game against any decent opposition. An Iceland type situation where it lacks the guile to break through an organized team defending deep also looks likely.

[Astroblack]

Wait, where the hell is Chris Smalling? He's the best English Center Back IMO. Has his faults but he's usually very commanding and great on the ball.

[The College Dropout]

Spain only have a ‘top 3’.  There isn’t a lockout like we have in England of the top 6. 

 

And you know. Spain have won things