I'm going for this squad, who would you choose?
GOALKEEPERS
Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Jack Butland (Stoke City)
Nick Pope (Burnley)
DEFENDERS
Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur)
Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur)
Phil Jones (Man Utd)
John Stones (Manchester City)
Harry Maguire (Leicester City)
Ashley Young (Man Utd)
MIDFIELD
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle)
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)
Adam Lallana (Liverpool)
Fabian Delph (Manchester City)
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
FORWARDS
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
Last edited by wildheart; 15th May 2018 at 15:16.
Loftus-Cheek plays for Palace now.
I predict out in the quarter-finals.
Our team isn't good enough and we're terrible at the SB position, so let's go with exciting instead. IMO there's is no way Wilshire or Welbeck should even get a look in, the latter is medicore. No space for Lallana, he's not played enough. And is a massive tw@t.
GOALKEEPERS
Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Jack Butland (Stoke City)
Nick Pope (Burnley)
DEFENDERS
Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Chris Smalling (Man Utd)
James Tarkowski (Burnley)
John Stones (Manchester City)
Harry Maguire (Leicester City)
Ashley Young (Man Utd)
MIDFIELD
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace)
Fabian Delph (Manchester City)
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)
FORWARDS
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Ademola Lookman (Everton)
Looking at that list of players again, I realise how few of the current set-up could really be called world class compared to previous generations of the England squad.
If we say world class is the top 3-5 players in the world in their position or capable of breaking into a 23-man "world squad", then besides Harry Kane then there really aren't many of them who could lay a legitimate claim.
I would say that even as recently as South Africa 2010 England could claim at least a handful of players that met such criteria (e.g. Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand).
That said, it's a team sport not just about individuals. Previous generations hardly achieved a great deal (with the exception of 1966 and 1990), so the lack of world class players might not be too much of a bad thing!
I think I'd find a place for Jonjo Shelvey.
Yes, the red mist can descend but he has the rare gift of seeing a defence splitting pass.
I think our best chance of getting beyond the semi finals might be:
Peter Shilton
David Seaman
Gary Stevens
Stuart Pearce
Neil Webb
Des Walker
Terry Butcher
Bryan Robson(Captain)
Chris Waddle
Peter Beardsley
Gary Lineker
John Barnes
Paul Parker
Chris Woods
Mark Wright
Tony Dorigo
Steve McMahon
David Platt
Steve Hodge
Paul Gascoigne
Trevor Steven
Steve Bull
Patrick Stewart is a Huddersfield supporter and has been seen at a few games. I reckon with his experience as Capt. of the enterprise he would be a good manager. Worth a shot got to be better than A lard arse
It would be great to thing Sessignon and Grealish could be selected but they don't play for the top six PL clubs and aren't Vardey so that puts paid to that. Probably the two British Championship players with the brightest futures.
"A man of little significance"
Agreed. These two, along with Angus Gunn would be the wild cards thrown in, and not just for the experience either. They'd be on the bench and would get minutes .
It does seem a little bit refreshing that Southgate has picked players on form rather than past glories and he also seems to be willing to shift formations to suit particular games.
For the first time in a long while, it appears that the press and other influences don't pick the squad and that bodes well for the future. I will actually watch England this time.
Loftus Cheek, Henderson, Wellbeck and Cahill, pretty much sums up how overrated the Premiership and English footballers are tbh, first World Cup for me where I won’t be arsed if I missed a game with England involved...
Should of had Leon Bailey, Jon-Jo, Sessignon or Zaha involved for me to give that bit if interest and maybe someone who can create something out of nothing.
Last edited by Martylaa; 16th May 2018 at 14:25.
I think Alexander-Arnold should be given a place in the squad - he's young but has come on leaps and bounds during the past few months. It will be a massive ask for him to cope with the Madrid strikeforce but this experience can only be good for him.
Team announced:
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley).
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Kyle Walker, John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jones, Ashley Young (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Dele Alli (both Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea).
Forwards: Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal) Harry Kane (Tottenham).
Standby: Tom Heaton, James Tarkowski (Burnley), Lewis Cook (Bournemouth), Jake Livermore (West Brom) and Adam Lallana (Liverpool).
Surprised welbeck has been picked
No big surprises.. My starting 11.. counter attacking galore!
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Danny Welbeck? Really?