England Vs Wales

[Hoop Blah]

Ok, well that's what I heard anyway, that he wasn't training right and constantly injured.

Because of his knee injury or because of a few attitude issues? I'd heard, or perhaps assumed I'm really not sure, that it was a bit of the billy big time about him that had slowed his progress.

He has picked up a pretty long list of injuries for someone so early in his career though. Lots of little niggles as much as serious ones from what I can remember.

[cmonurz]

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranki ... nking.html

England now down to 8th. Presumably this means the rankings now work properly.

[Terminal Boardom]

I ignore the rankings as they are meaningless. It's who wins the trophies on offer that count and feck all else.

[papereyes]

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html

England now down to 8th. Presumably this means the rankings now work properly.

Having a look at the points and not the positions for a second, England are on 1089. Within 10% either side, you go from Uruguay in 4th down to Greece in 11th.

Spain and Holland are way ahead, then there's a bunch of teams that are a much of a muchness. Which is satisfyingly accurate, imo.

[leww_rfc]

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html

England now down to 8th. Presumably this means the rankings now work properly.

Wales up to 90th. 27 places

[cmonurz]

I ignore the rankings as they are meaningless. It's who wins the trophies on offer that count and feck all else.

They're not meaningless. The rankings determine the seedings, which in turn decide the fate of the draw for qualifier groups etc, thereby pretty much ensuring the best teams get the easiest ride.

Which makes sense really. You win games, go up the rankings, and earn a seeding which means you don't play Brazil in your first game.

You earn the 'easy ride' by beating everyone else in the first place.

[Hoop Blah]

Hart, Foster

Smalling, A Cole, Terry, Cahill, Jones, Jagielka, Baines, G Johnson

Parker, Lampard, Hargreaves, Gerrard, Young, A Johnson, Barry, Walcott, Wilshere

Rooney, Bent, Crouch, Welbeck

Starting XI of

Hart

Smalling
Cahill
Terry
A Cole

Parker
Hargreaves

Young
Wilshere
A Johnson

Rooney

Couple of interesting ones there BF.

I like the idea that Jagielka is an injury and suspension away from being in goal for the European Championships Final! Unfortunately though, I think the 23 has to include a third keeper otherwise you're only allowed to take 22 (the third keeper was added at some point years ago but I think a country tried to only take 2 to South Africa and weren't allowed).

I agree on a lot of the starting eleven too, although not sure on Smalling at right back yet. Time will tell and it's a position that's really open to someone having a good run of form.

Like comonurz I think Gerrard still has quite a role to play in this team and if Rooney remains as the centre forward I'd see a midfield 3 of Parker (or Hargreaves if he can get back to form and fitnesss - which I doubt), Wilshire and Gerrard (in the advanced position) as our strongest. As well as Downing has played for the last 6 months or so I'd still rather Adam Johnson and Young as the wingers.

I'd still prefer Rooney to be playing in the hole behind a proper centre forward but I'm not convinced on any of the current options being quite the rigth fit. I'm not a Welbeck fan, and Bent isn't quite the answer. For me that leaves Carroll. Problem with him is that his strengths might not fit to the quicker and more intricate football we seem to be moving towards.

I think my starting 11 would be

Hart
Richards, Cahill, Terry, Cole
Johnson, Parker, Wilshire, Young
Gerrard
Rooney

Rest of the squad being

Foster, Carson (should probably be the best of the young keepers really)
Walker, Jones, Ferdinand,
Milner, Hargreaves (or Barry when he fails at City), Downing, Walcott
Carroll, Defoe, Sturidge

Quite a few who just miss out though.

Bumping this up from back in September.

How much have things changed in the last 4 or 5 months?

[Hoop Blah]

Hart
Smalling Ferdinand Terry Cole
Gerrard Wilshere
Walcott Rooney Young
Bent

Fedinand if fit is still the best centre half in England.

Goals up top.

Believe Wilshere & Gerrard have the physicality and energy to play the holding role together.

[Hoop Blah]

For now I think Gerrard will be in the squad for the Euros. Lamps won't be. All depends how much Cleverley kicks on this season, and/or whether Capello realises his fascination with Gareth Barry is putting the team on a defensive footing.

That said, if he sticks with 4-2-3-1, then I'd expect:

Hart
Smalling Cahill Ferdinand Cole
Barry Wilshere
Walcott Gerrard Young
Rooney

And to be honest that side can cope with a Barry, just.

I kind of hope Hargreaves has a shit time of it at City, as I really don't see what he can bring to the England team any more.

[Hoop Blah]

Hart
Smalling Jones Rio Cole
Walcott Cleverley Wiltshire Young
Rooney Bent

[Hoop Blah]

So, having looked at the players people have mentioned, plus those players I can remember being in various squads or a few potentials I've added, I think the pool of players in contention is something like this:

Keepers
Hart, Foster, Carson, Green, Robinson, Stockdale, Fieding

Right Backs
Johnson, Richards, Walker, Smalling, Kelly

Left Backs
Cole, Baines, Gibbs, Bertrand, Warnock

Centre Backs
Ferdinand, Terry, Cahill, Jones, Lescott, Jegielka, Smalling, Woodgate, Dawson

Wingers
Johnson, Young, Walcott, Downing, Lennon, Wright-Phillips, Jarvis

Midfielders
Gerrard, Wilshire, Parker, Barry, Lampard, Milner, Cleverly, Hargreaves, Henderson, Carrick

Forwards
Rooney, Bent, Carroll, Defoe, Welbeck, Crouch, Sturridge, Zamora

Doesn't look like a talent pool to have the Spanish running for the hills I admit, but there are some decent players in there.

Apologies for the number of bumps!

Thought it might make for interesting reading though.

[who are ya?]

Isn't there a Euros thread somewhere? Probably better to discuss the squad there

[Hoop Blah]

Isn't there a Euros thread somewhere? Probably better to discuss the squad there

Each to their own...

As this was the thread where some of us discussed the squad 4 or 5 months ago I thought it was the ideal place to revisit it and see what might've changed.

[who are ya?]

Hart
Richards Cahill Jones Cole
Young Gerrard Parker Johnson
Rooney Welbeck

ftr

[RobRoyal]

Hart
Richards Cahill Jones Cole
Young Gerrard Parker Johnson
Rooney Welbeck

ftr

Sturridge over Welbeck for me. Otherwise I agree, though i'm not sure Johnson's had the game time to justify starting.

[who are ya?]

He hasn't no, but I've always rated him in an England shirt and would love him to move away from Citeh.

I've gone for Welbeck because of the United connection with Rooney really, we've also got the luxury of Wilshere and Cleverly to come in and mix it up in centre mid aswell.

[sheshnu]

If England had to produce an U23 team, I don't think the result would actually be that bad. Lots of skilful young players coming through playing for top clubs, and although I'm no Guillerme Balague, I think they match up pretty well against Europe's finest (Iceland excepted).

I understand that Germany overhauled their team just after they hosted - if 'we' do so now I'm sure the results will be fruitful.



Not sure which thread this should be on btw, most of GF seems to have turned into "What's your England team?" As long as Terry's not involved, we win I reckon.



Not literally, of course.

[TheMaraudingDog]

Cleverley will be back soon and str8 into the team. Shame Wiltshire will miss out.

[Simon's Church]

I'd like:
Hart
Richards Someone Lescott Cole
Parker Wilshere
Gerrard
Sturridge Rooney Young

Cole has been poor defensively this season though so could be replaced but Baines isn't great either.
Not sure about the other centre back, all the others have a few problems.
If Wilshere isn't fit i'd have Rodwell or Jones alongside Parker.

[who are ya?]

I'd like:
Hart
Richards Someone Lescott Cole
Parker Wilshere
Gerrard
Sturridge Rooney Young

He's far too injury prone