If you were England's Gaffa

[LeTallecWiz]

Based on Hamman's criticism of how English players are selected, what team would you start for the first World Cup game?

I'd go with:

Forester (unless Hart's reclaimed the #1 shirt @ City)
GlenJo
Jagielka & Cahill (I know they're both not great - but this is the best of an average lot)
Luke Shaw
Gerrard
Phil Jones
Walcott
Rooney
Townsend
Sturridge


----------------------Forester----------------------------
GlenJo-----Jagielka-----Cahill-------Shaw----------
--------------Gerrard-------Jones----------------------
--Walcott-----------Rooney------Townsend---------
----------------------Sturridge---------------------------

 

[Mystic]

Baines at left back, I'm also not sure I'd have Jones in midfield to be honest. I'd also start with Lallana, he adds some skill and guile we're missing. One thing that really annoyed me yesterday was that neither Sturridge nor Rooney were dropping deep enough, Sturridge loves doing this for us, so I imagine it's because Podge has told him to hang on the shoulder of the defenders, as a result there was a huge gap between attack and midfield, for two upfront to work, they both need to drop back more, taking it in turns maybe.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Baines at left back, I'm also not sure I'd have Jones in midfield to be honest. I'd also start with Lallana, he adds some skill and guile we're missing. One thing that really annoyed me yesterday was that neither Sturridge nor Rooney were dropping deep enough, Sturridge loves doing this for us, so I imagine it's because Podge has told him to hang on the shoulder of the defenders, as a result there was a huge gap between attack and midfield, for two upfront to work, they both need to drop back more, taking it in turns maybe.

Shaw is a better defender. Yes, Baines adds something but he's a problem unless he has a system that can mask his defending deficiencies. When England also plays GlenJo, it's better to have some balance.

I think Jones in midfield is good as it gives a proper shut down midfielder - he's excellent at that and will lessen the workload on Gerrard.

Lallana in favor of Walcott or Townsend is a solid shout.

 

[jexykrodic]

I'd wait until the end of the season, assess my fit and available players, pick the best 22 and decide the best 11 based on form with an eye on who we're to meet in the Group. I'd adjust formations and substitutions to circumstances thereafter.

 

[Mystic]

Shaw is a better defender. Yes, Baines adds something but he's a problem unless he has a system that can mask his defending deficiencies. When England also plays GlenJo, it's better to have some balance.

I think Jones in midfield is good as it gives a proper shut down midfielder - he's excellent at that and will lessen the workload on Gerrard.

Lallana in favor of Walcott or Townsend is a solid shout.

We definitely need the attack outlet, I'd sacrifice that over a bit of stability at the back (especially if Jones in besides Gerrard), although saying that, Shaw is pretty good going forward too.

 

[Rosco]

I'd wait until the end of the season, assess my fit and available players, pick the best 22 and decide the best 11 based on form with an eye on who we're to meet in the Group. I'd adjust formations and substitutions to circumstances thereafter.

Sadly this is almost revolutionary for England.

I would do the same and plan to play a tight defensive game, because of the benefits it has in knockout comps.

 

[Frogfish]

-------------------------Hart---------------------------
GlenJo-----Smalling-----Cahill-------Cole----------
--------------Gerrard-------Carrick----------------------
--Walcott-----------Rooney------Townsend---------
----------------------Sturridge---------------------------

It's not a bad team actually if all are fit and Budgie actually picks them !

Pace & goals up front, Cole is still overall a better FB than Baines/Shaw, Carrick can be class and has been playing well, no other GK in England comes close to Hart regardless of the odd error. For me by far the biggest issue we have are the CBs as neither dominate their area. Smalling could help there as Jagielka is rather short for top class CB and Smalling is the tallest of our options. I've been quite impressed with Smalling this and last season. All are young players though.

 

[SummerOnions]

Cole won't play the 2nd half of the season if Chelsea sign a new LB. Gerrard and Carrick is too slow a partnership. Jones or Henderson in midfield would be an option though it'll be something like this:

Hart
Johnson Jagielka Cahill Gibbs
Walcott Gerrard Wilshere Welbeck
Rooney Sturridge

 

[King Binny]

Controversial and perhaps amateurish but since the brief isn't (or rather, shouldn't be) to win the WC, I'd go along with a squad with the aim of preparing for the future.

By the next tournament:
Rooney, Cahill - 31
Johnson, Baines - 32
Defoe, Lambert, Jagielka - 34
Carrick - 35
Cole, Gerrard - 36
Lampard - 38

The likes of Shaw, Barkley, Wilshere, Caulker will make my squad. I'm slightly surprised Clyne hasn't been given a chance. Depending on Berahino, Morrison and Ward-Prowse's performance with WBA, West Ham and Southampton respectively, they've got a chance of making it too.

Hart, B. Forster, F.Forster
Johnson, Walker/Clyne, Baines, Shaw
Jones, Caulker, Jagielka, Cahill
Gerrard, Barkley, Wilshere, Morrison, Carrick
Townsend, Walcott, Ward-Prowse, Lallana
Rooney, Sturridge, Berahino/Austin/Ings (depending on season's progress)

Something similar to what Germany did for 2006 (8 under 23 players) and 2010 (9 players aged 23 and under, 15 players under 25) after their Euro 2000 disappointment.

 

[FoxForceFive]

That's exactly what I said to my mate last night. No more than 4 players who will be over 30 come next tournament.

The tubthumping bellend media would kick off though & then the fa would tell their puppet to behave & put them all back in though.

 

[redhorizon2]

Based on Hamman's criticism of how English players are selected, what team would you start for the first World Cup game?

I'd go with:

Forester (unless Hart's reclaimed the #1 shirt @ City)
GlenJo
Jagielka & Cahill (I know they're both not great - but this is the best of an average lot)
Luke Shaw
Gerrard
Phil Jones
Walcott
Rooney
Townsend
Sturridge


----------------------Forester----------------------------
GlenJo-----Jagielka-----Cahill-------Shaw----------
--------------Gerrard-------Jones----------------------
--Walcott-----------Rooney------Townsend---------
----------------------Sturridge---------------------------

How would you have lined up against Germany?

 

[King Binny]

Just thought that:

The WC (2018) and Euro (2016) qualifiers only have 8-10 matches each. These and some friendly matches over a span of 4 years (?) and each international week lasting up to 2 weeks. Not forgetting dropout due to suspension/injuries/"injuries". What better chance to give the players proper experience and education?

 

[LarryHagman]

Hart
Johnson Jagielka x Baines
Gerrard Carrick Wilshere
Walcott Ox Townsend
Rooney

The x is a CB who isn't Cahill or someone else equally garbage.

 

[SummerOnions]

Hart
Johnson Jagielka x Baines
Gerrard Carrick Wilshere
Walcott Ox Townsend
Rooney

The x is a CB who isn't Cahill or someone else equally garbage.

Caulker is the only one that springs to mind

 

[cloggypop]

Hart
Johnson Jagielka x Baines
Gerrard Carrick Wilshere
Walcott Ox Townsend
Rooney

The x is a CB who isn't Cahill or someone else equally garbage.

The x would make 12 players. Probably only make the quarters still.

 

[Pesam]

......................................HART.....................................
GLENJO.........JAGIELKA.....CAULKER........COLE....
......................GERRARD.....CARRICK......................
.......WALCOTT........WILSHERE.....LALLANA....
.................................ROONEY..................................

 

[doctor_mac]

I'd drop Gerrard and Sturridge and tell them to focus on their club careers.

 

[Squiggles]

----------------------------------Hart------------------------
--Johnson-------Jagielka----------Caulker-------Baines-------
--------------------------------Carrick---------------------------
---------------Gerrard---------------------------Wilshere------------
----Walcott-----------------Sturridge---------------Townsend

 

[juniormember]

Sadly this is almost revolutionary for England.

I would do the same and plan to play a tight defensive game, because of the benefits it has in knockout comps.

So if you were a manger, you'd be the exception to the rule that managers don't make a difference, just like Fergie. Very good.

 

[Ryan]

I'd bring Terry back in.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

...........................Hart...........................

Johnson.....Caulker....Cahill.....Baines

............Henderson...Wilshere.............

Townsend.........Gerrard.........Lallana

........................Rooney........................

Sturridge maybe instead of Lallana with Rooney going to the left, something like that anyway, Sturridge doesn't seem to look the same player in an England shirt as he does for us, it would be nice to see him do well for England but all that really matters is he keeps on doing what he has been doing in a red shirt.

Henderson im still not totally convinced with for us but i think he could do a good job in a defensive midfield role for England where they are struggling for a player and the previous ones have been so so slow.

Gerrard needs to play further up the pitch for England, his qualities are needed there, Wilshere needs to sort his head out to, if he does there should always be a place for him.

Caulker has always looked good whenever ive seen him, fuck knows why Spurs got rid, he deserves a shot.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Also one thing thats been so annoying to hear from many pundits and commentators etc... is the justification that Kyle Walker should be right back because he has an understanding with Townsend at Spurs, what fecking understanding! have they even played 10 games together for Spurs? and add to that Spurs have been shite this season.

Also add to that that Walker is a woeful footballer, he has pace, thats it, how many hospital passes did he play last night?, Walker sold players short a fair few times and they ended up getting clattered because of inabilty to play a simple pass not to mention all his other faults like being able to defend competantly.

Can't comprehend the people who think Walker is in anyway a better option than Johnson.

 

[mark1975]

Rooney get's an awful lot of leeway at International level. Walker's shite.

 

[redhorizon2]

Who would you have picked to face Germany yesterday, and what formation would you have deployed? Andwhy do england players pass the ball so badly?

 

[irishred]

--------------------------Forster-------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------Jagielka-----Dawson----------------
-----Walker-----------------------------------Baines---
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------Gerrard------Wilshere---------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------Barkley------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
-------Townsend----------------------Sturridge--------
-----------------------------Rooney-----------------------

 

[jexykrodic]

Another thing I'd have in mind as England Gaffer is not to read too much into a friendly 6 months before the next possible meeting. Tournament football is different, the location and playing conditions will be different, expectation will be different, we do don't know who will be fit and available etc etc

I'd be concentrating on making sure that the conditions were the best they can be for the players and staff together with giving a lot of thought to training session content in the time I'll have available.

Then I'd be waiting for the draw to see who we're to play and then get down to analyzing opponents so that the group can be prepared as well as possible.

Pragmatism is his best course. He doesn't have the luxury of inspirational players. What other option does he have?

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Another thing I'd have in mind as England Gaffer is not to read too much into a friendly 6 months before the next possible meeting. Tournament football is different, the location and playing conditions will be different, expectation will be different, we do don't know who will be fit and available etc etc

I'd be concentrating on making sure that the conditions were the best they can be for the players and staff together with giving a lot of thought to training session content in the time I'll have available.

Then I'd be waiting for the draw to see who we're to play and then get down to analyzing opponents so that the group can be prepared as well as possible.

Pragmatism is his best course. He doesn't have the luxury of inspirational players. What other option does he have?

Spontanious combustion.

 

[jexykrodic]

Spontanious combustion.

You're on fire today.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

It really is amazing that Roy was even considered for the job let alone hired for it.

For all the bluster you hear about wanting to move the national team forward they went and moved it back decades by appointing that idiot.

The FA (unsuprisingly) missed a wide open goal by not asking Rafa to take the team to the Euros with the possibility of him staying on and leading the team to the World Cup.

 

[keniget]

I'm with Binny. I've been saying that for years - well, I've stopped it now because I have no respect or patience for the national set up any more.

My first act would be to drop Rooney or at the very least marginalize his role in the team because he's ranged from absolute shit to average for England.

I'd build stronger ties between the U-21's and the senior set up and prioritize the development of youth within the senior team. The idea in the short and medium term would be to get a group of players with a strong team ethos that are willing to work really hard for each other and are tactically aware.

We are not the most talented nation out there - far from it - so need to get back to basics really and learn from nations like Greece who eek out as much as they can from their limited team though obviously we'd have higher aspirations.

Players like Wilshere, Llana, Henderson and Carrick who can keep and pass the ball (even if it is in a limited capacity) will be prioritized and I'd try and play that core nucleus of players as much as possible in every game rather than giving people the odd game here and there just to 'try them out' (but not really).