England centre-backs

[jondesouza]

CB was for years one of the positions of real strength for the national team but at present we're weaker in the position than at any time I can remember. We're not far off an England squad being selected and while I can guess who Hodgson will pick (Cahill, Jagielka, Jones, Smalling) it shows the paucity of options we have.

Cahill has been poor this season and has recently been dropped for Zouma
Jones and Smalling have been poor; Smalling isn't even getting a game
Jagielka hasn't been as good this season either

After that, you look at the next tier down - Taylor is injured forever. Stones has had injuries this season and has only just returned (although his return has coincided with much better defensive performances). Caulker has been rubbish and has been dropped. Dawson hasn't been at all good for Hull. Chambers started the season well for Arsenal but his form dropped off and he hasn't been picked since the Southampton defeat. Shawcross is probably the best of the lot at the moment although he picked up an injury in the last match and could be out for a while.

Is there anyone I'm missing? Tomkins at West Ham? Scott Dann at Palace has been good, but England good?

I'd be interested to know which 4 you'd all pick for the next squad as I'm struggling a bit.

 

[zicomerc]

Hodgson won't look past Cahill, Jagielka, Smalling, Jones, Chambers, Stones. It'll be four or five of them in the squad.

None of them looking great either at the moment and very little behind them to challenge. You mentioned most of them - the only other two I'd mention is our own Eric Dier who isn't ready and Craig Dawson who will benefit a lot under Pulis at West Brom and was very good at u21 level.

However there's very few young central defenders coming through, unlike the other positions which shows promise. We might be stuck with these lot for a few years and will cost us a chance to compete in major championships.

I still remember when Uruguay beat us and Suarez scored the winner, if Jagielka were a little taller he'd have got that and we'd at least have got a draw out of that game.

 

[Marty]

Those few years where England had Ferdinand, Terry, King and **** all at the top of their game, plus someone like Carragher in reserve seem a long way off now.

I think Smalling is one of those players who wouldn't be anywhere near a call-up if he wasn't at United, I just don't rate him. Made some awful mistakes v Cambridge that better teams would've punished.

Cahill, Jagielka and Jones are pretty much nailed on and there's no one who can realistically challenge them until after the Euros when hopefully Dier at least might be ready. John Stones if he stays fit seems like number four ATM, plus he can cover on the right like Calum Chambers (who might also be a long-term CB rather than RB, Wenger seems to think so).

But I don't think England have ever been further away from having a vintage crop of CBs.

 

[jondesouza]

There's a few youngsters that could become good - @zicomerc mentioned Dier and Craig Dawson (who never really kicked on after the Olympics). After that you've got players like Moore at Leicester, Michael Keane and Lascelles who might improve but, other than Dier, none of them particularly stand out.

If I were to pick 4 England CBs tomorrow it would have to be Cahill, Jagielka, Stones and Dann. Sad isn't it?

 

[beats1]

Chambers never looked good at CB imo, he just didn't look terrible for them

 

[Donki]

A bit if a dirty bastard but Shawcross IMO is better than Smalling but never really gets a look in.

 

[tottenmal]

Eric Dier to the Rescue!



To Early?

 

[Cornpattbuck]

Makes it even stranger that they seemingly made so little effort to tempt someone like Cameron Carter-Vickers. Okay, long way for him to go still but...

 

[talkshowhost86]

To be honest I'd still pick Ledley.

 

[theShiznit]

To be honest I'd still pick Ledley.

He was miles better than all of them without training so he'd probably still be better without playing.

 

[GMI]

This thread just reminded me how awesome Ledley was. What a flippin player.

Speaking of old England CB's is Ugo Ehiogu still coach with us?

 

[Redfap]

I'm not English, but I don't know how Jones and Smalling are selected ahead of Shawcross, big club bias I guess, but like him or not, he's a better player than those two but only has 1 cap.

I think Dier is not quite ready yet, but has a big England future ahead of him.

 

[Gbspurs]

John Terry is still England's best defender which just about sums up everything that's wrong with our current defence.

Same problem in goal, we used to have a relative plethora of decent keepers but then in the last decade or so its been slim pickings.

 

[Japhet]

Dier will be pushing for a call up in the next 12 months IMO.

 

[225]

Speaking of old England CB's is Ugo Ehiogu still coach with us?

Yeah, he's the reserve coaching thingy

 

[beats1]

A bit if a dirty bastard but Shawcross IMO is better than Smalling but never really gets a look in.

He got one chance against Sweden and got slaughtered and blamed for it ever since