The England Thread

[Bus-Conductor]

Llalalanana does look good whenever he plays for England, reckon Southgate is looking at building the squad around him the way he's apparently front and centre in everything we do. I've got no problem with that, he looks far more comfortable in an England shirt than a 'pool one, but as good a fit he appears to be, Dier still looks out of sorts, like he's not quite sure what his role is.

Walker was desperate to get involved too, but every play forward seemed to be going down the left flank and, while i think Bertrand has certainly earned a shot in the squad, he's not impressed me that much at all. He's keen, sure, but just all arms and legs. Watching poor ol' Kyle over on the far side making runs, finding space, flapping his arms about to get attention and... they play it left and Bertrand dicks it up trying too hard - man, I felt for both of them really. And Sterling is so average it hurts a little inside.

Hart still looks like a doofus. Why is he still in the team? He was dug out of trouble twice today and they only had four shots. I am biased though, i find him very hard to like.

Overall it was a bit of a dull performance, mostly felt like the Defoe-Show in the first half - absolutely stoked he got a goal on his return to the side and he took it well.

Defoe is anathema to all the talk of a brave new footballing world by the likes of Ashcroft and Southgate. He shouldn't be anywhere near a team that wants to play football, he's happy if he touches the ball 5 times a game and all of those are shots and 4 of them when three guys are standing between him and the goal.

 

[kmk]

BBC Chief Football Writer picks his best England XI

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39401282

5 Spurs players in the line up but I would like 3 at the back with Barkley instead of Henderson. Hopefully Winks can get in the line up next year.

 

[TorontoYid]

The Terry Butcher thing was very brave, but pretty stupid. It wouldn't be allowed these days. I don't buy the whole England players don't care line. I don't think Kane is the kind of player to just turn up because of money or status, I doubt any of our players are. I do think there's a mental frailty around our players on the international stage, but maybe that's something that Southgate can actually help with as he's been in a losing position with England many times and even missed the penalty that sent us out.

Not really referring to the new batch of players just finding their feet in the England setup like Kane but more the players that have been an automatic selection for such a long time like Rooney and co who played so badly in the last few tournaments and staged a player revolt against the manager because they were not allowed to go party after multiple embarrassing performances. You can't seriously look at the England teams since Sven and tell people with a straight face that they give as much effort as they did when players like Shearer, Lineker, Gazza etc and teams prior to that were playing? Not even close.

They get 1 goal up and start to coast instead of looking to destroy the other team whoever they are. I recall Terry talking about how they will raise their game against Germany. This has been a signal of the wrong attitude as there game should always be at it's best with no game to raise. If they are 10-0 up they should still look for goal 11

The team are set up as superstars and it looks like they think they are bigger than the team since they only get picked because they sell lots of shirts. Given poor performances for their clubs they are no way getting picked by merit. Kane and other fresh faces are giving it their all while they establish themselves and I truly hope they don't fall into the routine that previous teams have. I am hopeful with Kane as he has that want to win attitude unlike Rooney who seems to only care about getting to the pub.

 

[gilzeantheking]

SSN reporting that Rooney will be left out of the squad to play Scotland and France according to their sources.

 

[talkshowhost86]

SSN reporting that Rooney will be left out of the squad to play Scotland and France according to their sources.

Surely not?

A player who has not played for most of the season and who had been poor when he has played.

Quite why he's even in anyone's mind to be in the squad is beyond me.

 

[Shea]

Surely not?

A player who has not played for most of the season and who had been poor when he has played.

Quite why he's even in anyone's mind to be in the squad is beyond me.

agreed

His exclusion shouldn't even be a story

 

[dontcallme]

I also didn't make the squad.

 

[longtimespur]

I also didn't make the squad.

Well you did say not to ring

 

[tiger666]

Rooney dropped

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United), Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Sunderland), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

You buried the lede...Trippier included!

 

[spursfan77]

Rooney dropped

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United), Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Sunderland), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).

Jesus Christ look at that defence. Its awful. The best defender has been named as a midfielder.

 

[mark87]

My England team based on that squad

Hart

Gibson Cahill Stones

Walker Dier Lallana Bertand

Alli Sterling

Kane.


Put that team against a Spurs first choice eleven and England would get smashed.

 

[worcestersauce]

Since when did we start playing non tournament games i the closed season? Fuck sake!

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I get the sense that Southgate really wants to emulate how Spurs are set-up - but I don't see anyone in that roster who can play the Eriksen role.

 

[WorcesterTHFC]

I get the sense that Southgate really wants to emulate how Spurs are set-up - but I don't see anyone in that roster who can play the Eriksen role.

You can look at more or less any individual in the Spurs team and you won't see an Englishman who's as good, never mind better, certainly for that system. If there's a better English goalie than Lloris or a forward who scores 25+ goals each season in the top flight, I'd love to know who they are.

 

[DJS]

BBC Chief Football Writer picks his best England XI

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39401282

5 Spurs players in the line up but I would like 3 at the back with Barkley instead of Henderson. Hopefully Winks can get in the line up next year.

I don't get why Barkley keeps getting touted for one of the midfield two position - has he played it consistently before as I thought he played further upfield?

My England team based on that squad

Hart

Gibson Cahill Stones

Walker Dier Lallana Bertand

Alli Sterling

Kane.


Put that team against a Spurs first choice eleven and England would get smashed.

Interesting you pick Gibson as just read an article that suggested we go in for him.

It also pointed out that he was a left-footer (which I found very interesting) so he's a good shout for a back three but would need to play on left side for balance.

Would quite like him at Spurs.

I get the sense that Southgate really wants to emulate how Spurs are set-up - but I don't see anyone in that roster who can play the Eriksen role.

Llana could be given a shot I guess, obviously nowhere near as good as Eriksen but then not many are at the moment.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Lallana could be given a shot I guess, obviously nowhere near as good as Eriksen but then not many are at the moment.

I see people pairing Sterling with Dele behind Kane - but I would think Lallana is a better match. But, I've never been much of a Sterling fan - think he is over-rated.

 

[kmk]

Since when did we start playing non tournament games i the closed season? Fuck sake!

We played:

Republic of Ireland in June 2015 (Friendly)
Brazil in June 2013 (Friendly)
Switzerland in June 2011 (EC Qualifier)
Kazakhstan and Andorra in 2009 (WC Qualifier)

 

[tobi]

He's taking the piss with four goalkeepers.

 

[Hot Spur]

He's taking the piss with four goalkeepers.

Yep, and Hart should be dropped for Pickford. If it wasn't for Pickford Sunderland would have been mathematically relegated by January never mind May.