[Cowden til i die]

craigkillie, on 07 February 2012 - 15:16, said:

You could play him with Dawson and Walker. Cole is miles better than Assou-Ekotto, and is likely to be able to fit in seamlessly. The only concern with King would be his inability to play twice a week, which would obviously cause problems.

I think England really need to realise that their axis of Ferdinand, Terry, Lampard and Gerrard has failed repeatedly, and should probably just can them all and look to build to the future. That means including guys like Jones, Smalling, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sturridge and looking to groom a team for the World Cup. I'd shoehorn Jones into a defensive midfield role at the moment though, because he has been woeful at centre-back so far this season.

That would be a lot of changes just to accommodate King. Walker isn't near ready for an international tournament IMO. And as you say King won't be able to play the number of games in the short time frame needed. He simply isn't a viable option.

[The Troll]

Hart
Johnson - Cahill - Lescott - Cole

Parker

Cleverley - Barry

Young - Johnson

Rooney

is what I expect to see. Wilshere willbe in the squad but just expect Cleverleyto have more impact over the course of the season

[calum_gers]

Cowden til i die, on 07 February 2012 - 15:55, said:

That would be a lot of changes just to accommodate King. Walker isn't near ready for an international tournament IMO. And as you say King won't be able to play the number of games in the short time frame needed. He simply isn't a viable option.

I don't have the facts to hand but King can't have missed many games this season. If he could play 2/3 of the group matches and then take the KO matches as they come he's worth the risk. He's better than the alternative, John Terry, who presumably who would be in the squad so why not take him. Also i wouldn't even have Glen Johnson in the squad, he's rubbish.



Hart

Richards, Dawson, King, Cole

Wilshere (if fit), Parker,

Milner (on current form), Gerrard, Young,

Rooney (obviously he can't play the first couple, but given the other options, it doesn't really matter who you replace him with).

[David W]

If Glen Johnson was rubbish then he wouldn't turn in performances like last night or the one against Manchester City at the Etihad in the LC semi. Picking between him, Richards and Walker is a tough task and Johnson's experience just edges it for me.

Though if I was Capello I would maybe only take one of the three and rely on Jones or Smalling to cover. Would mean he's able to take an extra attacking player.

Incidentally, I reckon Capello will start with Welbeck instead of Bent.

This post has been edited by David W: 07 February 2012 - 22:47

[calum_gers]

David W, on 07 February 2012 - 22:46, said:

If Glen Johnson was rubbish then he wouldn't turn in performances like last night or the one against Manchester City at the Etihad in the LC semi. Picking between him, Richards and Walker is a tough task and Johnson's experience just edges it for me.

Though if I was Capello I would maybe only take one of the three and rely on Jones or Smalling to cover. Would mean he's able to take an extra attacking player.

Incidentally, I reckon Capello will start with Welbeck instead of Bent.

The fact he's a Liverpool player you mean.

You'd imagine he'd do the same at left back with Joleon Lescott...

[championlivi]

Hart

Walker Dawson Jagielka Cole

Jones

Gerrard Wilshere

Johnson Walcott/Downing/Young

Rooney

[Cammy35]

If France can keep their act together and one of the other two in their group can do well (probably Ukraine), without Rooney (for the first 2 games I think) England may not make it out of their group.

[berwick-the-unbeatable]

Hart

Richards Terry Lescott Cole

Parker

Wilshere Cleverly

Sturridge Rooney/Welbeck Young


Get Scholes back.

[craigkillie]

David W, on 07 February 2012 - 22:46, said:

If Glen Johnson was rubbish then he wouldn't turn in performances like last night or the one against Manchester City at the Etihad in the LC semi.

He played left-back in both games.

[Mr. Brightside]

GK - Ruddy

RB - Richards
CB - Smalling
CB - King/Terry
LB - Cole

DM - Jones
CM - Wilshere
CM - Lampard/Milner

RW - Sturridge
LW - A. Young
CF - Bent

[bobby carlos]

hart

richards cahil terry cole

parker barry

chamberlain gerrard young

rooney (bent for the first 2)

[H_B]

First 2 games :-

Hart

Walker Smalling Lescott Cole

Parker

Walcott Gerrard Milner

Welbeck Sturridge

The non-Rooney-suspension games :-

Hart

Walker Smalling Lescott Cole

Jones Parker

Walcott Gerrard Sturridge

Rooney

This post has been edited by H_B: 08 February 2012 - 10:18

[H_B]

I really don't think Capello likes Richards - can't see him starting at all.

I think Terry will certainly play, but I think that's a mistake. I wouldn't take him at all - I think it will be divisive to the squad.

Also, Wilshire would definitely start if he had a run of games. Way things are going, I could easily see him not playing for the Arse this season at all, in which case you really can't take him and start him.

This post has been edited by H_B: 08 February 2012 - 10:21

[GingerSaint]

Hart
Walker King Dawson Cole
Wilshere Parker Lampard
Sturridge Bent Welbeck

Obviously Rooney will replace Bent when he's back. King can be replaced by Smalling or Cahill. Sturridge and Welbeck can be rotated with Johnson, Young and possibly Oxdale-Chamberlain/Walcott (only one of them will go, IMO). A bit weak in the centre of midfield. Didn't really want to put Lampard but there was no other viable option. I'm not convinced by Tom Cleverley yet but that might change come June.
I take back what I said earlier in the other thread, England do have a wee bit of depth in Defence and Attack.

This post has been edited by GingerSaint: 08 February 2012 - 11:25

[H_B]

GingerSaint said:

Didn't really want to put Lampard but there was no other viable option.

Gerrard?

[Haitch]

4-4-2

Hart
Richards Cahill Terry Cole
Walcott Gerrard Parker Young
Rooney Carroll

[T_S_A_R]

none of the teams that people are lining up have much champions league or tournament experience. they will get pumped.

[GingerSaint]

H_B, on 08 February 2012 - 12:51, said:

Gerrard?

Completely missed him. Still would rather have Lampard.

[H_B]

T_S_A_R, on 08 February 2012 - 13:13, said:

none of the teams that people are lining up have much champions league or tournament experience. they will get pumped.

The England side in the last WC had both. So did the French side.

They were both fucking dreadful.

It's adopting this mentality that in my view has held England back. For example, Scott Parker wouldn't have been considered if you thought that important. And yet, he's an excellent player and will be a mainstay of the side.

[David W]

craigkillie, on 08 February 2012 - 00:18, said:

He played left-back in both games.

Indeed. He's even better at right back.

[H_B]

David W, on 08 February 2012 - 14:52, said:

Indeed. He's even better at right back.

Mmmm...

I don't think Johnson is as good as either Walker, or Richards. Being the man in possession though, and not having done anything horrible on England duty, he might keep his starting place.

[Supras]

H_B, on 08 February 2012 - 15:01, said:

Mmmm...

I don't think Johnson is as good as either Walker, or Richards. Being the man in possession though, and not having done anything horrible on England duty, he might keep his starting place.

Walker is actually pretty rubbish and makes far too many defensive errors.

Richards has made quite a come back from the abomination he was a few years ago, to be fair.

[McKee]

Kyle Walker isn't good at anything other than running really quickly. He's a liability defensively, and with the ball at his feet.

Glen Johnson is fantastic though. I'm a big fan of his. Up there with Sagna as the best in EPL.(Sagna edges it)

This post has been edited by McKee: 08 February 2012 - 15:09

[craigkillie]

David W, on 08 February 2012 - 14:52, said:

Indeed. He's even better at right back.

As bizarre as it sounds, I think he's a better left-back than he is a right-back. I reckon most of his best games for Liverpool (that I've seen) have been from left-back. He'll be in the squad because of his versatility I think, but I'd have Walker and Richards ahead of him for right-back.

[T_S_A_R]

H_B, on 08 February 2012 - 13:33, said:

The England side in the last WC had both. So did the French side.

They were both fucking dreadful.

It's adopting this mentality that in my view has held England back. For example, Scott Parker wouldn't have been considered if you thought that important. And yet, he's an excellent player and will be a mainstay of the side.

i think their previous problem was too many guys like lampard and gerrard who had plenty of european experience but were too dependent on foriegn guys doing the tactical graft. the champions league campaign showed that the english top 4 teams struggled against teams who could defend well as a unit and attack quickly. i think there has been a shift of sorts in the epl, you see guys like steven fletcher, grant holt or even demba banging goals in in a way that i don't think that level of player would five years ago. defensive standards have dropped significantly imo.

scott parker has had a good season but had a nightmare against france in the friendly and switzerland last summer. tournament football is different with much more emphasis on possesion and teams defending deeper and in numbers. the english players completely failed to adapt at 2010 i don't see anything which suggests they will thrive in the summer.