[kitakyushu]

My own personal belief is England don't have the players with the intelligence and ability to read and control a game.

Sure they have players who can catch the eye and huff and puff for 90mins and produce the occasional thunderbolt goal or moment of magic but their problem comes doesn't to the simple technique of retaining the ball and dictating the pace of the game. They're their own worst enemies on a football pitch. They have enough about them to destroy weak teams in the qualifiers but then when it gets to the finals they're found out and often given the runaround.

Check their results in the finals of the last decade. They've managed to actually lose matches where they were winning 1-0 and even 2-0. Plus their knockout record is nothing short of embarrasing (apart from penalties they unbelievably they have NEVER won a knockout game of any description in the Euros (Greece managed 3x in '04!) and have just 2 knockout round wins inside 90mins in the last 12 finals tournaments)

England have inheirent problems that Roy Hodgson, Capello, Harry Redknapp (or anyone else) won't solve. They'd almost have to create a new breed of player and that would take a decade to bear fruit. France's national team went back to the drawing board in the early 90s and missed two world cups finals as a result. Their reward was a world cup win in 98. Spain went thru some lean years also, reinvented themselves too and also won a world cup. You won't see England do the same tho even thought they have what it takes to win trophies. They'll just keep on making the same mistake year after year.

[G.K.]

Originally Posted by kitakyushu

My own personal belief is England don't have the players with the intelligence and ability to read and control a game.

Sure they have players who can catch the eye and huff and puff for 90mins and produce the occasional thunderbolt goal or moment of magic but their problem comes doesn't to the simple technique of retaining the ball and dictating the pace of the game. They're their own worst enemies on a football pitch. They have enough about them to destroy weak teams in the qualifiers but then when it gets to the finals they're found out and often given the runaround.

Check their results in the finals of the last decade. They've managed to actually lose matches where they were winning 1-0 and even 2-0. Plus their knockout record is nothing short of embarrasing (apart from penalties they unbelievably they have NEVER won a knockout game of any description in the Euros (Greece managed 3x in '04!) and have just 2 knockout round wins inside 90mins in the last 12 finals tournaments)

England have inheirent problems that Roy Hodgson, Capello, Harry Redknapp (or anyone else) won't solve. They'd almost have to create a new breed of player and that would take a decade to bear fruit. France's national team went back to the drawing board in the early 90s and missed two world cups finals as a result. Their reward was a world cup win in 98. Spain went thru some lean years also, reinvented themselves too and also won a world cup. You won't see England do the same tho even thought they have what it takes to win trophies. They'll just keep on making the same mistake year after year.

I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Until this point, where England have embarked on this long process, they have to play a more structured game, which Hodgson will do.

[Blatter]

I might be biased but if I was the England manager I'd play as many United players as I could get into the team, within reason and play a similar system to what they usually play. Not because I think they're the best players available, but because the know each other, are able to play with each other and it would be a huge advantage over the vast majority of International teams.

--------------Hart--------------
Walker--Ferdinand--Terry----Cole
--------Carrick---Scholes--------
Gerrard------Rooney------Young
------------Welbeck------------


If they could get that team together, I really think they could have an excellent tournament. Won't happen though.

[PeterTwo]

Originally Posted by Blatter

U might e biased but if I was the England manager I'd play as many United players as I could get into the team, within reason and play a similar system to what they usually play. Not because I think they're the best players available, but because the know each other, are able to play with each other and it would be a huge advantage over the vast majority of International teams.

--------------Hart--------------
Walker--Ferdinand--Terry----Cole
--------Carrick---Scholes--------
Gerrard------Rooney------Young
------------Welbeck------------


If they could get that team together, I really think they could have an excellent tournament. Won't happen though.

I think a Chelsea defence would be best, swap Rio with Cahill.

Otherwise I'd agree with you.

[counterlock]

Apart from the fact that Scholes has retired.....

[Blatter]

Originally Posted by counterlock

Apart from the fact that Scholes has retired.....

Well, they could always ask him back and see what happens.

I wouldn't be suprised in the slightest if Hodgson tried to get him back, their only other CM player that can control the ball and dictate a game like Scholes is Wilshere, and he's injured.

[Eli Manning]

Foster
Walker Terry Ferdinand Cole
Lennon Carrick Barry Young
Rooney Welbeck

That team would do reasonably well. Since Rooney is out I'd play Gerrard for the first two games.

[PeterTwo]

Originally Posted by Eli Manning

Foster
Walker Terry Ferdinand Cole
Lennon Carrick Barry Young
Rooney Welbeck

That team would do reasonably well. Since Rooney is out I'd play Gerrard for the first two games.

Foster?

[Eli Manning]

Originally Posted by PeterTwo

Foster?

I imagine Roy will give him a call, I'm selecting based on BPA. He's England's best keeper IMO.

[mayordenis]

Hart and Foster are both capable keepers, seems like a non-started though surely it's going to be Hart.

I'd probably have Cahill and Lescott as the top 2 current English CB's, will probably end up with Ferdinand and Terry but that's a mistake imo.
Walker, johnson and Richards are as much depth as any country has a RB and also as much of a selection headache, Cole edges out Baines at LB.

Lennon, Young, Milner, Johnson, Downing are the ones vying for the wing spots, in that order too.
Gerrard, Parker, Barry, Carrick, Lampard I guess are the centre mids with a reasonable shout again I would say the order I have wrote them in should more or less be the starting order but Gerrard is likely going to be more of a second striker.

Up front is where the struggle is, Rooney quite comfortably is their top man but without him and with Bent injured they are going to struggle big time. Welbeck seems to be the next choice but I'm really not so sure on him as an out and out striker at least on his own, Crouch or Defoe? again you're talking basically average not going to scare the **** out of any of the top teams.

Probably forgetting one or two other good shouts but that sums it up for me.

[smokedeels]

I'd kick the egos out and go for a young team (bar a few older players) something like...

Hart
Walker Smalling Cahill Baines
Chamberlain Carrick Parker (c)
Sturridge Rooney* Welbeck

Subs: Ruddy, Young, Lennon, Holt, Lescott, Jagielka, Barry

A mix of young and honest players, with the aim to reduce expectations.

*Young to start in the first two games.

[Redzer7]

Originally Posted by Eli Manning

I imagine Roy will give him a call, I'm selecting based on BPA. He's England's best keeper IMO.

Hart is streets ahead, IMO.

[mayordenis]

Sturridge is one I forgot for sure, he's certainly going, I thought Holt too but rarely does a deserving yet underappreciated player actually get their chance for the England national team

[Blatter]

I don't think Sturridge has done enough since Xmas to be in contention for a starting place. A talented but very selfish player who isn't great at tracking back.

[smokedeels]

Originally Posted by Blatter

I don't think Sturridge has done enough since Xmas to be in contention for a starting place. A talented but very selfish player who isn't great at tracking back.

There isn't a massive pool of attackers to pick from (depending on the formation)

Would you consider Walcott? His stats are decent this year.