England Squad

[TBM]

You can easily see Gerrard/Henderson or whoever plays in midfield constantly having to cover the defensive weaknesses of our squad (which they'll be more than aware of) and thus finding it difficult to feed the forward players.

Like it or not but i would play Lampard and Gerrard in there, simple due to the fact they will be more disciplined and can actually pick out a pass from 40-50 yards

[paultheroyal]

Stones will be ahead of Jones....

[Sanguine]

Reading Guardian's article about selection gambles or mistakes - have to feel for Walcott a little; too young and ignored in 2006, left at home in 2010 and now injured for 2014, he'll be 29 before he can (potentially) play in a World Cup.

[No Fixed Abode]

You can easily see Gerrard/Henderson or whoever plays in midfield constantly having to cover the defensive weaknesses of our squad (which they'll be more than aware of) and thus finding it difficult to feed the forward players.

Like it or not but i would play Lampard and Gerrard in there, simple due to the fact they will be more disciplined and can actually pick out a pass from 40-50 yards

Not sure Gerrard can handle the pressure in big games.

[YateleyRoyal]

[No Fixed Abode]

:roll:

http://footballburp.com/magazine/top-5- ... sea-fails/

[YateleyRoyal]

What's that got to do with the England squad?

[Hoop Blah]

Surely Johnson's position at right back must be up for grabs, I would include him as he does give more going forward, particularly if we're chasing a goal.

Agreed, but, with Walker injured who else is there that's more reliable and still offers something going forward?

Jones is an option, but he's done nothing really to show he'd be any better and Johnson had a pretty good Euro's and apart from the last few games had looked good for England.

I still think Micah Richards would be our best right back if he was fit and playing. He's neither so can't be considered (and possibly isn't due to concerns over his ability and commitment after the standby issue 2 years ago).

[Ginger Ninjas]

Think Cole not going on the standby list is a bit egotistical... What if Baines or Shaw gets injured in a warm up match - Cole's going to turn down the chance to play for England in a World Cup because he didn't like being named as third choice? Could've waited until after the squad's finalised to retire, imo.

England's greatest ever left back though, as much as I dislike the guy.

[P!ssed Off]

Why do we think A.Cole would definitely have been on the standby list?
Look at the Euro '12 squad list.

Defenders
Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, John Terry.

Standby
Phil Jagielka

If you're taking 7 defenders and one on standby then there is not room for 3 players who are solely left backs, imo.

[From Despair To Where?]

I'm the last person to defend Cole but he's hardly played this year and if he's not in the squad, he probably didn't see the point of being put on standby ahead of a player who will still be around in 4 years.

[genome]

Lampard and Lambert in the squad according to SSN

[P!ssed Off]

Squad in.

Smalling in for Walker the only surprise.
Walker clearly deemed too unfit/injured.

Happy with that squad. No stupid decisions imo.

[BR2]

You can easily see Gerrard/Henderson or whoever plays in midfield constantly having to cover the defensive weaknesses of our squad (which they'll be more than aware of) and thus finding it difficult to feed the forward players.

Like it or not but i would play Lampard and Gerrard in there, simple due to the fact they will be more disciplined and can actually pick out a pass from 40-50 yards

Not sure Gerrard can handle the pressure in big games.

I wonder why you picked this game and a slip as an example of handling pressure rather than one of the many penalties this season or the almost-single-handedly beating of AC Milan in THAT champs league final.
Presumably one of the many reasons why John Terry is not going is failing to handle the pressure of taking a penalty in a Champs League final.

[P!ssed Off]

England World Cup squad

Goalkeepers
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion)
Fraser Forster (Celtic)

Defenders
Leighton Baines (Everton)
Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
Phil Jagielka (Everton)
Glen Johnson (Liverpool)
Phil Jones (Man Utd)
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Chris Smalling (Man Utd)

Midfielders
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - captain
Ross Barkley (Everton)
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
James Milner (Manchester City)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Strikers
Rickie Lambert (Southampton)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

Standby
Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
Andy Carroll (West Ham United)
Tom Cleverley (Manchester United)
Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC)
Jon Flanagan (Liverpool)
John Ruddy (Norwich City)
John Stones (Everton)

[YateleyRoyal]

.

[BR2]

Not a single surprise but who else is there?
I think it is a good idea taking a number of young players for the experience with the European tournament in mind in 2 years time.
Good to see Carrick and Cleverley only on standby but would have preferred Stones or Flanagan ahead of Smalling and Jones, neither of whom IMHO have progressed this season for club or country whereas the former have come on a bundle.
Really pleased for Lambert.

[Sanguine]

Shame for Ruddy. I've never particularly been a fan of Foster, but we do seem pretty spoilt for choice in goal again at the moment.

[thirtyyarder]

Only cause for concern for me is the lack of a true defensive midfielder and that Smalling is a bit shit.

[genome]

Pretty much as I expected tbh.

Starting line up?

--------------------Sturridge------------------
Sterling---------Rooney---------Lallana
--------------Gerrard---Wilshere---------------
Baines-----Cahill----Jagielka---Johnson
------------------------Hart---------------------------

I'd like to see that anyway.