I know that many feel the same way as I do where England are concerned and have lost a lot of interest, but I thought it only right to start a thread with the World Cup squad announcement imminent. Southgate's already shown that he's not scared to give the kids a chance, but he has also shown the other side to his management by picking players due to a half decent performance about 2 years ago such as Wellbeck and Livermore who have done nowt at club level for a while now while lesser named players on form have had to miss out. Reports already suggest that Wilshere will miss out, which in my opinion is a massive mistake. He's the only midfield player we have that plays like they do on the continent and can unlock a defence. Another massive mistake will be if Shelvey misses out which I think he probably will. He's probably been the best and most consistent English midfielder since the turn of the year who can spray the ball about like no other midfielder can. He also has that big physical presence in the middle of the park. What are your thoughts?
This is the first World Cup tournament where I actually do not care. Previous tournaments I would throw a party, loads round watching the match, BBQ, **** loads of booze, flags hanging from the windows etc etc. I really got into World Cup mania. Nowadays it's just an inconvenience......I've so fallen out of love with the so-called 'modern game'. That said, if Southgate goes with the youngsters like Klinsmann did with the Germans in 2006 and we keep to that plan and build upon it, that can only be a good thing.
I have an interest that I haven't had for many tournaments because of the two young Jordans, and I'd love England to do well 'cos of them. I will watch games when I can, if they are playing, but I'm not really bothered and I won't watch if neither of them play. Unfortunately, I think that the headlines will be elsewhere because of the idiotic Russians, and it'll be a bloodbath even more serious than the last tournament when they made some Russian ministers 'proud' of their violence . . . . I wouldn't like to be going I also think that we've got a decent chance of at least reaching the semi finals (don't 'mark my words' though)
STANDBY LIST Bournemouth's Lewis Cook is on the five-man standby list. The other four players are Tom Heaton, James Tarkowski, Jake Livermore and Adam Lallana. Pains me to say it but Shelvey and Lascelles should have at the very least made this list.
The only interest I had in England at the world cup was how young sessegnon was going to get on. Didn't even get picked. Hideous. Turns out the institution didn't even know Leon Bailey was eligible. He's been doing well and we don't even know he qualifies. Sums up the national set up.
I'm OK with the squad - certainly would not have taken Shelvey. England winning games is difficult enough with 11 men
Poor squad. But there's little to choose from. I predict now that we'll scrape through the group and go out in the second round.
I've listened to various "experts" over the last couple of days since it's been reported that Joe Hart wasn't going - every one of them used lines like "He's got experience" and "He's been to tournaments before" and "He's played at that level". So surelyu we should take Peter Shilton? At least he was a good keeper!! Not a single person has come out and said "Joe Hart is one of the best English keepers" or "Joe Hart has been superb this season" - City didn;t want him as he's not good enough. Torino didn;t want him as he wasn't good enough. West Ham dropped him for Adrian as he wasn't good enough so I'd ask these so called experts (Managers/Ex Managers/ ex players etc) why a player who isn't playing well and hasn't been playing well for some time deserves to go to the world cup just cos he's "been there before" or "got experience at that level" - he's ****e and correctly left out of the squad!! As for Wilshere - I completely agree - agree about Shelvey too although he's not the most trustworthy person you'd want on a pitch with you as he'd probably be easy to wind up and the refs don't need much of an excuse to flash the red card at that level.
Yeah, but he's not a Cattermole type who amasses yellows at a steady rate. He loses the plot big time - bad character
I, unsurprisingly, agree about Shelvey. He was dropped from our team back in October following some poor performances but since he came back in January he's been the best we've seen of him, he's in great form. I also think he gives the team something different and surely you do want a plan B in the team, his long range passing accuracy is the best I've seen in a Newcastle shirt since Nobby Solano (though our team has mostly been ****e for a decade and a half to be fair). He was never going to get picked though.He has an impetuous past (which does seem to have been put mostly to one side in recent times but will surely resurface when you least want it to) and Southgate has experienced that first hand so I can understand him preferring others. It will hurt though if Livermore ends up being called up from the reserve list and goes whilst Shelvey is at home. Lets face it though, we're not not talking about future England legends here... Lascelles is a funny one though. Not even an outside look in for a young captain who has played consistently well in a problem position for England. He's no world beater but if there's one thing I'd say he does it's follow instruction to the letter (who Rafa loves him) and he will not accept his colleagues not pulling their weight (back in October he grabbed Diame by the throat in training for not trying hard enough, he was ****ing right too!). I'd have prefered him, Mee or Tarkowski in the squad over some of the travellers chosen.
I think that both points are correct. He's really trying to amend his behaviour on the pitch and it's a shame that that doesn't seem to have been recognised, but his character is always going to be there - a leg left into a challenge, a foot put down on a leg with studs, etc. Less of a cheat that Deli Alli, but more of a mentalist who is likely to see red in a big match. He's not clever enough to be niggly dirty so I suspect that he's been told to keep his nose clean, but it so clearly isn't who he really is!
I collect them panini world cup stickers and cannot find Rodwell ! for a tip lets take our spares to the heart foundation charity shop in Blandford st and raise money for charity and get our swaps, good idea ?.
