I've been surprised by the lack of Olsen/Olsson twin jokes towards Blackburn, though. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image The latter pair haven't been relegated this season.
Hart Walker/Richards Lescott/Jagielka Cahill Baines/Cole Barry Parker Young/Johnson ? Walcott/Lennon Crouch/Holt/Welbeck I'd go 4-2-3-1 because the first nine are easy to pick, and Barry and Parker play well together. LM and RM are decent as well, though Young's been more effective than the others by a wide margin. Crouch/Holt/Welbeck is hardly stellar, but what can you do? I just don't know who to pick as CM. Not Gerrard, not Lampard. I'd probably take a chance on putting Young there and play Johnson on the left.
I'd pick Lampard in that system and have Gerrard on the bench, RWAEB. It should suit either of them perfectly, though it probably should've happened about a decade ago.
I'd pick Lampard except that he can't even score a goal in a tournament in an England shirt when the ball goes a foot and a half past the line. But if you think that doesn't matter, then yes, he'd be my first choice. On the other hand, if you think Gerrard's recent form doesn't matter, then I'd pick him. The thing I like about Johnson Cole Walcott/Lennon is that they'll all worry defenses with their speed. Figuring England will play negatively against the top teams, having fast players should help to hit them on the break. I've got Germany as favorites also. This is the tournament when their young players should be mature enough, and Spain is a year or two past their best.
Oh please. forget Lampard and Gerrard, when have they ever had a good game for England ? Nope, I say forget them. Ashley Young has to play, he looks dangerous, I'd almost have him as a support striker behind Carroll who has looked top class recently for Liverpool. There is more danger from Sturridge on the right than Lennon so I'd start him, not sure who I'd play on the left, maybe Adam Johnson. When Rooney comes back I'd go for Carroll up top and Rooney supporting with Sturridge on the right and Young on the the left both feeding Carroll. With that level of offence you can have 2 sitting in the middle - Carrick and Parker wouldn't be a bad pairing - Barry is far too slow. With this attack and midfield you have Plan A and B - if you need more creativity in the middle give Parker more license to push forward - he is a box to box midfielder after all. Can anyone think of a pure creative midfielder who is English ?
GK: Hart, Foster, Ruddy Full-backs: Johnson, Richards, A.Cole, Baines Centre-halves: Cahill, Smalling, Rio Ferdinand, Lescott Midfielders: Parker, Carrick, Barry, Gerrard Wingers: Young, Sturridge, Johnson, Nathan Dyer, Oxlade-Chamberlain Forwards: Rooney, Welbeck, Holt, Carroll
When has either of them ever played in their natural position for the national side? I think it's too late for Hodgson to experiment excessively with the team or system, unfortunately.
anyone who doesn't pick walcott has no clue. people may say he's useless, except the stats prove he's the most effective english winger out there.
I very much have a clue. He goes missing and I think he's had his chance. If we're going to bring someone on for 20 minutes while chasing the game I'd rather give Oxlade-Chamberlain or Dyer a run. More end product.
Why? We have a huge dearth of decent strikers. Carroll is a decent option to throw on when chasing a game. Why should Walcott be a shoo-in over the others?
-------------Hart--------------- Richards--Lescott--Cahill--Baines ---------Parker---Milner--------- Walcott-----Rooney-------Young -----------Wellbeck------------- Bench: Holt, Adam Johnson, Barry, Lampard, Walker, Cole, Ferdinand, Foster. Sad we don't have anyone better than Holt/Wellbeck/Crouch. Going for a United front line may be the best option. They at least know how to play with eachother.
Walcott is only effective against a high line, otherwise i'd consider a big man, such as Carrott or Holt, to hold the ball up, and play though him.
We may not have a good chance of winning the tournament, but we have to play to our strengths. We have an abundance of speed in our squad - Walcott, Young, Lennon, Sturridge, Defoe so we need to utilise this and play fast, counter-attacking football. As a fan of Arsenal, it disgusts me to suggest this sort of kick and rush type football, but we simply do not have the technical skills to play possession football. Our other hope is set-pieces. Playing a big lump like Carroll or Holt will work with knock-downs and headers from corners. Just the thought of watching England is so dreadful......
There's a balance to be had. People will laugh but without Rooney I think our best shot is to go with Holt up top with Sturridge and Young either side. Plenty of mobility, strength and speed. It's the midfield that worries me- between Barry, Parker, Gerrard, Lampard and Carrick there's so little pace that we're too vulnerable to getting overrun.
Spot on. That would be playing to our strengths. Have a 4-5-1 formation with 2 strong defensive mids and one attacking mid. Most of our attacks will come from our wingers, as highlighted in your post. My team would be: ------------------Carroll/Holt/Crouch------------------- Young-------------Lampard/Gerrard-------------Walcott ----------Carrick-----------------------Parker---------- Cole----------Terry-------------Cahill------------Walker That's the best possible team. We have strength in the middle, with 2 good defensive style midfielders and Gerrard and Lampard can hopefully chip in with something. Young and Walcott will provide the width and break at speed if neccessary. Any of Carroll, Crouch and Holt can play as they'll pretty much do the same job, hold up the ball and knock it onto Walcott, Young, Gerrard or Lampard. Football at it's most basic but thats our best shot of progressing.
