I'd certainly prefer him to Walker, who mixes moments of brilliance with abject stupidity and terrible positioning. His decision-making in the Ukraine game could have -- and perhaps should have -- cost England the lead in the group.
-------------Hart Walker Cahill Jagielka Baines -------Carrick Wilshere ----Sturridge Rooney Welbeck -----------Lambert Depends on what formation Roy normally plays, Lampard and Gerrard to make way for a more energetic pairing, Rooney given the free role where he is the most dangerous. Sturridge and Welbeck both play similar positions for thier clubs and add a goal threat. I would play this team even when Walcott returns. Townsend as impact player along with Defoe and maybe Gerrard. Would def play Clyne in place of Walker. If Roy likes 442 then this team will not work
When did playing up front become up top ? I'm refuse to use it. Anyway, Lambert to come on with half an hour to go or perhaps as much as an entire second half. Up front !
I strongly believe that the best thing for Lambert is to be an effective sub...he has a great chance of going to Rio if he can fulfil that role. So hope he gets a good 20 mins tonight and gets an assist or a goal. I'm very hopeful that he is in Roy's thoughts.
Sturridge to fall over and hurt himself after 5mins paving the way for Lambert to come on and save the day with a hat-trick for his country!
So that's one crap player ruled out. On the right back thing. Walker is a pacy version of Danny Fox. No idea how is in the England squad however, I don't think Clyne is better than Johnson (yet) I still have memories in my head of the multiple times he slipped or fell over a the back post nearly always resulting in a goal or chance. Haven't see him do this term though so maybe better studs this year? Judging by how long it took Rickie to get in there (i.e. perform for a whole season) then I would say Clyne will have to wait until after the World Cup. On the Wilshere thing. He is a quality player but is not fit nor back to that quality yet and should not be starting for England. At the moment we have a huge problem of Wilsher, Gerrard and Lampard all having a natural tendancy to occupy the same are of the pitch. If it were me I would only have one of them on the pitch at the same time and even though I used to berrate Lampard and champion Gerrard, Lampard is the better of the three at the moment. Gerrard is over the hill before he should be and Wilshere is not back to his best yet. I think if any England Manager since Sven could sort the midfield out properly then Rooney wouldn't get as much stick as he has gotten over the past 6 or so years. It isn't Rooney's fault that he often has to come back to the half way line to get the ball because the midfield can't do their job. This was emphasised in the reverse fixture in Montenegro where Gerrard was blowing by half time and the whole of the second half both Rooney and Welbeck were having to get into the game. Maybe this shows how much we relied on Beckham's energy??? After the world cup I would like to see Lallana, Wilshere and Welbeck behind Rooney No idea who will be the 'DM's' though but even Roy will go to 4-2-3-1 eventually. The whole league is playing it now (apart from BFS who plays 4-5-1)
The league is actually slowly seeing a re-emergence of 4-4-2. But we'll leave that debate. I agree with you about our midfield players being too similar. I would like to see a midfield of Carrick and Wilshere personally. Wilshere isn't at his best so far this season, but he is still a very good player. Essentially though, my opinion is Carrick should be the first midfield name on the team sheet, who plays with him doesn't matter.
Lambert just won't start. Rooney automatically gets priority despite having a worse record than RL for past two seasons. Rooney and Sturridge up front. 3-0 win.
Guys, I love Rickie, I really do, but I can't even with my most red and white striped (or not striped) glasses on suggest that he plays ahead of Rooney, particularly considering the latters form currently.
Times chief football correspondent Oliver Kay: Told that England XI tonight is Hart; Walker, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines; Gerrard, Lampard; Townsend, Rooney, Welbeck; Sturridge Rickie has got a good chance of getting on if true.
Can't put my finger on it but I'm just not stoked for this one. Is anyone else stoked? If so, to what degree are you stoked?
I think that's just about the best team we could field, maybe with the exception of including Carrick. Quite an attacking line-up, which is good.
Sorry but I don't understand your question as we have gas fired central heating. Have you still got an old fashioned coal fire or one of those popular wood burners? If you haven't stoked it for a while then perhaps you need to get the poker out. By the way I am quite excited about tonight's game.
Not remotely stoked, pumped or psyched. England vs Montenegro ffs? I know we're a bit ****, I have no illusions about that, but I refuse to get remotely excited about playing Montenegro at Wembley in a qualifier. Tuesday might be different, due in large part to England's history with Polish goalies.
I'm somewhere between disinterested and mildy bothered. Glad townsend's starting, disappointed carrick isn't, although carrick's form this season so far is questionable so I'll accept that Hodgson knows a lot more than me.
