Because I am harsh and also never likely to have to put my head on the line for real when selecting. lol. I've made red those I would leave behind (although I think you mean Forster and not Ben Foster
There's no 'team' in Sturridge but there's certainly an 'I'. One thing I noticed, if you give the ball to one of the Saints players, they manage to retain possession a hell of a lot more and pass it to another player in a white shirt far more than the majority of others. How Walker is picked is quite beyond me.
Take Welbeck and Walker out of that one and replace them with Clyne and Lallana and I wouldn't grumble. Several months ago someone asked me who I would sign for Saints as competition for Clyne, and I said Kyle Walker. Well we have Chambers, so if asked the same question these days, I'd save my money. And for England, Johnson isn't even in the hunt. Clyne would blitz his way into the starting England team if selected. I'd probably be more confident of him setting off for Brazil than anyone, if he got a chance. Going on the last couple of England performances by Johnson and Walker, he's a shoo-in.
WEll I would say Hart is definitely going to play all the games in Brazil unless injured. Forster looks a class keeper apart from s couple of dodgy kicks the other night, and being a numbers guy I can't really see the point in a third keeper for an 8 game tournament. Can't remember when England last had to use 3 goalkeepers in a tournament. Have they ever? Foster only plays in the 6th best league in Europe (I have put Champions league in 5th place )
lol. got him confused there with Scott carson I think Still think Forster is better though EDIT: took 3 attempts for me to see your edit. lol
England were made to look very ordinary and pedestrian by a slick and possession conscious Chile, who played with england and passed them off the pitch, tonight Germany put out their second team, full of youngsters, and yet England couldn't string together anything decent in the final third, the only plus tonight was Townsend, as for Henderson hell please retire him!................ Your boys are doing you proud though!..............
Agree with IMP that I think Adam will have pushed Milner off the plane with the two displays. Sturridge and Rooney did not really link up too well in terms of one dropping deep. I think Dixon pointed out that they both ran away from the ball on a lot of occasions looking for the low percentage ball over the top. Lallana kept coming inside to offer a midfield option but that left us with no option out wide. This is when you need Cole or the left back to push forward and organise cover from central midfield, but I didn't see that happen. Germany played Townsend very well. They held him up, let him drift in and then the rest of the defence would catch up, townsend would play it back and our attacks lost impetus
I don't know about Roy but I learnt a lot tonight. Henderson and cleverley can go ahead and book their summer holidays with their families next year. In place of smalling I would play a lamppost, a bit taller and equally mobile Hart, you are our Number one. I picked up a brilliant new skill from sturridge, 27 step overs and then fall down. Fair play Roy for experimenting, Capello or even Redknapp would not have been so brave but two home defeats and not a shot on target tonight, should have played Lambert and lallana at the same time to see if they could link up for England as they do for saints. Finally, there really are at least nine places up for grabs and that's great incentive for any English player to have a good season with their club, so good luck to everyone except Andy Carroll you lanky piece of ****.
Cleverley and Henderson had no chance with the rest of the front players being so much further advanced or playing on the shoulder of the German defence. Lack of link up or someone in the hole dropping deep if something we should look to improve.
Didn't see anything except the score, can someone do a short version of how the team/our players did?
England started ok and had a lot of possession without really causing Germany many scares. The midfield and strikers struggled to link up and we were very narrow. Germany scored with first real chance with Smalling losing his man. Second half petered out as subs made. England players struggled to get to grips with formation and lack of coordination pressing the opposition. Sturridge struggled to get into the game.
Hart played well apart from one moment where he ran 25 yards from goal to confuse his defenders. Cole didn't want to defend. Was standing on the half way line waiting to be subbed all match Jagielka - Solid as expected Smalling - Surprisingly ball watching all the time. Got beaten on nearly every header. Walker - Thought his team were in green - 100% pass success except for one free kick which he booted straight across the pitch at Low instead Gerrard - Was a better defender than Smalling. Hit the ball 60 yards from the edge of his box to his mate in the front row a few times. Cleverley - Rabbit - Headlights................. Townsend - Dribbled brilliantly all night to the corner flag. Then turned round and lost the ball - didn't pass to anyone Rooney - Can't do anything with no supply. Was already coming to the half way line after 10 minutes just to get on the ball and then ushered back to his position. Lallana - Did a perfect imititaion of what a better version of Milner could do. Efficient ball retention, tracking back well. Adding a few slight moments of threat and trickery. Sturridge - Didn't pass to anyone, never looked a danger. Cussing the rest of the team for not being as good as him. EDIT: Wilshere first touch got the ball, drove towards an opposition player, lost the ball
Well this is fun - the Daily Mail's England WC team for 2014 from 2007 - proof of journalists knowing little to nothing really - http://http://sabotagetimes.com/football/the-daily-mails-england-2014-world-cup-team-selected-in-2007
They ought to send that team out for a friendly, just for kicks. Even the ones who have left football.
