OT England - Who would you take to the World Cup?

Some will have no interest these days, but for those who do, what would be your squad of 23 for the World Cup this summer?

I'll get the ball rolling:

Hart
Foster
Forster

G Johnson
K Walker
L Shaw
L Baines

P Jones
P Jagielka
G Cahill
S Caulker

Gerrard
Henderson
Milner
Wilshere
Barkley
Sterling
Townsend
Oxlade Chamberlain

Sturridge
Rooney
Carroll
Welbeck

I'd play:

-------------------Hart--------------------
---Johnson--Caulker--Cahill--Baines----
-----------Gerrard-----Wilshere----------
-------Barkley----Rooney----Sterling----
------------------Sturridge----------------

I don't think Jagielka and Cahill works. With Terry retired I don't see much leadership about apart from Michael Dawson but he is never fit. So I would look to the future. Jones and Caulker look the next leader 'type' and Caulker has played well despite Cardiff struggling this season. Jones has looked a bit ropey but I'd take him along as I think he will eventually make an England player. In midfield we've had to listen to Adam Johnson whine on like a bitch this week. To be honest he has got some nerve to try and blame Sunderland's lowly position or the way the squad is picked. He was utter garbage until January! He played well in January and February, yet somehow thinks that should be enough. Crazy bastard. While he has been trying to relegate Sunderland for the last two seasons, the likes of Sterling, Townsend, Barkley, Ox etc have jumped ahead. All three have had poor spells of course but I'd rather bet on the potential than someone who is meant to be in their peak but has no consistency whatsoever. A mackem mate was moaning about it being "Super Kev all over again". I had to laugh because that was a joke too, there were much better strikers about. They ****ing love a sob story down the way. Basically I'd take the midfielders who are likely to be around at the next tournament. That is where games are won and lost at international level so I'd get as much experience into them as possible. The only exeption being Gerrard and Milner. Both have good experience and Gerrard has played at a very high level this season. Milner gives great versatility and gets CL experience with Man C which is important.

The players I left out who I felt were unlucky would be Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert, Defoe. Lambert is particularly unlucky but I think Carroll is just a great threat to have on the bench. He is a nightmare if he is on song. I did consider Rodriguez or Defoe instead of Welbeck. However Welbeck despite his knockers has done well for England and has a good 1 in 2 record. Played an important part in qualification and seems to up his game for England. Lallana like Johnson is just unfortunate we have so many attacking midfield options.

I do find it sad that we have nothing to offer England at present (Willo aside of course)

 

"Who would you take to the World Cup?"

Liz Hurley

I probably wouldn't watch much of the footie. I'd be more interested in watching Liz in her bikini

 

You mean she'd still have it on?

 

no player over 25years old

we're not going to win it, so we would be better off getting a younger squad together
so they can bed in before the Euro's and also maybe challenge for the next World cup

 

Right... let's start with yours...
--- GK---
Hart
Foster
Forster
----------

Perfect! Butland et al are terrible. These are the clear choices. Ruddy 4th as back-up.

---------
G Johnson
K Walker
L Shaw
L Baines
P Jones
P Jagielka
G Cahill
S Caulker
--------------

Ok, not a world beating selection, but we don't have world class talent in our national pool when you look at defensive options. Pleased you've ended Ashley "commentators noticed I played well for a season and mindless sheep still call him world class" Cole's England career for me, so I don't have to be the bad guy

Not sure there's much you can really do. It's really pick your poison time, Smalling or Caulker/Jones.

-------
Gerrard
Henderson
Wilshere
Barkley
Sterling
Townsend
Oxlade Chamberlain
----------
I'm not going to entertain Milner as a serious suggestion, hence I've omitted him from the list altogether. Lallana in his place
-------------
Sturridge
Rooney
Carroll
Welbeck
-----------

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Both are **** as strikers. Absolute ****. Utter cack of the highest load of cack. Welbeck is a barely more talented version of Sammy Ameobi. All legs, tricks himself, pretty brainless, lacks composure, not a world cup striker. We take Welbeck, we are telling the world we don't give a f***. Sure, he scored in quali against the ****test teams known to man, and occasionally his gangliness upsets some people, but for heaven sake, he gets next to no minutes in the worst performing Man Utd side in recent history. I'd not take him at St James'... No joke. Papiss, all is f***ing forgiven!!!!
What the f*** are we going to take Carroll for? Holding the roof up in the ****ty half-finished Brazilian tinderboxes? Hodgson isn't Pardew. Carroll has done absolutely nothing to convince anybody he is up to International football in the last two seasons. He doesn't deserve a place.

Lambert and Rodriquez should go instead. They are both limited as f***, but better at the sharp end in terms of scoring goals, and if they're coming from the bench, or being thrust into an important match because of injuries to others, I want the better goal-scorers in England on standby, not a giant cripple ladyboy and the secret Ameobi brother

 

We're not far apart then. I only picked Milner in the absence of a good central midfielder who had a bit of graft about him. I could live with Lallana and say **** it - attack!!!!!!!

Have to say Rodriguez, I'm just not convinced. I am not a big Welbeck fan but I'd find it difficult to knock his performances for England. He has 8 in 21, having often been played wide. Some players just do more at international level than they ever do at club level. Carroll is like marmite. Some hate and see him as a guaranteed way of playing hoofball. Others think he is lethal and gives you an excellent option from the bench. He can play in passing teams too as shown at u21 level when the link up between him and the likes of Wilshere was tremendous. Plus he was one of the few bright sparks from our last international tournament. I do like Lambert though and if Carroll was jettisoned for him I'd have no major issue.

I'm very very surprised to find us only 3 players apart from a squad 23

 

I did think about decrying your entire squad for ****s and giggles

Doing it for England means little, because repeatedly England lose as soon as they play a decent team, so "doing it for England" is confined to the realms of scoring against San Marino et al. I think Rodriquez would have a similar record to DW if he'd been given the same opportunity, and ultimately, like I said, Rodriquez is a better goalscorer, and can play on the wing as well (even though I agree that Rodriquez isn't a great player, England just don't have enough striking options).

Plus, if it came to a situation where Rooney was suspended and Sturridge was injured, would you rather have Rodriquez and Lambert playing together, or Andy and Danny?

 

I'd take Iron Mike instead of Phil Jones who is **** sorry but he is, and I would take Lallana instead of Townsend

 

OH MY GODDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!

Lady E, one of the sweetest, gentile, lovely ladies of our board, just swore. BEST DAY EVER

 

If it comes to the situ where Rooney and Sturridge are injured, I'd probably want them just to get on the plane and head back.

Carroll and Welbeck. I'm just not sure about Rodriguez, maybe I just haven't seen enough of him. Whenever I have watched Southampton I have been really impressed by Lallana, Lambert and the croation lad at the back. I have seen moments from Rodriguez and his highlight reel is probably very good.

I do think it is a bit of nothing discussion in some ways. The bottom line is England have no stand out goalkeeper, no leader at centre back, and very little depth in the attacking department. The only thing we seem to be producing is a lot more technical attacking midfielders. After Gerrard we have zero holding midfield options too.

This thing about the set up of the PL not affecting the national team looks bollocks from where I'm sitting. Obviously we have grass root problems coaching wise as the game has moved on, but there is a clear problem with English players not being exposed to top level football and the manager having a larger pool to pick from. Even the things we have been traditionally good at producing right through the years like goalscorers, goalkeepers and centre backs who can lead, we are no longer producing. With all due respect to the coaching side of the game, the ability to lead, finish under pressure and command (key elements of centre backs, goalkeepers, putting the ball in the net) mainly come from character built through exposure. Obviously its about how players are selected to go into academies too in terms of looking deeper than just ability too.

Look you're a ****, I tried not to look the depressing side of the whole England thing but you have made me. I hate you.

 

Well Lady E probably thinks you're a **** so there ;P




Hahahahahahaha

 

Lol good job you will never hear me when I'm driving. Not Miss Daisy at all.