World Cup 2014, Brazil.

Ox is a game changer. Not sure about Wilshere but our options aren't great at CM.

 

Wilshere always seems to take a long time to get fit after injury so he is a massive risk. Last World Cup showed how risky it is to take lots of injured players. I would still take Jagielka, Chamberlain and Rooney as they are important but I would not take risks over fringe players like Walker. I so hope he takes Clyne or Stones instead of Smalling but it would be a brave decision.

 

Hopefully this performance is cementing rickies place.

 

They're off to Brazil...

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Corinthians or Vasco de Gama?

 

I agree. I think Wilshere is a great player, but he's had a pretty average season and Barkley is a much better option, as a similar type of player, at the moment.

 

Well no injuries for Hodgson today so he will be happy.

I would pick the following 23 (barring injuries):

Hart, Foster and Forster.
Jagielka, Cahill, Johnson, Baines, Cole, Jones, Stones, Clyne.
Gerrard, Lallana, Sterling, Milner, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley, Carrick.
Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck and Lambert.

However, I think Stones, Clyne and Carrick will miss out and we will get Smalling, Walker and Wilshere.

 

No Shaw?

 

As much as I would like him to be I would rather take Cole and I know Baines is a dead cert. Cole is better defensively than both of the others, although Shaw is developing quickly. Shaw is great offensively but he still has a few things to improve defensively and against the best teams this will be tested. I also believe the same is true of Baines who is fabulous offensively but he does get caught out positionally occasionally, like against Chile. We will be playing top teams and while Baines looks good on the front foot when we are up against sustained pressure Cole is better than the other two. However, this is a close run thing, if only one of them was a right back there would be no need for Smalling or Walker .

 

McMenemy suggested that England could take Shaw along for experience...adding that England had money to spend on taking a few passengers. I suspect Luke would love a freebie (though he'd rather play) but not sure what I think of that.

 

The Telegraph reporting that Roy Hodgson has told Ashley Cole he is NOT going to Brazil.

 

Ashley Cole has rejected Roy Hodgson's offer of a stand-by place. What a knob.

 

So Clyne may be happy too!

 

Spoilt prick, throwing his toys out the pram cos he ain't first choice.

 

That all sounds like good news for us.

 

For them you mean because we have to class Shaw as a non-Southampton player now...

 

The only person who could leak this is Cole himself. I'm laughing at the thought of him whinging to his favourite journos down the phone.

 

Ashley Cole refuses place in the 30 man squad and says he will retire from England duty. Hahahahahahhahahahahahahaha.

 

Ashley Cole retires from England duty with imminent effect. Wow, hahahaha.

 

He really is a twat isn't he. Standby place for Gibbs hopefully.