The smart teams will be keeping the ball, playing a slow passing game and waiting for good space while England players will be looking to the bench red faced and sweating their bollocks off hoping for the game to end. But agree on Delph, hes had a good season, under rated player who went to Vila with potential as a future top player, slowly starting to fulfil his potential.
Really? I couldn't name any - except maybe the guy from Soton - if he is English? Who are your top 3 after Walker and Johnson?
So Huddlestone should have been nailed on to start, let alone be in the squad. Would be ideal for him.
Exactly SD, Huddlestone and Carrick should have been two players nailed on for selection. Once teams win the ball back they will pass, recycle, pass, maybe go backwards to move forward while we look for the long ball to Wellbeck!
Maybe nobody will see that coming? Then again, when Welbeck punts it wide then it won't matter anyway
For the likely conditions, you must have MF who retain the ball. do not squander their passes and are accurate with them too. So Hudd is a logical choice for the squad. You get the feeling this is going to be the usual "facking run around a bit" campaign undone by the first opponent who have an aforementioned MF in their ranks.
Anyone questioning Hodgson's wisdom may want to ponder the Argentinian squad. No surprise that Lamela's failed to make the cut, but they've picked former Chelsea and Wigan flop Franco Di Santo over Carlos Tevez! Their coach hasn't picked him since he took over in 2011, apparently.
Something happened in 2011, was reading about this last month when reading up on his time at Juventus, Article suggesting Messi doesn't want him as part of the squad and also he was being punished for a missed penalty. Similar to what happened with Ginola and conceding possession to the opposition.
Sad for Lamela but great for us. The more players not returning late and tired the better for this preseason, especially since we kick it off extra early.
Falcao has made the Columbia squad, I tipped them as dark horses before his injury. Doubt he will be at full fitness but still an exciting team.
Please god no Wilshire. And no Rooney. I've changed my mind. The two players likeliest to act like spoiled t**ts in all of football. Chile have another horrible draw, but if they can get past the first knockout round I really think they might win it. They've been playing as well as anyone, and should be reasonably acclimated.
Delph reminds me of a young Barry/ Parker, won't get the recognition of his work until later on in his career. Very under rated player and I think he can do better than Villa.
Completely agree. This season more than ever we need as many back training as early as possible anyway. The lads from last season still need to be truly integrated and having a new gaffer means new training regimes and ideas. Here's hoping France, Belgium and Brazil get knocked out early
you could be right, I watched Chile v Uruguay last year and it was like Norman Hunter and Nobby Stiles had been reincarnated. One particular tackle on a certain Mr Suarez was a joy to watch, two players sliding in both with studs up downed Suarez beautifully. No need to dive there.
Everyone seems to be wanting to take a lot of one season wonders. I don't think that's how it works when you look at who else is in the competition.
Pretty good point, but then some of our more experienced players haven't had the best seasons. Might not hurt to accept that this year will be difficult in order to set up the squad going forward to Euro 2016 and Russia 2018?
Hugo will be ok, he's a goalkeeper and we could do without Pauly for a bit, should he still be a Spurs player. But with 3 outfield Belgians in the squad i'm definitely hoping for a shock early exit for them
I just don't think a tournament is the stage to be playing for the future. It is a be all and end all. We get stuck in this thought whilst the rest are there to win it. The 4 years leading up to the next tournament is spent living for the moment and enjoying the wonder the foreign players bring to the PL....with the odd English player making a breakthrough. The odd one will never be good enough compared to a team of winners such as Spain with all but the odd few of their national team representatives playing for the top 2 teams in the league..as an example...so the Delph's and Livermore's of this world wont be good enough id say.
