I wouldn't be taking youngsters such as Shaw, Flanagan etc. with barely a season senior experience and no proper international football experience, specially not defenders, not to to a World Cup in red hot Brazil. I've got Sterling in, but that's more to make up for Walcott. As good as Flanagan and Shaw have been I hope neither of them go. As good as Barkley's been I hope he doesn't go, we have just as good players with more experienced heads. I think I may drop Carrick from my squad and stick Henderson in. -------------- Hart Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines ------------ Gerrard ---- Lampard - Henderson Sterling - Rooney - Sturridge With the top 3 interchanging.
He's just shocking. This year, when I've seen him play, he's shaky, indecisive, nervous and suspect. He really was one of the most promising cb's in the premiership at one point and it's just been downhill since then. I suspect he'll leave in the summer, maybe we can get a loan in?
I'm really not sure about Rooney. He seems to score a worldie every few months just to remind us he exists but he doesn't play well on a consistent basis like Sturridge has been doing all season. I'd honestly rather have Sturridge up front than Rooney and I'd rather have Lallana in a 'free role' than Rooney. I get the impression Rooney's status holds other players back. He's literally undroppable even when half fit and when other players are playing better. I'd maybe play something like: Back 4 Gerrard Wilshere Milner Lallana Sterling Sturridge There's so many different options for those midfield places. I'd take Shaw and Barkley because they're good enough. Surely you don't take a lesser player just because someone isn't old? Shaw has looked consistently good all season to me, going forward and defensively. I think the experience thing is nonsense. We always wax lyrical about the young talent available to other countries while bemoaning the lack of such talent in England. Here are two top quality youngsters and some people don't want to take them! If those two were German all the hipsters would be ****ing themselves into a frenzy about it.
If you're good enough you're old enough. But this is a World Cup, thousands of miles away, in a horrible climate and a horrible country, with the pressure of all your countrymen watching you expectantly. I'd rather send the old heads who have experienced it all before and are better equipped to deal with the mental side of it. I think there's a good chance the younguns will crack under it all. This isn't like commuting half hour or so from your cushty home to the ground for a premier league game, this is a long time away from friends, family, the comforts of home and all the while in a country where every passerby is as likely to pull a gun and mug you as just walk straight past.
I'd put the Ox on for Milner depending on who we're playing. I didn't realise how quick he was until we saw him at the KC. I knew he was quick, but he left our defenders for dead.
Not by being thrown straight in at the deep end at the world biggest international tournament whilst they can barely grow a bum fluff beard. They'll have none of their mates out there, they'll barely know any of the squad, it's a big daunting thing for a young boy. Break them in slowly in qualifiers and friendlies, the World Cup finals aren't the place to be giving a kid their competitive international debut. Imagine if one of them had a shocker and put the country out of the World Cup.
But they have been broken in slowly in qualifiers and friendlies. How long do you want them to play for England before being considered for a tournament, years? It'd end up like Danny Emerton if you had your way!
Have they? Luke Shaw - 45 mins in a home friendly Raheem Sterling - about the same? Ross Barkley - as above? John Flanagan - Not even been in the squad. Hardly being broken in is it... Far from calling for a Danny Emerton situation I'd just rather not take the risk of filling the squad with young boys who could crack under the pressure at any moment.
There was always that debate about whether Gerrard and Lampard could play in the same team. I thought the argument was over now because you can't have a 34 year old and a 36 year old playing in central midfield in the jungle in the World Cup, but apparently not. A bold decision Mr Hat.
Easy: http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-Worl...ctor/aec48c25fb63a5d8d34b37bb4a4a60cbb042f5c9 Keepers: pick themselves. Defence: 2 for each position - why are people dropping a centre-back for a 9th midfielder?!! Midfield: An even 8, with a mixture of pace, power and passing ability. Strikers: like the keepers, they almost pick themselves.
I agree, in fact no one expects anything of England in this WC so get as many of the "kids" in as possible. Keep a few old heads in to keep them going & guide them, over the years we have been putting in a couple of youngsters & got nowhere, let's just go all out in this one. Everyone will expect a cagey old guard from Roy (which it will be,) 0-0 & the odd 1-0,0-1 nothing exciting at all. I wasn't expecting what we did at the Euros, was actually impressed, this one however is more likely to be a Monty Python skit. Around 2:40 with the sub sort of sums up what most people will expect. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-2gJamguN04
For me its because the defence is likely to be stuck with all the way through the tournament, injuries and terrible loss of form aside. With midfield there are so many different options, like if we're playing a 4 2 3 1 2 for each position would only leave us with 3 players not starting, it then only takes an injury and we're down to the bare bones. When you've got Johnson as an out and out right back who'll start every game, and Jones and Milner as adequate cover there's no need to take Walker along.
I just think if injuries happen, you don't want to be sticking square pegs in round holes - Rooney can just as easily be used as the 9th midfield option if looking to alter formations.
The climate is going to affect every player the same no matter their age, its going to be harsh for running around for 90 minutes so it will be the mental and technical qualities that are of more importance, and for me Gerrard and Lampard are both too good not to use. There's that old argument that they can't play together but before they were almost identical in style where as recently Gerrard has adapted to be brilliant in that deep sitting holding midfielder role which leaves Lampard to go and do his thing. I see no problem with fitting them both in the side any more as they perform different duties. Lampards intelligent movement, positional sense and deadliness from anywhere within 25 yards will be invaluable, we don't really have another player like him that's up to standard at present.
I wasn't talking about Flanagan but the others have had their chance and taken it. They've impressed for England same as they have for their clubs. Shaw in particular has had a brilliant season. I think you have to take your best players and if they're 19 year olds then so be it.
