I think the potential you mention can somewhat play a part, though admittedly I've not been impressed by a player whom Everton seem to value at £40m+. I'd say it's ideal to blood a few young players into these tournaments like Stones, Dier and Alli in the hope that in years to come they'll reach the levels we hope they can.
Butland Clyne Dann Smalling Shaw Dier Drinkwater Alli Barkley Sterling Kane Use Spurs' system and spine. Rotate in Rose and Walker for Clyne and Shaw every other game. Otherwise the team would be too narrow. Dier and Drinkwater would make a good pair, I think. Vardy an impact sub and spot starter. As good as he's been, I don't think he suits the style the team will want to play most games. Sturridge and Welbeck are both reasonable choices for the bench. Lots of strikers, but the CBs are scary. While Dann is okay, if not spectacular, I can't make up my mind whether Smalling or Stones would be more disastrous. I don't like either Stones or Barkley, honestly. They both strike me as talented players who don't try very hard to help their team win, and go a long way to explaining Everton's underachieving. Both Butland and Foster have been better than Hart.
Stones is absolute quality, he is like the English version of Pique, so refreshing to see an English defender who's first thought when they get the ball isn't to hoof it down the pitch or out the stadium. When we played Everton and he took it round Son about 5 times in his own 6 yard before calmly making a pass out from the back, it was brilliant. Playing him along side someone like smalling who is abit more no nonsense, would be the ideal pairing IMO.
You need players like Stones at CB in international football. Its usually a slower pace game and having a player at CB who can play the ball like he can adds so much to a team. That's why I'd pick Stones and Smalling, they're probably 2 of the most comfortable CBs we have in bringing the ball out from the back. International football requires more finesse than pure English 'blood and thunder' alone provides, which is why I'd never pick Shawcross for an England side even though he's a pretty handy defender.
That's correct, I have no faith in Hodgson at all, I can just see him sitting there announcing the squad saying these are the players who achieved qualification and therefore deserve to go the the finals. He is without question one of the 3 worst managers we have had in my lifetime (with Taylor and McLaren)
I haven't seen that much of Stones, but what I have seen scared me. No doubt a CB who plays the ball well is a big asset. But what I see in Stones and Barkley is what was wrong with Son (so far--I think he'll improve): too much determination to do it by himself, too little awareness that football is a team game, and no sense that taking a high risk of losing possession is fine in some areas and situations and not in others. I think both Stones and Barkley are already very talented, and can go on to become very effective players. But any team they're on won't do much at the moment, from what I've seen. Though I guess that should have stopped me from putting Barkley in my team as well as Stones.,.,
Speaking of starting XI's, I'd go with: Butland Walker, Shawcross, Dann, Rose Dier, Henderson Sterling, Alli, Vardy Kane Speed, flair, creativity and brute force with that young hunger from many to make a name for themselves, I honestly believe this side could go far if selected. Come the following World Cup, only Vardy could be at an age where it could see a decline in form seeing as speed is his greatest asset and he'll have passed the dreaded 30 mark for a footballer. Shawcross and Dann would also be around 30/31 but for CB's that's probably a prime age (just ask Football Manager ) and could still possibly feature in the Euro's in 2020. Most of the rest have at least another 2 tournaments in them after this, Butland, Alli, Dier, Sterling and Kane have about 4 maybe 5 (14,16,18,20,22?), that's a core to build around of what could be a successful England side. Though saying that, I honestly reckon Woy will line-up with something like: Hart Clyne, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines Henderson, Milner Oxo-cube, Barkley, Lallana Rooney Picking this side would likely be last chances for some, Jagielka would surely not feature in the WC at 35, while Milner, Baines and Rooney would be 32/33 with younger players in their positions better than them available (that's already the case now, not that Woy would notice).
England have done their official suit photos: please log in to view this image Cahill, Lallana, Bertrand, Smalling, Hart, Walker, Kane, Barkley, Alli, Jones, Gibbs and Voldemort. Interesting team selection. Nice to see Dele Alli trying out for the part of the new Bond, now that Daniel Craig's quit.
Voldemort! Kane's looking like a nightclub bouncer. Phil Jones really is an ugly bastard, isn't he? Cahill has the face of a young lad who's been forced by his Mum to dress smart when going to meet his Auntie Mavis whereas Gibbs look like a school leaver going for his first job interview!
Cahill and Hart appear to be auditioning for a Man From UNCLE remake, with Hart dead set on playing Illya Kuryakin.
1. Roy Hodgson says he is not going to take unfit players to Euro 16 as this has always failed before - Beckham, Rooney. etc. 2. Wayne Rooney has suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for 6 weeks minimum (more likely 2-3 months). 3. Wayne Rooney is known to comeback from injury seriously overweight and off form. 4. Roy Hodgson says he has to take Wayne Rooney to Euro 16. Rooney is deemed fit to play the third game which we lose, thereby going out in the Group Stage to Wales and Slovakia.
With starters picked first: Hart, Butland, Forster Clyne, Walker Smalling, Jagielka Shawcross, Stones Rose, Bertrand Henderson, Carrick Dier, Noble, Walcott, Lennon Alli, Barkley Sterling Kane, Sturridge, Rooney. It might be controversial to leave out Vardy and Welbeck yet include Walcott and Lennon but I'd like to see us set up with a team that actually has all their best players playing in their best positions. If Sturridge continues to struggle with injury problems then I'd probably take Vardy over him. Wilshere's left out because we can't afford to take someone who will at best have about 2 months of football this season. Walcott and Lennon are simply our best options on the right wing, both better than sticking Welbeck, Vardy or Sterling out of position, in my opinion. Rooney can play number 10, Alli can play down the left, Dier can play anywhere and Henderson can play on the right so there's plenty of flexibility in the squad if we're struggling or very unlucky with injuries at the tournament.
