What would be your starting line up vs Italy? Mine would be Hart Johnson-Cahill-Jagielka-Baines Gerrard-Henderson Sterling-Rooney-Lallana Sturridge Possibility to play Chamberlain, but I think that's the team I'd play, not Rooney on the left...
It all looks ok, bar Glenn Johnson. I can't believe how weak we are at RB, teams will go at us down that side. I like Clyne personally. I actually think, with Barkley developing as well, this is as good a side as we've had for a lot of years potentially, there's pace that we've lacked, and there are a lot of players capable of scoring. I fancy Sterling to give Italy a tough time, we must face him up to the LB though, as Abate could match him for pace on his side.
Was thinking that the other day. Surely he'd be a better option. Woy didn't take any other rb's, just Jones and Smalling who could cover there if needed Just hope we set up in a way that our attacking players will flourish, if Sturridge shows his club form then I fancy us to get out of the group
yeah, Sturridge & Sterling are key for me. Tell you what though, I can see Rooney coming out in this tournament and doing it, kid gets written off cos he's not developed to Ronaldo levels, why not just credit the fact that he's a ****ing great player and a handful for anyone? I'd rather have a team with Rooney than without, any day of the week.
--------------Hart--------------- Jones--- Cahill--- Jagielka--- Baines ---Henderson--Gerrard--Wilshere-- -------Barkley--- Lallana------ ----------Rooney-------- Hate the fact that England are playing wingers, Sturridge isn't the best in the air and Rooney is constantly having to drop deep to pick up the ball. Barkley and Wilshere can be replaced easily with Welbeck and Sterling to provide wide pace if necessary. I'd stick everything I own on that not being the team though, Johnson will start, as will Sterling and Sturridge, despite the fact that Lallana and Barkley are probably the two players that would cause Italy and Uruguay all sorts of problems.
Hope you're right, if he plays as good as he can then we have a world class player. Really? You not gonna be following England in the WC then?
That's basically fact right there. Roy Hodgson is all chat and no bollocks, all this raw talent will be on the bench or worse when the WC starts, and by the next time a major tourney comes around they'll all have been found out. Looking at the probable starting 11 Roy H will pick, I shudder to think what I'd feel like as a fan who's forked out wedge to get to Brazil when I see how that f**king team plays on the pitch.
Terry, Personally think Sterling has to start. He's direct and fearless and teams can't work with that nowadays, and while I understand what your saying about Sturridge in the air, he converted a whole ****load from Sterling deliveries this season. I wouldn't play Wilshere either, he simply doesn't influence games enough, and he isn't strong enough defensively to make a difference. Gerrard is going to be restricted as he will have to watch the incredible Mr Pirlo, this is why pace on the beak will be an asset, Pirlo plays the game at his own pace, if he slows it down and we can hit on break with pace, we will get space in behind. ----------Hart-------------- Jones---Cahill-Jagielka-Baines -----Gerrard--Jordan--------- Lallana --------------Sterling ---------Rooney------------ ---------Sturridge------------ I'd actually like Barkley to start, but I think he'll grow into the tournament.
Lallana certainly isn't an orthodox winger, and even if he starts out wide his instinct won't be to take it to the byline and stick a ball in the box. Sterling also likes to come inside. You don't have to have someone great in the air through the middle to play with wingers, Barca being a perfect example. Not every cross has to be floated, or put in from the byline. Sterling in particular with stretch the opposition's defence, which will give more space to the other attacking players. As GG said, Pirlo will slow the game down, and if someone like Henderson can win the ball back at the halfway line, players like Sturridge and Sterling will be perfect to counter I'd like to see Barkley coming off the bench at around the 70th minute mark if we need a goal. His directness and skill will be very useful when running at more tired legs
----------Hart-------------- Johnson---Cahill-Jagielka-Baines -----Gerrard--Jordan--------- Barkley --------------Sterling ---------Rooney------------ ---------Sturridge------------ Lots of pace and guile and goal scoring threat in that team.
This is the team I'd like if everyone's fit --------------Hart-------------- Johnson--Cahill--Jagielka--Baines --Barkley--Gerrard--Henderson-- ----------Ox--Rooney---------- -----------Sturridge------------
Well I might put the odd match on the radio but really not arsed about them at all. Never really was that interested but finished me with them altogether when that ****er Rooney slagged off the fans in front of the cameras in South Africa. Does he even realise how many hours those lads would have put in at graft, working their bollocks off, forgoing god knows what just to get the money together to go half way across the world to watch those twats play like a pile of ****e? Rooney's an ignorant arsehole & achieved nowt on the world stage. Last time I gave a toss was Italia 90. Hope that clears things up, I care not what they do or what happens.
Did he actually though? Because Sterling has 5 assists to his name for last season. Sterling is pacey, and direct but he's also lightweight and he's nothing like a young Michael Owen. I don't like wide, wing play from England and he's not going to play a number 10 role so I don't see him in a successful England team this summer. With my starting line up, I had to put Wilshere in there, he's playing like a kid with a point to prove, after Scholes said he'd fallen off. I like players with fire in their bellies. Him, Gerrard, Henderson and Barkley would suffocate Pirlo in my opinion, Sterling offers nothing there. Italy are in a ****ter bit of form at the minute, time to take them to the cleaners yet I'll stick the lot on it that Roy makes us as predictable as ever and Italy get a result, when they should be weighed in. These pre-tourney friendlies are supposed to be experimental and for fitness, well from what I've seen, Sturridge, nor Sterling deserve to start, but we all know it won't stop Roy picking them, or Johnson who has been utterly shocking.
Fair enough, personally I'd love to see us have a good tournament, not fussed about individuals, just the team itself
You have to take into account balls in that aren't knocked in first time mate, thus Sterling doesn't get an assist, but he made the goal, there were stacks. Get over the fact he's a Scouser mate, he needs to play
Well if you're young enough you might just live long enough to see it happen mate, I hope you do. No problem.
So is Gerrard and Henderson in that context! Both have earned their right to play. I won't be at all surprised if he has a good tourney, I just answered the OP truthfully, it's my England XI. It doesn't matter what I think anyhow, you'll get your way. I'm only surprised Hodgson hasn't dropped Rooney for Lambert yet, maybe nobody has told him.
Funny cos it's true mate... I do think we have some players that can do things now, we aren't looking at just one man for a change, so who knows? I'd be delighted with QF's, frankly, cos it was looking dire a few months back. Worst thing for me, the most naturally talented young lad we appear to have is Ravel Morrison, and it looks like he's gonna **** his career.
