England - the future....

[From Despair To Where?]

For years it's been the media who've hyped things up though, not so much the fans who just want us to be genuine contenders, and I think it's more the media expectations and pressure that really has an impact on the easily led public but, more importantly, on the players themselves.

You do get "fans" who think England are going to win but they are generally the ones who crawl out of the woodwork every 2 years with their car flags, plastic Cross of St George hats and a Sun England flag. They will struggle to recognise anyone in the squad apart from Rooney and know absolutely nothing about football.

[stealthpapes]

... but then again you get seemingly sensible people predicting, as they did in 2014, that England were going to win it as "someone has to"

ugh.

Anyway, probably get more information about your side in that game, with two harsh decisions and a bit of a scratch team. By the time you hit the later stages, at least one starter will be injured. At least.

There's a decent post a way back from BR2 about how England treat friendlies (i.e. as rugby test matches).

[Brosef Stalin]

Central defence is a worry. You are only as strong as your weakest player and Cahill was really dodgy at times.

I was more concerned by Smalling, seemed to be a bit impetuous at times and easy to drag out of position.
All the forwards upping their game may actually help Rooney, he won't have the full weight of expectancy on his shoulders for the first time since he was a teenager. When is he supposed to be back playing again? Roy's decision may be made easier if he hasn't had a months worth of games under his belt.

What are the options at CB? Every time i've watched Stones he has made a lot of mistakes. Cahill and Jagielka
don't exactly inspire much confidence.

I think the boy has skills but drops clangers all the time.

[Hoop Blah]

The back four as a whole is a bit of a worry, but that's a trend in both the Premier League and the wider world of football isn't it? Defending seems to be a bit of a lost art all over the place from what I've seen.

Stones could be such a good player, as the pass to Walcott shows perfectly, but he really needs to learn when not to over complicate things or he could just become a liability.

[Sanguine]

It's not a fashionable thing to say, but I think this performance is missing Henderson's energy and drive as much as Deli Alli's extra bit of x-factor quality.

Quite. I don't think Drinkwater was too bad - although he was a bit Guthrie-like in his at times plodding delivery. I think last night did more for the midfield trio who didn't start - Henderson, Alli and Dier - than it did those who played.

I thought the only player who really advanced his claims for a starting place last night was Lallana, who was lively throughout.

But, it's only a friendly. Only real shame for me was that Sturridge had a nothing game. With Kane and Vardy clearly in form, a good performance from Sturridge too would have put real pressure on Hodgson not to start Rooney against Russia.

[No Fixed Abode]

I h8 being right all the time but it's quite obvious the first choice central defensive pairing should be Cahill and Smalling.

[Hoop Blah]

Sturridge is a funny one for me.

He's got a lot of ability but I just don't think he fits into a team because he doesn't have much of a position and, IMO, he looks like he plays for himself too much (maybe that's just because I don't like his attitude).

He almost needs to play in a free role alongside someone, like Kane or perhaps even Vardy or Wellbeck, who will lead the line and get in the box when Sturridge goes wandering off. IMO Sturridge can't play as a number 9 (because he spends too much time going off to get on the ball and dribble around a bit, making some nice touches but not getting into the box enough) and I'm not convinced he could play as one of the wider forwards in the front 3 as he doesn't defend enough.

Kane is a certain starter upfront with, I'd suggest, Rooney, Vardy, Lallana, Sterling and Wellbeck challenging for the two wider positions. I think Lallana has done really well in these two games. If he could just add a few more goals to his game (I'm sure he scored a decent number for Southampton) then he'd almost be front of the queue for one of those places.

[Sanguine]

At the moment I'd go with

Hart
Clyne
Cahill
Smalling
Rose
Barkley
Dier
Alli
Vardy
Kane
Lallana

And christ, who'd have imagined that attacking 6 at the start of the season?!
I don't know if we can carry the inexperience of that midfield trio and expect Henderson to start ahead of Barkley, who might even take a more advanced role in a 4-3-1-2, in which case I'd take out Lallana.

To field a team like that, based on form, and have the likes of Sturridge, Rooney, Sterling etc on the bench is some depth.

[No Fixed Abode]

Guess that manages expectations a little, harsh defeat though as we were decent and both of Holland's goals dubious to say the least.

And Holland should have had another penalty too.

[Hoop Blah]

At the moment I'd go with

Hart
Clyne
Cahill
Smalling
Rose
Barkley
Dier
Alli
Vardy
Kane
Lallana

And christ, who'd have imagined that attacking 6 at the start of the season?!
I don't know if we can carry the inexperience of that midfield trio and expect Henderson to start ahead of Barkley, who might even take a more advanced role in a 4-3-1-2, in which case I'd take out Lallana.

To field a team like that, based on form, and have the likes of Sturridge, Rooney, Sterling etc on the bench is some depth.

If we're playing 4-3-3, which it looks like we will do as Roy seems to like it, I can't see Barkley making the starting 11. It'll surely be Alli and Henderson either side of Wilshire, Dier or Drinkwater.

I'm guessing that Vardy will most likely start out as a sub with Rooney starting out wide as he did in the World Cup. He needs to prove he can bring the dynamism that the other options do though because without that from all 3 up tops the whole thing falls down (as we saw last night).

[KC Royal]

Central defence is a worry. You are only as strong as your weakest player and Cahill was really dodgy at times.

I was more concerned by Smalling, seemed to be a bit impetuous at times and easy to drag out of position.
All the forwards upping their game may actually help Rooney, he won't have the full weight of expectancy on his shoulders for the first time since he was a teenager. When is he supposed to be back playing again? Roy's decision may be made easier if he hasn't had a months worth of games under his belt.

I've watched a lot of United this season and Smalling has been playing very well.

Unbeatable in one on one's and extremely capable at handling any 'big' centre forwards who want to battle

The type of player he has trouble against is the likes of Suarez and Aguero who are always looking for space
and really don't want to engage any defenders.

What are the options at CB? Every time i've watched Stones he has made a lot of mistakes. Cahill and Jagielka
don't exactly inspire much confidence.

Interesting. One reason why Smalling didn't look as good for England as he has done at club level this season then could be because he was playing as left centre-back when he plays on the right side for Utd. He played on the right side last night and thought he looked better and more comfortable. I preferred the Stones-Smalling partnership to Smalling-Cahill but whether Hodgson will pick Stones when the Euros comes around when he's struggling to get games for Everton I don't know.

[Vision]

I was more concerned by Smalling, seemed to be a bit impetuous at times and easy to drag out of position.
All the forwards upping their game may actually help Rooney, he won't have the full weight of expectancy on his shoulders for the first time since he was a teenager. When is he supposed to be back playing again? Roy's decision may be made easier if he hasn't had a months worth of games under his belt.

I've watched a lot of United this season and Smalling has been playing very well.

Unbeatable in one on one's and extremely capable at handling any 'big' centre forwards who want to battle

The type of player he has trouble against is the likes of Suarez and Aguero who are always looking for space
and really don't want to engage any defenders.

What are the options at CB? Every time i've watched Stones he has made a lot of mistakes. Cahill and Jagielka
don't exactly inspire much confidence.

Interesting. One reason why Smalling didn't look as good for England as he has done at club level this season then could be because he was playing as left centre-back when he plays on the right side for Utd. He played on the right side last night and thought he looked better and more comfortable. I preferred the Stones-Smalling partnership to Smalling-Cahill but whether Hodgson will pick Stones when the Euros comes around when he's struggling to get games for Everton I don't know.

Smalling is streets ahead of the other centre backs. Think he just had a bit off an off night in Germany, it happens.

As to who partners him. Cahill probably shades it but it's definitely an issue.

[Hoop Blah]

Some discussion in the papers today about John Terry coming out of retirement just for the Euro's to fill that void alongside Smalling.

It's just the typical dross from the papers as they whip up a story from what seems to be a denial from Hodgson, but it does highlight two issues. Firstly the lack of a natural left sided centre half, and secondly the lack of a natural organiser as well.

Jagielka is perhaps the most natural or organiser (from what can be seen on the telly at least!) but he's 4th choice and, IMO, a decent bet to miss out on the squad. For my money Stones misses out to Cahill as he's looking the more reliable defender and we already weak enough back there without throwing in the added risk of Stones.

It's a shame though, if Stones had kicked on this year, instead of seemingly gone backwards by trying to be too calm and assured on the ball, this would've been his chance to make that position his own. I'd still like to see Smalling and Stones develop as the first choice pair, I just don't think it's the sensible option right now.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Smalling is streets ahead of the other centre backs. Think he just had a bit off an off night in Germany, it happens.

Yep, hopefully just an off night. But the concern is that it was caused by the system/position he was playing in. We do seem to be lacking the Bobby Moore figure to go alongside Smalling's Jack Charlton. Should have been Stones but he's had a ropey season.

[Silver Fox]

If Smalling is streets ahead of the other CBs that says more about them than him

[Brosef Stalin]

If Smalling is streets ahead of the other CBs that says more about them than him

Stick to over8ing films homeboy!!

[Ouroboros]

gone backwards by trying to be too calm and assured on the ball

John, try to panic more, ok?

[Hoop Blah]

gone backwards by trying to be too calm and assured on the ball

John, try to panic more, ok?

I was thinking more along the lines of, John, don't f**k about on the ball when it's inappropriate and not worth the risk you silly t*t, ok?

[Hoop Blah]

So, Hodgson names his provisional squad next week, who's in? Who's out?

I think Henderson will miss out following his injury, although he might get included in a bigger squad named before it gets trimmed down. If he does miss out then I reckon that's good news for Wilshire and will probably mean Drinkwater and Dier make the cut.

I could see Jagielka, Milner and Sturridge missing out from the more established players as well, the latter being quite a big call.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Milner goes as even if he's not a starter. Takes cares of the generally underrated/play anywhere in midfield/emergency cover at fullback/can take a penalty Owen Hargreaves role.

Henderson and Wilshere should probably miss out from not playing enough/at all.