February 28, 201411 yr I've always thought the defenders going will be Jagielka, Cahill, Jones, Smalling, Baines, Cole and either Johnson or Walker. It's disappointing to see Cleverley in there but he surely won't actually go unless there's injuries? He must now be 7th choice CM.
February 28, 201411 yr Think that's about right. Awful to think that Chris Smalling is pretty much going to be on the plane to Rio. Horrendously out of form. And just how Cleverly still gets in the England squad amazes me. I'd rather take Barry. Cos they play for Man Utd. Hodgson, like so many recent England managers, seems to think that players must play for one of the top 6 clubs and it's only when there's unrest about a club being overlooked (Southampton) that he checks them out. Johnson was picked several times when barely getting on the pitch at Man City, and Huddlestone probably had far more chance of being selected from Spurs reserves. Still, it's his choice.
March 5, 201411 yr Author Kyle Walker withdrawn injured Only 17 players can be used for the friendly (6 substitutes), so 12 look to miss out
March 5, 201411 yr We're boring, lifeless and dull. Why play Sturridge on the wing at times? He's ineffective out there. Our build up play is so slow, and we never go through the centre, always out wide. Easy to defend against. We're essentially the international version of Manchester United.
March 6, 201411 yr Author Hodgson trying to replicate Liverpool football with his rigid formation and tactics I don't think Rooney should be considered an automatic starter either. Another poor performance and his inclusion forces Sturridge out wide
March 6, 201411 yr Author As it stands, I think Hodgson's 23 man squad will be: GK: Hart ? ? DF: Johnson Walker Cahill Jagielka Smalling Jones Baines ? MF: Gerrard Wilshere Henderson Lampard Lallana Sterling Oxlade-Chamberlain Milner FW: Rooney Sturridge Welbeck Lambert Hard to know what he makes of the other goalkeepers as they rarely play, but it'll be 2 from Forster, Ruddy and Foster. Also one of Cole or Shaw
March 6, 201411 yr Of that squad I'd ditch Walker since two of the CBs can play on the right (and Jones actually played well there against Brazil). Put Barkley in there and replace Lampard with Carrick as well. For the fourth striker it's a toss up between Lambert, Rodriguez and Carroll if he's scored a few by that point. I'm biased so I'll leave that one.
March 6, 201411 yr Read an interesting article the other day saying England should play a back 3 with Baines and Milner as wing backs, Carrick and Gerrard in the middle with Oxlade-Chamberlain off Rooney off Sturridge. If Uruguay play 4-4-2 and their full backs are as bad as I remember then I think that could be a masterstroke, although it won't happen.
March 6, 201411 yr Read an interesting article the other day saying England should play a back 3 with Baines and Milner as wing backs, Carrick and Gerrard in the middle with Oxlade-Chamberlain off Rooney off Sturridge. If Uruguay play 4-4-2 and their full backs are as bad as I remember then I think that could be a masterstroke, although it won't happen. We've the makings of a squad decent enough to get to the quarter finals. Doesn't matter if we play 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 our current set-up is horrendous. Very strict banks of 4, easily found out with some good threw balls. Just depressing to see how static and slow we are with our build-up play and tactics. I could understand Hodgson in 2012, but we've the players now to be playing some sort of pressing/possession based play, problem is we don't really have a good English manager who could deal with the pressure.
March 6, 201411 yr England to try and poach Rodgers after the world cup? Wouldn't surprise me, but he would surely say no. Plus it wouldn't stop the 'but he's not English!' brigade. I'd really like us to go after a foreign coach, once we've decided on a footballing identity.
March 6, 201411 yr Of that squad I'd ditch Walker since two of the CBs can play on the right (and Jones actually played well there against Brazil). Put Barkley in there and replace Lampard with Carrick as well. For the fourth striker it's a toss up between Lambert, Rodriguez and Carroll if he's scored a few by that point. I'm biased so I'll leave that one. I'd imagine it would be the same. 2 for every position isn't the way to go anyway, and with Smalling and Jones a second right-back is completely redundant. Hart, Foster, Forster Johnson, Baines, Cole/Shaw Cahill, Smalling, Jagielka, Jones Carrick, Gerrard, Lampard, Wilshere, Henderson Lallana, Milner, Ox, Sterling Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck, Lambert Is my prediction of 20. I'm not sure I'd go much different to be honest, I'd take Lampard out for a younger player, probably Barkley and I think that's about right. I definitely wouldn't start with Rooney either to be honest, so often we look better once he goes off. Front 6 of Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Sterling, Ox-C, Sturridge.
March 6, 201411 yr I wouldn't start Rooney either, we looked so much better once he went off last night. Wasteful in possession, awful free kicks and aimlessly shot at least three times. There's no way Hodgson won't play him.
March 6, 201411 yr He was picked even when he wasn't playing well for United so I can't see him being dropped now, unfortunately.
May 13, 201411 yr Argentina have not called up Tevez, Lamela and Pastore yet have called up Franco Di Santo!
June 12, 201411 yr I have to agree unfortunately, the sound production was terrible for 'We Are One' at the end and was probably the reason why there seemed to be hardly any music throughout the rest of the ceremony which contributed to the lack of atmosphere and the reason why it felt so underwhelming.
June 12, 201411 yr Looks like watching David Beckham in the jungle instead of the opening ceremony was a good move.
June 12, 201411 yr Are we meant to talk about the opening match here? I hope Croatia can win this :drama:
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