The Official *England's Passage to Paris 2016* Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

Onwards, we go. Latest England squad has been named for the friendly against Norway, and the opening qualifier versus Switzerland.

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Everton)
Midfielders: Jack Colback (Newcastle United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

You know, such a squad does not fill me to the brim with optimism!

Best side we can muster out of that, assuming Roy takes a 4-2-3-1 shape, would probably be:

Hart, Stones, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines, Henderson, Wilshere, Sterling, Rooney, Oxlade, and Sturridge.

[Guest]

It was inevitable that Sherwood, given the Kane inclusion & his couple of wins for Villa, would start piping up with a load of nonsense. Even Michael Dawson stating his comments regarding Spurs wanting rid of Kane is rubbish.

As for England, think our first XI is a match for anyone really from midfield to attack, in europe. We've got pace, creativity & hopefully henderson/carrick can form some kind of partnership, if we go 4-2-3-1. Defence is the massive let-down though, was found wanting in the WC & you could argue it's got worse since, with the worsening of Baines, Jagielka & having an inexperienced Clyne, who is an unknown at this level. As for Belgium, they are nothing special, they are just a collection of decent players, majority which are out of form and, they simply rely on Hazard, like Chelsea do. Only gets you so far.

[mystiroakey]

If and I suppose its a big if Hart can keep performing he will certainly help us out defensively against the top teams.

We have only let one in in qualifying. That of course means nothing as England are pretty good at that level. 

Anyway. Hart could be coming good. I am hoping at least one of the man u defenders can replace jag as he has been shocking.

So defensively its not all doom and gloom come 2016.

[Guest]

I'd agree, from midfield to attack, think they can be a match for the best in Europe, the quality is there, just need to get them playing cohesively. Hart is a top keeper, but the defence is a shambles for me, as the WC proved against top opposition.

I'd go with

-----------------Hart------------------
Clyne-----Cahill-------?---------Baines
- - - - - -Carrick---Henderson----------
Oxlade---------Rooney--------Sterling
--------------Kane/Sturridge------------

Only gone with Baines because Roy likes the experience. the other centre back is a ? Oxlade is injured currently but think this guy has such talent

[westisbest]

Sherwood future England manager. steers us clear of the drop.

Top 10 next season.

By the time he's 50 will be in charge of the 3 lions.

Ok so I'm on the sauce later, big day ahead, i haven't started already

[Fernando]

Rob Green,Jack Butland & Danny Rose added to England squad after Forster/Foster & Shaw pull out injured.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Danny Rose and Jack Butland added to the England squad. I've lost all faith

[Duty281]

I can't wait for Harry Kane to score against Lithuania and then be proclaimed as the "next Gary Lineker," or something.

I remember Cleverley playing well against Moldova, in 2012, and being hailed as England's next number ten for years to come by sections of the media!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I'm sorry but Jack Butland and Danny Rose - that's just sheer incompetence of selection - Bertrand/Cresswell robbed, Butland has he even played a game this season, or last?!!?

[Guest]

Rose over Cresswell is mind-boggling, not surprising given Roy now has a hard on for Kane & Spurs

[Crimey]

Pretty much any decent side has a chance of winning an international tournament, the World Cup requires you to win 7 games (and that's without taking into account you can draw and go through or even lose in the group stages), get a good draw and a team like England definitely can win and it's ridiculous to suggest that it would be so far out of reach. Spain were often seen as the underachievers then they won. Netherlands have got to a final one year then crashed out of the group stages the next. Italy the same. It's not unbelievable that England could win an international tournament any time they qualify.

[NickisBHAFC]

Green and Butland is a joke. Green should be banned from international football due to the 2010 world cup and Butland who does he play for?! Barnsley?!!!!

See I don't mind Danny Rose. Improved a lot as a player, that being said think Cresswell deserved the call up more.

[mystiroakey]

I think the palace boys like dann and ward will allways be completely overlooked- yet there records and performances are pretty decent. 11th last year with the second best defensive record(once TP came in) and its still quite good this year with a much more attack minded manager - again 11th in the league.. They are certainly performing better than Jag that is for sure.

BUt all the same - cresswell and bretland not included is kind of crazy on form and they would just pip the palace lads imo.

[hampo17]

Green and Butland is a joke. Green should be banned from international football due to the 2010 world cup and Butland who does he play for?! Barnsley?!!!!

See I don't mind Danny Rose. Improved a lot as a player, that being said think Cresswell deserved the call up more.

Butland is at Stoke is he not? Played in the cup games this season.

[NickisBHAFC]

Green and Butland is a joke. Green should be banned from international football due to the 2010 world cup and Butland who does he play for?! Barnsley?!!!!

See I don't mind Danny Rose. Improved a lot as a player, that being said think Cresswell deserved the call up more.

Butland is at Stoke is he not? Played in the cup games this season.

Yeah you're spot on a quick google search shows that is the case. Tbh the last time I had even heard the name Jack Butland was when he played for Barnsley when they beat us back in December 2013!

[Crimey]

To be fair Hodgson did say before the injuries that Butland was the number three goalkeeper, but they wanted him in the U21 squad unless there were injuries. He's obviously being groomed to be the next number one so I have no problem him being in the squad just to gain experience being around the senior squad.

Robert Green, well he's experienced and he knows what it's about, he's not going to play, he's just there to make up the numbers anyway so not really got any complaints.

No way should Danny Rose be in there though, there were already too many left backs in the squad, and that's without picking Bertrand or Cresswell who are the form English left backs in the league. I'd have picked a player who played a different position once Shaw dropped out.

[NickisBHAFC]

Ryan Mason in the England team. Well done to him but too soon I think.

[mystiroakey]

Has he come in for lallana..


Another spud

[GSC]

I think that sums up the current state of the England team rather nicely

[Mat]

I like Mason. He's playing well, why not pick him?

[GSC]

Sturridge is out, might as well pick Patrick Bamford while we're at it.

[Fernando]

#Ain'tNoCallumWilson

[GSC]

I'd be surprised if Callum Wilson goes any further tbh.

[Fernando]

He has the pace & strength to be a PL forward, Patrick Bamford easily goes missing in games so don't fancy he's chance in the PL considering he'll never make it at Chelsea like 95% of English talent.

[GSC]

Hes largely a product of being the forward in an attacking team with plenty of attacking outlets elsewhere. Not that hes a bad player but I'd be immensely surprised if he makes it in the PL. Look at Cameron Jerome or Antonio, outright pace makes defenders urine themselves in this league.

[Fernando]

With Bournemouth's run in (play 1 side in top 10) There is a good chance we shall find out next season

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Austin or Berahino should be getting the call, probably Austin as Saido staying with the u21s would be no harm

[Fernando]

Didn't Saido pull out of the U21's I feel like i read something like that or WBA wanted him to have a break.

[GSC]

If Saidos going to play I'd rather him. If not, then Austin may as well.

[Fernando]

I was right Berahino,Wilson & Bamford pulled out of U21 duty which led to Cauley Woodrow being called up to be back up for Danny Ings.

[GSC]

Nobody wants to play for the U21s.

Which is a shame because I remember when Spain and Germany turned up with all star squads in recent memory.

[GSC]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2336272/England-U21--team-2009-ended-now.html

Makes for a very depressing read. Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Ozil and Khedira all in the other side.

[Ent]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2336272/England-U21--team-2009-ended-now.html

Makes for a very depressing read. Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Ozil and Khedira all in the other side.

Yeah but they are the only side ever to convert great underage sides into a great full international side really.

[Mat]

Yeah Berahino was pulled out, been playing with pain killing injections for three weeks now. Shame as he'd probably have got a senior call up now.

[Guest]

No way should Danny Rose be in there though

He's pulled out injured

[Liam]

Bertrand and cresswell should be in there already, but i'd call up Bertrand if indeed they decide upon a replacement. Also I would want to play Kane and Rooney up top but can they play together? Similar players imo, although Rooney has been leading the line in recent games for us, rather than dropping deep or playing in the 10 position.

[mystiroakey]

How many players have we lost. It must be coming up to 15 plus.

What the heck is going on.

[Crimey]

Crunch time of the season and the competitive game is Lithuania. Clubs will have been in the ears of players, not to say they aren't injured, but I imagine they're minor and probably ones they would have normally played through.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hes largely a product of being the forward in an attacking team with plenty of attacking outlets elsewhere. Not that hes a bad player but I'd be immensely surprised if he makes it in the PL. Look at Cameron Jerome or Antonio, outright pace makes defenders urine themselves in this league.

Cannot agree more with this, think Wilson wastes a lot of chances and will need to seriously improve to cut the mustard at the next level

[Dolphin Ziggler]

PLEASE don't call Cresswell up. A nice rest and no injury is ideal for us

[mystiroakey]

Bertrand and cresswell should be in there already, but i'd call up Bertrand if indeed they decide upon a replacement. Also I would want to play Kane and Rooney up top but can they play together? Similar players imo, although Rooney has been leading the line in recent games for us, rather than dropping deep or playing in the 10 position.

i can see him changing it about and not using the diamond system this time- i think he will go with kane,rooney and welbeck up front - 433

[Duty281]

Lithuania next, how exciting

Not until March, John - do try to contain yourself till then!

I do hope you contained yourself, John!

Whether the media can if Harry Kane scores tonight is another matter entirely!

[Duty281]

England team: 1 Hart 2 Clyne 3 Baines 4 Henderson 5 Cahill 6 Jones 7 Sterling 8 Carrick 9 Welbeck 10 Rooney (c) 11 Delph

Subs: 12 Smalling 13 Butland 14 Walcott 15 Jagielka 16 Milner 17 Townsend 18 Kane 19 Mason 20 Barkley 21 Gibbs 22 Walker 23 Green

Now Roy, I like you and everything, but this is a pretty poor selection.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Probably what I would have picked considering the options he gave himself

[NickisBHAFC]

I only disagree with Wellbeck instead of Kane. That being said Wellbeck does usually play well for England.

[GSC]

Hart

Clyne-Jones-Cahill-Baines

Carrick-Henderson-Delph

Welbeck-Rooney-Sterling

I'd guess

[Mat]

I'd have probably gone Smalling over Jones and Kane for Welbeck but apart from that, no issues here. I think Roy's sticking with the diamond, Carrick taking Wilshere's role with Delph and Henderson the runners from midfield.

[GSC]

On Kane, even with his form and its Lithuania, it remains a Euro qualifier. Take it seriously until the games out of hand then start experimenting with new players and formations against Italy

[Hammersmith harrier]

Kane doesn't fit into the 4-3-3 system so fully agree with Sterling and Welbeck, Jones over Smalling is bizarre, I must get the two confused when they play.

[Duty281]

Aren't we playing the diamond, not 4-3-3?

[GSC]

Tbh it'll probably morph between the two. Welbeck and Rooney have worked well together so far this campaign, why change a winning formula

[Sponsored content]