The English Football Thread

[EvilChuck]

I think that Capello is going to be looking to get away from 4-4-2 and start to fall in line with the 4-5-1/4-3-3 system that alot of the top European club sides are using to be honest, and as Chelsea and Barca have shown its possible to work that system without any wingers at all. Your two wide attackers would be narrower and cut inside more giving one or both of the fullbacks the chance to attack in the vacated space.

In my opinion the problem is the England team has a few players that should be phased out of the team, and new blood should be brought in. The team should be looking towards the 2014 World Cup imo, so we'd be better off getting the younger players in now, giving the qualification experience and tournament experience in the Euros, so that when the majority are reaching 23/24/25 in 2014 they have adequate maturity and experience to have a decent shot at performing well at the World Cup.

I personally wouldnt be having any player currently in their 30's in the squad, its too short sighted. On paper, a matured line up based on potential shown by the players thus far (with the exception of Rooney, Bent and Walcott who would be closer to their late 20's), a front 6 of:

--------Carroll/Bent
--Rooney--------Walcott
----Wilshere---McEachran
----------Rodwell

Looks far more promising for a World Cup run than trying to squeeze the same players that failed so miserably at the last tournament into the team. Capello wouldnt do this though, he has no obligation to the team past 2012 so he will just want the best for that tournament, which will mean struggling with the Barry/Lampard/Gerrard midfield again in the Euros.

Potentially the future of English football is very bright, but the FA are so short sighter to only give managers contracts that last to the next tournament, which means that long term planning is not something that any England manager needs to bother with.

Edit: I havent even added the likes of Lennon and Huddlestone from Spurs!! That could change the line up again:

Rooney/Carroll/Bent (1 from)
Walcott/Rooney/Lennon (2 from)
Wilshere/Rodwell/McEachran (2 from)
Huddlestone/Rodwell (1 from)

Into the same formation as before.

But the point remains, we have enough attacking talent that in the right formation, could achieve alot comparative to what the team has achieved in the last 2 tournaments (scraping through the group to get knocked out in the first k/o round, and not even qualifying before that)

[Sneer]

Originally Posted by EvilChuck

I think that Capello is going to be looking to get away from 4-4-2 and start to fall in line with the 4-5-1/4-3-3 system that alot of the top European club sides are using to be honest, and as Chelsea and Barca have shown its possible to work that system without any wingers at all. Your two wide attackers would be narrower and cut inside more giving one or both of the fullbacks the chance to attack in the vacated space.

In my opinion the problem is the England team has a few players that should be phased out of the team, and new blood should be brought in. The team should be looking towards the 2014 World Cup imo, so we'd be better off getting the younger players in now, giving the qualification experience and tournament experience in the Euros, so that when the majority are reaching 23/24/25 in 2014 they have adequate maturity and experience to have a decent shot at performing well at the World Cup.

I personally wouldnt be having any player currently in their 30's in the squad, its too short sighted. On paper, a matured line up based on potential shown by the players thus far (with the exception of Rooney, Bent and Walcott who would be closer to their late 20's), a front 6 of:

--------Carroll/Bent
--Rooney--------Walcott
----Wilshere---McEachran
----------Rodwell

Looks far more promising for a World Cup run than trying to squeeze the same players that failed so miserably at the last tournament into the team. Capello wouldnt do this though, he has no obligation to the team past 2012 so he will just want the best for that tournament, which will mean struggling with the Barry/Lampard/Gerrard midfield again in the Euros.

Potentially the future of English football is very bright, but the FA are so short sighter to only give managers contracts that last to the next tournament, which means that long term planning is not something that any England manager needs to bother with.

Edit: I havent even added the likes of Lennon and Huddlestone from Spurs!! That could change the line up again:

Rooney/Carroll/Bent (1 from)
Walcott/Rooney/Lennon (2 from)
Wilshere/Rodwell/McEachran (2 from)
Huddlestone/Rodwell (1 from)

Into the same formation as before.

But the point remains, we have enough attacking talent that in the right formation, could achieve alot comparative to what the team has achieved in the last 2 tournaments (scraping through the group to get knocked out in the first k/o round, and not even qualifying before that)

I agree largely with your line up, but at this stage, instead of McEachren I'd have Gerrard in there. He was the only player of the so-called 'golden generation' that played with any real distinction at the world cup, and he's been our best player since then too. I'd also have Parker in instead of Rodwell too AT THE MOMENT. I rate Scott very highly, and I think for the next couple of years he should be first choice defensive mid, with Wilshere and Gerrard given license to push up and support Walcott, Rooney and Bent.

In regards to the likes of Rodwell, McEachren, Gibbs, Carroll etc, they should be introduced gradually, so they can learn and adapt to the rigours of what is undoubtedly a step up. I fully support their inclusion in the Euro Championships should we get there and should they be performing regularly for their clubs. Hopefully, come the WC in 2014, we'll have a new, very taented nucleus of young players ready to take on the world.

I also think Wilshere should go to the U21 champs this summer to gain experience in tournament conditions. I think with him in there we will have a great chance of winning the thing, he's just a step above anybody else in that age group within Europe at the moment. If he, McEachren and Rodwell start, with Sturridge/Carroll/Welbeck up top, that is a ridiculously talented U21 front 6.

[EvilChuck]

Out of all of them, McEachren is the only one currently I can see struggling to get into his club side. From what I've seen, and what I've been told by Chelsea mates, he is very talented, but in the next season or two I'm not sure he'll get alot of games ahead of Lampard or Essien, which leaves him, Mikel and Ramires fighting for what seems to be one spot in Chelsea's midfield.

Welbeck will be interesting next season, whether he goes back to United or stays at Sunderland could decide whether he goes to the Euros or not. I cant see him getting much game time at United, not unless Berbatov and Owen suddenly disappear completely and he becomes part of a three man choice with Rooney and Hernandez, so he may be better off staying at Sunderland for another season until there is a space at United for him.

I think the management is more important than the players though currently. As fans we can see the potential for success in the future, should it be handled properly. But with a manager whose only obligation is to get to the Euros and not look beyond that, I cant help but think we're wasting time with the developing of the young players. I'd say its better to get a manager tied to a long term contract, to give them the time to transition the team into the next decade or so. Whether that's Capello or someone else doesnt matter really, it just needs to be a long term plan.

[Sneer]

Originally Posted by EvilChuck

I'd say its better to get a manager tied to a long term contract, to give them the time to transition the team into the next decade or so. Whether that's Capello or someone else doesnt matter really, it just needs to be a long term plan.

Agreed.

[Bulldog]

BBC Sport - Football - Gareth Barry to lead England against Ghana at Wembley

Erm...come again?

There are two things I have to say about this;

1. How is this man still playing for England? He simply hasn't got the pace or the ability in any sense to play the international game. I was hoping that became obvious after the Germany game. I don't know what Capello hopes to prove by fielding him as captain against a vibrant, young and pacy Ghanaian side.

2. Why not Scott Parker? He's proven himself not only as a good, inspirational captain at West Ham, but he was easily one of the best performers against Wales the other day. Hell, even Joe Hart or Phil Jagielka would make a better England captain for the day.

I hope Fabio knows what he's doing, otherwise this could easily end up as our first loss to an African side.

[EvilChuck]

Capello said: "He is a really good player, a good captain and he's also the player with the most England caps in the squad now."

He's basically got it by default. The squad looks massively depleted from saturday, Ghana will fancy their chances massively now surely.

[Howell]

Jack Wilshere for England Captain!


That is all...

[Nosferatu Man]

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

Jordan Henderson was the player I wanted to keep a hold of more than anybody. I would have sooner seen Bruce sell Bent, Gordon, Gyan or anyone for that matter. He's not quite looked up to scratch however over the last two or three months. He is still hopefully going to be a quality player though. Capello played him in defensive midfield for his England debut, which is somewhere he hadn't played before. He had a very quiet game but from his time in the Premiership up to now I can say that he really doesn't look as though he is going to be a defensive midfielder.

James Milner has indeed had an unsuccessful run at Man City, and has looked out of form. He looked very impressive at Villa and I was happy to see him in the England team, I had been waiting for Capello to call him up. I guess it'll be interesting to see if he can find his form again.

Also what about Leighton Baines? I'm wondering if Capello will begin to start him at left back? He's having a much better season than Cole is. Maybe even start Baines at left back and Cole at left midfield? It's not like we have a particularly impressive one. I mean, Young can play there but he seems much better when he's allowed to play in the hole behind the striker(s).

A Sunderland fan? What do you make of David Meyler? I played underage footie with him.

[Mojo]

He has yet to have a solid run in the team and of course when he was looking like holding down his place, he was injured.

I think the general opinion on Wearside is positive. He seems a worker and a battler, but Meyler seems to have a lot of talent too, which a fair few of our workers in the past haven't. He still has lots of work to do, and the jury is still out, but I know a few of my mates felt as though we missed him when he got injured.

[Nosferatu Man]

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

He has yet to have a solid run in the team and of course when he was looking like holding down his place, he was injured.

I think the general opinion on Wearside is positive. He seems a worker and a battler, but Meyler seems to have a lot of talent too, which a fair few of our workers in the past haven't. He still has lots of work to do, and the jury is still out, but I know a few of my mates felt as though we missed him when he got injured.

Yeh I thought he was doing well before the first injury it looks in hindsight like Bruce probably rushed him back to quickly for those games over xmas.