The Official England Thread-The Team We All Support [Vol 2]
Discussion
Challo said:
m3sye said:
I can understand why he has picked Wiltshire tbh, he offers us something totally different to any other CM we have....
I dont really see what Wilshere does that is so amazing? What does Jack do that offers more than any other CM? Gibson70 said:
Very harsh on Drinkwater. To only have one representative of the league winning team is outrageous.
Wilshere, who didn't even play a whole game this season, over Drinkwater, who won the Premier League.
Very different players though, capable of different things.Wilshere, who didn't even play a whole game this season, over Drinkwater, who won the Premier League.
I agree very harsh on Drinkwater, and it would make sense to have taken him as a second (dedicated) defensive midfielder, but I never saw it being a call between him or Wilshere. If he was fit (which for the moment he is), Wilshere was always going to go regardless, he was a key player for Hodgson during qualifying is capable of stuff that others aren't.
What frustrates me more is that he has dropped players who are very good at specific, dedicated roles (Drinkwater- Defensive midfielder / Townsend - Winger with an eye for goal), and yet taken two 'jack-of-all-trades / master-of-none players in the form of Henderson & Milner.
Milner at least makes a case on the basis of being reasonably effective in a couple of his positions, and has decent experience of being England's Swiss army knife, but I cannot fathom exactly what Henderson brings to the team. I cannot recall a single one of his games for England where you'd look back and think, 'well at least if he plays like he did in that game then he'll be well worth his place in the side'.
He doesn't have the tackling to be a defensive midfielder, he doesn't have the effortless ball playing of a center-mid, he doesn't have an eye for a pass/goal to play as an attacking mid (the less said about his shooting the better), and and he doesn't have the ability to take a player on. He simply offers the 'run around a lot' speciality, effectively making him a poor-man's James Milner. Who is already in the squad.
On the evidence of the later part of the season and the recent friendlies, I'd personally have liked to have seen Henderson and either Barkley / one of the fullbacks to have joined Delph as the players cut.
That's the thing with football though, it's great for dividing opinions & generating discussion!
Henderson IS going to be in the starting 11 for the first game though isn't he...
Evil Jack said:
And yet he has anchored the midfield that won the Premier League.
A midfield which included the powerhouse of Kante, who was on another level to everyone else.stats from Football365 said:
In terms of tackles made, the difference between Kante in first and third place is the same as the difference between third and 62nd. In terms of interceptions, the difference between Kante in first and fifth place is the same as the difference between fifth and 76th.
This hasn’t just been the best defensive midfield performance of this Premier League season. It’s close to the best defensive midfield performance of any Premier League season.
Certainly not belittling Drinkwater's performances (I still think he should be in the squad) but England don't have a Kante in the midfield to play alongside him, which might explain why he has looked nowhere near his Leicester level in the couple of games he's played for England?This hasn’t just been the best defensive midfield performance of this Premier League season. It’s close to the best defensive midfield performance of any Premier League season.
Squirrelofwoe said:
Evil Jack said:
And yet he has anchored the midfield that won the Premier League.
A midfield which included the powerhouse of Kante, who was on another level to everyone else.stats from Football365 said:
In terms of tackles made, the difference between Kante in first and third place is the same as the difference between third and 62nd. In terms of interceptions, the difference between Kante in first and fifth place is the same as the difference between fifth and 76th.
This hasn’t just been the best defensive midfield performance of this Premier League season. It’s close to the best defensive midfield performance of any Premier League season.
Certainly not belittling Drinkwater's performances (I still think he should be in the squad) but England don't have a Kante in the midfield to play alongside him, which might explain why he has looked nowhere near his Leicester level in the couple of games he's played for England?This hasn’t just been the best defensive midfield performance of this Premier League season. It’s close to the best defensive midfield performance of any Premier League season.
Played one game without Kante vs Aus and didn't look great at all. Kept giving the ball away.
That said, Milner and Henderson have been playing like that for England for years...
RaymondVanDerDon said:
Wilshere and 3 sub standard Liverpool players ahead of Drinkwater.
Some players look better than they actually are e.g. Henderson and llana when they play with much better foreign players like coutinho and firmino.
Total injustice.
Have to agree sir, I would have taken Townsend & Drinkwater ahead of , Sterling, Henderson, Wilshire & Milner , James fSome players look better than they actually are e.g. Henderson and llana when they play with much better foreign players like coutinho and firmino.
Total injustice.
king Milner for goodness sake.Looking very likely the spuddies are going to be playing all the games.
GarryDK said:
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley).
Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool).
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).
Dier is gonna have his work cut out trying to screen those CB's.Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley).
Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool).
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).
Squirrelofwoe said:
Certainly not belittling Drinkwater's performances (I still think he should be in the squad) but England don't have a Kante in the midfield to play alongside him, which might explain why he has looked nowhere near his Leicester level in the couple of games he's played for England?
Err wasn't he awarded man of the match against the Netherlands? 
I think what has got my back up is the fact that Roy stressed in one of his press conferences that he would be taking players on form, not on reputation.
Yet he then picks Wilshere and Sterling above Drinkwater and Townsend. Drinkwater has been an 8/10 performer all season in the Premier League champions team and Townsend has come into form just at the right time.
Poor from Hodgson.
Yet he then picks Wilshere and Sterling above Drinkwater and Townsend. Drinkwater has been an 8/10 performer all season in the Premier League champions team and Townsend has come into form just at the right time.
Poor from Hodgson.
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