The Official 2018 Russia World Cup natter
Discussion
48k said:
I've only seen Shelvey once this season and his repertoire consisted of aimlessly hoofing the ball as high in to the air and as far down the pitch as he could, bypassing most of his teammates and hoping someone got a knock down.
For me, if that's all he's got, it's an option from the bench I'd rather we didn't have.
They analysed his performance against Chelsea on MOTD on Sunday and he showed much more. I know from his time at the Swans he always liked the hollywood pass but more often than not they came off and he scored some absolute belters from 25-30 yards too - don't think we have many in the squad who I expect to smash it in the top corner.For me, if that's all he's got, it's an option from the bench I'd rather we didn't have.
Legend83 said:
48k said:
I've only seen Shelvey once this season and his repertoire consisted of aimlessly hoofing the ball as high in to the air and as far down the pitch as he could, bypassing most of his teammates and hoping someone got a knock down.
For me, if that's all he's got, it's an option from the bench I'd rather we didn't have.
They analysed his performance against Chelsea on MOTD on Sunday and he showed much more. For me, if that's all he's got, it's an option from the bench I'd rather we didn't have.
as we've not worried about certain 'favoured' players temperaments in previous squads.Not really a point of discussion now though as the squad has been named and he ain't going.
aeropilot said:
DoctorX said:
Legend83 said:
I would take Shelvey - he's a tw@t but he also offers something different to every other midfielder we will take. He was pretty much the driving force behind Newcastle's decent season and I know from his time at Swansea he can do some pretty incredible things no-one else in the squad could.
The issue is his temperament.
The issue is his temperament.
Not been booked in 2018!But...........he tops the red card list for the season with 2 reds, so I suspect that's what has gone against him.
Agree he's a tw@t, but also agree that he should have gone for that 'option from the bench' as we're otherwise lacking in that department.
If Southgate manages to get that team/squad beyond the group stage it will be borderline miracle stuff.
I'm starting to think we should say f
k it, let's go 4-4-2. That midfield are going to get overrun by any decent opposition regardless, so we may as well go for it. Kane is our only world class player, and Vardy isn't that far away either. Play long ball and lump it up front. Bypass Horrendouson and Dier completely.
Like the goal we scored against Brazil in the 2002 QF.
k it, let's go 4-4-2. That midfield are going to get overrun by any decent opposition regardless, so we may as well go for it. Kane is our only world class player, and Vardy isn't that far away either. Play long ball and lump it up front. Bypass Horrendouson and Dier completely. Like the goal we scored against Brazil in the 2002 QF.
Take a leaf out of liverpools book, and hit it with the full counter attack 4-3-3.
Pickford
Walker. Cahill. Stones Rose
Henderson. Dier. Loftus-Cheek
Sterling. Kane. Rashford.
More than mildly concerned that our "stronger/combative" midfielders are limited to just Henderson & Dier, with maybe Delph as a back up. Would rather have seen an extra midfielder or two over six(!?) fullbacks.
Let's not pretend we're a footballing superpower, just stay solid and pump the ball down the channels letting our fairly quick and talented forwards try and create something for us.
Edited due to hamsters ruining my careful formatting.
Pickford
Walker. Cahill. Stones Rose
Henderson. Dier. Loftus-Cheek
Sterling. Kane. Rashford.
More than mildly concerned that our "stronger/combative" midfielders are limited to just Henderson & Dier, with maybe Delph as a back up. Would rather have seen an extra midfielder or two over six(!?) fullbacks.
Let's not pretend we're a footballing superpower, just stay solid and pump the ball down the channels letting our fairly quick and talented forwards try and create something for us.
Edited due to hamsters ruining my careful formatting.
Edited by vladcjelli on Wednesday 16th May 19:29
Black can man said:
Surprised Lallana didn't make the squad, I think he's a good footballer..
He has played naff all football this year and not a good enough to take with no game time. With him gone your only option is to take Wilshere but we don’t have that either.
No matter who the opposition is they will play Henderson and Dier and that’s it. Sit on the back 4 toes and offer nothing going forward.
Challo said:
He has played naff all football this year and not a good enough to take with no game time.
With him gone your only option is to take Wilshere but we don’t have that either.
No matter who the opposition is they will play Henderson and Dier and that’s it. Sit on the back 4 toes and offer nothing going forward.
Sadly, I think you are right sir.With him gone your only option is to take Wilshere but we don’t have that either.
No matter who the opposition is they will play Henderson and Dier and that’s it. Sit on the back 4 toes and offer nothing going forward.
Black can man said:
I'm no fan of Pep Southgate at all, but do we have any creative English Midfielders?
Indeed. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear. We have just one world class player. In 66 when we won it we had 3 in the team. We have a few good players below that and then its just bickering about which mediocre player should get the shout over another mediocre player. I'm reasonably happy with this squad, especially considering what is actually available.
Instead of picking big names and then failing to fit them into any sort of workable formation, Southgate has picked players who are in form and will work in the formation he has in mind.
There is no way that he has picked three right backs so it looks like a three man defence of Walker, Stones and hopefully MacQuire.
Trippier and Alexander-Arnold are both pacy and good getting forward. Similarly Delph on the left and to a lesser extent Rose and Young. Delph is also a good enough holding midfielder to provide cover for Henderson and Dier. He's arguably as good as either in that role.
The lack of midfield creativity will have to be filled by pace and an attacking intent so playing 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2 plays to our strengths. 3 up front with Kane flanked by Rashford and Sterling or Alli/Lingard behind Kane and Vardy.
If this is how things pan out then I'll be a lot happier than the usual 4-4-2 of out of form, past their prime, big names.
Instead of picking big names and then failing to fit them into any sort of workable formation, Southgate has picked players who are in form and will work in the formation he has in mind.
There is no way that he has picked three right backs so it looks like a three man defence of Walker, Stones and hopefully MacQuire.
Trippier and Alexander-Arnold are both pacy and good getting forward. Similarly Delph on the left and to a lesser extent Rose and Young. Delph is also a good enough holding midfielder to provide cover for Henderson and Dier. He's arguably as good as either in that role.
The lack of midfield creativity will have to be filled by pace and an attacking intent so playing 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2 plays to our strengths. 3 up front with Kane flanked by Rashford and Sterling or Alli/Lingard behind Kane and Vardy.
If this is how things pan out then I'll be a lot happier than the usual 4-4-2 of out of form, past their prime, big names.
a few questionable selections - at least stones and welbeck might be well rested and raring to go 
I'd personally have gambled on wilshere as a wildcard pick - he's had his best season for years in terms of run outs and he does offer something - it would have been a gamble but one I'd have made.
if you look at the squad 1-11 its not "bad" but then if you line it up against the 1-11 of France / germany / belguim etc it looks benign.
hopes are not even at level never mind up....
I'd personally have gambled on wilshere as a wildcard pick - he's had his best season for years in terms of run outs and he does offer something - it would have been a gamble but one I'd have made.
if you look at the squad 1-11 its not "bad" but then if you line it up against the 1-11 of France / germany / belguim etc it looks benign.
hopes are not even at level never mind up....
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