The General England Euro 2016 Thread

[silkyman]

When did 1990 David Platt start playing right back for Spain?

 

[JJ1532]

Well, maybe I missed a better performance in the 1st half, but Kane has been absolutely dreadful from what I've seen in the 2nd.

 

[silkyman]

Jeez, what a finish that was... Piss weak header from Beaker though..

 

[Whitechapel]

This is what happens when you pick 4 Tottenham players against a good international team.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I wouldn't mind if they played with courage and determination in games against big teams and just weren't good enough, but they don't, they're scared and tentative and treat the ball like it's a timebomb, and then come out afterwards and say "no excuses". No excuses? No one cares about your excuses, just do your jobs you fucking betas.

 

[Anaconda]

Not surprised by tonight's score because we are not good enough at this level

 

[JimJams]

As I said after the qualifiers these friendlies are the best thing for us to show how utterly ridiculous playing a possession based game was. Yes it worked because we played against minnows. But we should have been working on utilising our pace and fast attacking/counter attacking ability as it's the only way we're ever going to compete with the big nations. We tried to play the Spanish way against the Spaniards and were shown up yet again. When have we/will we ever record 60% possession against the top nations like we did in the qualifiers? We should have worked on getting the ball to feet and running at defences and putting the shit up them, and pressed hard. We may well still lose matches but at least we'd compete. When did Spain ever look like they were in danger?

 

[Super_horns]

Lingard called up - well suppose he did score a decent goal last time out for Man U...

Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard has been called in to the England squad ahead of Tuesday's game against France.

The 22-year-old will join up with the Three Lions' squad on Sunday to help bolster Roy Hodgson's ranks after two players were forced out through injury.

http://www.thefa.com/news/england/2015/nov/squad-update-england-v-france

 

[AFCB_Mark]

He is not good enough to warrant a senior call up. If he played for anyone else...

 

[silkyman]

Lingard called up - well suppose he did score a decent goal last time out for Man U...



http://www.thefa.com/news/england/2015/nov/squad-update-england-v-france

Nailed it.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

He's put in more impressive performances than Dele Alli IMO.

 

[Madejski]

There are better players in the Championship than Lingard...

Got to be plenty better in the Prem too (that aren't playing for a top 6 side so won't get called up)

 

[silkyman]

I picked Leicester at random because Vardy is one of the players dropping out, and they are flying so will have players in form, to have a shufty at who else might be available.

So what about someone like Marc Albrighton. A couple of years older than Lingard, but with plenty of premier league experience and a regular in Leicester's fantastic start to the campaign?

 

[JimJams]

As a Leicester fan I'd say not a fucking chance, but I see where you're coming from.

 

[JimJams]

What about Zaha?

 

[silkyman]

Adam Johnson? Aaron Lennon?

 

[DarkSithLord]

I picked Leicester at random because Vardy is one of the players dropping out, and they are flying so will have players in form, to have a shufty at who else might be available.
A couple of years older than Lingard, but with plenty of premier league experience and a regular in Leicester's fantastic start to the campaign?

 

[G.B]

3 laughably shit wingers right there. How about we stop trying to play a system that forces us to call up players who will never be good enough at this level instead? And drop Rooney ofc.

 

[silkyman]

Just a random player. But no, we'll just go with the latest flavour of the month at Old Trafford. Because they always turn out to be superstars.

 

[Leewilson]

The back 4
Hart picks himself in goal. Really we should be blooding Shaw for the year in the lead up the Euros. Clyne should ease into the right back slot. Stones is our best young centre back and like Shaw should be blooded alongside Cahill. Jones, Smalling and Jagielka are capable back up.

The 3 in the centre

This is the area we have to get right. So often our balance has been completely wrong here. Carrick at 34 has one more tournament in him and he really deserves to go into one as our first choice CM. He is an excellent user of the ball and positionally is excellent. I would also go for Milner over Henderson at present. Milner is coming into his prime now and has impressed me in Liverpool's midfield with his tireless energy and good use of the ball. His range of passing and vision is vastly underestimated. Plus he'll provide support going forward. Finally it's a toss up between Wilshere and Barkley for the final position. We need a bit of spark and magic in there. I'd be tempted to go for Wilshere if fit but higher up as I really think he has the attributes to play between the lines and play the intricate passes.

Out wide

We need width. We aren't good enough movers and users of the ball to go narrow. Even Arsenal struggle when they're too narrow. Sterling out on the left side is fine by me. He'll only get better at Man City. Either Ox or Walcott out on the other side. If he can get over his ego, I'd even be tempted to play Sturridge a little bit wider when fully fit supporting the man up top.

Striker

Harry Kane. Rooney's had it. Kane is used to being the lone man up front and has excelled at it. A bit of width won't hurt either as he's perfectly capable of scoring headed goals.

We need to lose the 'trying to play like Barcelona' fascination as well. We're not very good at it. We need to go back to speed and tempo. Sterling, Ox/Walcott, Milner, Wilshere. That is tireless and supported by the calm head in Carrick. It works.

-------------------Hart

Clyne---Stones---Cahill---Shaw

-----------------Carrick--------------

Ox/Wal---Milner---Wilshere--Sterling

------------------Kane-----------------------

Interesting to look back at old posts and see how things pan out.

Here's a revised version now we're into November:

Goalkeeper and defence:

Hart will and should retain the number 1 spot despite Butland's excellent form. Shaw's injury at left back is a real shame but I like Bertrand and feel he'd be a good replacement. I still get the impression we'll go with Baines when he's fully fit though. Regarding CB, I have to backtrack. Smalling has been superb and deserves a spot. I think Cahill will get the 2nd although with the way he's playing at present, I'd actually go Stones and build that partnership. Clyne at RB still for me.

The 3 in the middle

I'm struggling with this position, just as I think we're getting a settled 3, injuries or poor displays happen. Carrick looked way off it against Spain and his lack of first team football at United along with the injury he now has and my gut feeling is that it isn't going to happen for him. I thought Milner moving to Liverpool would reinvigorate him in the middle but he's dropped off and his performances have been a bit underwhelming. Henderson has offered more in the past 2 years when fit. I still maintain Wilshere or Barkley should be the third choice in a more advanced role behind the striker. Barkley has a lot of talent but his decision making is still very suspect. A fit Wilshere takes it for me. Finally, fuck it, since we don't have any real stand outs in this area, let's give Eric Dier a go in the DM role. He's having a very good season at Spurs. We need protection in the CM area. Why not eh.

Wide areas

No changes here. Sterling plays with Ox or Walcott on the other side. The latter two need to play more ideally or I can see someone like Vardy being shoved out there.

Up front

Rooney has still shown no signs of life. Kane for me looks very promising but he really needs to show more composure in front of goal for England. In the U21s during the summer, he was shoot on sight. He was a bit similar against Spain, rushing his shots, not having that calm head. I do worry slightly he may be a bit burnt out by the summer. Vardy needs to maintain his form all the way to the summer really although and if he can do that, then there is no doubt that he should start.

Hart

Clyne - Stones - Smalling - Bertrand

Dier
Henderson - Wilshere
Ox/Walcott -------------------------------- Sterling
Kane​

 

[JimJams]

3 laughably shit wingers right there. How about we stop trying to play a system that forces us to call up players who will never be good enough at this level instead? And drop Rooney ofc.

Be fair, Zaha is a key part of one of the best counter attacking sides in the country. And as said our only hope of beating anyone half decent is to play on the counter. Plus his name has a 'Z' in it. And that's pretty rare in England players.

 

[G.B]

Be fair, Zaha is a key part of one of the best counter attacking sides in the country. And as said our only hope of beating anyone half decent is to play on the counter. Plus his name has a 'Z' in it. And that's pretty rare in England players.

I'm being completely fair. He plays as an extremely attacking wideman, usually in a front 3 when he's not out of the team for being completely ineffective, yet he rarely scores or assits. 5 league goals in 4 years. Yep he's fast, good for him. So is Lennon. Neither are international standard footballers nor do they have any real end product. He's a brainless athlete. Exactly the sort of shite we persist with though tbf, so in that sense he's not a bad shout.

We don't have/ever produce wide players capable of playing intelligent football. This a country that spent the best part of a decade whinging about having no left winger. The simple solution would have been, and still is, to play to our strengths, ie. a system that doesn't require wingers. Instead we shoehorned in the likes of Joe Cole and went to a world cup with Trevor fucking Sinclair as our primary winger. The best wideman we've produced in my lifetime couldn't run for shit, but he was excellent technically and was always one of our standout players. England has loads of smart footballers but we're still obsessed with pace and power. You'd think after constantly being shit on by teams who lack both those attributes, but field good technical footballers, we'd learn a lesson. I'm struggling to think of a good national team that line up with a couple of whippets on either flank tbh, it's simply not necessary and very much an outdated concept.

What are we going to counter though? The good teams aren't stupid enough to throw 8 men forward, completely lose their structure and leave huge gaps in behind to be exploited. It's not the same as our mindless "back to front as quick as you can, lads" domestic game, it's a completely different style of football. And it wouldn't matter if they did 'cause the likes of Lennon and Zaha would consistently make the wrong decisions when they have the ball anyway.

The national team set up is an utter joke.

 

[JimJams]

Pah, terrible argument, completely sidestepped the fact he has a 'Z' in his name.

 

[G.B]

oh, fuck right off

 

[Megaclyde]

You'd think after constantly being shit on by teams who lack both those attributes, but field good technical footballers, we'd learn a lesson. I'm struggling to think of a good national team that line up with a couple of whippets on either flank tbh, it's simply not necessary and very much an outdated concept.

I could be wrong, as I only ever catch their highlight at most, but I think Ecuador do just that

 

[G.B]

I could be wrong, as I only ever catch their highlight at most, but I think Ecuador do just that

that's the team that went out of the copa america at the 1st hurdle for the 6th time running this summer, after losing to bolivia, init?

good start to world cup qualifying though tbf

 

[Megaclyde]

I think we'd struggle to beat them tbh,
Also in their last 3 games they've beaten Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay, whixh is pretty good going even if Uruguay were without Suarez
Out of curiosity, how far do you reckon us or Spain would get in the Copa America?

 

[G.B]

I agree, we're shit though. Yeah, good start to qualifying for them.

Depends on the draw. England would probably go out in groups or the first knockout game. Spain would go far, possibly winning it. They usually beat the South American teams.

The Copa is a weird tournament, the pace of the games is absolutely unrelenting. Great entertainment.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

If we actually played with confidence and concentration we wouldn't be that bad. We got into some great positions against Spain but were just too nervous with the final shot. Sterling, Kane and Barkley shrunk in key moments. The latter two need Champions League football.

 

[Pagnell]

If we actually played with confidence and concentration we wouldn't be that bad. We got into some great positions against Spain but were just too nervous with the final shot. Sterling, Kane and Barkley shrunk in key moments. The latter two need Champions League football.

We'd need a new manager for that. England play in typical Woy fashion. Grinding would be a polite way of putting it.