The General England Euro 2016 Thread

[AFCB_Mark]

Simon Francis is either a RB or CB btw, so another option there...

Daniels has had a fantastic season, with very few opposition wide players getting the better, as i guess those stats show. There isnt exactly a confirmed or stand out left back for England currently. But he plays for Bournemouth and wont sell any shirts. It ain't gonna happen, in all likelihood.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City).

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

A fairly risk adverse squad, although interesting to see Drinkwater. Jagielka patently isn't up to it, he'd bring prior experiance I suppose, just hope we don't use him too much.Centre Back does have to be a slight concern, Stones and Smalling our best bet I'd guess?

Walcott and Sturridge a little surprising, Walcott in poor form and slightly sad that Sturridge can just walk back in having not played for yonks. Hey ho...probably not far off what will go to the Euros. Except whoever makes way for Rooney, obviously....Let's hope we get a chance to see Vardy through the middle before Rooney walks back in.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

 

[Anon]

Think Noble and Cresswell should have had a shout, Noble's had a really good season while coming into his peak, while left back is an area that's in theory up for some sort of grabs - Cresswell's 2nd season of doing well too.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Think Noble and Cresswell should have had a shout, Noble's had a really good season while coming into his peak, while left back is an area that's in theory up for some sort of grabs - Cresswell's 2nd season of doing well too.

Whilst I suspect there's some bias in this assessment, it's something I absolutely agree with. I'm a massive fan of Cresswell and I think he's probably the best available English left back. Noble is someone else I like and I don't see much harm in seeing how he fits, would certainly take him over some of the central midfielders called up. Central defence also, wouldn't have minded someone like Shawcross or Dann around the squad.

 

[Super_horns]

Some of our fans seem miffed that Deeney doesn't get a chance but with Welbeck and Sturridge being fit and regular options for Hodgson is no surprise.

Also Troy hasn't exactly been prolific in front of goal..

We all probably know Rooney will start anyway if fit as the main man up front.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

 

[Whitechapel]

Without Wilshere England have only a slight chance of not embarrassing themselves.

 

[Leewilson]

Walcott aside (and it could well be Rooney instead in the summer), I can't complain with that squad.

We're a few games from a tournament. Unless a player has been truly outstanding, I don't think you'll see many changes as it's largely about working with the existing group. Alli and Dier have forced themselves in this season. Drinkwater deserves a chance as we don't have too many top draw options similar to him. Centre back wise we have Cahill, Jagielka, Stones and Smalling. Jones is there as 5th choice. Nobody else has excelled enough to dislodge them despite form being an issue. You have to go with the group who have experienced in that situation.

 

[JimJams]

KONCHESKY FOR ENGLAND!!!

 

[johnnytodd]

Liverpool's worst squad for 15 years and 5 make the England squad......LOL

Another waste of money following that shite this summer.

Horrenderson and Milner is the best we can offer?

LOL LOL

 

[JimJams]

With the players he has picked for the squad I'd like to see the mid and front line that the statistical 11 put forward, with Noble replaced by Dier as he didn't make the squad.

Whoever
Clyne - Smalling - Stones - Bert
Dier
Alli - Drinkwaterandplentyofit
Barkley
Vardy - Kane

Width provided by the fullbacks.​

 

[JJ1532]

Interesting to see who he goes with and in what formation. I'd be leaning more towards a diamond, but I can see Henderson starting ahead of Dier.

Strange that this is probably the first squad that hasn't caused too much outrage.

 

[johnnytodd]

Interesting to see who he goes with and in what formation. I'd be leaning more towards a diamond, but I can see Henderson starting ahead of Dier.

Strange that this is probably the first squad that hasn't caused too much outrage.

if you think Horrenderson, Lallana and Milner are international class you should take your head for a shit.

 

[JJ1532]

if you think Horrenderson, Lallana and Milner are international class you should take your head for a shit.

What an odd response. Who do you consider to be better alternatives? Noble? Shelvey? Barry? Unless you haven't noticed, we aren't exactly stacked for midfield options. Are any of them amazing players? Nope. But the alternatives are worse. We are what we are, no point bemoaning them when there isn't anything better.

And I find it hard to take you or your opinion seriously when its clear you are biased against them due to them playing for Liverpool. You'll deny it, but we both know its true.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Interesting to see who he goes with and in what formation. I'd be leaning more towards a diamond, but I can see Henderson starting ahead of Dier.

Strange that this is probably the first squad that hasn't caused too much outrage.

With the likes of Walcott and Sterling out of form the diamond makes perfect sense - I think the bug question is where Rooney fits into it?

 

[johnnytodd]

What an odd response. Who do you consider to be better alternatives? Noble? Shelvey? Barry? Unless you haven't noticed, we aren't exactly stacked for midfield options. Are any of them amazing players? Nope. But the alternatives are worse. We are what we are, no point bemoaning them when there isn't anything better.

And I find it hard to take you or your opinion seriously when its clear you are biased against them due to them playing for Liverpool. You'll deny it, but we both know its true.

If Milner was a horse he would have been shot years ago.
Horrenderson can run granted ..........give him a ball though he would better off eating it.
and Lallana is hairdresser at best.

 

[JJ1532]

With the likes of Walcott and Sterling out of form the diamond makes perfect sense - I think the bug question is where Rooney fits into it?

As a centre forward alongside Kane or as a number 10 in favour of Barkley. I think the diamond, with an emphasis of playing down the middle, means Rooney doesn't get isolated in either position. However, we are still having the issue of accommodating him over players that are younger or better than him at the moment. I just hope though that if Roy finds a system and XI that looks ok in these next 2 games, he should roll with that going forward into the Euro prep games in May, regardless of whether Rooney is back or not.

I'd go with roughly the same XI as JimJams posted. But I'd swap Henderson for Dier, put Hart in goal and swap out Smalling for Cahill. I know Cahill is having a poor season, but I still want an experienced head in there, especially if Stones is going to be the other CB. Give them the 90 minutes against Germany, then make changes for the Netherlands game(Sturridge in for Vardy/Kane, Dier in for Henderson, Smalling for Cahill, Rose for Bertrand etc). I just hope the squad and manager take these games at the end of the month seriously, same with the prep games in May. Need to start building up partnerships and understandings, need to start getting an idea of how the starting XI is going to look heading into the Russia game.

 

[slaphead]

Went to Chelsea-West Ham today as a neutral, what Noble has to do to get in the squad ahead of Henderson or Milner I do not know. He was outstanding again, if he was at one of the 'big' clubs he'd be a shoe in.

 

[Anon]

Not a fashionable name. He's been deecnt every season, but in 2016 though, has really upped his game and is everywhere at the moment.

With the squad improving all around him even his biggest fan (one of which would be me, I'm a sucker for a local homegrown player) would probably admit he was potentially the next position to improve, yet he's upped his standard alongside the ever underrated Kouyate.

I'll never be convinced that Cresswell is less deserving than the likes of Rose. Crackin' left back.

 

[Ciderhead]

With the players he has picked for the squad I'd like to see the mid and front line that the statistical 11 put forward, with Noble replaced by Dier as he didn't make the squad.

Whoever
Clyne - Smalling - Stones - Bert
Dier
Alli - Drinkwaterandplentyofit
Barkley
Vardy - Kane

Width provided by the fullbacks.​

Came in to post a prefered lineup but it's just this pretty much. Not totally sure on Drinkwater, he's had a fantastic season but I feel he's a cog in a very well oiled machine at Leicester and I wonder if you take him out of that and put him in an England side without a Kante or a Mahrez alongside him if he'd be as effective. Something worth trying though, what are these games for if not to have a look at a few options.

 

[Leewilson]

Against France, we lined up with:

Hart, Clyne, Stones, Cahill, Gibbs, Alli, Dier, Sterling, Barkley, Rooney, Kane.

I wouldn't change the midfield/attack too much from that. I'd possibly put Welbeck in for Barkley and play a 4-2-3-1. Sturridge is an excellent player to have come off the bench as well if he maintains his fitness.

Oh and the defence needs a bit of a shuffle around as well. Walker has been better than Clyne this year for me. Bertrand should step in for Gibbs. And then it's toss of a coin really for the centre backs as all have been average this season.

 

[Super_horns]

Hart now injured so Butland will get a good chance.

 

[Ciderhead]

Hart now injured so Butland will get a good chance.

Or Forster maybe? Tough pick between those two. Might get a game each

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Against France, we lined up with:

Hart, Clyne, Stones, Cahill, Gibbs, Alli, Dier, Sterling, Barkley, Rooney, Kane.

I wouldn't change the midfield/attack too much from that. I'd possibly put Welbeck in for Barkley and play a 4-2-3-1. Sturridge is an excellent player to have come off the bench as well if he maintains his fitness.

Oh and the defence needs a bit of a shuffle around as well. Walker has been better than Clyne this year for me. Bertrand should step in for Gibbs. And then it's toss of a coin really for the centre backs as all have been average this season.[/QUOTE]


That is doing a huge disservice to Smalling who has been one of the best centre backs in the league.

 

[Leewilson]

That is doing a huge disservice to Smalling who has been one of the best centre backs in the league.

He lost a bit of form after Christmas I thought. Was very good early doors and to be fair to him he was very good today, so yes, if he keeps up his recent revival then I agree it should be him plus 1.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

He lost a bit of form after Christmas I thought. Was very good early doors and to be fair to him he was very good today, so yes, if he keeps up his recent revival then I agree it should be him plus 1.

I agree he has dropped off in the last couple of months, but even in that period I think he has still been outperforming all the other options.

It's also worth bearing in mind he has had to babysit Blind (great ball player but swimming against the tide at centre half against decent teams) and the likes of Varela and Donald Love to the other side of him.

 

[Anon]

Smalling is clearly Englands best cb on this seasons domestic form. Of an average group, he has to start on merit. By now Stones should have had his starting place banked as well, but we're in March and he's on the Everton bench, as such couldn't really disagree with Cahill coming in for him.

I'd start Alli, but not as one of a midfield two, he'd be at the head of a trio with less defensive responsibility behind Kane where both have excelled. An easy oust of Barkley in that number ten role for me, he's never convinced.

 

[Destruction]

What does Defoe have to do to get a look in?

Third highest English scorer in the Prem behind Kane and Vardy.

 

[Gashead]

The same injured strikers making their way back in (Sturridge, Welbeck and Rooney) is disappointing to be honest, think the likes of Defoe are far more worthy given his goals this season.

Would a diamond really work? Does seem an ideal solution to the lack of in-form wingers problem.