England's Future National Team

[JackInTheBox]

So I'm going to start this post about tonight's game but more than anything if everyone was fit and nobody was injured who would you pick to take to Euro 2016 with an eye on World Cup 2018?

Anyway, the reason I'm starting with tonight's squad is because I'd like to see us do what Germany did and start growing a young squad who can come along and show their stuff and stand a chance in the next few years.

Here goes;

OK, so I rushed home really looking forward to tonight's game thinking I'd be seeing our future (Euro 2016/World Cup 2018) squad playing. Yet I'm not too impressed or even excited about the squad;

GK - Hart (28) - Fair enough can easily play in '16 & '18
RB - Walker (25) - Just four clean sheets in 12 games so far this season with 1 completed cross, 75 blocks/clearances/interceptions and 78 recoveries.
CB - Jones (23) - Has played just 226 mins so far this season. Why is he starting?
CB - Smalling (25) - Perfect choice. Been in form this season kept 8 CS with 106 CBI and 76 recoveries.
LB - Bertrand (26) - Has just returned from injury with 6 appearances only so far this season. Kept 2 CS with 34 CBI and 36 recoveries.
RDM - Carrick (34) - THIRTY-EFFING-FOUR? Why are you still playing international football? Go and retire! Jheez. Has played two full games all season accumulating just 565 minutes, with no goals and no assists. Pointless.
LDM - Delph (25) - ARE YOU JOKING? 30 mins ALL season, plus just back from an injury? Do me a favour. Jog on lad.
RAM - Lallana (27) - Probably boarder line pushing the upper end to make the next world cup. Anyways, stats; 1 assist and no goals from an attacking midfielder is disgusting, why are you starting? (I know why because Walcott and Ox are both injured.
CAM - Barkley (21) - This I completely agree with, he's been playing well with 3 goals, 3 assists as well as 24 key passes (opportunities that could've lead to a goal) and 3 big chances created (opportunities that should've been scored).
LAM - Sterling (20) - Granted he hasn't played all that well tonight but I wouldn't pick anyone else to play here. He's showing his talents at City with 4 goals, 2 assists as well as 16 KP and 1 BCC.
ST - Kane (22) - Whilst he has 6 goals in 12 games for Spurs, it's not that impressive when you think that he banged a hat-trick against Bournemouth, yet to re-discover last season's form the only person I'd play in front of this man is Vardy and he has a knock so I definitely agree with this decision.

Anyways, I won't critique the bench as that'll take me too long but I will edit this post shortly with my own 23 man squad choices. See below for my starting XI tonight and please let me know your opinions and what team/formation you'd have like to have seen play or go straight in and post your 23 man squad and why!

My choice;
GK - Butland (22) - Probably one of the most in form GK's in the prem so far this season. Has four clean sheets (not bad considering he plays for Stoke!) but has only conceded 12 goals in 12 games only Man U, Man City, Arsenal and Spurs have conceded less. Would have liked to have seen him start for exposure and experience.
RB - Clyne (24) - Has the same number of CS as Walker with 4 completed crosses, 45 CBI and 58 recoveries. Probably my weakest argument position/player wise.
CB - Stones (21) - I'm not going to talk about his statistics because when Chelsea offer £30 for a 21 year old and when Gerard Pique puts you in his current XI in the world it's just crazy to think why this guy isn't starting!?
CB - Smalling (25) - See above.
LB - With Luke Shaw out it leaves you thinking who could play LB? Whilst Bertrand isn't a bad shout he'll be nearing his 30s in 2018 so I would've liked to have seen one of the following play;
Aaron Cresswell (25) - Whilst West Ham have only kept 3 clean sheets AC has already got himself 3 assists with 8 completed crosses 52 CBI & 48 recoveries and has been in good form for the past season and a half.
Danny Rose (25) - Whilst Rose hasn't accumalated many minutes yet this season he has already picked up 3 assists with 2 CS, 32 CBI and 35 recoveries. Not bad with 441 mins played.
RDM - Dier (21) - Playing this role more regularly for Spurs now has 0 assists but 2 goals. Has played 4 KP but has 61 CBI and 32 recoveries, the later being good stats to look at for a holding midfielder.
LDM - Alli (19) - OK so this is probably my most stretched option but he has been playing here for Spurs with Dier with their CMs being out currently. Stats; 2 goals, 2 assists, 9 KP and 1 BCC, some say he likes to go forward a bit more but you can't complain with 44 CBI and 62 recoveries. Also worth noting that the combination of Dier and Alli must be on of the reasons that Spurs have only conceded 10 goals so far this season, only Utd, City and Arsenal conceding less.
RAM - Lallana (27) - Purely on the basis Walcott and Ox are out and nobody can really play here unless you play Barkley here out wide and give Jonjo (Shelvey) a shout in the CAM role given his distribution skills?
CAM - Barkley (21) - See above.
LAM - Sterling (20) - See above.
ST - Kane (22) - See above.


Credit to all stats go to ultimate.premierleague

 

[Leewilson]

I would love to see Dier starting against France. If he continues to develop as he has been this season, he is exactly what we need. A good defensive midfielder comfortable on the ball.

Personally, I'd have Alli in the squad but would rather Henderson or Wilshere start alongside Dier in the long run.

Lallana should be nowhere near the team. The sole reason he is is because he is two footed. He does alright occasionally as an impact sub for England but not as a starter, no bloody way.

 

[JackInTheBox]

I would love to see Dier starting against France. If he continues to develop as he has been this season, he is exactly what we need. A good defensive midfielder comfortable on the ball.

Personally, I'd have Alli in the squad but would rather Henderson or Wilshere start alongside Dier in the long run.

Lallana should be nowhere near the team. The sole reason he is is because he is two footed. He does alright occasionally as an impact sub for England but not as a starter, no bloody way.

I completely agree. Dier really could be something special and his CB past will give him the knowledge knowing how to cover Smalling and Stones. I think Alli could do the CAM role with a good bit of development he's shown good attacking potential as well.
Lallana just needed to find consistency especially with the ability to use two feet but his time has past. Need Walcott and Ox to push each other and constantly battle for that right hand side. Lallana can stay back-up for that left had side haha or push one of the left-backs coming through up to a left-midfield position possibly?

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Adam Armstrong as the striker

 

[Pagnell]

I completely agree. Dier really could be something special and his CB past will give him the knowledge knowing how to cover Smalling and Stones. I think Alli could do the CAM role with a good bit of development he's shown good attacking potential as well.
Lallana just needed to find consistency especially with the ability to use two feet but his time has past. Need Walcott and Ox to push each other and constantly battle for that right hand side. Lallana can stay back-up for that left had side haha or push one of the left-backs coming through up to a left-midfield position possibly?

He's 27, not 35. He's been disappointing since joining Liverpool but showing the form he had in his last Southampton season again in the near future isn't a ridiculous notion and he would be a good shout for a starting place if that were to happen.

 

[Stevencc]

On the other hand Lallana is shite.

 

[Pagnell]

Except he really isn't, putting the usual bullshit banter aside.

 

[Stevencc]

Except he really isn't, putting the usual bullshit banter aside.

Shite was an exaggeration successfully employed for maximum comedic effect but, to be serious for a moment, he is average. It's true that we aren't blessed with an abundance of high-quality attacking midfielders but even taking that into account he shouldn't considered as anything other than a squad player.

 

[JackInTheBox]

It's good to see that the exact team I wanted to see start more or less played against France. Whilst I said put Jonjo in at CAM and move Barkley out wide Rooney played in the CAM role instead which is understandable and I'd have made the exact same decision if my aim of this post wasn't to play the "England of the Future". Disappointed to see Cahill and Gibbs start and very happy to see Butland come on.

Dele Alli optimises the kind of player English fans want with his rock hard tackle, his desire to get forward, his banger and his ability to run consistently all game long. Many can learn from this young chap.
John Stones is already a force to be reckoned with. His ability to bring the ball forward, his long and short ball distribution is unreal and the way he constantly cut out the French forwards and midfielders helping us move up the pitch was fantastic.