The General England Euro 2016 Thread

[Jockney]

I agree with the performances over reputation sentiment generally, but Defoe has been in and out of the England set-up for over a decade now and has proved time and time again that he does not offer enough in terms of all-round performance.

On the other hand, Vardy and Kane has the potential to be the most productive partnership England have had for a long time. Both have exceptional movement and work harder than any other player on the pitch.

 

[Gashead]

I agree with the performances over reputation sentiment generally, but Defoe has been in and out of the England set-up for over a decade now and has proved time and time again that he does not offer enough in terms of all-round performance.

On the other hand, Vardy and Kane has the potential to be the most productive partnership England have had for a long time. Both have exceptional movement and work harder than any other player on the pitch.

I agree with both points, but if Rooney gets in again point 1 is invalid no? At least Defoe has scored goals this season. It'd sum the England set-up if we took strikers who were injury-prone and unsuccessful in the 12 months leading up to the tournament. Especially if one (Rooney) was favoured ahead of those two. 2 first-team strikers, 2 'risks' like Sturridge/Welbeck and one different option who is in form should be enough.

I get the impression that Hodgson would go 1 up front generally, but Kane/Vardy are excellent options up front. If it was 2 up top I'd only give those two a look in barring injury.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Defoe is a good goalscorer but a poor footballer - even Allardyce didn't play him regularly when he first arrived because he knew how ineffective he would be as a lone striker.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Kane, Vardy, Rooney, Sturridge and Welbeck should all go if fit and I am pretty sure they all will.

 

[Posh Hammer]

If I was to take a 23 man squad right now, I would go with:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Jack Butland, Frazer Forster

Defenders: Chris Smalling, Phil Jagielka, Gary Cahill, John Stones, Eric Dier, Nathaniel Clyne, Kieran Gibbs, Leighton Baines

Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Dele Alli, Michael Carrick, Jordan Henderson, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling

Strikers: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney

Unfortunately, I think he will find space for Adam Lallana and James Milner, most probably in place of Michael Carrick and Eric Dier.


As for a starting line up, i'm a little stumped. I would be tempted to go with this in a 4-2-3-1 formation:

Hart

Clyne
Smalling
Stones
Baines

Carrick
Alli

Welbeck
Barkley
Oxlade Chamberlain

Kane

 

[Nilsson]

Is Wilshere 100% ruled out? I think he's our most talented midfielder and if he's not injured I'd take him, he could be really fresh having gone without the intensity of a PL season.

Smalling and Cahill should be our CB partnership. Smalling is having a superb season and has turned into a genuine leader, I think he and Stones could really compliment eachother in the future but Stones can't even get in the Everton side at the minute and from what I've seen is prone to frequent moments of naivety (normal for a young CB). Cahill's experience could be vital.

As for a formation I'd go for the diamond. Seems the obvious choice considering our lack of wide players and how many strikers we have.

Hart
Walker Cahill Smalling Rose
Dier
Henderson Barkley
Alli
Kane Sturridge
​

Vardy, Welbeck, Rooney, Sterling, Walcott could come in for one of the front 3 positions.

 

[Posh Hammer]

Kane and Sturridge up top would be sexy as hell but Kane has mastered the art of playing up top with an attacking 3 behind him (Lamela, Alli, Erikson).

Stick to the same for England with Welbeck replacing Lamela and Ox replacing Erikson and we could go far in this tournament.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I don't see how Oxlade-Chamberlain gets anywhere near the starting XI based on his form this season. He should be miles behind Sterling.

 

[Anon]

I'd still stick to the system most Prem footballers are used to. Currently I'd go for...

----------Dier - Carrick
Wellback - Alli - Sterling
-----------------Kane

If Wilshere was fit he'd be next to Dier, but really there aren't many or any other good ball playing true CMs, hence Carrick. That most closely follows the Spurs system, which given the midfield and attacking spine, is all Spurs anyway.

 

[Leewilson]

Against Germany, I'd have a look at:

------------------Butland

Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Bertrand

-----------Dier-----Henderson------

Lallana---------Alli--------Welbeck

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


Then against the Dutch

--------------------Butland-----------

-----Stones-----Smalling----Cahill------

Clyne-------------------------------------Rose

---------------Dier------Drinkwater---------

---------------------Barkley-----------------------

---------------Vardy-------Kane------------------


Bit of rotation, have a look at different options. One thing I notice is that no Sterling means we are really short on credible wide options which is why I think wing backs may be worth a look, especially if it allows us to get two up front which could work a treat with Vardy and Kane.
Sturridge is an excellent option to bring off the bench for both games as well.

 

[JimJams]

I'd still stick to the system most Prem footballers are used to. Currently I'd go for...

----------Dier - Carrick
Wellback - Alli - Sterling
-----------------Kane

If Wilshere was fit he'd be next to Dier, but really there aren't many or any other good ball playing true CMs, hence Carrick. That most closely follows the Spurs system, which given the midfield and attacking spine, is all Spurs anyway.

Drinkwater would be a better option than Carrick or Wilshere.

 

[The Fack]

Dunno how or why Sturridge can just walk into the squad, now he's played a few games without being stung by a wasp.

Four strikers to go to France should be Kane, Vardy, Rooney and Carroll. All of them bring something different to the table.

 

[Jockney]

wouldn't have sturridge ahead of vardy either. vardy and kane will stretch teams all over the place. sturridge is greedy and has to be the main man.

 

[The Fack]

In the goalkeeping department, for the first time in years, we have keepers who I feel confident about filling in should something to the residential first choice. In the times when we had to tolerate David James and Paul Robinson, we had Scott Carson and Rob Green to put up with. Now either Butland, Forster and Ben Foster can come in and do a job. First time I felt confident about this since we had Tim Flowers and Nigel Martyn playing back-up to David Seaman.

 

[Nilsson]

wouldn't have sturridge ahead of vardy either. vardy and kane will stretch teams all over the place. sturridge is greedy and has to be the main man.

He wasn't the main man when he was playing alongside Suarez and he did alright then.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Dunno how or why Sturridge can just walk into the squad, now he's played a few games without being stung by a wasp.

Four strikers to go to France should be Kane, Vardy, Rooney and Carroll. All of them bring something different to the table.

Carroll? The guy that has scored 4 goals in 23 games this season, while Sturridge has scored 7 in 14? The numbers alone speak for themselves, and that's before we consider the obvious gulf in talent between the two.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Our weakest areas are

I don't see how Oxlade-Chamberlain gets anywhere near the starting XI based on his form this season. He should be miles behind Sterling.

I like the Ox but he doesn't deserve to be in the squad and Sterling doesn't deserve to be in the team.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Against Germany I'd go:


......................Butland...............................
Walker, Stones, Smalling, Rose
...........................Dier................................
.........Drinkwater...........Barkley...........
............................Alli.................
..............Kane............Vardy

If it works well go with the same formation and use the rest of the remaining squad except Walcott.

 

[mente captus]

Against Germany I'd go:


......................Butland...............................
Walker, Stones, Smalling, Rose
...........................Dier................................
.........Drinkwater...........Barkley...........
............................Alli.................
..............Kane............Vardy

If it works well go with the same formation and use the rest of the remaining squad except Walcott.

i think it would be some kind of suicide to play only one dm vs Reus, Özil and/or Müller/Draxler

 

[AFCB_Mark]

If we're going to try Vardy in his best position it may as well be against Germany who are likely to have more of the possession and against whom we'll be looking for pressing / counter attacking opportunities. As opposed to when we play Slovakia for example when we'll probably be needing to unpick a deeper defence.

As for DMs Captus, all of those midfielders would be able to play deeper or further forward, Ali for example isn't going to be bombing forward constantly if he's needed back, Drinkwater is a grafter who covers all over the place, and even Barkley often starts deep. I'd be more comfortable with a more fluid midfield than having two specific DMs (likely Dier and Henderson) who are rigid.

 

[Jockney]

He wasn't the main man when he was playing alongside Suarez and he did alright then.

In a system that is built around him, or for him, he is fine, but for England he has not contributed enough to the team. He is a great option to have coming off the bench, but not someone who should be leading the line in our biggest games.

 

[SALTIRE]

 

[Nilsson]

In a system that is built around him, or for him, he is fine, but for England he has not contributed enough to the team. He is a great option to have coming off the bench, but not someone who should be leading the line in our biggest games.

Who in this current England side has?

Not really sure what you mean by the "built around him" bit. His best spell at Liverpool came when Rodgers was playing the diamond or 532 so he could fit Suarez and Sturridge upfront together, and that was about getting the best out of the whole team rather than just Sturridge specifically.

I can see the benefits of starting Vardy but if fully fit I think it'd be very foolish to leave Sturridge out as he is one of the few game changing players we have.

 

[Super_horns]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35849556

England team named for tomorrow -

Butland

Clyne
Smalling
Cahil
Rose

Henderson
Dier

Lallana
Ali
Welbeck

Kane.

 

[G-Dragon]

Hendo does not deserve to start, other than that good team.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Hodgson going for runners then. Really weak looking side.

 

[SALTIRE]

Agree about Hendo. I like him a lot but he is still playing through the injury and hasn't been sharp since he has come back for Liverpool. Maybe Woy is wanting to check him out himself though.

 

[smat]

Henderson and Dier. Fucking hell. Say goodbye to the ball.

 

[Leewilson]

Against Germany, I'd have a look at:

------------------Butland

Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Bertrand

-----------Dier-----Henderson------

Lallana---------Alli--------Welbeck

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


Then against the Dutch

--------------------Butland-----------

-----Stones-----Smalling----Cahill------

Clyne-------------------------------------Rose

---------------Dier------Drinkwater---------

---------------------Barkley-----------------------

---------------Vardy-------Kane------------------


Bit of rotation, have a look at different options. One thing I notice is that no Sterling means we are really short on credible wide options which is why I think wing backs may be worth a look, especially if it allows us to get two up front which could work a treat with Vardy and Kane.
Sturridge is an excellent option to bring off the bench for both games as well.

Aside from different full backs, Roy's gone for what I had in mind. It's not the best England side in the world but it's compact which is what I imagine he largely wants away to Germany. Glad Alli and Dier get a chance against the Germans

 

[mistermagic]

i think it would be some kind of suicide to play only one dm vs Reus, Özil and/or Müller/Draxler

Sides who play 2 DMs usually lose for being too negative. Having two players who excel at the same things doesn't usually work (Lampard & Gerrard).

Also, Germany have been playing terrible football since Brazil and the players don't exactly strike fear in a Germany shirt. Especially Draxler who's been shit.