What are we making of the England World Cup Squad?

I think Southgate has done alright here, maybe one more creative midfielder like Shelvey or Wilshere but he’s made totally the right call on Hart. The only one you could say maybe hasn’t earned his place is Welbeck but he has done well for England previously. I think they will do ok certainly better than the last two tournaments which were admittedly a low bar!

The squad has three of the top five scorers in this years Premier League which I don’t think has been said for a while. A lot of England squads have been over hyped and over rated then failed to deliver, a young squad with less expectation can hopefully play with more freedom. It’s not about being exciting it’s about progressing as far as we can.

I'd agree with Welbeck, injured most of the season and didn't show much when he wasn't. I'd of taken Lallana, Tammy Abraham or even Ryan Sessegnon as a wildcard over Welbeck.
Also instead of Jones and Cahill, I'd of gone for the lad at Burnley.

Wilshere is a tough one as he's one of the most creative and has played more this season than he did the season before the last tournament. If Alli and Sterling aren't on form the first two games will be like Iceland all over again.

This is a comparison not a prediction but in 1966 Alf Ramsey put together a team rather than focus on popular stars. The Germans also work on this method time after time.

Our previous obsessions with the Rooneys, Gerards and Beckhams have failed every time so maybe the alternative view is worth a run.

I will watch and enjoy the entire World Cup as usual regardless of which nations progress to the Final however I lost any affinity wth the overrated and vastly overpaid headphones who mis-represent England FC back in the ‘90s. Expectations of the current squad are low at present but you can bet that the Sun rag and similar gutter press publications will have the gullible masses of the nation hyped up to the nth degree by the time of the opening fixture. I couldn’t even tell you who they are playing to be honest.

This in a nutshell. The squad has young athletes all over the place who will run and run (like Forrest Gump) but seriously, there's no room for Wilshere or Shelvey but Fabien Delph gets a place???

I've always called for a squad to be picked on form and largely this is it. Young and Lingard have had good seasons as much as I dislike them. Sadly I predict that we'll start with Dier and Henderson together in midfield and be as exciting to watch as Tony Pullis' Boro team.

Delph has has an excellent season starting 21 of Manchester City’s Premier League games when it appeared he was surplus to requirements in the summer highlights that, Pep said it would be a risk for Southgate not to take him. He can play in three or four positions as well.

I'd have him ahead of Henderson as he's better going forward, he's done ok at left back because Man City dominate the ball, without the ball he's exposed so I wouldn't use him there for England.

I have never been a Henderson fan but he’s been brilliant for Liverpool of late, he’d be my captain.

If you look at the backbone of the team Walker, Stones, Delph, and Stirling all played big roles in what people are calling the best Premier League team ever they certainly have enough records to show for it. Kane scored 40 in all comps for a team who finished 4th Alii didn’t have as good a season as last but he’s up there in all the stats for midfielders. The likes of Henderson, Alexander-Arnold have been brilliant and could be Champions League winners in short nearly all of the outfield players are regulars at top four clubs. Goalkeeping is an area of concern we can’t have ever gone into a World Cup with as little experience in that position but elsewhere this squad is not as weak as some are making out, it is also has balance and cover with several players who can easily slot into several different positions. It’s full of in form players and it’s full of fit players Uri Geller will be surplus to requirements as we won’t have to all rub Beckham or Rooney’s foot so they can play half fit and be absolutely shite. Southgate really rates Lallana but he’s not taking him because he isn’t 100% match fit, I like that ruthlessness.

Look I have convinced myself now like I have for every tournament since 1986- WE ARE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD CUP!!!!!!!!

In 1966 i just knew we were going to win it especially in August.

Interesting reading about Ray Wilson today. As Mr I said, Ramsey picked a team to fit a shape and approach but I'd never realised that his back four played every game in the tournament unchanged. Wilson said that they were basically a defensive team and I suspect that is the only way England will do anything much in this tournament - don't concede and then hope that the likes of Kane, Alli and Sterling hit a bit of form and get a few goals.

It's served us well in recent tournaments!

I'm just waiting for the Express/Daily Mail/Telegraph undercover investigation to drop 2 days before our opening game.

Not forgetting Nobby Stiles and Alan Ball. They both did an immense amount of work in front of the back four and were perpetual motion men. England only conceded 3 goals in 6 games and one of them was a penalty.

Aye, who knew Gareth Southgate likes to wear women's clothing and believes he was Edith Piaf in a former life?

Edith Piaf died at the age of 47. Gareth Southgate is currently 47. Coindidence? I think not.

If this leaks, I'm personally blaming you two for our failure in this year's world cup.

Look it's simple

TERY AND RIO
ASHLEY COLE BEST LEFT BACK IN THE WORLD
LAMPARD AND GERRARD
JOE COLE OPTION ON THE BENCH
WAYNE ROONEY WORLD CLASS
DEFOE AND CROUCHIE

I've always said Crouchie can do a job

Shelvey

Are brave lads will win it with pashun

Right on queue, the Sun making a massive issue over Raheem Sterling having a tattoo of a gun on his leg.

It proves that he is a gangster. All the people with skull tats are necrophiliacs, flowers mean you are a florist and tribal patterns mean you were a Samoan in a past life. He should have it removed. Maybe the other leg as well, as a punishment. I won't be going to Russia if he doesn't.

Racist c**nts.

They’ve had it in for him for a few years now. Shit stirring low life scum bags

Let the lad live his life how he wants.

Must stick in his throat to see a black Lad being successful.

Still fuming about that time he went to primark or had the cheek to have breakfast


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https://twitter.com/adamkeyworth/status ... 02530?s=21

The full press coverage of him over the years.




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Man gets tattoo on own body.

I for one am outraged.

I read a thread on Twitter earlier showing some of the nonsense non stories that appeared on the front pages of vile rags like The Sun over the last couple of years and the lad genuinely has a case for press victimisation. Some of the language towards him as well calling him alsorts. This is a young man.

In no other country in the World Cup would a sports star be treat like that, and people wonder why the national team fail. Also in no other country in the World would this ‘story’ be in the papers never mind front page.

Oh yeah that’s exactly the thread I was reading Yupeb. How about the time he went into Poundland to buy batteries the lowlife? Or the time he flew Easyjet?

Imagine the hissy fit the press would have if he chartered his own flight, the lad can't win. I think gutter rags like the Sun would be genuinely gutted if we actually won the world cup.

Or that time he proposed to his girlfriend.

It’s no surprise he was racially attacked at city’s training ground last season. This stuff gets into people’s minds n they suddenly start hating people without realising why.

I have a mate whose a Man U fan who hates him. Says he’s greedy, says he’s arrogant. Bases it on nothing but negative fake press headlines.




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One of those left out, mentioned on this thread, has well known 'issues', hence his rather long 'injury' record. Could explain why he isn't going.

If you knew somebody was, for example, a recreational drug user you'd be sensible to limit the disruption to the squad of any impending revelations. If the player involved was the new Pele you might be tempted to take a chance but if it was somebody the standard of Jack Wilshire or Daniel Sturridge it wouldn't be a risk worth taking.