Assuming everyone stays fit, what would your starting XI be for England next summer. I must admit to not watching them as much in qualifiers anymore, but as I'm watching tonight I got thinking about next summer.
Hart
Clyne Stones Cahill Bertrand
Sterling Henderson Barkley
Rooney
Walcott Kane
Bit of weird formation, but I can't really see a decent enough left winger, unless you stuck Sterling out there, Walcott on the right and Rooney up top with Kane.
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Comments
Saying that I'd want to find a place for a fit Daniel Sturridge
Clyne, Stones, Jagielka, Baines
Milner
Sterling, Henderson, Barkley
Rooney, Sturridge.
Clyne
Smalling
Cahill
Bertrand
Henderson
Barkley
Walcott
Rooney
Sterling
Sturridge
Clyne
Shaw if fit / Baines
Smalling
Stones
Henderson
Barkley
Walcott
Rooney
Sterling
Sturridge
Clyne ... Cahill ... Gomez ... Bertrand
Henderson ... Shelvey
Barkley ... Rooney ... Walcott
Sturridge
Clyne
Cahill/Jagielka
Stones
Baines/Shaw
Henderson
Milner
Barkley
Walcott
Rooney
Sturridge
Clyne Smalling Cahill Baines
Milner Henderson
Walcott Rooney Sterling
Sturridge
Forster, Butland, Stones, Shaw, Gomez, Shelvey, Barkley, Wilshere, Alli, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kane, Welbeck
I know I always say that England need to find their own style but...
Hart
(Use pace in Defence, means that they can combat and get back quickly to deal with the dangerous through ball, whilst all four can play the ball)
Clyne ... Cahill ... Gomez ... Bertrand
(The usual two sitting in front of the Defence, helping out to win the ball and spray it around)
Henderson ... Wilshere
(Three attack minded attacking Midfielders, all noted for their ability to pass / pass / pass)
Barkley ... Rooney ... Shelvey
(Up front the big man, the one who can hold it up to bring others into play whilst having the ability to score)
Kane
Means that the Midfield have to learn to be pin point with their passing... the likes of the Midfield are quick enough to deal with any counter-attacks and we wouldnt have to worry about Walcott / Sterling / Townsend running blind down a cul-de-sac before either crossing to a Defender or being tackled and so putting pressure on our full-back.
Either way its something different from the tried and failed method so whats to lose?
It's annoying for once we actually seem to have a lot of attacking options but ultimately a few of them will have to sit as some of this formations are absolutely mental.
Hart
Clyne
Stones
Smalling
Baines
Wilshere
Carrick
Henderson
Walcott
Sturridge
Sterling
I think Shaw pre injury was on pace to be better than Baines but at the same time we desperately seem to need a set piece taker and there probably isn't much between them. I have defended Rooney more than most, but frankly at this stage of his career, Sturridge when fit and firing is simply better and he is not a number 10 so despite their ability him and Kane will have to be benched. Henderson I think is our closest from midfield to being a goal threat as Barkley needs to be more of an impact sub at the moment as he gives the ball away far too often.
I really think that front three could potentially be frightening with all their movement, I know Sterling gets a hard time but still his close control/movement is way above someone at his age and I think he is still a bit low on confidence but I am sure that will change over the course of this season.
Lallana/Rooney/Kane/Barkley/Shelvey are all close to getting minutes though and I would probably end up rotating a few of them.
Clyne Stones Cahill Baines
Wilsh Hendo
Walcott Rooney Sterling
Sturridge
Flexible with the positioning as the game unfolds, or a more defensive set up would include Jonjo in there for Sterling and formation amended . Infact maybe even Smalling in for Stones on experience.
Hart
Clyne
Stones
Jagielka
Shaw
Wilshere
Carrick
Sterling
Rooney
Walcott
Kane
Subs: butland, forster, Cahill, milner, Baines, smalling, barkley, sturridge, ox, vardy, welbeck, shelvey.
Clyne Cahill Stones Bertrand
Milner Henderson
Walcott Rooney Sterling
Sturridge
Butland, Forster, Smalling, Jagielka, Baines, Shelvey, Wilshere, Barkley, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kane, Welbeck
Hart
Clyne, Stones, Smalling, Shaw
Carrick, Wilshire
Walcott, Barkley, Sterling
Sturridge
- Rooney has lost it.
- We need to keep the ball well in the middle - Henderson and Milner work hard but lack that quality. I'd have Shelvey in before them.
- Oxlade-Chamberlain would be pushing Walcott.
Clyne Terry Cahill Shaw
Shelvey
Hendo Wilshere
Sterling Barkley
Sturridge
Assuming a 3 in the middle made up of 2 holding types and an attacker there's enough in the team that you can change to a flat 4/5 in midfield if needs be.
I think we have a decent enough squad to do well enough next year to employ different formations and change it up mid game if it has to be done.
Also I don't understand the Hodgson hate that goes around. Clearly a very good manager that has overseen probably the best qualifying campaign we've ever had. Write off the WC, we had an incredibly hard group and certain players just didn't turn up. To think we were so close to getting Harry we should be praising Roy alone for that.
Hart
Shaw
Stones
Cahill
Walker
Wilshere
Carrick
Milner
Chamberlain
Rooney
Sturridge
Clyne, Stones, Smalling, Shaw/ Bertrand
Henderson, Wilshere
Walcott, Barkley, Sterling
Sturridge
This would be my team
Hart
Clyne
Smalling
Cahill
Bertrand
Barkley
Wilshire
Sterling
Walcott
Rooney
Sturridge
Hart
Clyne, Stones,Cahill (to add experience) Baines
Barkley, Shelvey, Lalalna
Walcot, Vardy,Sterling
Maybe too attack minded...?
Clyne Smalling Cahill Baines
Barkley Carrick Wilshere
Walcott Sturridge Wellbeck
Smalling would be my first choice centre back. I think he's improved an incredible amount over the last year or so.
Two of Carrick, Henderson, Wilshire are essential. Barkley alongside the two in midfield.
Rooney through the middle with Sterling and Walcott either side.
You then have players like Sturridge, Kane, Milner, Ox, Wellbeck, Lallana, Vardy on the bench.
I'm quite pleased with our options at the moment.
Henderson, Barkley & Sterling all need to be involved too but not sure about the rest of midfield, tough choice but great to have those options.