Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Joe Hart (West Ham - loan from Manchester City), Jordan Pickford (Everton).
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Danny Rose (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Jake Livermore (West Brom), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace - loan from Chelsea), Ashley Young (Manchester United).
Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Swansea - loan from Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester).
Can anyone remember a worse squad? (not including Gomez in that)
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Comments
Lots of younger players given a chance.
Don't see the need to slag the players off before a ball has been kicked or being on a continuos downer on the England set up.
Blame the players who pulled out and their club but give the players who have turned up some backing.
Next question
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_law_of_headlines
Surprised the likes of Leicester's Albrighton or Gray haven't been considered
Butland has been much better than Hart this season, and should be first choice imo. I don't know why Hodgson and Southgate are so afraid to drop Hart. They can't use the fact that it might damage his confidence as an excuse, as surely he hasn't got any anyway after being sent on loan from Man City and now West Ham who are struggling, as well as his poor displays in the Euros and against Scotland.
Butland (Better than Hart)
Cahill (Used to playing 3-5-2)
Dier (Used to playing 3-5-2)
Stones
Walker
Wilshere
Lllalana
Alli
Rose
Rashford
Kane
Jack Cork been added to the squad
Stones, Cahill, jones
Walker Wilshere Dier Lallana Rose
Alli
Kane
The other option for that position, although I doubt it will happen simply because I don't think we have enough quality CBs, is to sit Stones in front of the back 3/4. He reads the game well, has a physical presence and can pass the ball.
Atkinson............" Carlton Palmer's 1st touch is sometimes abysmal. He can trap a ball further than I can kick it"
The quoted all time best premier league back four is
G,nev terry Ferdinand Ashley cole
Add to that frank lampard, gerrard Rooney Scholes Michael owen and at least a few more stars. They played terribly together when it came to crunch time.
from the current era, only Harry kane and maybe deli ali would get in the side. Sterling being a very slight possibility.
The problem with those players is that they were not managed properly and thought way too highly of themselves. The FA did a particularly terrible job of recruiting managers.
That Italian fella being the worst and most disappointing of the bunch, capello.
Apart from gary Neville and frank lampard who seem ok, the golden generation were mostly simply all wankers too.
It's been the same now for a generation, players being pulled out of friendlies on the slimmest of excuses.
GS's on a hiding to nothing with these games, god knows why they went for such strong opponents but if the FA picks weaker sides he gets no credit for good results, if the results are less good the press bill him as a chump regardless of how strong Germany, Brazil, whoever might be. If he's really lucky 2 or 3 younger inexperienced chaps will shine and give him more to choose from next May/June time.
I suspect these games have more to do with the fuckwits on the gravy train at the FA being in thrall to the sponsors.
That said, I like that you've picked out that England have center backs that play in a back three at club level. It should be noted that Stones, Smalling, Keane, and Jones have all also played in a back three at club level this year.
For me:
Hart (sorry, Butland and Pickford are only better when they have to face loads of shots. Hart may have a rick in him but he's still more rounded).
Jones Stones Cahill
Walker Dier Wilshere Rose
.....Lallana.....Alli
..............Kane
All of those players bar Wilshere have played in a 3-5-2/3-4-3 this year, and I believe Wilshere played in one with Bournemouth last year.
I still think Rashford blows slightly too hot and cold. I think as a sub he's an excellent option. And you could also bring him into the first team and play 4-2-3-1 against weaker sides/when chasing the game.
The reason I like this so much is that it gives England's three most creative players: Wilshere, Lallana, and Alli all some measure of freedom. When played as a 10 in front of Henderson and Dier, it's far too easy for teams to put one or two holding midfielders on Alli and nullify him. Moving him to that inside left role, where he's had a lot of success with Spurs, gives him freedom to drag players out of position, be it the opposition winger, fullback, or holding player. Same with Lallana on the other side, who is great at finding little pockets of space.
Playing with the back three plus Dier gives Wilshere the freedom to start moves from deep then continue them further up the pitch, which I would argue is his strongest suit. Not quite traditional box-to-box, but a bit more freedom than a holding player.