*Official* English Football Season 2013-14

[Uppercut]

So good from Ox. Messi-esque, dribbling faster than most players can run.

 

[Cabinet96]

Love how many different people are stepping up just when we need it this season.

 

[sledger]

Chamberlain has to start for England in Brazil. Surely.

 

[Furball]

Let him play a few games for Arsenal first ffs.

 

[sledger]

He's already shown in that one match that he's better than pretty much every other available option tbf.

 

[Uppercut]

They have a lot of options but none of them really stand out. I'd probably go with Lallana if it was kicking off tomorrow.

 

[sledger]

Watching a stream of NBC. Love how when reviewing the highlights they have some overly dramatic music playing, similar to the NFL coverage.

 

[Uppercut]

Their commentary is unwatchably bad. Sounds like someone screaming youtube comments over the game.

 

[sledger]

They've now got Gary Lineker on video link as one of their "expert" panelists.

Time to switch over,

 

[Eds]

Chamberlain will surely go to Brazil given he can play in almost any role in midfield in almost any system.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Chamberlain will surely go to Brazil given he can play in almost any role in midfield in almost any system.

With Walcott out he simply has to. Hate the phrase but he has got the X Factor. Not many of our players have it.

 

[grecian]

Lalanna
Ox
Wilshire
Johnson

**** it, I'd play that midfield, with Sturridge and Rooney up front.

Oh and some crap defenders and goalie, to go along with Baines.

This will not happen, and Stevie G and the lump in there, with Carroll up front, will be epically bad.

 

[Eds]

Reckon Hendo would be really hard done by to have Ox jump in at CM ahead of him.

Johnson has more work to do, for me. Shove Ox out wide.

 

[Pothas]

Got to have Barkley in there, play him instead of Sturridge with Rooney upfront. Sturridge is playing really well, I just don't like him.

I would definetly take Carroll if he is fit, he is a ridiculous figure but when there are times when people just can't deal with him, we can't play football so may as well.

 

[grecian]

Got to have Barkley in there, play him instead of Sturridge with Rooney upfront. Sturridge is playing really well, I just don't like him.

I would definetly take Carroll if he is fit, he is a ridiculous figure but when there are times when people just can't deal with him, we can't play football so may as well.

Oh forgot Barkley, yeah whack him in over Johnson, who needs width.. I'd rather Crouch then Andy myself if you're going to play that way, I just don't like Carroll, and he makes you play even worse football than we normally do. I think West Hams most used pass combo was Adrian-Carroll, before he got sent off. Oh and reckon refs may not take to well to his "style" in World Cups.

 

[sledger]

I'd definitely have Carroll, for the reasons Pothas stated. The problem with Peter Crouch is that he's not even good at being Peter Crouch anymore. And Peter Crouch at his best could never do anything apart from score ridiculous scissor kick volleys every now and again.

 

[grecian]

I'd definitely have Carroll, for the reasons Pothas stated. The problem with Peter Crouch is that he's not even good at being Peter Crouch anymore. And Peter Crouch at his best could never do anything apart from score ridiculous scissor kick volleys every now and again.

22 goals in 42 appearances suggests not, but TBH, I really could do without a big donkey up front anyway, let's not take either.

 

[sledger]

I was about to trot out my usual argument that he scored most of his goals against terrible oppo, but just happened to come across this...

The Peter Crouch Myth

Can't be bothered to read in detail, but perhaps you're right after all...

 

[Uppercut]

As target men go Ricky Lambert is miles better than either.

I'd leave Carroll behind. You really, really won't want to be playing kick-and-rush in the kind of weather we're likely to see in Brazil. The fact that he's an unusual threat isn't that important. His team-mates won't be used to playing alongside him either, it kind of balances out. And more importantly, there's a reason that type of striker isn't around at the highest level anymore.

 

[grecian]

As target men go Ricky Lambert is miles better than either.

I'd leave Carroll behind. You really, really won't want to be playing kick-and-rush in the kind of weather we're likely to see in Brazil. The fact that he's an unusual threat isn't that important. His team-mates won't be used to playing alongside him either, it kind of balances out. And more importantly, there's a reason that type of striker isn't around at the highest level anymore.

Yeah, you're probably right about Lambert. I've said it 100s of times, but my main problem with a big man up-front is the mentality of English players, as soon as they see one they just lose all composure and just try to hit him at every juncture. Particularly the defenders. Not necessarily the big mans fault, but after seeing it again and again, I could do without, and as you say not really the conditions for it either.