England squad discussion

[sledger]

Welbeck's probably a better option for that at this stage, though.

Yeah, that's true. I guess Milner has a bit more grit to him though. Or at least seems to be perceived that way anyway.

I think a lot of people tend to see Welbeck in a "player = forward, and so not great defensively" way. Quite wrongly, of course.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Only really Smalling is properly cringe, so fair play to Woy.

He picks up a knock and maybe young Stones gets a gig.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah, that's true. I guess Milner has a bit more grit to him though. Or at least seems to be perceived that way anyway.

I think a lot of people tend to see Welbeck in a "player = forward, and so not great defensively" way. Quite wrongly, of course.

Yeah, he's more like a ball of unlimited energy with the added ability to protect possession with unnatural gangliness. Useful in some circumstances when deployed correctly.

Truth be told his attacking output as a winger is terrible, and the main reason, along with plain bad finishing, for his oft-cited poor goalscoring record.

 

[sledger]

I think English fans in particular consider players with lots of stamina as incapable of being hard-working, in some cases at least. Players like Milner and Scott Parker get the plaudits for being hard-working/running themselves into the ground, when simply (particularly in Parker's case) they're absolutely gassed after 60 minutes. Honestly seems to me that people often tend to deploy a "well, he doesn't look knackered so he can't have worked hard" attitude, whilst ignoring all the evidence to the contrary, when making these sort of determinations.

As you know I don't rate Welbeck particularly highly in terms of ability, but to give him his due I think there's a lot to be said for what he brings to a side in terms of work rate etc...

 

[Pothas]

He is almost a really good footballer and I suspect he is always likely to remain that way.

 

[Furball]

I didn't have Lampard in my 23 but I can't actually think who I'd have picked instead of him.

 

[Uppercut]

I think English fans in particular consider players with lots of stamina as incapable of being hard-working, in some cases at least. Players like Milner and Scott Parker get the plaudits for being hard-working/running themselves into the ground, when simply (particularly in Parker's case) they're absolutely gassed after 60 minutes. Honestly seems to me that people often tend to deploy a "well, he doesn't look knackered so he can't have worked hard" attitude, whilst ignoring all the evidence to the contrary, when making these sort of determinations.

Yeah this annoys me too. Also they haven't twigged on that better technical ability is usually the result of harder work in training. There's just no way someone like Bergkamp got his first touch so good without a pretty serious work ethic, but it's Ray Parlour who gets credit for putting in the most effort.

 

[sledger]

Yeah this annoys me too. Also they haven't twigged on that better technical ability is usually the result of harder work in training. There's just no way someone like Bergkamp got his first touch so good without a pretty serious work ethic, but it's Ray Parlour who gets credit for putting in the most effort.

That comparison actually does Romford Ray a bit of a disservice imo. Hard-working as he was, Parlour was actually really technically proficient. He was obviously no Bergkamp, bur he's actually quite underrated in this regard I think.

 

[Furball]

Yeah this annoys me too. Also they haven't twigged on that better technical ability is usually the result of harder work in training. There's just no way someone like Bergkamp got his first touch so good without a pretty serious work ethic, but it's Ray Parlour who gets credit for putting in the most effort.

It also refers to the work coaches do with players.

Really bugs me when people say Guardiola was "lucky" to inherit the squad he did.

 

[Uppercut]

Really bugs me when people say Guardiola was "lucky" to inherit the squad he did.

Yeah I reckon that's my biggest berserk button in football. Even worse than when **** United fans say Hernandez should start ahead of Welbeck.

Reminds me of what I said after England's win in Aus. If you do your job well enough as a coach, your players' reputations rise so high that it devalues your own achievement.

 

[Nate]

Squad basically right on the money.

 

[Cevno]

There's no backup to Gerrard in the DM/DLP or #6 role ?

One of Barry or Carrick should have gone instead of Lampard for balance.

 

[GIMH]

Maybe Phil Jones is the Gerrard backup

 

[Furball]

There's no backup to Gerrard in the DM/DLP or #6 role ?

One of Barry or Carrick should have gone instead of Lampard for balance.

Number 6 plays centre half in England.

 

[marc71178]

There's no backup to Gerrard in the DM/DLP or #6 role ?

Bigger concern is the back up at centre half - a pair of players who have spent most of the season not playing there for their clubs.

There being no back-up for a role which we don't even know is going to be utilised is irrelevant compared to that.

 

[NUFAN]

I didn't have Lampard in my 23 but I can't actually think who I'd have picked instead of him.

Apart from 23 other players..

Like others, I think Smalling is the worst decision. Very good squad though overall. A bit of a shame the group England are in, because in an easier group a quarter final penalty shoot out loss wouldn't be out of the question.

 

[sledger]

The fact that there is no Cleverley is something that has been drastically under-celebrated imo.

 

[GIMH]

He's on the standby list though which in itself depresses me

 

[sledger]

BBC Sport - World Cup 2014: Juninho joins BBC team for Brazil

I'm actually more excited about the BBC's punditry line up than that of the England side. Seedorf is great, and Henry is always good value, and hopefully Juninho will be as well. Hopefully will help fade out the smugness/direness of Lineker/Shearer/Hansen/Savage/all those other irrelevant ***** they dig out.

 

[Pothas]

Danny Mills on 5live one to avoid. I don't actually think he is that bad but has been such a **** over this B team thing.

Who had Adebayor last time? He better be back.