World Cup 2014 Squads and Games

[Henry Norris 1913]

Scotland, Wales and Ireland aren't coming

so no more patronising "ireland fans have added so much colour and vibrance to these finals" from itv/sky

[northbank123]

I just do not buy into the assessment of the level Luke Shaw is at currently. Before he'd even kicked a ball in the PL and without even seeing him play pundits were falling over themselves to say he was going to be world class and England's left-back for a decade.

He's got massive potential and he's a decent enough left-back. Maybe he will turn out to be class and be England's left-back for a decade. But the hype around him now is similar (although even more intense) to what is was with Kyle Walker a few years ago. His defending is not really scrutinised at all, as is par for the course with most defenders outside top 4 clubs. He is absolutely rapid but I am sick of hearing about what an attacking threat he is. Not everything can be measured in stats but 33 PL starts, 0 goals and 2 assists in one of the better attacking sides in the league hardly backs that up.

When I watched Southampton v Everton there was the usual *****-fest over him on Sky. Clyne had an absolute stormer and for the second goal put in a cracking cross that would have had the commentators grabbing for the tissues if it had come from the other full-back.

I'm not one for selecting players on reputation but I'd take Cole over him, don't care how negative it seems. Cole was a bit shaky first 20 against Liverpool but despite not playing much this year still came in for two massive games at Vicente Calderon and Anfield and showed he can be part of an excellent defensive unit. If you have this fantasy that England full-backs with no end product are going to go bombing forward without consequence and fire England into the latter stages of the tournament, take Shaw. If you want a defensively solid full-back who can deputise reliably for Baines, take Cole. Even if he is a gigantic prick.

Shaw is brill mate. Will be world class no question. I too I don't buy into the English young talent hype the way the media love to do but Shaw really is the real deal.

If not him, then Gibbo. Baines can fuck off, Cole is old and had his day.

Doesn't really matter how good he's gonna be in 10 years, or 5 years, or even 2 years. Surely you pick the players that give you the best chance, Baines and Cole clear choice imo.

And don't even think about pretending that taking him along for the ride is going to be a great experience for his future career.

[DB10GOONER]

I think we can do something at this World Cup. We need to play to our strength which is pace. Sterling and Ox on the wings and Sturridge upfront, with Rooney playmaking. Hit them on the counter.

---------------------------------Hart---------------------------------
Johnson-------------Cahill-------------Jags------------------Shaw
----------------------Gerrard--------Wilshere----------------------
Sterling-----------------------Rooney--------------------------Ox
-------------------------------Sturridge------------------------------


We could surprise a few with that team imo.

Then you have the likes of Lallana, Henderson, Milner, Lambert, Welbeck as bench options.

What I like about that team is that it's free of any Spurs c*nts.

Sorry, mate - can't see it.

By "Johnson", I take it you mean Glenn Johnson from Liverpool?

Any half decent winger at Interlull level will destroy Johnson. Wilshere? No where near Interlull level. Let's be honest, he quite often ain't that good in the PL. How you expect him to suddenly step up and deliver in a key role (and after being out injured) is beyond me. Gerrard - waaaay past his best and would be run ragged by fast young midfielders. Cahill and Jagielka? Average CH's at best. Have their moments but average mostly. And I agree Shaw has been good, but I also think he's not THAT good. Then there's the fact you put Welbeck in there. Even on the bench. Devalues everything you have ever written or said in your whole life, mate. The fucker is stealing a living as a footballer.

Sorry, but Ingerland will do about as well as Oireland will at this world cup.

[LeftfootlegendGooner]

I think we can do something at this World Cup. We need to play to our strength which is pace. Sterling and Ox on the wings and Sturridge upfront, with Rooney playmaking. Hit them on the counter.

---------------------------------Hart---------------------------------
Johnson-------------Cahill-------------Jags------------------Shaw
----------------------Gerrard--------Wilshere----------------------
Sterling-----------------------Rooney--------------------------Ox
-------------------------------Sturridge------------------------------


We could surprise a few with that team imo.

Then you have the likes of Lallana, Henderson, Milner, Lambert, Welbeck as bench options.

What I like about that team is that it's free of any Spurs c*nts.

Sorry, mate - can't see it.

By "Johnson", I take it you mean Glenn Johnson from Liverpool?

Any half decent winger at Interlull level will destroy Johnson. Wilshere? No where near Interlull level. Let's be honest, he quite often ain't that good in the PL. How you expect him to suddenly step up and deliver in a key role (and after being out injured) is beyond me. Gerrard - waaaay past his best and would be run ragged by fast young midfielders. Cahill and Jagielka? Average CH's at best. Have their moments but average mostly. And I agree Shaw has been good, but I also think he's not THAT good. Then there's the fact you put Welbeck in there. Even on the bench. Devalues everything you have ever written or said in your whole life, mate. The fucker is stealing a living as a footballer.

Sorry, but Ingerland will do about as well as Oireland will at this world cup.

You Ewoks are such bitter little fellas

[DB10GOONER]

I think we can do something at this World Cup. We need to play to our strength which is pace. Sterling and Ox on the wings and Sturridge upfront, with Rooney playmaking. Hit them on the counter.

---------------------------------Hart---------------------------------
Johnson-------------Cahill-------------Jags------------------Shaw
----------------------Gerrard--------Wilshere----------------------
Sterling-----------------------Rooney--------------------------Ox
-------------------------------Sturridge------------------------------


We could surprise a few with that team imo.

Then you have the likes of Lallana, Henderson, Milner, Lambert, Welbeck as bench options.

What I like about that team is that it's free of any Spurs c*nts.

Sorry, mate - can't see it.

By "Johnson", I take it you mean Glenn Johnson from Liverpool?

Any half decent winger at Interlull level will destroy Johnson. Wilshere? No where near Interlull level. Let's be honest, he quite often ain't that good in the PL. How you expect him to suddenly step up and deliver in a key role (and after being out injured) is beyond me. Gerrard - waaaay past his best and would be run ragged by fast young midfielders. Cahill and Jagielka? Average CH's at best. Have their moments but average mostly. And I agree Shaw has been good, but I also think he's not THAT good. Then there's the fact you put Welbeck in there. Even on the bench. Devalues everything you have ever written or said in your whole life, mate. The fucker is stealing a living as a footballer.

Sorry, but Ingerland will do about as well as Oireland will at this world cup.

You Ewoks are such bitter little fellas

It's the brutal honesty you Munchkin/Dwarf hybrids can't take. And the buggery.

[Simon]

Can't wait to hear the England brass band playing 'The Great Escape'. So much better than those pesky rhythmic samba bands and scantily-clad Brazilian beauties.

I think this World Cup will pass me by as hopefully I'll still be on a high from celebrating our manager's greatest ever achievement of another year's Champions League qualification.

[arseofacrow]

Can't wait to hear the England brass band playing 'The Great Escape'. So much better than those pesky rhythmic samba bands and scantily-clad Brazilian beauties.

I think this World Cup will pass me by as hopefully I'll still be on a high from celebrating our manager's greatest ever achievement of another year's Champion League qualification.

I can just picture it - the captain holding the FA Cup and Wenger holding the 4th place trophy at Islington Town Hall.

[Bradywasking]

Can't wait to hear the England brass band playing 'The Great Escape'. So much better than those pesky rhythmic samba bands and scantily-clad Brazilian beauties.

I think this World Cup will pass me by as hopefully I'll still be on a high from celebrating our manager's greatest ever achievement of another year's Champion League qualification.

I can just picture it - the captain holding the FA Cup and Wenger holding the 4th place trophy at Islington Town Hall.

The Parade goes ahead on May 18th if we win the Cup...surely the club can fit in Parade after this weekend to celebrate the VT , not wait 'til after that FA Cup thingy as Stan calls it.

[1989]

I think we can do something at this World Cup. We need to play to our strength which is pace. Sterling and Ox on the wings and Sturridge upfront, with Rooney playmaking. Hit them on the counter.

---------------------------------Hart---------------------------------
Johnson-------------Cahill-------------Jags------------------Shaw
----------------------Gerrard--------Wilshere----------------------
Sterling-----------------------Rooney--------------------------Ox
-------------------------------Sturridge------------------------------


We could surprise a few with that team imo.

Then you have the likes of Lallana, Henderson, Milner, Lambert, Welbeck as bench options.

What I like about that team is that it's free of any Spurs c*nts.

Sorry, mate - can't see it.

By "Johnson", I take it you mean Glenn Johnson from Liverpool?

Any half decent winger at Interlull level will destroy Johnson. Wilshere? No where near Interlull level. Let's be honest, he quite often ain't that good in the PL. How you expect him to suddenly step up and deliver in a key role (and after being out injured) is beyond me. Gerrard - waaaay past his best and would be run ragged by fast young midfielders. Cahill and Jagielka? Average CH's at best. Have their moments but average mostly. And I agree Shaw has been good, but I also think he's not THAT good. Then there's the fact you put Welbeck in there. Even on the bench. Devalues everything you have ever written or said in your whole life, mate. The fucker is stealing a living as a footballer.

Sorry, but Ingerland will do about as well as Oireland will at this world cup.

At least England are in it...

[Ultimatum94]

---------------------------------Hart---------------------------------
Jones-------------Cahill-------------Jags------------------Cole
--------------Rooney--------Gerrard--------Wilshere---------
Sterling-------------------------------------------------------------Ox
-------------------------------Sturridge------------------------------

The goalie and centre back positions pick themselves. Cole is still the best LB England have got as though his attacking game has lessened with age, his defence is as impenetrable as a nun's pussy. I'd prefer Jones at RB as he's got big game experience and has kept players like C Ronaldo and Ozil in his back pocket in a defensive midfield role

Rooney up top would stagnate this team on the counter as he lingers on the ball far too much. In midfield he'd hopefully work like a bulldog , to prove his critics wrong ,to cover up for Gerrard's lack of pace and would be able to spray the ball just as well and have a crack at goal given the opportunity. Wilshere would be able to carry the ball forward and link up with Chambo and draw a lot of fouls for Gerrard to exploit with his world class deliveries.

The front 3, actually the whole team, would purely play as an explosive attacking outlet on the counter and with the pace, technique and goal scoring threat these 3 have shown this season then it's a no brainer.

That's my England team for the World Cup.

[augie]

It's funny but, for a mixture of reasons, engerland might actually do better than most are predicting this summer

For starters nobody is expecting much from them, but more importantly their team has just got a whole load younger through injuries, lack of club games and retirements. The so called golden era was blown apart and should have been cast aside a long time ago and now only stevie me really survives from that myth and I think that he will prove a good leader for the younger players in the squad.
What engerland has now, and what they haven't had in the past, is players coming into form as the tournament approaches - the likes of sturridge, Henderson, sterling, lallana and the ox have been playing really well for their club sides and that confidence will help the national team. I also believe that having so many young players in the squad will also be vital as the heat in brazil will be a big factor.

Obviously I'm not for 1 second suggesting that engerland will be a genuine contender, but if I was an engerland supporter I would be a lot happier seeing the squad dominated by the younger players, rather than having to face another shambles that would be led by the pikey terry, pig lips Ferdinand, who ate all the pies lumpalard and the mobile phone predator judas c*nt

[1989]

Spot on Augs.

Forgot to mention Ross Barkley as well. What a player.

[LeftfootlegendGooner]

Spot on Augs.

Forgot to mention Ross Barkley as well. What a player.

Bestest in the world ever

[northbank123]

Spot on Augs.

Forgot to mention Ross Barkley as well. What a player.

Bestest in the world ever

Forget the fact that since starting the first 9 PL games he's spent the rest of the season fighting with Leon Osman for his place and is very average most of the time. He scores the odd great goal so "what a player" indeed.

[the playing mantis]

Spot on Augs.

Forgot to mention Ross Barkley as well. What a player.

have you finished your world cup sticker book yet?