England Team Thread

[bash]

Ashley Cole has had Christiano Ronaldo in his pocket whenever he's come againt him. He's handled far greater pressure than Baines ever will, footballing wise anyway. To be fair Baines hasnt really been tested but thats all the more reason for him NOT to get picked ahead of Ashely. The art of crossing is a dying one anyway, modern football is played far more on the ground via intricate passing.

Milners ok but when it comes to him and tackling Im reminded of this moment during the 2010 WC:

And it was quite early on in the game if I remember, to be fair 2 years is enough time to improve and I cant say I've been watching him with great interest since.

[PaTaito]

I could trawl through youtube and find cock up videos of almost any top player that exsists today, but speaking overall milner is a fantastic diverse player, with absolute top work rate. As for ashley funny how you say he has ronaldo in his pocket, but i could likely find many, many, clips of him cocking up at LB for england. Baines IS untested to be fair but moving on to this point:

The art of crossing is a dying one anyway, modern football is played far more on the ground via intricate passing.

I had to chuckle because this IS england we are talking about, we are simply not an intricate passing side. The art of crossing will not die any time soon in our national squad, hence why beckham was so missed in the years he wasnt capped so much. Set pieces will also never go out of fashion

It doesnt say anything about the player overall, but from my own experience, he makes mistakes when under pressure....like i said more so for england, but i guess you could say that for many england players.

Watching this next video reminded me that he is also a cool penalty taker. Invaluable for england i would say

Crossing, running, free kicks, penalty kicks you name it...

[bash]

I had to chuckle because this IS england we are talking about, we are simply not an intricate passing side. The art of crossing will not die any time soon in our national squad, hence why beckham was so missed in the years he wasnt capped so much. Set pieces will also never go out of fashion

Which is why England wont win a major tournament, they need to move on with the rest of the world. You cant rely on a Beckham-esque delivery into your oppositions half all the time. Keeping possesion on the ground, passing with accuracy and pace is the way to unlock teams now. To be fair, the younger players coming through are showing promise. English players are going through a major transition, players like Baines, Milner and Cole are obviously not the future of the English game.

[PaTaito]

Which is why England wont win a major tournament, they need to move on with the rest of the world. You cant rely on a Beckham-esque delivery into your oppositions half all the time. Keeping possesion on the ground, passing with accuracy and pace is the way to unlock teams now. To be fair, the younger players coming through are showing promise. English players are going through a major transition, players like Baines, Milner and Cole are obviously not the future of the English game.

What? baines and milner are fantastic all round players. Watch the give and goes on that baines compilation, on top of beautiful bending crosses which will NEVER stop being part of effective football. Milner also plays a big part of the man city passing game, he wouldnt be played regular if he wasnt able, and silva always links superbly with him.....just watch his involvement in the 6-1 beating of UTD.

The most dangeroes chances in foootball do and always will come from quick attacking on the wings, followed by a penetrating cross into no mans land. Its effective because when delivered correctly and with enough bodies in the box, its almost impossible to defend against with any real control.

Strikers will always thrive on it.

For me england has enough ability, just not the confidence in each other as a group to show it when it matters. Thats where we need a truly great english manager. The kind that takes a relegation zone team and sees them into the champions league the very next season.

[Flabio]

Well, Pearce has made his choices...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17137420

[Baseley09]

I like how Lescott parried his exclusion with the fact that this will be an experimental squad......looks standard.

[nakamura]

I think it is a decent squad overall. Yes it does lack superstar talent but there is plenty of talent in there.

[bash]

Surprised theres no Lescott, agreed Pearce's excuse is a little lame. However, when you think about it, apart from Rooney and Hart, everyone else in his squad needs to impress and prove themselves worthy to go to the Euros.

[rmoxon]

Fraser Campbell but no Oxlade Chamberlain?

Eh?

Give anyone the job, my mom would to a better job than Stuart Pearce.

[bash]

Baines? Lol, no way is he international class. Feel sorry for Wellbeck, got no service at all. Sturridge did well enough, alway looks sharp and lethal. Ashley young did well for the goal but still feel he's not good enough. At this rate they might need to call Joe cole back LOL. Johnson looked handy but I still think this proved that the old break down the backs and cross it in type game is dead in this century. If Englad are gonna play 4-3-3 then they need to get some bloody good 2 footed players in ASAP, the only one on the horizon is Wilshire.

[prinnysquad]

Hoddle has thrown his hat in to be caretaker boss for the Euros. Heh.

Brilliant player - my old pa used to say that he was a sublime passer with great trickery, a master of deft touches, and a superb volleyer (Bergkamp was inspired by his technique) - but he seems to have been out of top management for an awfully long time.

[NeoStuey]

F.A. Manager Approached Announcement probably not the man most were expecting.

[Baseley09]

Classic FA going against public and popular opinion.

Roy is the most qualified candidate we have.....but so was Capello.

[Kieran76]

I would be happy for Roy to have a go. At least his season hasn't collapsed like Tottenham's. of course, his contract finishing at the end of June might have something to do with it as well.

[EJG1980]

Wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the season they approach Redknapp as well. They need to have at least one other candidate to try and make sure we don't ask too much compensation for releasing Harry.

Edit: hmm, didn't know about his contract situation, could well be the FA want to save some money after the amount they lavished on Capello. Will be interesting to see where this goes.