The Official *England's Passage to Paris 2016* Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

Onwards, we go. Latest England squad has been named for the friendly against Norway, and the opening qualifier versus Switzerland.

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Everton)
Midfielders: Jack Colback (Newcastle United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

You know, such a squad does not fill me to the brim with optimism!

Best side we can muster out of that, assuming Roy takes a 4-2-3-1 shape, would probably be:

Hart, Stones, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines, Henderson, Wilshere, Sterling, Rooney, Oxlade, and Sturridge.

[Duty281]

Walcott, Berahino, Barkley, Oxlade, and Sterling all in the latest England squad.

Oh you foreign devils, pale at the attacking might of England!

And James Milner of course...

[Liam]

amazed how lambert is still in there ahead of kane. Kane is younger, playing more and is crucially scoring goals at the moment. Get the lad in while he's on form and confident. You gain more from bringing him in than Lambert who shouldn't be anywhere near the side.

Nice to see Carrick back in. England lack that holding midfielder who can keep possession, which is crucial in international football. They tried it with Henderson in the last qualifiers, and whilst he's improved massively he doesn't have the passing range for that position imo.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Carrick is a bit of a joke for me. So Michael, you didnt make the Euros, but since then youve been injured and played a part in a game at centre back, welcome back to the squad! Nobes again misses out, but really happy for Downing, absolutely bang in form and hopefully if hes used it will be in his rightful role, centrally

[Guest]

Downing will be treated like Colback or Clyne, invited, but barely even acknowledged. Lambert

[GSC]

Kanes scored like 2 league goals. Done most of his work against Europa League minnows and us in the CoC

[Stella]

Lambert is a decent player, and can actually keep the ball, which is something we find difficult. I have no problem with him being there.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

If Kane can make his way into Spurs' first team and play well then he can have his chance

[Crimey]

Carrick has presumably been brought in to play as the holding midfielder in the diamond, but Mark Noble's continuing absence is very confusing. Downing deserves to be in there, but can't see him getting a game, the use of the diamond would help though as he can play at the point.

[Stella]

Shawcross for Smalling? Fair? Clyne will start, hopefully, instead of Chambers.

[Mat]

SAIDO!

[NickisBHAFC]

Walcott in that team makes me sick. What has he done?

[Stella]

Walcott in that team makes me sick. What has he done?

More dangerous than Lallana.

[compelling and rich]

Walcott in that team makes me sick. What has he done?

so if your the argentina manager and messi comes back off a injury, you don't play him because he hasn't done anything recently?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

That argument makes sense if Walcott is Messi levels of good. Would Walcott even make the team?

[compelling and rich]

That argument makes sense if Walcott is Messi levels of good. Would Walcott even make the team?

he's done more than enough playing for arsenal to justify his place in the england squad. im mean who else is there when downing and townsend are both being called up as well. id have a half fit walcott over them in a heart beat

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Then you clearly havent paid attention to football

[compelling and rich]

Then you clearly havent paid attention to football

nonsense, ive watched downing for years. remind me how he's done for many many seasons other than the little purple patch now, whats the saying again form is temporary?

i doubt i'll get any sense to you talking about west ham players so what has townsend done then that her should be in over walcott?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Played, and played well for England. Whereas of course Downing has been up and down through seasons but why pick an injured player who has not had great impact for England over someone in form? Absolute reason to pick Downing is because hes playing so well, in a new role too.

England fans, we want change but not to the established order of things, just to results

[mystiroakey]

Walcott = something different .
Walcott = definitive plan b
Walcott = England's best player(my personal opinion. But attacking stats over the last few years have also backed this up)

If he is fit. First name on my squad list. Yes he has been unlucky with injuries at key times for the gunners and especially england. But this is a professional hard worker that has performed against the best in the world in CL football for arsenal and also per game minutes scored , assisted , and created more chances than any other.

Yes you may think I am blowing smoke up his ass . and he isn't a Ronaldo. But we don't have a ronaldo.

[NickisBHAFC]

Downing has been outstanding this season his call up is deserved.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Best player? Jesus. Im not 100% sure he even makes the first XI. Good squad option, but not earned his place at the moment. He isnt good enough to just be given a free pass back into any squad. He'll be half baked and will barely play, you learn nothing having him and it seems a little pointless

[Mat]

I think he's a good player, and I'd certainly have him in the squad, maybe even the first XI but I wouldn't say he's our best player.

Rooney gets a lot of stick, some justified, but is still a fantastic player. Sterling is arguably the best young attacking player in the world. In my humble opinion, Cahill is one of the better centre backs playing today.

I do think it is quite a decent time to be an England fan, there's some good young players coming through. We're weak in certain areas, but it's nice to see new faces coming into the side-the likes of Chambers, Stones, Shaw, Barkley, Sterling, Oxlade Chamberlain, Berahino--then there's others like Kane, Aarons, Ward-Prowse etc coming through. Coupled with players slightly more established like Wilshere, Cahill, Hart, Henderson and Walcott and a good manager(Roy is a good manager, whatever people think).

Not world-beaters, maybe not tournament-winners at the moment, but lots of pace, attacking intent and potential.

[mystiroakey]

Kane with another goal!

we could do really well in the coming under 21 tourney.

I hope Roy doesn't take Kane and Berihinio off them when that tourney comes around. If we can win the thing with those players plus others like Luke Shaw we could be putting the players through some great winning experience.

[MIG]

Potential U21 team come tournament time -

Butland

Chambers  Stones  Jones  Shaw

Wilshere  Ward-Prowse

Ox-Chamberlain  Barkley  Sterling

Berahino

And thats without Kane.

[mystiroakey]

That is pretty outstanding..

If that team went to 2015 and performed- and would IMO be the favs looking at the opposition. That team in 7 years with the odd addition could potentially be a cup winning one.

[Duty281]

The Wembley pitch is in a truly horrible state for the Slovenia game, so do not expect an exciting encounter.

In other words, it is business as usual!

A drab one or two nil win, as England sleepwalk to France? Sounds about right.

[mystiroakey]

3-0..

I am sure they will make that pitch better than most of the away games we play anyway.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Massive shock as Carrick isn't fit enough for England...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Greg dyke is just a walking train wreck

[Fernando]

England Team to Play Slovenia/Slovakia (It's one of them) 1 Hart 2 Clyne 3 Gibbs 4 Henderson 5 Cahill 6 Jagielka 7 Wilshere 8 Lallana 9 Welbeck 10 Rooney 11 Sterling

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I miss John stones

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Lallana sucks

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

On the pitch probably worth noting it was crap for the Atlanta-detroit game too.

Groundsman needs to up his game

[owen10ozzy]

Nice to see two of the form premier league english players start on the bench today.

What a dour and dreary game of football (shock horror). Hodgson's comment on England needing to get the fans believing again and playing football to bring them back to Wembley look more amusing with each passing game. I can tell you one thing Owl face...your not going to do it playing that diamond formation. Slow, Cumbersome, predictable and frustrating to watch. Don't want to hear comments on the pitch being an issue either...because it's not. Look how easy the likes of Slovenia and Co manage to defend against this...and Roy expects to beat top footballing nations with it. Hahaha!

Oh the joys of supporting England!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

What will come first

The apocalypse or Owen posting a positive comment

[Duty281]

Do you actually support England, Owen? That is a genuine question, not just a p!ss-take.

[owen10ozzy]

What do you call a positive comment? Clyne has been good all season...and is one of many young England players with good potential. The platform is there for England to progress as a football team over the coming 8 years without a doubt....however your not going to see me praising this England side while we continue to look so pedestrian.

Should we beating the teams in our group 4-5 nil every time..no far from it but we should look more imaginative and a level above them during games. We don't. Possession looks great on paper but it doesn't show just how comfortable teams are at letting us have the ball.

People can say all they like about journalists and analysts and the like but if you took a broad spectrum of their views on England many of the same words would appear; predictable..no tempo...lack of creativity...slow...that isn't by chance, it's because they are nailed on facts.

I'm past caring whether people believe me to be just a negative old fart; When England give me something to be positive about the you will all see the cheery Owen..until then I'll stick to mirroring the joy in my posts to the joy i get from England playing,...

Yes Duty; as a supporter do I have to be bound to being passionate and positive about the nation?! Fans are no less negative about their club team week in week out if what they are served is dross..why should it be any different for England?

[Hero]

I have to agree with everything Owen said, that was pedestrian and labourous at best.

[Duty281]

Could be worse, could be Dutch.

Top of the group and cruising to France. Eighteen months of irrelevance before anything remotely proper.

So relax!

[Hero]

theyll easily qualify certainly, but it'll be the World Cup all over again at the actual Euros. We've learnt nothing.

[Duty281]

There we go, Jordan gives England the kick they need.

1-1, as you were scorewise, but the crowd have picked up and the momentum is with England.

Onwards!

[owen10ozzy]

I'd rather be the dutch; at least they have ups and downs and make finals and semi's...even if they do have a dross tournament thrown in here and there. I'd rather that than the mediocrity we get served up. Our tournament history is much like our performances....same old same old.

[Duty281]

Ah but the score between England and the Netherlands is 1-0 where it counts.

And of course, they are six points adrift of second place, presently, behind Israel and the Czechs.

[owen10ozzy]

I should actually point out that having to witness Turkey neck makes me more angry and negative about England...you just know he will come after this and say.

'Well I thought we were a bit slow to get started but we controlled possession and could have had a couple of goals...we maybe should have forced the pace a bit more but that's something we will work on. The lads are getting used to the shape''!! Blah Blah Blah!

Failing to note that it's his instructions and formation that is creating the lack of pace and that he as manager is getting it wrong.

[Duty281]

Welbeck!

Four wins out of four! This qualification lark is going better than last time, isn't it? #positive

[Lowlandbrit]

Could be worse, could be Dutch.

Hiddink's said he's quitting if they don't beat Latvia tomorrow, so they've got that to look forward to at least. Although I can't see Blind being much better. Should have just pulled the trigger on Koeman.

[owen10ozzy]

I imagine Roy has the exact mentality you have Duty hence why we never learn; looks at the two points we went ahead and forgets everything inbetween.

Were were bang average against minnows Marino....dire against Estonia...and for 70 mins have looked well below average again. As you stated...qualification is going fine; but like Hero say's it won't address the downfalls which we will inevitably see in 2016.

[Stella]

At least that was a good goal, Owen.

[Duty281]

I imagine Roy has the exact mentality you have Duty hence why we never learn; looks at the two points we went ahead and forgets everything inbetween.

Were were bang average against minnows Marino....dire against Estonia...and for 70 mins have looked well below average again. As you stated...qualification is going fine; but like Hero say's it won't address the downfalls which we will inevitably see in 2016.

We do not need to be anything more than competent in qualifying though, do we? Remember under Capello when England were positively scintillating against Croatia on two occasions and yet, less than a year after beating them 5-1, we could not unlock Algeria?

Qualification and the actual tournament are two different entities. Qualification has been secured since the time we beat the Swiss.

This is an irrelevance.

[mystiroakey]

That last goal was a great goal. Yes we overplayed it a bit first half to try and score every goal like that. But its been a good performance. I don't get the negativity. As soon as we went down we got more direct and scored ugly. Then we finished them of with a classic goal.

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