Well done to RLC you deserve your chance now go and force your way from the squad into the team.

Southgate has been brave so give him credit only 5 players survive from the last world cup. I am fed up with taking so called "experienced" players. The premier league is the toughest league in the world if you can hack that each week then your are ready.

As to the players that missed out you can always make a case but I don't see any standout misses.

It's a young squad so lets hope they don't buckle under the weight of expectation. Quarter finals would be good Semis great.

C'mon England

Edited by Badger11 (16 May 2018 2.49pm)

One more point

Got to be one of if not the weakest squad we've taken to a world cup

But saying that at least there's no big time Charlie's and we won't have a team with certain big name players shoe horned in on reputation

Paua oouaarancì Irà chiyeah Ishé galé ma ba oo ah

Makes for a nice song though:
[Link]

I like the fact that we have a young team that's not expected to do anything.

They might actually give it a go.

The worst thing that can happen is if England win a few games, then the gentleman of the press stagger out the pub, blinking at the light and convince themselves that through their beer google they can see England as world beaters.

Then they'll jump on the bland wagon and break out the jingo machine and start dropping 1966 comparisons.

Steve Howard of The Sun is the worst for this.

Then, of course, as soon as England lose they'll all be tearing into them. 'We were never any good', 'Lack of technique' 'just not good enough' etc

"Now, if that had been a Brazilian journalist who'd said that, we'd all be sitting here marvelling at his technique. But because he's a home grown hack who couldn't trap a ball with his love handles, we all think he's a fraud, don't we Alan?"

Aye.

Matthew Norman of the Evening Standard is the biggest footballing know-it-all after any tragic defeat. He's the whining wimp you really don't want on your team when the chips are down.

Just thought I'd get that off my chest.

All 5 of the French standby list could start for England. Our squad is not near their level.

Unfortunately there are two players England would need to compete with that lot; one's got a long-term injury and they let the other one join the Ivory Coast before realising they might need him. Even Townsend might have given some width (for all that he likes to cut inside), but hey ho.

As it is England have not much wide play. What are they going to do? Play through the middle? In which case de Bruyne will run rings round them. Hoof it up to Kane or Vardy? It'll just come back. Try to use Rashford or Loftus-Cheek or someone as a winger? The full backs will be caught forward and Belgium will break away. Park the bus and try to hit them on the break? De Bruyne will unpick the defence. The manager doesn't have the experience or the nous to make a silk purse out of this sow's ear.

Another ignominious early exit on the cards here I think. Could get out of the group with wins against the other two teams but the second round will be a shambles.

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The Ferret
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