World Cup 2014 Thread

Heard he got a rollicking from the manager after for not letting the designated taker have it.

 

I'm quitting my job for this.

 

To the American's on here, is there somewhere (a website with the rights or a tv channel) that will replay the final or at least have decent highlights? I think I land in america about an hour after the game finishes and i'd like to watch it that evening, or the next day!

 

It'll be live on ESPN and replays are usually available on WatchESPN pretty soon after the event. Depending on the internet provider at your accommodation, you should be able to watch it that way.

 

Biggest travesty for me is leaving out Filipe Luis and taking Maxwell instead.

 

People here seem more annoyed about Fred, despite his impressive confederations play and lack of any other decent alternatives. Everyone is still living in 1998 I guess

 

Can't name anyone else that's better for the role of striker. Jonas has had a decent few seasons for Valencia, but he's not exactly clinical with his finishing, and wouldn't bring anything new to the table, nor is he young enough (30) to use it for development and i'd say it'd be better with Fred than taking a youngster like Ademilson or Araújo.

 

Cheers Luke!

 

It'll be an absolute travesty if Roy doesn't take Barkley. He's the kind of wildcard young player who is capable of producing something incredible. We don't need predictable old timers like Lampard and Carrick because we already know they're not good enough to win anything.

 

Brazil also left out Lucas from Liverpool and Germany have left Gomez out, too.

 

I reckon he'll take Lampard and Gerrard but not Carrick.

I can see it being this - I wouldn't be against it but I'd prefer to see some changes.

GK: Hart, Foster, Forster
CB: Cahill, Jagielka, Smalling, Jones
RB: Johnson
LB: Shaw, Baines
MID: Gerrard, Lampard, Milner, Lallana, Barkley, Wilshere, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sterling
ST: Rooney, Welbeck, Sturridge, Lambert

I'd love to see Curtis Davies, John Stones, Jonjo Shelvey etc in there but it's probably considered too late to bring them into the national team, particularly with the last two.

We're actually fairly strong in midfield going forward; Lallana, Barkley, Wilshere, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sterling is a great selection, offensively at least. Then you've got Shelvey, Ward-Prowse, Morrison, probably Shaw on the left (I'll happily have a bet with anyone that he ends up further up the pitch than left back, possibly left winger, possibly a Bale role).

 

In 1966:
Austria won Eurovision
Atlético Madrid won La Liga
Real Madrid won the European Cup
England won the World Cup

In 2014:
Austria won Eurovision
Atlético Madrid currently lead La Liga
Real Madrid are in the final of the Champions League

Coincidence?

 

They all play in Europe!

 

As good as confirmed tonight that Baines and Shaw will be taken to Brazil. Cole was asked to be on the standby list but declined, as good as ending his international career.

 

Who said Lamps is going?

 

Great news about Cole. His time has passed. Lampard shouldn't go in my opinion. Not many people I know would bring him either.

 

-------------------Hart----------------------
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
Johnson----- Cahill-----Jagielka-----Baines---
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---------------------------------------------
------------------Gerrard--------------------
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---------------------------------------------
---------Henderson-----Barkley--------------
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---------------------------------------------
------------------Lallana--------------------
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
-----------Sturridge-----Rooney-------------


Baines and Johnson bombing down the wings.
Gerrard sit deep, spraying direct passes and covering the wing-backs.
Henderson and Barkley both defending deep and breaking when we have the ball.
Lallana doing what the **** he wants.
Rooney playing slightly deeper to hold up the ball. (Lambert if we are playing against taller opposition)
Sturridge running in behind.

 

Would start Sterling over Lallana, Rodgers has used Sterling in this position a lot more than Lallanas been used like this, especially against some of the teams with slower defences (Uruguay for instance), Sterling and Rooney swapping positions would be delightful, playing through-balls for Sterling to run onto and use his pace and running at the defence would definitely cause problems.

 

Very good point there sir.

I kinda missed him off my list! Either way - I am more excited about this squad than previous. Quite worried about Jagielka though....

 

Pleased with that squad overall. Definitely the most exciting squad for a while.

Smalling and Lampard are the only ones I'd question but I doubt they'll play anyway.

 

Pretty sure Smallings only in there as he's cover for both CB and RB.

 

This is exactly right, unless I'm missing something. Top work.

 

Can't really argue with any of the choices he made. I'd have been tempted to pick Carrick over Lampard to cover for Gerrard in the holding role, just because he's used to playing that deeper role. Lots of exciting young attacking options who should go out there and play without fear. The likes of Sturridge, Barkley, Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Lallana are all capable of producing moments of magic and give our team a bit of flair and unpredictability that has been sorely missing from previous squads.

Providing Roy doesn't play it safe and start the likes of Lampard and Milner because they're dependable, I'm confident we'll have the attacking ability to make it out of the group. Defensively, I don't think we'll have enough to contain any real contenders, but I'd consider it an abject failure if we fail to make it out of the group considering so many of the squad come into the tournament on the back of very good seasons. I'd love to see us line-up against Italy as Legs suggested, with Sterling starting over Lallana.

Actually feeling quite excited about the squad, which is unusual. For once, there are a lot more positives than negatives, despite the lack of elite defensive options.

 

Thank f**k! An England manager has finally come to their senses and dropped dog-sh*t Carrick. Most overrated footballer about.

 

I think England need to play like Liverpool have this season, not because Liverpool have been excellent, but more because England have far better players going forward than defensively, just like Liverpool.

I think with the pace we have in our squad, we can play excellent counter attacking football.

I can almost see it now. We are defending a corner, its cleared to Rooney, he holds it up and touches it off to sterling, who runs and full pelt through the Italian Midfield. The Italian team are back pedalling, and its released to sturridge, who slots it home!

 

Not a bad looking squad at all. The middle 3 are hard to pick, but personally my starting 11 would be something like:

-------------- Hart --------------

Johnson - Cahill - Jagielka - Baines

------------ Gerrard -------------

Barkley/Lampard - Lallana/Wilshere

-- Sturridge - Rooney - Sterling --

 

In an ideal world Milner wouldn't start but Hodgson would be mental to not play a defensive player like him in front of Johnson who just can't be trusted to do the majority of the defensive work on that side like Baines can be.

Starting with Johnson and Sterling on the right side would be suicide and unfortunately we'll have to persist with Milner until a better, more disciplined right back comes through.