Don't get me wrong, I'd include him (though not that bothered he's dropped) but out of the CBs picked it would probably be instead of Jones or Cahill.
World Cup 2018 - General discussion
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
- Status
Would take getting out of the group.
Well that's depressing
Such a liability he's first choice for pretty much the best defensive manager around?
Walker will most likely play RCB so that leaves TAA and Trippier as RWB options.
Why did Southgate waste time playing Hart in all those games if Heaton who has barely played this season is ahead of him in the stand by?
Welbeck has dirt on someone in the FA, how he makes all these squads time and time again is a mystery.
Welbeck has dirt on someone in the FA, how he makes all these squads time and time again is a mystery.
The route isn't really that hard to QF. They can get to it without even playing a top team.
First England cockup at the back and Smalling can laugh his head off in a nice bar somewhere.
No Smalling is odd.
Though Jones will probably manage to get himself injured in the first training session anyway and Smalling will just replace him.
Though Jones will probably manage to get himself injured in the first training session anyway and Smalling will just replace him.
The same manager who is practically begging a player like Marouane Fellaini to stay. He doesn't always get things right.
Tarkowski is the centre back on the standby list.
It is Tarkowski who is on standby.
Set of midfielders is pretty crap tbh. Overall it's one of the most mediocre English sides I've ever seen.
Yeah one has something with the other. Not.
I guess we should be happy he's not in the squad. Another United player who will get a nice summer off and be fresh for the season.
Second best team in the league with the second best defensive record in the league. Smalling has been solid and it's ridiculous that he's not in the squad.
Even this is going to turn to a Mourinho thread ?
Not giving much of a shit about England makes me glad Smalling is out, as he has played a great deal of football this season. Good rest for him.
I feel bad for him though. Whilst it was expected, I did think Southgate might see a bit a sense as the time drew nearer. Over the course of the whole season, there's not been a better English centre back in terms of consistency, reliability and performance. He has his flaws, but he's still a solid pure defender. He's not even on Southgate's standby list. Tarkowski is the only centre back on standby. Crazy.
Is Cahill a better ball player than Smalling? If he is, it's marginal. Cahill is a bit of a clogger himself. I quite like Maquire, but whilst he often appears confident with the ball, I don't think he's particularly good on it, and he can be a bit wild sprinting full pelt with the ball until he overruns it, which he seems to do a fair bit. Stones is good with it, but he can't defend for shite, and with the thin, lackluster squad, I feel defending is going to be more important than playing from the back at this World Cup. If Southgate thinks England are going to go there and boss possession, he's in for a rude awakening. I don't see why he wouldn't put Smalling in a back 3 flanked by his preferred ball playing CBs. At least have someone in there who can defend.
The rest of the squad is muck, bar Kane and Sterling. It's all on them. Lingard has had a good season, so I hope he does well. Alli and Rashford are good, but haven't had great seasons compared to previous years.
I don't understand what anyone sees in Jordan Henderson. Is he going to be captain too?
I feel bad for him though. Whilst it was expected, I did think Southgate might see a bit a sense as the time drew nearer. Over the course of the whole season, there's not been a better English centre back in terms of consistency, reliability and performance. He has his flaws, but he's still a solid pure defender. He's not even on Southgate's standby list. Tarkowski is the only centre back on standby. Crazy.
Is Cahill a better ball player than Smalling? If he is, it's marginal. Cahill is a bit of a clogger himself. I quite like Maquire, but whilst he often appears confident with the ball, I don't think he's particularly good on it, and he can be a bit wild sprinting full pelt with the ball until he overruns it, which he seems to do a fair bit. Stones is good with it, but he can't defend for shite, and with the thin, lackluster squad, I feel defending is going to be more important than playing from the back at this World Cup. If Southgate thinks England are going to go there and boss possession, he's in for a rude awakening. I don't see why he wouldn't put Smalling in a back 3 flanked by his preferred ball playing CBs. At least have someone in there who can defend.
The rest of the squad is muck, bar Kane and Sterling. It's all on them. Lingard has had a good season, so I hope he does well. Alli and Rashford are good, but haven't had great seasons compared to previous years.
I don't understand what anyone sees in Jordan Henderson. Is he going to be captain too?
Mixed feelings about that squad. Shelvey was worth a go and the midfield options lack creativity. Welbeck has a decent record for England.
Delighted for Alexander-Arnold.
Delighted for Alexander-Arnold.
Would have preferred Zaha over Welbeck
Yes and one less United player for everyone to blame England's woes on.
Severe lack of creativity in the midfield.
If I was Smalling, I'd be fecking seething.
As a neutral, that is the worst English World Cup squad I can remember.
As a neutral, that is the worst English World Cup squad I can remember.
Boring squad selection if you ask me. Welbeck
The fact there are three right backs in there would indicate to me that Southgate was happy with his experiment of Walker on the right of the back three. To be fair, I thought it worked pretty well in the March friendlies.
I'd guess he's looking at something like this as his first XI:
Personally I don't understand the hype around Pickford, he's a decent 'keeper but nothing more whereas going by the vast majority of stat models (or just good old fashioned watching them) Pope has been the second best 'keeper in the league this season. He should be starting.
If I were picking I'd also swap Jones for Maguire and bring Lingard for Henderson to make it a bit more top heavy. Make Alli, Dier and Lingard more of a midfield three behind Sterling and Kane.
I'm looking forward to the World Cup, I don't get anywhere near as emotionally invested in England as I do United so it's always nice to watch as more of a neutral.
I'd guess he's looking at something like this as his first XI:
Pickford
Walker -- Stones -- Jones
Trippier -- Dier -- Henderson -- Rose
Sterling -- Kane -- Alli
I can't say that I'm a huge fan but at least it looks like there might be some kind of plan there. Walker -- Stones -- Jones
Trippier -- Dier -- Henderson -- Rose
Sterling -- Kane -- Alli
Personally I don't understand the hype around Pickford, he's a decent 'keeper but nothing more whereas going by the vast majority of stat models (or just good old fashioned watching them) Pope has been the second best 'keeper in the league this season. He should be starting.
If I were picking I'd also swap Jones for Maguire and bring Lingard for Henderson to make it a bit more top heavy. Make Alli, Dier and Lingard more of a midfield three behind Sterling and Kane.
I'm looking forward to the World Cup, I don't get anywhere near as emotionally invested in England as I do United so it's always nice to watch as more of a neutral.
They've had a falling out (google it) and don't get on.
Southgate publicly questioned Smalling's passing ability, and Smalling quite rightly answered back.
Smalling's England career will probably not be too busy until Southgate is replaced by a better manager.
What's Russian for Bambi on Ice?Boring squad selection if you ask me. Welbeck
Getting Stones ahead of Smalling was a big mistake.
Plays for Ivory Coast pal.
This is pretty true. But let's be honest in England nobody will unite.You guys are so miserable
Bar a miracle you’re not going to win the whole thing, no shit. But you have very promising generations coming up and with this draw a quarter final appearance is both completely possible and it would be important for the future.
Luckily I'll be following the real red devils hopefully they can do me proud.
underwhelming squad but you cant argue with much of it since we dont have anything better to offer
He plays for another country...
you're being sarky yeah?Why are people so surprised at no Smalling? He’s defo a WC standard player. In tight international tournaments you just can’t afford a brain freeze, he is a risk of it.
I wonder if Zaha regrets changing nationalities. He would walk into this England squad.
And Cahill, Maguire, Jones and Stones aren't at risk of brain freezes? I guarantee Smalling's had less defensive errors than those four.
Where’s Milner?
Last edited by a moderator:
Fair enough, can't really be mad at Southgate as he has already told everyone his problem with Smalling.
Personally think he is a better choice than all 4 CB's he has picked though.
Sancho, Lookman, Sessegnon, Cook?
Not to mention the likes of Shelvey and Lallana who are infinitely better creatively than anything we have in there. Nobody things you're going to anything anyways so why not take the youth rather than the experienced shit you take every time. England has probably the most talented crop of youngsters on the planet currently, baffling nobody is going to take advantage. Half your talent will end up in the Bundesliga at this rate.
Oh yeah! Forgot about that. Still want him though.
- Status