I see that the British tabloids are sticking to tradition. Even before a ball is kicked they are doing their level best to create disharmony and rile up the public against the England team.

The latest evidence is the front page story in the Sun and subsequent overblown fake outrage at Raheem Sterling's tattoo of a gun on his leg. They had some halfwit demand England kick him out of the squad.

I don't know why they do it, but they do.

Spain have the talent to win it. They are solid from back to front. However, if Costa gets a strop on or injures himself (he's injury prone so a distinct possibility) they are light up front. They aren't the quickest at the back either. Pique and Ramos are still good but are past their peak. 

I'm all hope for England. Game 1 is 3 weeks today. 

Lots of decent away days to be had next season.

3 Local games. 5 against Yorkshire teams, plus Boro. 5 easy drives to the midlands or thereabouts. A couple of London trips. Bristol, Swansea, and East Anglia seem to be the hardest to get to. I've never been to Ipswich's ground but I've read on here it's a good place to go to.

Is Millwall a pain to get to? 

5 hours ago, Stuart said:

When you have that kind of group, the final piece is having a manager who is prepared to make tough decisions about the players he needs to drop to get the best XI.

No England manager ever dared to drop Lampard or Gerrard to play Scholes where he could have dictated play. Lampard and Gerrard should have been competing for one spot not two.

Spot on there. I always likened that dilemma to having two excellent goalkeepers. A manager would pick one and go with it. No England manager ever did. 

Argentina's 23 has been named. There's no place for Mauro Icardi. He scored 29 goals in Serie A this season Not surprising though with the riches at their disposal. Unfortunately their defensive options are scant.

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Willy Caballero, Franco Armani

Defenders: Gabriel Mercado, Javier Mascherano, Nicolas Otamendi, Federico Fazio, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna, Cristian Ansaldi

Midfielders: Manuel Lanzini, Maximiliano Meza, Lucas Biglia, Ever Banega, Giovani Lo Celso, Angel Di Maria, Cristian Pavon, Eduardo Salvio

Forwards: Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain

25 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

The Belgium game is a concern but in truth both us and Belgium should have two good wins vs Tunisia and Panama and more or less guaranteed ourselves qualification. We should win the Panama game by 3 or more goals even if this is a World Cup game.

Belgium's first 11 is fantastic but looking past that and you have some average players. Our issue is that we don't have a De Bruyne or Hazard - players that can single-handedly win games. Ideally we want to be winning our first two comfortably and then go into the Belgium game knowing that we are only playing for top spot. 

Unfortunately you are thinking logically. It never is with England. Last time out they got 2 draws and a raggy win out of a group containing Wales, Russia, and Slovakia.

I watched the USA easily dismantle Panama 6 months ago. They are not a good side by any stretch, but they'll have all the passion in the world and will make it very hard.

31 minutes ago, roverandout said:

You can say about belgiums squad but they have a few donkeys in there too led by a donkey manager...he leaves out their best box to box midfielder naingolan or however you spell it...i mean come on fellaini

You have a point there. Belgium's stature is elevated in England as a host of their squad play in the Premier League, and their manager is well known too.

Their 2 world class players plus Courtois can win games. But add in their inefficient strikers, 2 midfielders wasting their prime playing in China, old defenders (Vermaelen for one), and the inevitable pressure heaped upon them, it doesn't look as good.

33 minutes ago, benhben said:

Just looking at the players Spain, France and Belgium have omitted from their WC squads. Think it shows where we are strength and depth wise...

Naingollan (belgium), Fabregas, Marcus Alonso, Morata, Bellerin (Spain).

Both teams have some talent at their disposal.

Belgium's preliminary squad; Belgium, Benteke included

Spain: Spain, Nacho Monreal included

Spain will be very hard to beat, as they are defensively solid, and will have a fit Costa this time out. Belgium have flattered to deceive for a while. De Bruyne and Hazard are world class, but can their skill be converted into goals by Benteke, Batshuayi, and flat track bully Lukaku?

The England squad debate has centered around the omission of Shelvey, Lallana, and Wilshere.

Of the 3 I'd only argue for Lallana's inclusion. I don't think that Shelvey is up to it, and Wilshere signed his card when he pulled out of March's friendlies.

I read that Renato Sanches has been left out of Portugal's squad. He was outstanding for them at Euro 2016, and had the world at his feet post tournament. Man U offered big money for him. He chose Bayern Munich. Fast forward less than 2 years and he can't get a game for relegated Swansea. I wonder what happened?

55 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

To put things into perspective, we omitted Jack Wilshere and France omitted Lacazette, Martial and Payet.

 

Lacazette is poor. He was a boy v. men the last time I saw him. Martial is France's Walcott. Fast, and someone who has a good game now and again. Payet had a good year at West Ham. He's the best of a mediocre bunch.

I'll not dispute that England doesn't have level 1 talent. I'll also not dispute that Premier League riches, the shortsighted FA, stupid players, a wildfire media, judgmental fans, and greedy agents, all have played their part in limiting England's national football team over the years. Yet I'll be cheering them on this summer. They are all we have.

Edit. France squad;

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain)

Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), Adil Rami (Marseille), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Florian Thauvin (Marseille)

I looked at JacknOry's Wikipedia links of the Portuguese signings. I'm no Sherlock Holmes but it looks well dodgy. All signed for undisclosed fees, all got 3 year contracts. All were crap. Only Henrique seems to have played more than a handful of games since he left Rovers. It's interesting that 3 of them ended up at some Romanian team. Also one went to Whitehawk FC. I am pretty sure that they were charged with some football related crime or other a few years back.

Hopefully hose days at Ewood are over and Venkys have entrusted Waggott to run a football club.

Edit; Whitehawk details;

Former Whitehawk president with previous convictions jailed

2 Whitehawk players charged for match fixing

Stinks to high heaven.

1 hour ago, joey_big_nose said:

Don't think even with a proper left winger it would have worked that well. Tactically any team would struggle to accommodate more than one of Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard effectively. All three of them expected total freedom to do as they please in midfield, lacked the versatility and pace to play out wide, and the discipline and defensive quality to be effective holding players.  In essence they were all far too similar to one another. But then if an England manager left one or two of them out (say for Hargreaves or Carrick who were more balanced choices) he would get pilloried, so really whoever was in charge was onto a hiding to nothing.

The best teams not only have good players, they also have good balance across the team and an effective system to deploy those players. Spain and Germany in recent years have epitomised that. England have had some good players between 2000 and 2010, but never a good balance,  nor an effective system.

One thing I will say for Southgate is we do actually look better balanced than we have for a long time, and I do like the 343 system he has put together which is a lot more fluid than I've seen from the national team in a long time. It's just a shame the players available are pretty weak.

You are absolutely right about Southgate in that regard. He has an idea of how a side should look. He gets lambasted as the FA's man and a failed manager, but he spent years with the u21's and has brought some of that experience with him. England doesn't have Germany or Spain's talent, but they'll be organised, quick on the break, and possess a top notch striker.

Just now, joey_big_nose said:

I think Delph will primarily be seen as backup for Rose at left back. Where he plays for Man City. 

Would that not be Ashley Young? He played left back for Mourinho most of the season. I put Delph in the middle as without him there are only 3 which doesn't give much cover, and they all may play too.

I grabbed the squad from the BBC website. My guess is that Southgate will look at it like this.

Goalkeepers: Butland, Pickford, Pope

Central defenders: Cahill, Jones, Maguire, Stones, Walker,

Wide men: Alexander-Arnold, Rose, Trippier, Young.

Holding Midfielders: Dier, Henderson, Delph, Loftus-Cheek.

Attackers: Kane, Rashford, Sterling, Vardy, Alli, Welbeck, Lingard,

Delph, Lingard, and Welbeck can all do the wide man job too.

Let's see what this lot can do.

England squad is named;

Goalkeepers: Butland, Pickford, Pope

Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Cahill, Delph, Jones, Maguire, Rose, Stones, Trippier, Walker, Young.

Midfielders: Alli, Dier, Henderson, Lingard, Loftus-Cheek.

Forwards: Kane, Rashford, Sterling, Vardy, Welbeck

6 minutes ago, matt83 said:

Livermore!! Jesus wept hope that’s wrong. How deep is this barrel we’re scraping. He could be a sizeable nail in the coffin of my interest in this World Cup. 

England isn't blessed with talent at the mo. If Southgate goes with Livermore it's because he thinks he's worth a spot. I doubt that he'll play much though.

For comparison here's Germany's provisional squad; Germany Provisional squad. They will be hard to beat, although if Neuer and Boateng aren't fit they won't be as solid.

Just now, roversfan99 said:

Even if you dont rate Wilshire, to leave him AND Shelvey at home in favour of Livermore and Delph is absolutely crazy. What you expect from a failed manager I suppose but still.

Here is the Mirror's predicted squad;

GOALKEEPERS Pickford, Butland, Pope

DEFENDERS Trippier, Walker, Stones, Jones, Maguire, Rose, Young

MIDFIELDERS Dier, Henderson, Delph, Livermore, Lallana, Loftus-Cheek, Alli, Sterling, Lingard

ATTACKERS Kane, Vardy Rashford, Welbeck

It's very similar my effort from a few days ago with the only changes being Jones for Tarkowski, and Young for Bertrand.

Contentious names seems to be Delph and Livermore in, Shelvey and Wilshere out.

Wilshere has had potential for years but never fulfilled it, and I don't think that Shelvey was ever getting a look in.

England doesn't have the best defence. It needs protecting so Wilshere is being sacrificed for Livermore. Kane, Sterling, Vardy, Rashford, Lingard, Lallana, and Alli are capable to causing problems for any team.

Apparently Hart won't make the plane to Russia. Quite right if you ask me. He has been a horror show for England since before Euro 2016 - and he was shocking there. Since then he's been dropped by City, played iffy in Italy, and spent 2018 keeping the kit man company at West Ham. Hardly international form.

1 hour ago, joey_big_nose said:

Yes, only players you can say with your hand on your heart are international quality are Kane, Sterling and Walker. Everyone else are decent enough, but more laboure than arte really. Lingard has shown something to be fair. 

Pickford had an absolute shocker against West Ham which is worrying. 

I think France, Germany, Brazil, Spain etc. are not too bothered by us, and who can blame them. 

If Southgate gets us to the quarters he will have done very well. 

 

I'll be happy with a quarter final appearance.

After looking at your squad I reckon that Tarkowski won't make it. I think Smalling will go instead. He's been a regular for Man U this year. You had Jones in there and although Ithink Jones is a better player, who can also play midfield at a push, he's always injured.

I also have Andy Carroll in the back of my mind. He would be a great super sub, coming on and causing havoc. But he's another one with the robustness Jacob's crackers.

On 3/15/2018 at 11:05, speeeeeeedie said:

Well spotted. No wonder I think England can win. I'll drop Lallana and Wilshere then.

Here is Southgate's squad for next week's friendlies;

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Nick Pope

Defenders: Kyle Walker, Kieran Tripper, Ryan Bertrand, Danny Rose, John Stones, James Tarkowski, Alfie Mawson, Joe Gomez, Harry Maguire

Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson, Jake Livermore, Adam Lallana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Lewis Cook

Attackers: Danny Welbeck, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford

My guess is that Pope, Mawson, Tarkowski, Cook are being rewarded for playing well but they'll struggle to make the WC 23. I reckon Southgate will take Hart for his "experience". Cahill too.

Loftus-Cheek and Kane to return therefore, marring injuries, there aren't many spots to play for,

 

I'm surprised that Southgate is announcing his World Cup squad next week. It seems early. I assumed that he'd name a provisional 28 or so then whittle it down. However, by naming only 23 he probably decided a while ago and sees no point in prolonging it.

My quote above was the squad from the last round of friendlies. So using that as the provisional squad with Ox and Gomez out, Kane and Loftus-Cheek back my guess for those missing out are; Joe Hart, Alfie Mawson, Lewis Cook, Ashley Young.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Nick Pope

Defenders: Kyle Walker, Kieran Tripper, Ryan Bertrand, Danny Rose, John Stones, James Tarkowski, Harry Maguire

Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson, Jake Livermore, Adam Lallana, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard, Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Attackers: Danny Welbeck, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane

As for a starting 11 Southgate has stated he is playing with a back 3. Kyle Walker played as one of the 3 last time out which has me stumped as to what he'll do.

Today's prediction;

                             Pickford

               Walker Stones Maguire

          Lingard Henderson Dier Rose

                         Sterling Alli

                               Kane

I'd like to see Loftus-Cheek ahead of Dier as he is a class act. Palace improved dramatically when he returned. I'd also not argue against Rashford for Alli, or Welbeck for Lingard. Despite his bang average club form Welbeck has always been excellent for England, which is rare.

6 hours ago, K-Hod said:

As I was born, raised and educated in Accrington, it really is good to see them get promoted. It's an amazing achievement for them.

*Now for goodness' sake Rovers, make sure we aren't playing them in a competitive fixture next season!*.

Here here. Fantastic for Stanley. Rovers need to get out of the division sharpish.

5 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

Have any of your pals now found an undying love for Stanley, K-HOD?

I heard from a couple of mates who reckon they are getting season tickets for next year. They've never set foot in the Crown. I'll believe it when I see it.

9 hours ago, perthblue02 said:

During my apprenticeship in the early 80's "wallop them walls" referred to painting with Crown emulsion , term was still used when we switched to another brand. Always puzzled me until I asked one of the older decorators what wallop referred to.

Weirdly, I remember people saying put some wallop on it when I was a kid. I just thought it was something strange that adults said.

East Lancs does have a long history with engineering, and aerospace. There are loads of companies no longer around.

Vinjay's belaboured point does have a little merit, and I understand his view; he's not from Accrington, so he has no affinity. But it is relevant, certainly not small minded, to think that the 2 clubs in the same league is bad. 20 years go Stanley were in the Northern Prem, and Rovers were in the actual Prem.

44 minutes ago, Vinjay17 said:

Seriously the pressure couldn't be higher (or at least shouldn't) than it already is. I don't see Accrington's promotion bid as having any relevance to Rovers whatsoever. How are Darwen doing at the moment? 

3 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Given that if they are promoted and we aren't, they'll be in the same league as us and the fact that a lot of Rovers fans (myself included) live in Accrington/Hyndburn, then I'd say it's very relevant!

Yes it is. Stanley were one step up from a pub team when I was growing up. I think because of that I never gave them a second glance. I don't now either and I'm an Accy lad. What they have managed to achieved is remarkable. Promotion to League 1 would be up there with Leicester winning the league as far as achievements go. Coleman has done a tremendous job.

The once chasm like gulf between Stanley and Rovers could be no more. Not good, but I'll give Stanley all the credit they deserve. 

15 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

I would say Kane is world class. 

Greece won the Euros and the they had no world class players

10 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

No one will ever be in Messi and Ronaldo league or level. These are 2 very talented players who are greats of the modern era. 

Kane isnt a great of the game. But never said he was tho. 

 

I'll argue that your top quote says that you did.

Anyway, I really hope that Kane shines this summer. If he does then England will do well and he'll banish the horror show of 2 years ago. He is an impressive player in the Shearer mould but not as good. His physical strength has improved as has his finishing. He's not much of an aerial threat but Spurs don't really play that way. 

Southgate needs to get his side picked. These friendlies will hopefully bring some clarity. Is Wilshere out for good? Him missing these 2 games won't help his cause.