Re: The Three Lions

by DuringTheWar Sat May 10, 2014 7:19 pm

Charming....

by Busby Babe Sun May 11, 2014 9:34 pm

Ashley Cole to be left out of England's World Cup squad by Roy Hodgson

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/article10823769.ece?token=2077768994

by Jay29 Sun May 11, 2014 9:45 pm

Hoping it'll be Gibbs that goes instead, but I'm expecting it to be Shaw.

Going into the World Cup with two full backs who aren't great defenders will be fun.

by RealGunner Sun May 11, 2014 9:49 pm

What a joke. Cole is still our best LB.

by Busby Babe Sun May 11, 2014 9:51 pm

Ashley Cole hasn't played enough this season to be a starter.

Both Barkley and Lampard are both apparently in too.

by Great Leader Sprucenuce Sun May 11, 2014 9:58 pm

Busby Babe wrote:Ashley Cole hasn't played enough this season to be a starter.

Both Barkley and Lampard are both apparently in too.

Doesn't matter, he's still the best LB by far defensively and the only proven entity at international level.

Neither Baines or Shaw are good enough defensively and i don't trust them at all.

He should have gone no doubt about it.

by Busby Babe Sun May 11, 2014 10:11 pm

Personally think Ashley Cole has declined. Granted he doesn't play badly for England like other so called England stars but it's normal to take players based on club form which is why I feel somewhat bad for Gibbs.

by B-Mac Sun May 11, 2014 10:34 pm

if that's what Hodgson told him Barkley is for sure in the squad over Lampard

by Onyx Sun May 11, 2014 11:08 pm

Full story:

Ashley Cole has retired from international football after being told he would not be in England's World Cup squad.

Chelsea left-back Cole, 33, has struggled for playing time with his club this season, with Spaniard Cesar Azpilicueta having been preferred by Jose Mourinho.

Although he has been involved more towards the end of the campaign, Cole has been supplanted by Everton's Leighton Baines and, most likely, Southampton teenager Luke Shaw.

The decision brings an end to a lengthy international career for Cole, who made his England debut against Albania in 2001 and has won 107 caps since.

Cole wrote on his Twitter feed: "I got the call from Roy and agree England team should be about the young players. I think it best I retire from England team now.

"We have a great manager and team and I wish them only success. I will be supporting them like a true fan. Thanks to everyone for everything.

"Baines and Shaw are great players, proved this season, and are the future of this country, it was a pleasure to get 107 caps."

The full-back positions have been subject of plenty of conjecture ahead of Roy Hodgson's squad announcement on Monday afternoon, with Cole's position in question and worries about the availability of Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker.

Walker is struggling with a pelvic injury and if Hodgson's medical staff fear he will not be 100% fit, it could be Manchester United's Phil Jones - also under an injury cloud - heading to Brazil as a back-up to likely starter Glen Johnson.

Cole's omission suggests Hodgson is happy to take a youthful squad to Brazil and could mean a call for Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, who enjoyed a productive end to the season.

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling and midfielder Jordan Henderson, Arsenal forward Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Southampton winger Adam Lallana - all lacking international experience - are also in contention for the 23-man squad which will be named at 2pm.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12016/9308064/world-cup-ashley-cole-set-to-miss-out-on-englands-squad

by Busby Babe Sun May 11, 2014 11:11 pm

Rumoured squad

Hart, Foster, Ruddy

Johnson, Jones, Cahill, Jagielka, Smalling, Baines, Shaw
Henderson, Lallana, Gerrard, Wilshere, Lampard, Oxlade Chamberlain, Milner, Sterling, Barkley
Sturridge, Rooney, Welbeck, Lambert

He's only taking one natural RB

by Great Leader Sprucenuce Sun May 11, 2014 11:32 pm

All in all i fail to think of any other major omissions he should be taking.

Pretty happy with the midfield and strikers picks, CBs are an obvious major problem but no matter who he picked that would have been the case.

by Onyx Sun May 11, 2014 11:35 pm

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

by ExtremistEnigma Mon May 12, 2014 1:14 am

Cahill-Terry would've been immense.

Johnson is the rather obvious weak link in that lineup. :facepalm:

England, unarguably, has a dearth of quality right-backs. Even the ones that they have are woeful defensively. There are some promising ones such as Flanagan and Clyne, but they are still quite raw and immature.

Why did Kelly have to get injured.. Sad

by Art Morte Mon May 12, 2014 1:47 pm

wtf, the squad announcement is taking place at a Vauxhall car plant in Luton because they're England's sponsor Laughing

I know it's good to be in the driving seat, but this is absurd.

by Art Morte Mon May 12, 2014 2:13 pm

Busby Babe wrote:Rumoured squad

Hart, Foster, Ruddy

Johnson, Jones, Cahill, Jagielka, Smalling, Baines, Shaw
Henderson, Lallana, Gerrard, Wilshere, Lampard, Oxlade Chamberlain, Milner, Sterling, Barkley
Sturridge, Rooney, Welbeck, Lambert

He's only taking one natural RB

Replace Ruddy with Forster and that's it.

I suppose it was a pretty straightforward selection and not much, if anything, to really disagree with that.

I would have taken Carroll instead of Lambert, because Andy offers something so different, but that's just my slightly biased view.

An out-and-out winger would have been good, but there weren't many options.

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

hmm

by mr-r34 Mon May 12, 2014 2:17 pm

Do people think theoretically a UK squad would go deep into the WC?

by Robespierre Mon May 12, 2014 2:39 pm

No surprises anyway
No Tottenham players, a bit strage to see it , but Walker was so awful this year that he wasn't called up although the competition for RB is so mediocre this year (considering poor performances by Johnson for example)

by Art Morte Mon May 12, 2014 2:43 pm

Robespierre wrote:No surprises anyway
No Tottenham players, a bit strage to see it , but Walker was so awful this year that he wasn't called up although the competition for RB is so mediocre this year (considering poor performances by Johnson for example)

Walker's injured. Townsend, too, although he didn't do much anyway.

by rwo power Mon May 12, 2014 2:47 pm

mr-r34 wrote:Do people think theoretically a UK squad would go deep into the WC?

You know that could have more than one meaning Laughing

by Robespierre Mon May 12, 2014 2:52 pm

Art Morte wrote:
Robespierre wrote:No surprises anyway
No Tottenham players, a bit strage to see it , but Walker was so awful this year that he wasn't called up although the competition for RB is so mediocre this year (considering poor performances by Johnson for example)

Walker's injured. Townsend, too, although he didn't do much anyway.

ah , true !

well so I think he would have been called otherwise considering lacks in that role (differently of LB , just thinking to Gibbs) . While Townsed not , even if sane , his hype ended to October . Lennon out deservedly too.

by Raptorgunner Mon May 12, 2014 3:13 pm

How is Gibbs not picked? I know Baines is first choice. but Shaw better than Gibbs? Laughing

by B-Mac Mon May 12, 2014 5:26 pm

Gibbs injury history probably played a role imo

by Tomwin Lannister Mon May 12, 2014 7:27 pm

mr-r34 wrote:Do people think theoretically a UK squad would go deep into the WC?

The bench would be stronger, but all it would really add is Bale.

by B-Mac Mon May 12, 2014 7:45 pm

and Ramsey the GOAT

by Tomwin Lannister Mon May 12, 2014 7:46 pm

Meh, unfit 90% of the time.

by McAgger Mon May 12, 2014 8:38 pm

mr-r34 wrote:Do people think theoretically a UK squad would go deep into the WC?

I think they would.

Hendo-Ramsey-Gerrard midfield would be fantastic. And they will finally have an extra match winner in Bale. Would free up so much space for Rooney to operate with Studge and Bale spreading the defense.

There will also be a very good bench, no more Welbecks and Cleverlys. Sterling, Walcott, Joe Allen, Barkley, Lallana Thumbs up

The defense though, still meh. And Woy still the manager Laughing

So yeah not much improvement.

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