Gary Hooper

I think Jagielka is a very clever and very underrated defender, Cahill is a bit of the opposite but I don't think they are that bad. No Ramos and Pique or Luiz and Silva but a decent level anyway.

Walker and Baines can provide a lot of width, Rooney is good in the air, Sturridge is decent, Hooper knows how to get on the end of the right type of crosses and will always find space in the box.

Carrick is good at dictating play and Lampard and Gerrard can support and defend from those sort of positions.

I think England's full problem is they always try and compete in the air, that kind of team would go far. Hooper will always score, if you have half a chance Hooper will pounce on it, Sturridge has a bit of genius about him and Rooney is Rooney.

 

He needs a phenomenal season if he wants to make the wc

 

England will probably play like this though....

Hart
Johnson Jagielka Cahill Cole
Milner Gerrard Carrick Welbeck
Rooney
Sturridge

If I picked the team id pick

Forster
Walker Jagielka Cahill Baines
Gerrard Carrick
Lallana
Rooney Hooper
Sturridge

With the front 4 kind of rotating in the central area, Lallana and Sturridge would naturally move wide at times. I would rotate Lallana with Barkley since they offer more creativity and can dribble better through the middle than the likes of Lampard, Barry, Wilshere.
​

 

Spot on apart from Cahill, lost all respect for him as a footballer when Kenny Miller did this to him!


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKt6UXz4ljg"]Kenny Miller goal 2-1 England vs Scotland @ Wembley - YouTube[/ame]

 

Actually forgot about Johnson, I rate him higher than Walker.

It'll be Lampard and Gerrard in the middle, when was the last time Carrick got a game for them anyway?

 

Cant mind.

Gareth Barry is in great form too.

If I was picking the squad it'd be

Forster
Hart
Ruddy

Walker
Johnson
Jagielka
Jones
Cahill
Terry
Baines
Cole

Carrick
Barry
Gerrard
Lampard
Walcott
Townsend
Lallana
Barkley

Rooney
Sturridge
Hooper
Carroll

Walcott and Carroll as players to come on as subs if you need a goal.

Forster
Walker Jagielka Cahill Baines
Gerrard Carrick
Lallana
Rooney Hooper
Sturridge

That as the main team, with Lampard rotating with Gerrard, Barry with Carrick, Barkley with Lallana and Terry with Cahill.

But they will pick players like Smalling, Lescott, Wilshere, Milner, Welbeck and probably Defoe.
​

 

I wouldn't have Townsend anywhere near any team, the single most selfish player I've ever clapped my eyes on.

 

Aye but offers something different same as Walcott, wouldnt start him in games though. Starting would be limited to just

Forster
Walker/Johnson
Jagielka
Cahill/Terry
Baines/Cole
Gerrard/Lampard
Carrick/Barry
Lallana/Barkley
Rooney
Hooper
Sturridge

Jones, Walcott, Townsend and Carroll would just be emergency players to call on. Like bring Jones on to go 5 at the back and hold on late on. Bring Walcott, Carroll or Townsend on to change plans if you need a goal.

 

Is that his 4th PL goal?

 

Aye. Scored the same as Benteke this season.

 

I'd be hesitant to play Carrick as the most defensive CM. I don't think he's defensive enough, nor Wilshere, I think they need Jones or Parker in there against the better teams.

I think it was the Ukraine game recently when they were too lightweight in the middle of the park so I wouldn't have Carrick with Gerrard/Lampard personally.

I would also have Ben Foster over Ruddy all day long, Johnson at RB, I'd be tempted to go with Jagielka and Lescott as they were great together at Everton.

Townsend looks a bit pointless on the right where he cuts in to no effect but I saw some of him on the left the other day against Anzhi and he looked dangerous, because he was actually crossing it.

With the wide positions, I'd just play whoever is on form, whether that's Walcott, Townsend, Lallana or whoever.

 

Had a great chance to score a 2nd but was denied by a super save from Vorm. Glad he's gettin there now though and hope he can stay fit.

 

I miss Gary, he would make everything okay here

 

13 appearances, 9 starts, 6 goals, 1 assist.

Averaging a goal every 135 minutes with Norwich City.

 

Aye, the day we won the league, was a similar type volley as today.

 

His goal against Killie in the 2011/2012 season was a peach, but his effort today was arguably even better.

 

Aye, that one was better.

 

Was that Big Elmander with the knock down? lovely goal from Hooper happy to see him doing well at Norwich

 

Yea that was Elmander.

They've got quite a good squad imo. I guess with a lot of changes, it takes time for their team to settle.

These last couple weeks should hopefully cement him as their No 1 striker and he can kick on from here.