‘This is the worst England squad I’ve seen in a long time’
Fans debate whether England can really go all the way, plus Liverpool readers discuss the possibility of signing a Leicester star and Victor Lindelof’s Man Utd future is dissected in Your Says of the Day.
Have something to get off your chest? Join the debate here.
Great than the sum of the parts
This is the worst England squad I’ve seen in a long time but they play as a team. They give it a everything and there is a great team spirit.
I think sterling much better out wide but he’s not a wing back and Trippier has done really well.
It should be Kane with two of Alli, sterling or Lingard behind.
Colombia were a disgrace and their managers comments and maradonas are a disgrace
Thought Kane’s hold up play was great exceptional and a real captains performance
Sweden are very ordinary but so are England. Fancy England to go through but Kane needs much better support from the two lads playing behind.
Sean the Sailor
Sean mate , it’s a very very young and inexperienced squad. Personally I think we’ve had some awful squads in the last 20 years but I wouldn’t call this one the worst, not even close. Stones, Kane, Ali, Maguire, Henderson, Sterling, Walker, Trippier, Pickford and others are all starters in teams at the top end of the Premier League. We won’t win the thing, we could easily get beat on Saturday but if these lads click they’re a good side. They haven’t clicked fully and might not. I’m surprised we made it this far given the track record in knockout footy.
Dandy
This team is far from the worst England WC side. Least they are trying to play proper footy. They have a manager who’s refreshingly honest and who has been brave in his decision making. Young at LWB…he’s been very steady and his experience has helped hugely. Trippier at RWB…been a revelation. As has Macguire at CB. Thought he was immense against Colombia. Pickford redeemed himself last night and Henderson…penalty miss aside has been one of the better defensive midfielders. Kane…lead England from the front. He’s been brilliant. Trying to think of England’s last striker who managed 6 goals at a WC….was it Lineker? My disappointments have been Sterling…who I feel is being played out of position, and Ali…who I believe is still suffering from that initial injury. He’s also playing too far back. I’d be tempted to play RLC again. Or even Marcus Rashford. What saddens me is that even if this inexperienced and youthful England side make the final…they’ll still get slaughtered.
Stuilse
From what I’ve seen so far, Alli should be nowhere near the starting line-up – he’s given absolutely nothing going forward. His injury just further emphasizes the fact that he shouldn’t be playing. Personally against Sweden I’d go with the following team:
Pickford – Trippier, Walker, Maguire, Stones, Young (Rose if he’s not fit) – Rashford (LW), Henderson, Dier, Sterling (RW) – Kane.
A wide 5-4-1 formation which turns into a 3-4-3 formation when attacking with Henderson and Dier both capable of covering the centre.
Sympathy for the Devils
A bit lol at the English media due to their antics prior to the competition. Writing stuff like being will be getting beaten and killed. They tried everything to sh!t stir but it has backfired, everybody is having a ball, people of all races and in the crowds together, and interacting before and after games, nice try by them.
mufc
Trippier has been outstanding imo. Kane if he’s not World Class is very close to being World Class and overall England are a bit better than average imo with some very good performances coming from a number of players Harry Maguire for instance. Other players still need to step up to the plate though and if they do there’s more to come from this England team.
We should not get carried away though we’ve been fortunate in how the draw has panned out and Sweden won’t be easy and neither will Russia or Croatia if we are fortunate enough to proceed to the Semi Finals.
Every games is a bonus now as far as I’m concerned having reached the Qtr Finals which I though was our ultimate and if England were fortunate enough to reach the Final they would be up against one of the top sides but funny things can happen in Finals as we all know.
One game at a time though and we have to get past Sweden first who have a great record against England.
nine nine nine
The perfect Van Dijk partner
I been championing this guy for a long time even before he made his first England debut. I was alerted to him by a Leicester fan watched him one game and was convinced on his talent. Would be perfect next to VVD. Whilst VVD is the calm one, Harry could replace Lovren as the ‘energetic one’. Harry seems to run around a lot closing down. What do others think of this guy, would you be happy if we spent 40m+ on this guy?
mwake
Mwake, he has been one of England’s best players so far. I think he has had a great tournament, I like the runs out of defence he makes and like vvd he seems to win a rediculous amount of headers. Good option and at the moment probably available for around 35m.
ant993
Fair play Make. I remember you mentioning him.
TBH, I didn’t think much of him. But he has slowly grown on me. He and Tripper have been England’s stand-out performers (notwithstanding Harry Kane)
He would do well, though I dont think we necessarily need another ball playing CB (though it certainly wouldn’t hurt :)).
gul
Not sure about this one. I haven’t seen much of him if I’m honest but from what I’ve seen he plays on the left? Can’t see anyone displacing VVD from there. It wouldn’t be the best idea to pay big money and then play him out of position. I’d like to see Gomez given a chance alongside VVD first before we do anything else at CB.
Razor
A second chance?
Could all you Lindelof fans tell us what his strength’s are? I’m all for giving him another season but to me he lacks pace, strength, height and his positioning is suspect as is his tackling from what I’ve seen. These are basics for a CB. He has a decent pass and can bring the ball out to a degree but that ain’t anywhere enough. I hope he improves but in the end I don’t think he has the physicality for the PL.
yorkshireman200
I’ve always said judge Lindelof (and Alexis) on their performances up to Christmas this season. Rojo, Smalling and Jones have been given so many chances I think it’s the least Lindelof deserves
homerjay540
All opinions though, I rate Sanchez and don’t rate Lindelof from what I’ve seen. Hope I’m wrong but it seems Mourinho at least agrees with me, about Lindelof anyway.
jm1502
Lindelof is a) on an upward trajectory, b) a “moneyball” signing seeing as we spent 30m on a CB while Liverpool spent 75m on van Dijk and City spent 65m on Laporte (who incidentally has since been benched by Guardiola just like Mourinho left Lindelof out of the squad entirely on 8 occasions during his first six months), and c) is the most recently signed CB and the youngest CB we have in the first team.
If all your lectures about how the squad should have young players who can grow together are to make any sense then you should understand the basic logic that Lindelof warrants another season at the club.
You make it out like Lindelof is completely clueless and has zero hope of improving or filling the requirement when the fact is we are talking about a 23 year old CB with 24 caps at international level and a player who has played a decent 90mins of football against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea in the Premier over the last few months. What kind of logic is it to sell him off now?
We get it, you think he is a no-hoper. Would you have him out the door before Rojo, Smalling, and Jones? How much money do you think we have to spend on CB replacements seeing as the going rate for a “sure bet” like van Dijk is 75m? A seasoned football supporter like you surely knows that a CB peaks in their late 20’s.
All I’m saying is that Lindelof has to be given a fair crack next season before we make the call. I have cautious optimism but your judgement has been made – you think he won’t make it.
Let’s see what pans out then.
hatters