The Three Lions

Tbf Forster has played Barcelona and Milan in last few years among others..... its highly unlikely Macedonia and Poland are going to provide anything he hasn't seen before in the CL.

The problem is more that Fraser Forster would have only very few days to get a proper understanding with his defense line. It would be easier for him if he had the chance to work with them in a lower pressure environment first, that is, in a friendly. After all, the English media jump like sharks on everyone of their players if they show the tiniest weakness, and he wouldn't be as used to that as a player who is more in the focus.

Yeah that is true.

"@FA: #England team: 1 Hart 2 Walker 3 Baines 4 Gerrard 5 Cahill 6 Jagielka 7 Townsend 8 Lampard 9 Sturridge 10 Rooney 11 Welbeck #EngMon"

I hope England do well but this team looks average on paper.

I'm surprised he's going with such an offensive team. I'm slightly worried that Montenegro will hit us on the counter because I can't see much discipline in that midfield.

Still, I'm glad Rooney and Sturridge both start, and that Townsend got the nod over Milner. There should be enough there to beat Montenegro fairly comfortably.

So its true Carrick has been dropped?

Why all these coaches making the same mistake.

World Cup bound

So who is going to start the "Townsend: The Second Coming of Robben" thread?

Spurs next $100 million dollar player  

Gerrard went Stevie Me mode and carried them on his shoulders in midfield. What a performance from him yesterday.

Was definitely our 2nd/3rd best player last night.

Rooney with 7 goals through qualifications, he is in superb form for club and country

Who would you guys take to the world cup? I know there is a lot of time left for some players to pick up form and even emerge out of the blue. But as a prediction.

My pick


Goalkeepers: Hart, Forster, Stockdale/Butland/McCarthy

Defenders: Smalling, Jagielka, Cahill, Cole, Baines, Johnson, Walker/Jenkinson, Jones

Midfielders: Gerrard, Wilshere, Walcott, Townsend, Oxlade, Barkley, Carrick, Henderson, Lallana/Sterling/Morrison/Zaha/

Strikers: Rooney, Sturridge, Defoe, Welbeck/Berahino

Are any of you guys familar with Eric Dier?

English born and moved to Portugal at 10 years old. Sporting spotted him and signed him up to their youth system and he made it out, which takes some doing because Sporting really know how to produce talent. On top of that the Portuguese Football Federation tried to get him to play for Portugal, so clearly he was sought after.

He has/does play for England U21 (he is 19 now) and seems to be highly thought of. I have not seen him (only played twice from the bench for Sporting so far this season) but he is 6'2 and his natural position might be centerback.

Just wondering if anyone knows more about him.

I've seen him a couple of times for the U19s and U21s. I can't say much about him, but he's looked a composed defender whenever I've seen him, and seems comfortable on the ball; at least, I've never seen him launch the ball forward. I'm trying to follow his progress as much as I can.

Who would you guys take to the world cup? I know there is a lot of time left for some players to pick up form and even emerge out of the blue. But as a prediction.

If the likes of Butland and Berahino get good game time this season, then I'd take them over the likes of Ruddy and Defoe just to give them the experience of a major tournament.

Goalkeepers: Hart, Forster, Butland

Defenders: Jagielka, Cahill, Smalling, Jones, Johnson, Walker, Baines, Cole

Midfielders: Carrick, Gerrard, Wilshere, Cleverley, Barkley, Chamberlain, Walcott, Townsend

Strikers: Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck, Berahino

I really hope Berahino can keep up this level of performance so we can take him. He is a bit different than the others. Can prove out to be a hidden weapon or something like Owen did back in the days.


Lack of Defensive midfielders or even Registas is a bit concerning.

Gerrard has done pretty well playing the Arteta role but i am not sure if he can do it against the likes of Ozil or Iniesta.

I am certain Roy would play Gerrard-Carrick together which i am not too fond of but it's probably more defensive than anything else. We can try Gerrard-Wilshere-Barkley in the next friendly to see how that works.

Squad to face Chile and Germany:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, John Ruddy, Fraser Forster

Defenders: Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Glen Johnson, Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole, Kieran Gibbs

Midfielders: Michael Carrick, Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Tom Cleverley, Jack Wilshere, Ross Barkley, James Milner, Andros Townsend, Adam Lallana

Strikers: Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez, Jermain Defoe, Danny Welbeck

Good to see Jay Rodriguez

Finally Hendo gets called up ffs

I hope Carrick and Cleverley getting called up means their fit enough to play on Sunday.

Also, interested in seeing Lallana get some minutes for England.

ffs England, Start Ricky Lambert

England team v Chile: Forster; Johnson, Baines, Cahill, Jones; Milner, Wilshere, Lampard (C), Lallana; Rooney, Rodriguez.

I called Forster starting in September

England beaten by a very English goal.

So what do we think boys

uruguay are world beaters according to GL

Chill, you lot will have home advantage.specially vs Uruguay

You guys will qualify,calling it here