The Three Lions

What does everyone think of taking Flanagan to the WC over Johnson or Walker?

RealGunner wrote:What does everyone think of taking Flanagan to the WC over Johnson or Walker?

They do? No way.

No it's my suggestion/question. Not that Roy is doing it.

Oh, I misread "what" for "why"...

No, Flanagan isn't good enough to be in the England team. Too limited on the ball and makes some defensive misjudgements.

Do you think a better manager would have made England favorite/feared in WC14!!! Only their back-line looks susceptible, but the midfield & attack has some awesome quality & cover.

iftikhar wrote:Do you think a better manager would have made England favorite/feared in WC14!!! Only their back-line looks susceptible, but the midfield & attack has some awesome quality & cover.

England's problem has never been about individuals imo . then again, i can't figure out the problem.

Hodgson, 66, insists that, barring injury, his mind is made up and he will not be swayed by recent peaks and troughs in form.

Referring to the make-up of his squad, Hodgson told the Football Association's website: "I've known for a while."

Hodgson has ruled out the likelihood that anyone will have made a late surge into the squad and he looks set to stick with the majority of those who helped England qualify for the tournament.

Is he right or wrong to apparently have made his mind up about the squad a while ago? Form is a pretty deciding factor at club level, the better you play, the more game time you'll get. And when you're in a slump you end up on the bench more easily.

It's definitely wrong. He probably decided to take Townsend to the WC 8 months ago when he had that 2 week of good form. He has been atrocious since then not to mention injured half the time.

On the other hand, Wickham has been in very good form lately. Would even say that he has been more productive than Townsend ever was.

Not saying Wickham should go but Hodgson needs to be open minded.

Ashley Young as been shite all year, so hopefully that means he has decided not to take him lol

Hasn't Flanagan mostly played at LB anyway?

Hart
Johnson
Cahill
Call Terry back, but it won't happen so Jagielka.
Baines/Shaw/Cole/Gibbs.
Gerrard/Carrick.
Wilshere, but he probably won't start, so Henderson.
Barkley.
Sturridge/Welbeck.
Rooney/Rodriguez.
Sterling/Lallana/Walcott?

i'd say Ox over Welbz based on form this year...but Welbeck has a tendency to put in good performances for England

I think Townsend's latest injury means he's not available anyway.

But it's a little harsh if someone like Barkley won't even be considered. Especially if Hodgson's "mind made up a while ago" means that Lampard is going. He played almost every Chelsea (PL) game until New Year but hasn't featured much after that and I don't see what he would bring to the England team that it hasn't already got.

I'm also in two minds about Smalling and Phil Jones. Hodgson's comments make it seem that at least one of them are going, but I would even take Flanagan as full-back when based on 2014 form or two or three CBs before them, even after Cahill and Jagielka, I mean.

Smalling deserves to go, opinions about him this season have been based on games at RB, which he clearly isn't, and it's unfair. He's performed well whenever he's been at CB, his natural position.

Yeah, well, it just doesn't fill me up with confidence in him when he has been used so sparingly as a CB this season. On the other hand the competition for CB places in the England team is at a pretty low point, so maybe he's the best choice after all.

if Barkley isn't there Hodgson needs to GTFO

B-Mac wrote:if Barkley isn't there Hodgson needs to GTFO

To me, it depends who will be in Barkley's place if he doesn't make the cut. If Hodgson wants to take an extra striker to have more options, I'm okay with that. If it's going to be Lampard, then it's stupid.

so Lampard it is then?

Lamps just behind Rooney, goals galore

Who actually knows what the Owl means by "made his mind up a while ago". Wouldn't surprise me if he meant a few years ago. The Brave Scotty Parker anchoring that midfield so that Gerrard can keep on marauding up the pitch for 90 minutes.

I think Gareth Barry should get called up, but I doubt he will

If Johnson goes, it would be a travesty. Been terrible for the past however many years. Calum Chambers and Flanno both >>>>

Busby Babe wrote:I think Gareth Barry should get called up, but I doubt he will

He's made a case for himself, but if Garrick gets picked, having both of them would seem somewhat needless since Gerrard will be starting anyway and neither of those two should be starting with him, imo, that would make the midfield just too immobile.

Carrick has been pretty shite this year....nowhere near his form of the past 2 years...he doesn't deserve to be there based on this years form imo

Tell that to Hodgson whose mind won't be swayed by recent form   

Yeah, Carrick shouldn't get called up based on this season.

Hodgson, did say something about Man Utd players not getting called up though.

Link

Charming....