England's penchant for folly selections!!

[Rockman]

England's strikers are probably as good as previous..
Personally,I think the striking difference is elsewhere,a younger GerrardandLampard have played alongside mich better teammates.
On you list,Welbeck sticks out like a sore thumb especially when the theme is history.

[Stonigut]

Not calling for Terry just saying that we need a player with his type of intelligence and play with more athleticism to play the England dm position, There are no Mascheranos out there.

[Assasin]

yeah, I would call for a "pele type" fi the reggaeboyzs too.

The fact is not many like him. Who is the "Terry type" other than John himself?

[Karl]

Got you. ...would use Wilshire only when there is absolutely no other player walking to fulfill on-the-field aggregation. Mind you from a selfish GUNNERS stance I wish he would play every game as he must learn at the end that quick passing of the ball is a GOOD THING!!!

...but being realistic, Sterling is ten times the player Wilshire currently is. Sterling should be used to double as winger/striker and midfielder sitting behind 3 up front...i.e. Sterling's best use as each game...and also as 'the game' I.e. current game demands.

[Stonigut]

Go back and read the thread, I said England does not have a good dm and there is a need to convert a good defender to play the role, I also indicated my perfect dm was fast, furious a good interceptor, tackler and passer in a counter attack mode, I suggested JT may fit some of those points and not that he was the one, I suggested that in a time of scarcity where there are no choices he would be a good choice out of the few alternatives available. Jt at dm in a 4-5-1 behind Gerrard I will take that over Gerard running at dm in a 4-4-2 with wellbeck, lampard and Barkley inside that midfield quartet.

[Assasin]

It would have been better if you say carry Barry to rhatid. He is a better defensive mid than JT would ever be.

[Stonigut]

There are probably multiple good dm's in every pro league, there is only one pele across billions, not a good comparison.

[Stonigut]

Karl, want to see wilshire as a dm not as a attacking midfielder. Read this, this is what I am thinking and he needs to stay home and support back four and b the transition man in the counter attack.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...-the-world-cup

[Stonigut]

Yow, is just an idea, I don't really care who it is, actually just want someone combative, fast and a good passer, jt has two of the three, England need the xtra help with the second dm covering Gerard and allowing him more room to create from deep.

[Karl]

Karl, want to see wilshire as a dm not as a attacking midfielder. Read this, this is what I am thinking and he needs to stay home and support back four and b the transition man in the counter attack.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...-the-world-cup

Wonderful article, Stoni.
It is not about the current Jack Wilshire...but about the Wilshire we had hoped Wenger had developed. A figment of the writer's imagine and ours. ...but wouldn't be wonderful if that transformation took place?

Incidentally, Sterling played the part of a great link-up man whenever Liverpool used him at the "V" behind Suarez and Sturridge (sitting just behind Suarez and Sturridge). I am thinking that Sterling is a superior option to Wilshire.

[Assasin]

you run the danger of having 3 center halves when you only need two, giving up space in the midfield if the person is not a true defensive mid. Is Terry passing good enough in Midfield? Does he understand the role or under pressure will drop back to what he has been doing for his life? In midfield also first touch has to be better and your mind have to be on controlling the game.

[Stonigut]

Upside of having cover for Gerrard and extra protection and rotation for centre halves and rb is a great advantage in a grind ball situation, Gerard and Johnson are standout weak points for England, so playing a flat four versus excellent opposition is foolhardy when Gerard as a dm is really just a way to increase his effectiveness from organizing the attack from deep, it is not his defensive prowess. I don't care if is terry or jerry, but terry brings the distinction of being an excellent defensive player and also an excellent strategist in terms of leading perhaps the best defensive unit in club football on a day in day out basis, you can't buy that type of knowledge, his stats also show that he has a very high pass completion rate. His knowledge, intelligence and defensive prowess would add value to what England is trying to do and truth is england doesn't have anybody better even though he terry is as slow as molasses.

[Assasin]

you realize the defensive mid is totally different from the center half right?

An example is Yaya Toure is an excellent defensive mid, but is is a center half??? Same thing goes for Terry. You can't just plug someone at this level it is just a big risk.

[Stonigut]

I think many people overthink this ball thing, a good center half and defensive mid should be interchangeable in my system, same way I expect all midfield attackers to be able to interchange all the way through striker, to create an advantage you must build greater flexibility in players.

You see this with a guy like bale, he can play lb, left flank and he can play striker. Lamb from Germany can play rb, dm, am same with Schweinsteiger.

Baines can also play lb, dm, left mid flank, possibly even am. These guys are primo athletes and their advantages can be flexed to create confusion and create new value.

[Assasin]

how many players like Bale and Lamm you have at the top Level?