Allardyce's first England squad

[WaspInWales]

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).

No Barkely or Wilshere. Not really sure how Barkley has fallen out of favour for England. He didn't get to kick the ball in France so was one of the few players to get back to England with his reputation intact and he has been in good form so far this season.

No Rashford as he's with the U21's even though he has been capped for the seniors already and looks capable.

It looks like we're stuck with Rooney as captain fantastic and midfield maestro rolled into one.

[Galfon]

Can't see this lot running away with the group like wot woy's boys dun.Scotland should be above Eng. after the first round.

[Stom]

I think there's a decent team in there, but I do think some selections stink it up a bit...

Honestly, considering our spine all play similar systems (Clyne/Walker, Dier, Henderson, Lallana, Kane, Sturridge, Alli), I would so pick a system to fit.

I would prefer a team like:

Forster (Butland when fit)
Clyne
Stones
Cahill
Shaw
Dier
Henderson
Alli (Rooney)
Sterling
Lallana (Wallcott)
Kane

But I imagine we'll get the bracket players). It may be just 2 changes, but they make a big, big change, imo.

[WaspInWales]

As with most England squads in recent years, there's a 'decent' team in them all.

[belgarion]

Well finally got my wish regards Wilshere but disappointed Barkley & Rashford not there. In a way
can understand Rashford but as he was the only bright spot at the Euro's wish he was with the Seniors not U21s.

Will be interesting to see if Sam stays with Rooney in MF or plays him up front as Jose doesn't see him as a
MFer

[WaspInWales]

Former England captain Terry Butcher says Ross Barkley's omission from the England squad is a "wake-up call" for the 22-year-old.

"He is a special player but obviously this will be a wake-up call for him," Butcher tells BBC Radio 5 live. "Danny Drinkwater coming back in probably means Jamie Vardy starts up front."

A wake-up call? I'm all for wake-up calls and I'd understand it if his form was poor but he's playing great football. Maybe the 'wake-up call' should be for Kane or Alli as neither have been that great so far this season. That would be a wake up call. In fact, Sturridge, Kane and Vardy have one league goal between them but they all get the nod.

Not sure on Jags being selected. I was calling for him to be in the Euros squad purely for his experience but at 34, he's unlikely to feature in any tournaments, so his inclusion now is a little baffling.

[WaspInWales]

Well finally got my wish regards Wilshere but disappointed Barkley & Rashford not there. In a way
can understand Rashford but as he was the only bright spot at the Euro's wish he was with the Seniors not U21s.

Will be interesting to see if Sam stays with Rooney in MF or plays him up front as Jose doesn't see him as a
MFer

From the horses mouth:
"Wayne Rooney's position has changed at Manchester United and that is where I will play him. Shall we call him an attacking midfielder?"

[belgarion]

Well finally got my wish regards Wilshere but disappointed Barkley & Rashford not there. In a way
can understand Rashford but as he was the only bright spot at the Euro's wish he was with the Seniors not U21s.

Will be interesting to see if Sam stays with Rooney in MF or plays him up front as Jose doesn't see him as a
MFer

From the horses mouth:
"Wayne Rooney's position has changed at Manchester United and that is where I will play him. Shall we call him an attacking midfielder?"

Yep. But at the Euro's he played in central midfield, an attacking MF is usually further forward not practically playing in your own
half which was what he was doing a lot at the Euro's

[Stom]

Former England captain Terry Butcher says Ross Barkley's omission from the England squad is a "wake-up call" for the 22-year-old.

"He is a special player but obviously this will be a wake-up call for him," Butcher tells BBC Radio 5 live. "Danny Drinkwater coming back in probably means Jamie Vardy starts up front."

A wake-up call? I'm all for wake-up calls and I'd understand it if his form was poor but he's playing great football. Maybe the 'wake-up call' should be for Kane or Alli as neither have been that great so far this season. That would be a wake up call. In fact, Sturridge, Kane and Vardy have one league goal between them but they all get the nod.

Not sure on Jags being selected. I was calling for him to be in the Euros squad purely for his experience but at 34, he's unlikely to feature in any tournaments, so his inclusion now is a little baffling.

So who would you have instead?

Gibson from Boro?
Keane from Burnley?
Dann from Palace?
Francis from Bournemouth?
Shawcross?
Holding, Mr 2 games for Arsenal?
Or Curtis Davies?

We don't have riches at CB. Of those listed, only Gibson MAY get a chance at international level (or Holding in 3-4 years).

I think it's reasonable to pick Jags for now.

[WaspInWales]

John Terry ftw!

I'd pick Shawcross ahead of Jags but you're right we're hardly blessed for options.


Sent from my SM-N920G using Tapatalk

[WaspInWales]

Yep. But at the Euro's he played in central midfield, an attacking MF is usually further forward not practically playing in your own
half which was what he was doing a lot at the Euro's

I'm not sure what Rooney was doing in the Euros. He played as an extra defender for much of the tournament. No doubt, this was his attempt to be seen as a team player but I think it was at odds with what he was supposed to be doing. I get the feeling Woy saw him as a playmaker. An English Pirlo if you will. I still can't see it myself.

I kinda get the feeling that Big Sam sees Rooney as a playmaker too. One that he doesn't want to see as a defensive midfielder but no doubt, one that we will see again.

He's confirmed as England captain. No real surprise there but it means England are stuck with him for a couple more years which no doubt pisses on Barkley's chances somewhat.

[Stom]

Yep. But at the Euro's he played in central midfield, an attacking MF is usually further forward not practically playing in your own
half which was what he was doing a lot at the Euro's

I'm not sure what Rooney was doing in the Euros. He played as an extra defender for much of the tournament. No doubt, this was his attempt to be seen as a team player but I think it was at odds with what he was supposed to be doing. I get the feeling Woy saw him as a playmaker. An English Pirlo if you will. I still can't see it myself.

I kinda get the feeling that Big Sam sees Rooney as a playmaker too. One that he doesn't want to see as a defensive midfielder but no doubt, one that we will see again.

He's confirmed as England captain. No real surprise there but it means England are stuck with him for a couple more years which no doubt pisses on Barkley's chances somewhat.

Big Sam sees Rooney as a second striker. Much like Mourinho sees him. He will play off a more physically imposing player (Kane/Ibra), with skillful wide players who can cut inside or hang up a cross (Mata, Martial/Sterling, errr...Antonio?), and will aim to do two things:

1) Give a link between the forwards and the (defensive) midfield
2) Arrive late in the box to both get on the end of crosses and pull defenders away from others.

We may not play ball on the floor, possession football under Big Sam, but we'll play effective football, which probably plays more to our collective strengths. We may have a few good passers and runners (Wilshere, Barkley, Sterling, Alli) who can play possession football, but our player pool is more suited to a traditional English up and at em approach. Hard working midfielders, quick wingers, physical forwards.

[WaspInWales]

Big Sam sees Rooney as a second striker. Much like Mourinho sees him. He will play off a more physically imposing player (Kane/Ibra), with skillful wide players who can cut inside or hang up a cross (Mata, Martial/Sterling, errr...Antonio?), and will aim to do two things:

1) Give a link between the forwards and the (defensive) midfield
2) Arrive late in the box to both get on the end of crosses and pull defenders away from others.

We may not play ball on the floor, possession football under Big Sam, but we'll play effective football, which probably plays more to our collective strengths. We may have a few good passers and runners (Wilshere, Barkley, Sterling, Alli) who can play possession football, but our player pool is more suited to a traditional English up and at em approach. Hard working midfielders, quick wingers, physical forwards.

Makes sense and time will tell if that's the case.

I think we'll still see the same old Rooney. Loads of running and very little end product (bar the occasional penalty).

[WaspInWales]

Expected England XI against Slovakia:
Hart
Walker Cahill Stones Rose
Henderson Dier
Sterling Rooney Lallana
Kane

8 players who started against Iceland. Clean slate definitely welcomed by Hart, Sterling, Rooney and Kane who were all shit throughout the Euros.

[WaspInWales]

Kane is just ineffective in an England shirt.

He's missed a great chance....completely missed the ball. He's lost the ball far too easily at times.

That said, he looked a little unlucky just now. Seemed to get away from Skrtel who had already been booked and looked to have fouled Kane. England didn't even get a free kick!

Rooney is playing just as I thought he would. Far too deep, trying to touch the ball more than any other player so his passing stats look solid.

Hart has made a brain fart but thankfully it didn't lead to a goal.

Stones has wobbled.

Sterling looks petulant.

Lallana has been ok.

Big Sam definitely hasn't got a magic wand.

[WaspInWales]

Never in doubt!

Painful to watch at times but This Is England.

[Galfon]

....errm.
brought some luck - he'll be happy enough with a 95th. minute winner.

[canta_brian]

And so another 2 year cycle of misplaced hope begins.

[WaspInWales]

And so another 2 year cycle of misplaced hope begins.

There is no hope. Scotland are running away with it!

When it comes to England and football, hope is not an feeling that I would associate with the words. I'm still very much in the anger stage and honestly cannot see that changing in the next two years.

[WaspInWales]

I think we'll still see the same old Rooney. Loads of running and very little end product (bar the occasional penalty).

Big Sam on Rooney:

it's not for me to say where to play Wayne Rooney

adding that

he did play a little deeper than I thought he'd play today

Called it!

What kinda coach admits he has no control over his players???

First game under Allardyce and I'm incredibly underwhelmed. I see no change in the England pattern and Sterling, Rooney, Kane, Stones and Henderson all failed to impress. For some daft reason Stones is rated as 7, the same as Lallana on the BBC ratings article. The lad went forward well a couple of times, but stumbled (literally, as well as figuratively) in defence.

It seems successive England managers see Rooney as a playmaker. I still can't see it. He's a player that is capable of making routine passes to unmarked players on the same team.

[jared_7]

I think we'll still see the same old Rooney. Loads of running and very little end product (bar the occasional penalty).

Big Sam on Rooney:

it's not for me to say where to play Wayne Rooney

adding that

he did play a little deeper than I thought he'd play today

Called it!

What kinda coach admits he has no control over his players???

First game under Allardyce and I'm incredibly underwhelmed. I see no change in the England pattern and Sterling, Rooney, Kane, Stones and Henderson all failed to impress. For some daft reason Stones is rated as 7, the same as Lallana on the BBC ratings article. The lad went forward well a couple of times, but stumbled (literally, as well as figuratively) in defence.

It seems successive England managers see Rooney as a playmaker. I still can't see it. He's a player that is capable of making routine passes to unmarked players on the same team.

Thats the crux of it. He's no longer the best striker so people just assume he can, or want him to, drop back one and be as successful as he was a while ago in the peak of his career. But he is not a playmaker, he doesn't have the vision or the technical skill of a true number 10, he is simply a hard working team player. At the moment he looks best suited to replacing someone like a Jordan Henderson, a similar "trier", but even then his position is under pressure from Alli.

Albert Einstein - "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

Funnily enough I do wonder, however, whether Dire Sam's tactics - if he sticks to them of course - will make qualifying more difficult but may actually be better suited to the World Cup when they get there. Defensive football can win tournaments, quite simply with the lack of talent at England's disposal they are never going to outplay about a dozen teams on the ball, why bother?

[cashead]

Looks like it could be his last. lololololol

[Stom]

Looks like it could be his last. lololololol

Also, will Pullis be implicated because of some of his dodgy dealings (Chester, for instance).

[WaspInWales]

Can't imagine much will come of this. Slap on the wrist, perhaps a formal warning or something like that.

Would be funny if Sam was sacked or resigned though...but it would stop being funny when Gary Neville is given the job!

[Stom]

Can't imagine much will come of this. Slap on the wrist, perhaps a formal warning or something like that.

Would be funny if Sam was sacked or resigned though...but it would stop being funny when Gary Neville is given the job!

Rumours are that Arsenal have lined up Eddie Howe...but what if England got in there first? Would be interesting...