England team 2016 and 2018

[Bryn]

4-2-3-1 looked a really poor fit for us, thoroughly agree with that Wookie.

[Stadt]

4-2-3-1 looked a really poor fit for us, thoroughly agree with that Wookie.

We can't continue to half-adopt what everybody else was successful with 2 or 4 years ago, we need our own ideas.

We have pace out wide and we're poor defensively so I reckon we need to play on the counter more often.

[Bryn]

We can't continue to half-adopt what everybody else was successful with 2 or 4 years ago, we need our own ideas.

We have pace out wide and we're poor defensively so I reckon we need to play on the counter more often.

This is what thought before the tournament. As a nation we're blessed with hard ***** and fast as **** black kids, sod trying to play tiki-taka possession football until the infrastructure is in place from grassroots upwards to support it, stick 10 men behind the ball and break with the ridiculous pace we have up front.

[Stadt]

This is what thought before the tournament. As a nation we're blessed with hard ***** and fast as **** black kids, sod trying to play tiki-taka possession football until the infrastructure is in place from grassroots upwards to support it, stick 10 men behind the ball and break with the ridiculous pace we have up front.

Absolute weapons like POTM wouldn't accept it though

[Grandad.]

I'm not being anti-Leicester, and maybe they could prove me wrong but I doubt Matty James or Danny Drinkwater will either be going to Euro 2016 or the World Cup in 2018, I would happily have the big pie in my face if it meant they were top performers in the Premier League or abroad but right now I can't see it, same with Liam Moore, again wouldn't mind being proven wrong.

I'll have a stab at what I think the side will be.

Euro 2016..

Hart

Jones -- Cahill -- Stones -- Shaw

Henderson -- Wilshire

Sterling -- Barkley -- Welbeck

Sturridge

Subs: Gerrard, Rooney, The Ox, Walcott and co.

We all know if Hodgson is still in charge then Welbeck and the dreaded 4-2-3-1 will still be in place.

World Cup 2018..

Hart

Jones -- ?? -- Stones -- Shaw

Wilshire -- Ward-Prowse

Sterling -- Barkley -- The Ox

??

Subs: Rooney, Welbeck, Sturridge, Walcott and co.

We'll have a new manager in place by then (hopefully), and Danny Welbeck will just be a squad member by then, can't see the 4-2-3-1 going though. Them question marks are for unknowns, I think in 4 years there will be a new promising centre half and striker on their top form to lead us at a major tournament.

[Dan]

I bet you'd have said the same about Lallana and Lambert as well though Grandad. Don't get me wrong it's easy as Leicester fans to get carried away with their form but I think the fact they're pretty young, the fact they're improving a fair bit as players and the fact England are going through a pretty weak point makes it all the more possible. Saying that, I'd only want them in the team if they were assets for the country. I'd be proud if I saw Leicester players in England's side but I wouldn't hope they got picked if they did nothing for England.

I agree that 4-2-3-1 needs to go. Not sure what I'd play in its place though. Would it be stupid of me to suggest 3-5-2 of some form? Just a thought.

I've mentioned this one before - is Kieran Trippier as good as he's made out to be? I've not seen enough of him but he's extremely highly rated. Could he be our answer at right back?

[Grantham Fox]

As everyone is saying, seemingly impossible to predict it so far away. But...

Euro 2016

Hart

Jones

Stones

Cahill

Shaw

Henderson

Wilshere

Walcott

Rooney

Ox

Sturridge

World Cup 2018

Hart

Jones/Chambers

Stones

Caulker

Shaw

Henderson/Ward Prowse

Wilshere

Walcott/Sterling

Barkley

Ox

Sturridge

Maybe Wisdom is another shout for RB with Chambers, with Jones in CB...

That's taking age, current abilities/potential that is available at this time. IMO!

[Grandad.]

I bet you'd have said the same about Lallana and Lambert as well though Grandad. Don't get me wrong it's easy as Leicester fans to get carried away with their form but I think the fact they're pretty young, the fact they're improving a fair bit as players and the fact England are going through a pretty weak point makes it all the more possible. Saying that, I'd only want them in the team if they were assets for the country. I'd be proud if I saw Leicester players in England's side but I wouldn't hope they got picked if they did nothing for England.

I agree that 4-2-3-1 needs to go. Not sure what I'd play in its place though. Would it be stupid of me to suggest 3-5-2 of some form? Just a thought.

I've mentioned this one before - is Kieran Trippier as good as he's made out to be? I've not seen enough of him but he's extremely highly rated. Could he be our answer at right back?

Lallana is in there because he is technically a fantastic footballer, Lambert? Probably went to the World Cup only because he has had a better season than Andy Carroll, if Carroll had any sort of form towards the end of the season I believe he would of gone to the World Cup, Hodgson really likes Carroll. Even though we have signed Lambert and he is a good plan B for us, I don't believe he is England quality either.

3-5-2 only works if you are disciplined and you persist with the formation, be very easy to play the formation once, lose and then say it's not working then go back to 4-4-2, happens so much in modern day football with this set up.

Can't say I have ever seen Kieran Trippier play.

[Manwell Pablo]

There are reasons to be optimistic there have been changes made in the last 4 years at youth level and as a result our U17's were crowned European Champions this year. Hopefully the real improvement will be seen when kids start coming through in ten years. I still think blaming the Premeir League is the biggest cop out ever. The Bundesliga is hardly exclusively German.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I'm not being anti-Leicester, and maybe they could prove me wrong but I doubt Matty James or Danny Drinkwater will either be going to Euro 2016 or the World Cup in 2018, I would happily have the big pie in my face if it meant they were top performers in the Premier League or abroad but right now I can't see it, same with Liam Moore, again wouldn't mind being proven wrong.

I think Drinkwater is the one that genuinely could mate, James to a lesser extent but he'll definitely be sniffing. When Southampton went up a in 11/12 ago it was blindingly obvious that Lallana was too good for that division (despite us doing the double over them) and it almost mirrored Drinkwater last season.

Obviously nobody can say for certain how well these players will adapt to the Premier League but if I was a betting man I'd put a fiver on Danny Drinkwater winning an England cap (at the very least) within two seasons, considering where England are at the minute and how imperious he was last season (albeit in the second tier), I don't think it's an unrealistic shout.

[foxes_rule1978]

There are reasons to be optimistic there have been changes made in the last 4 years at youth level and as a result our U17's were crowned European Champions this year. Hopefully the real improvement will be seen when kids start coming through in ten years. I still think blaming the Premeir League is the biggest cop out ever. The Bundesliga is hardly exclusively German.

We have won such tournaments before, the problem is unlike Spain, Germany etc .... our players don't progress and make that step up together.

The current German squad, over half who started most games came up together and had won the U21 championships, they already had a great understanding. We just don't seem to get that, I can almost guarantee that 99% of those players struggle to break through amongst the foreign players in the PL.

[Manwell Pablo]

We have won such tournaments before, the problem is unlike Spain, Germany etc .... our players don't progress and make that step up together.

The current German squad, over half who started most games came up together and had won the U21 championships, they already had a great understanding. We just don't seem to get that, I can almost guarantee that 99% of those players struggle to break through amougst the foreign players in the PL.

I'm not so sure to be honest, there are a lot of players at clubs that actually still look to develop English talent properly, Liverpool, Southampton, West Ham. and ourselves. Also quite a few currently at Championship sides. Not a Chelsea or Arsenal player in site and only one Man City,

[Captain...]

I think the first thing we need to do is decide how we want to play in 2016, if we are going to stick with 4231 then we need to be playing that formation at all levels of the national game, and decide what our plan B is, England need to accept that we aren't the best in the world and we may need to change our game against better sides for more of a counter attacking game.

Secondly we need to identify the players that can play in those positions and not pick someone totally unsuitable to this style, such as Andy Carroll.

Third we need to get a squad of good young promising players together and get them playing in that formation regularly and utilizing the squad in friendlies, it is crazy that someone like Shaw didn't make his debut until the just before the World Cup.

We need to say goodbye to anyone who isn't going to be at there best in 2016, sorry Gerrard but that means you.

We need to get the likes of Andros Townsend, Lallana, Sterling, Sturridge, Jones, Shaw, Barkley all playing regularly all going into Euro 2016 knowing exactly what their role is in the chosen formation and how to play it. Obviously you can't legislate for injuries and serious loss of form, but we need to identify the players to play in the formation we want to and not fit a formation around our "best" players.

So what formation and style do we pick? The biggest conundrum is Rooney and I think we either need to decide on a formation to get the best out of him make him captain and play him in his best position or sack him off for the good of the team if he can't perform how we want to play.

[Stadt]

I think Drinkwater is the one that genuinely could mate, James to a lesser extent but he'll definitely be sniffing. When Southampton went up a in 11/12 ago it was blindingly obvious that Lallana was too good for that division (despite us doing the double over them) and it almost mirrored Drinkwater last season.

Obviously nobody can say for certain how well these players will adapt to the Premier League but if I was a betting man I'd put a fiver on Danny Drinkwater winning an England cap (at the very least) within two seasons, considering where England are at the minute and how imperious he was last season (albeit in the second tier), I don't think it's an unrealistic shout.

Agreed, as fantastic as James is I think he'll go unnoticed by everybody else whereas Drinkwater and his stars mean others will take notice. DD is the same age as when Lallana and Southampton were promoted as well.

[AyewJoking]

Probably wont qualify for 2016 or 2018.

I heard we were down to 20th in fifa rankings, I dont know if the rankings apply for the Euro's but surely we will have one or two better teams than us in qualifying so maybe we'll finally know what its like to be Wales.

[foxes_rule1978]

Probably wont qualify for 2016 or 2018.

I heard we were down to 20th in fifa rankings, I dont know if the rankings apply for the Euro's but surely we will have one or two better teams than us in qualifying so maybe we'll finally know what its like to be Wales.

We have already been placed in our euro 2016 qualification group... It is a pretty straight forward group as well giving that two teams can qualify and third spot is a playoff place...

[Guest MattP]

That is a very depressing side. Would even struggle to qualify in my opinion.

Think we are getting a bit carried away with Moore as well, this is a guy who couldn't get into our team last season let alone England's.

Defensively we are absolutely appalling. Tragic that Smalling is genuinely considered for the side.

[Guest Bilo]

If England don't qualify from this lot for Euro 2016, we might as well give up and start playing tiddlywinks or something.

England

Switzerland

Slovenia

Estonia

Lithuania

San Marino

Give the young uns some run outs in these games at least, that's as close to a gimme as qualifying gets.

[AyewJoking]

If England don't qualify from this lot for Euro 2016, we might as well give up and start playing tiddlywinks or something.

England

Switzerland

Slovenia

Estonia

Lithuania

San Marino

Give the young uns some run outs in these games at least, that's as close to a gimme as qualifying gets.

Given that group, we should get third place and a play-off.

[LCFC FOX]

Hart

Flanagan

Jones

Cahill

Shaw

Henderson

Wilshere

OX

Barkley

Sterling

Sturridgel

Subs

Forster

Stones

Gerrard

Rooney

Walcott

Zaha

Redmond

[Grandad.]

Well we have all had our say on how we think England will line up in 2018, he is what the so called 'experts' in the media think..

Henry Winter: Hart - Flanagan, Chambers, Stones, Shaw - Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rodwell, Wilshire, Sterling, Barkley - Sturridge

Oliver Kay: Hart - Chambers, Stones, Jones, Shaw - Barkley, Henderson, Wilshire, Roberts - Sturridge, Sterling

Martin Lipton: Butland - Chambers, Cahill, Stones, Shaw - Henderson, Onomah, Wilshire - Sterling, Sturridge, Barkley

Daniel Taylor: Darlow - Flanagan, Stones, Smalling, Shaw - Henderson, Barkley, Wilshire - Sterling, Sturridge, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Phil McNulty: Hart - Chambers, Smalling, Stones, Shaw - Henderson, Barkley, Wilshire - Sterling, Sturridge, Roberts

They all agree that Stones, Shaw, Wilshire, Sterling and Sturridge will all be in the side then, do you think if that is the case, as the majority of us have all had them in our sides that they should be playing now through this relatively weak qualifying campaign? Henderson looks like he will remain a starter, as long as his Liverpool form continues at a good standard.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Really like the thought of Callum Chambers and John Flanagan contesting the right back berth, hope the former doesn't jump ship to Arsenal just yet because he's due a huge season at Southampton. If the pair of them, Stones and Shaw all keep playing for their respective clubs (and playing well) it only really leaves Cahill and Hart as the "old boys" in defence, which - for me, is a good thing. Give them the experience of an international qualifying campaign while the group is a cakewalk.

*Who is "Roberts" in McNulty's eleven?

[Narborough_fox]

Really like the thought of Callum Chambers and John Flanagan contesting the right back berth, hope the former doesn't jump ship to Arsenal just yet because he's due a huge season at Southampton. If the pair of them, Stones and Shaw all keep playing for their respective clubs (and playing well) it only really leaves Cahill and Hart as the "old boys" in defence, which - for me, is a good thing. Give them the experience of an international qualifying campaign while the group is a cakewalk.

*Who is "Roberts" in McNulty's eleven?

Patrick Roberts at Fulham, Barcelona have been linked with him.

Most annoying thing about the line-ups posted above is that Wilshere is spelt wrong in all of them.

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

Well we have all had our say on how we think England will line up in 2018, he is what the so called 'experts' in the media think..

Henry Winter: Hart - Flanagan, Chambers, Stones, Shaw - Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rodwell, Wilshire, Sterling, Barkley - Sturridge

Oliver Kay: Hart - Chambers, Stones, Jones, Shaw - Barkley, Henderson, Wilshire, Roberts - Sturridge, Sterling

Martin Lipton: Butland - Chambers, Cahill, Stones, Shaw - Henderson, Onomah, Wilshire - Sterling, Sturridge, Barkley

Daniel Taylor: Darlow - Flanagan, Stones, Smalling, Shaw - Henderson, Barkley, Wilshire - Sterling, Sturridge, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Phil McNulty: Hart - Chambers, Smalling, Stones, Shaw - Henderson, Barkley, Wilshire - Sterling, Sturridge, Roberts

They all agree that Stones, Shaw, Wilshire, Sterling and Sturridge will all be in the side then, do you think if that is the case, as the majority of us have all had them in our sides that they should be playing now through this relatively weak qualifying campaign? Henderson looks like he will remain a starter, as long as his Liverpool form continues at a good standard.

So their combined team would be

Hart

Chambers Stones Smalling Shaw

Barkley Henderson Wilshere

Roberts Sturridge Sterling

[Stadt]

Darlow

He's just ordinary