Football 2014/15

[ThomThomDrum]

Well the Dons are milking this

Edited August 28, 2014 by ThomThomDrum

[dentalplan]

dreadful squad named by Hodgson too, no surprise there.

Picture on the BBC site says it all...

Mind you it's interesting that there was always plenty saying that Gerrard, Lampard, Cole etc. were dragging the team down and they should let the youth come through. Now they're all gone and it's the worst squad in years according to some.

[mrtourette]

It;s the wrong youngsters though. Danny Rose fer crissakes.

[thetime]

Cleverly to villa for 8m...

[The Nal]

Cleverly to villa for 8m...

Utd are paying Villa 8m?

[Gucci Piggy]

Forget injuries, though, and you've got Shaw back in for Rose and Walcott in for Delph/Colback. Maybe more that I've forgotten?

Edit: Also Gibbs is injured. Rose would be 4th choice at left back.

Edited August 28, 2014 by Will-2609

[eFestivals]

Maybe more that I've forgotten?

Flanagan?

I think he's currently injured (tho I'm not certain).

Edited August 28, 2014 by eFestivals

[dentalplan]

I thought Dier and Clyne would make the team but that wouldn't have shaken the team up that much. Choices become clearer as the season goes on anyway.

[thetime]

Utd are paying Villa 8m?

Kagawa going to Dortmund as well.

[Gucci Piggy]

Flanagan?

I think he's currently injured (tho I'm not certain).

Ah yes, was just talking about him with my brother as well. At least Johnson's not in the squad.

[pink_triangle]

Although Mackay has only really failed with one club (and he wasn't even given the chance to properly fail), while Warnock has made an arse of himself at multiple clubs.

Not really a fair comparison, if mackay has warnocks longevity, it's likely he will chalk up failures as well.

[pink_triangle]

Hmmm, he doesn't run a whole lot. Never did. Hes a sublime passer. He could still do that for another 3-4 years easily?

You bring in Alonso and you have to reduce Gerrards role in the squad, that's not going to happen.

[kaosmark2]

Lallana's not in.

Despite the club he's at, I wouldn't be surprised if Rodwell gets back into the England setup over the next year. I think he's got some talent and first team action will do him good.

How the hell Townsend is still in I don't know. It's ages since he had a half-decent game. Even Lennon's been better this last year. I'd have given Nathan Dyer a punt myself, he's been good for Swansea the past couple of years.

Chambers being drafted in so soon after signing for Arsenal is just crazy. Over Shawcross? Yes he looks a talent but Shawcross has several years of Prem experience albeit with some brutal tackles.

Colback's been decent for us, but yeah, his inclusion highlights a complete lack of options. The reliance on Gerrard and Lampard was because there wasn't anyone better, despite their massive underachievement for country.

[pink_triangle]

Utd are paying Villa 8m?

I think that's decent business. Many similar players have gone for more. He won't ever be a world beater, but could be a solid premiership player.

[Gucci Piggy]

Lallana's not in.

Despite the club he's at, I wouldn't be surprised if Rodwell gets back into the England setup over the next year. I think he's got some talent and first team action will do him good.

How the hell Townsend is still in I don't know. It's ages since he had a half-decent game. Even Lennon's been better this last year. I'd have given Nathan Dyer a punt myself, he's been good for Swansea the past couple of years.

Chambers being drafted in so soon after signing for Arsenal is just crazy. Over Shawcross? Yes he looks a talent but Shawcross has several years of Prem experience albeit with some brutal tackles.

Colback's been decent for us, but yeah, his inclusion highlights a complete lack of options. The reliance on Gerrard and Lampard was because there wasn't anyone better, despite their massive underachievement for country.

Isn't Lallana injured?

I agree with Chambers' inclusion. What's the good in picking Shawcross? Chances are Chambers will be in the squad for the Euros, and so we may as well get him playing now. If we can maybe stop the public calling for young players' heads after a couple of not-great performances, it shouldn't adversely affect his development.

[kaosmark2]

Isn't Lallana injured?

I agree with Chambers' inclusion. What's the good in picking Shawcross? Chances are Chambers will be in the squad for the Euros, and so we may as well get him playing now. If we can maybe stop the public calling for young players' heads after a couple of not-great performances, it shouldn't adversely affect his development.

"Not fully fit" to be precise, but yeah. He'll be back in in the next squad.

The media and public will never stop that without a humongous cultural shift. Shawcross has been consistently one of the better Prem centre-halves in the past 4 years, Chambers has got in because a big club are taking a punt on him. Even Arsene's misjudged players, Aliadiere, Bentdner, Senderos. 6 months down the line if he's still not looking out of place, then yes, take him, but he's had very few professional games at any level and he shouldn't be in full internatoinsl yet.

[pink_triangle]

I don't watch England outside tournaments, but if Townsend has performed in an England shirt, I think he deserves to be picked.

[pink_triangle]

The common consensus (im not as convinced) is that Gerrard is a very good captain. The fact is when captaining England, they were no better or worse than if anyone else captained. The same will be true for Rooney. I have read that only in England is the announcement of a new captain big news, are the rest of the world wrong? When I look at France, Italy and Spanish world cup teams (and probably in a few years Germany) , I struggle to remember the captain as there were leaders all over the pitch

[eFestivals]

I don't watch England outside tournaments, but if Townsend has performed in an England shirt, I think he deserves to be picked.

Perhaps you're right.

I've thought him a below-average player in the Prem (in what I've seen of him), but he's had some more-decent games for England.

It shows how low the choices are sinking, i'd say.

[Gucci Piggy]

Good group for Liverpool. Should hey through.

In the rehearsal they got something like Real Madrid, Juve and Monaco.

[pink_triangle]

Good group for Liverpool. Should hey through.

In the rehearsal they got something like Real Madrid, Juve and Monaco.

They should do, but I think basle are a decent side.

[eFestivals]

They should do, but I think basle are a decent side.

and I think they've done Liverpool in the not too distant past, haven't they?

[eFestivals]

Angel Di Maria says he has joined Manchester United to "win many trophies"

Disappointment awaits.

[kaosmark2]

Chelsea - Schalke again, City - Bayern again, Arsenal - Dortmund again.....

Exact same UK-Germany pairings as last time. How boring.

I actually think Basel are more difficult in the group stage than Juventus. People tend to underestimate them, and the Italian sides are all pretty weak atm.

Not easy for City. They SHOULD be strong enough to get through but CSKA and Roma will both be tough places to go.

[Andre91]

I've been saying for years that Shawcross needs to be in the England team, I think he's a brilliant CB. It's mind boggling why he doesn't get picked. Unless it's because he plays for Stoke... I'm joking. But seriously, Roy needs to start including him, especially over Smalling and Jones.

Edited August 28, 2014 by Andre91