...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 1)

[JOSEPH X]

My starting XI for the first game:

 

........................Hart........................

......................................................

...Johnson...Lescott...Terry.....Cole.....

.......................................................

...............Parker........Barry..............

.......................................................

...Oxlade........Gerrard...........Young...

.......................................................

.....................Welbeck......................

 

The lack of Richards and Carrick is pretty bad. Richards is a much more solid right-back and I wouldn't say there's a midfielder in there as good at ball retention as Carrick.

Oh god no. The only decent players in that line up at this level © Graham Taylor, are Cole and Hart. The rest are either headless chickens or 'playing for Sweden'

 

Glad to see he's taken the racist thug tho....not!

[cactus.]

Why would he take Stewart Downing? Don't get me wrong, I like the guy and recognize his talent but certainly current form would be a factor...apparently not. On the other hand, I think Oxlade-Chamberlain is a nice choice. The midfield could certainly use a player or two, at the very least, who seem interested in getting into the box.

 

I would've gone with Micah Richards over Johnson, but hey.

[SIKKS66]

My starting XI for the first game:

 

........................Hart........................

......................................................

...Johnson...Lescott...Terry.....Cole.....

.......................................................

...............Parker........Barry..............

.......................................................

...Oxlade........Gerrard...........Young...

.......................................................

.....................Welbeck......................

 

The lack of Richards and Carrick is pretty bad. Richards is a much more solid right-back and I wouldn't say there's a midfielder in there as good at ball retention as Carrick.

Oh god no. The only decent players in that line up at this level © Graham Taylor, are Cole and Hart. The rest are either headless chickens or 'playing for Sweden'

 

Glad to see he's taken the racist thug tho....not!

Hah, I can only pick from what the manager has selected. What XI would you start?

[JoeyLeone25]

Micah Richards, Adam Johnson, Aaron Lennon and Peter Crouch should all have been included. Average squad, for what will be an average tournament for England. Anything beyond the Quarter Finals should (and will) be classed as a major success for this country.

[Banks.]

Why is Downing in the squad? He is terrible! I would of liked to see Crouch in the squad since he has had a great season and always does the job for England. Andy Carroll, I'm unsure about.

 

Shame Rio isn't going. I thought he has played well this season.

[Canoxa]

England will play so defensively... I don't know how Parker and Barry play together, but I can see Gerrard easily being tied to positional duties and not having the space to create. The wings aren't looking too bad, though.

[Banks.]

If England play defensively then we won't even get out the group stage. I'm sick of watching England play boring and rubbish football. It's time we start having the balls to attack more and play with more freedom instead of playing boring players like Gareth Barry. I'm glad Hodgson is taking Chamberlain but I hope he actually plays him. I think we should start the tournament with Walcott and Young on the wings, bring Chamberlain on as a sub for the first couple of games. If he proves himself coming on as a sub then start him.

 

[GTA_stu]

Carrol lhas been in decent form as of late, and I think there is an advantage in having a big physical option up front if needed. Say what you want about pretty football but sometimes you do need a big lump, and he's got more technique than Heskey. Then again so has a baby elephant. Agree with everyone on Downing, been absolutely shocking this season and can't see the reasoning behind it.

 

Really shocked that Richards isn't in there, not even as "standby". He's been in great form this season, what else did he need to do to get in? Our attack looks a bit weak, Defoe hasn't been in any form or had a run of games. Carrol has been ok towards the end but still yet to really prove himself. I'd prefer Sturridge over Welbeck, although I'm slightly biased there as a chelsea fan. Still I think he's more versatile than Welbeck and is an option as a winger. We look very very weak without Rooney in the first team.

 

My starting 11 first game would be as follows:

 

-----------------Hart------------------

----------------------------------------

--Glen----Cahill-------JT---A cole--

---------------------------------------

-----------parker-----lampard------

---------------------------------------

--milner------gerrard-----Young---

---------------------------------------

--------------Carroll-----------------

 

 

 

 

[4 Bagger]

Surprised that Richards isn't there and Johnson has been picked. Downing is f*cking sh*t imo and Carrick would be better in midfield. I'd rather Crouch play than Caroll...

[LanceVanceDance07]

Not impressed at all with this England squad. Glen Johnson? Gareth Barry? Stewart Downing?

 

Also the inclusion of John Terry is bound to bring nothing but negative media attention for the squad.

 

Jagielka should be there instead of Lescott IMO, Lescott only looks good when he is partnered with Kompany for City. No Richards? No Carrick? No Lennon? Well, it didn't look like England would set the Euros on fire anyways...

[Seddo]

I don't think England managers have ever picked a squad where everyone seems to agree on the selection, tis always going to be hard to appease everyone with surprise selections and omissions.

 

Really fancy Ze Germans to win anyway.

 

Looks like Kenny's gone then.

[The Killa]

lolhodgson

 

The thing is, his tactics are usually ones that take a long time for a team to get used to (never really happened with Liverpool granted), I'm not so sure how it's gonna work over a short-term period tournament.

 

re: Dalglish, honestly not surprised. Was he sacked or did he walk? The key is who replaces him now, and if it's gonna be Roberto Martinez as rumoured, I don't even know what to think.

Edited May 16, 2012 by The Killa

[Banks.]

I agree Seddo, I can see the Germans winning too. They play a really young team but it works. They play really attractive football and look amazing going forward; they are pretty solid at the back too.

 

 

[Canoxa]

Oh God, I went to wikipedia to remind myself in which group Germany were in. I'm terrified! Portugal has beaten the Dutch in a consistent manner in the last years in some of the most exciting games the Euros have to offer, but our track record against Germany is the worst, and we have fudged every important game we had against Denmark. I can easily see Germany escaping the group of death with all nine points, and the other three tied with one victory, counting goals to break the tie.

[Banks.]

So yeah it's confirmed, Liverpool have sacked Kenny.

 

Who do you think will get the Liverpool job? Return of Rafa would be awesome

[Domeux]

Who's free at the minute, who could take/be given the Liverpool job? I know Rafa is...anyone else?

[Der_Don]

Hmm... I know the expectations are high, but I don't think we will win this years tournament. We have a highly talented squad but it kinda lacks experience. Plus Portugal, Holland and Denmark are quality teams who'll put up a hell of a fight.

Brazil 2014 will be our tournament.

 

Our squad:

 

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (26 years, Bayern München), Tim Wiese (30, Werder Bremen), Marc-André ter Stegen (20, Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ron-Robert Zieler (23, Hannover 96)

 

Defenders: Holger Badstuber (23), Philipp Lahm (28), Jerome Boateng (23, all Bayern München), Marcel Schmelzer (24), Mats Hummels (23, all Borussia Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (27, FC Arsenal), Benedikt Höwedes (24, Schalke 04)

 

Midfield: Bastian Schweinsteiger (27), Toni Kroos (22), Thomas Müller (22, all Bayern München), André Schürrle (21), Lars Bender (23, all Bayer Leverkusen), Sami Khedira (25), Mesut Özil (23, all Real Madrid), Marco Reus (22, Borussia Mönchengladbach), Sven Bender (23), Ilkay Gündogan (21), Mario Götze (19, all Borussia Dortmund), Julian Draxler (18, Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski (26, 1. FC Köln)

 

Forwards: Mario Gomez (26, Bayern München), Miroslav Klose (33, Lazio Rom), Cacau (31, VfB Stuttgart)

 

Still 3 players to be ditched within the next weeks.

[Waddy]

I think all the Kenny stuff happened on Monday...problem being Liverpool sacked the press officer last week too lol

 

Martinez is a great choice, a manager experienced in relegation battles...

[The Killa]

 

Who's free at the minute, who could take/be given the Liverpool job? I know Rafa is...anyone else?

Rafa, AVB, Guardiola (unrealistic but I wouldn't say no ), van Gaal?

 

I just hope they don't pick some flavour-of-the-month sh*te, that's what got us f*cking Woy.

 

Either way, I'm disappointed in FSG. I know they're ruthless kind of owners who aren't afraid to change something if it isn't blatantly working, but I think we were actually starting to have a plan under Kenny. It doesn't take much to tip the balance, now we have to start all over again.

 

No DoF, no manager, no CEO, no news on the Stadium. Step up and make something happen FSG...

 

@Der_Don it still isn't easy to not be impressed by that squad. I'd bank on them winning it, if not getting very close.

 

 

Edited May 16, 2012 by The Killa

[AnotherDave]

 

Who's free at the minute, who could take/be given the Liverpool job? I know Rafa is...anyone else?

Depending how England do, Roy might be available next month.

[Vercetti27]

McLeish for liverpool manager!

 

get it started on twitter!

[mark-2007]

I'm backing France to win these Euros. I know they always have expectations on them, but this time seems different. Blanc seems to have them playing pretty decent football, with them beating Germany in a recent friendly (not sure how strong that German team was, plus it's a friendly game with different attitudes). Fingers crossed for them. Germany and Spain will of course be the main favourites, could potentially (I think?) be a semi-finals of Netherlands vs. Germany and Spain vs. France. Bring on June 8th!

 

EDIT: Looking at that Germany squad Der Don, pretty impressive! Average age of just over 24, if I worked that out right, and that's dragged up a bit by the age of Klose, Cacau, Wiese. Could easily win it this year, but agree, 2014 will be huge for Germany. They should dominate the next few international tournaments I reckon.

 

And yeah, Seddo, Belgium have an amazing bunch of talented players, surprised they missed out on qualification for these Euros, but I suppose a group with Germany and Turkey would be difficult, and Austria aren't too bad either.

Edited May 16, 2012 by mark-2007

[Seddo]

 

Who's free at the minute, who could take/be given the Liverpool job? I know Rafa is...anyone else?

McLeish, McCarthy, Bruce, Curbishly

 

 

Brazil 2014 will be our tournament.

Belgium v Germany 2014 World Cup final.

 

Just looking at the top of the club now. We have no Manager, No Assistant Manager, no Chief Executive, no Managing Director, no Director of Football and no Director of Communications. Sounds fun.

[Banks.]

I think Martinez or Curbishly would be a perfect choice. Both of them have lots of experience in relegation battles

[OchyGTA]

Shocking England team. I happily supported Roy when he was appointed and preferred him to Redknapp but after looking at that team sheet..... well I thinkI supported the wrong candidate.

[Canoxa]

Lovely how it seems no country's supporters is looking to take up favoritism this year. Does your opinion reflect the general sentiment, Don?

[GTA_stu]

I think he's being modest, deep down he knows Europe is about to experience a 2nd coming of the Blitzkrieg.

[Waddy]

I just hope they don't pick some flavour-of-the-month sh*te, that's what got us f*cking Woy.

 

Either way, I'm disappointed in FSG. I know they're ruthless kind of owners who aren't afraid to change something if it isn't blatantly working, but I think we were actually starting to have a plan under Kenny. It doesn't take much to tip the balance, now we have to start all over again.

 

 

Woy, whos league record was better than Kennys?

 

How can you still have faith in how Kenny managed your club? The new owners gave him whatever he asked for right? They put their full trust in him to spend their 120million, he bought 3 of the biggest failures in prem history? They wanted to have a top CL side, which to be fair 120m should buy you before they get stuck into the stadium from the CL revenue season after season, you are in Europe next season thanks to winning the Carling cup against a CC side which went to penalties. You won 6 home games or something? What? How is that the fault of the owners? Any of it?

 

Also, what f*cking plan???? You finished 8th in the league 37 points off the top 2 clubs...Was it a longer term plan? did he spend 120million on players who wont be any good for another few years? They all should have been able to fit into any side in the world at those prices, and you would rather have him spending the same again? Wouldnt have been so bad if you were competing atleast with Spurs and Newcastle but they were miles away too spending a fraction of what LFC spent. So please, tell me why this plan of yours was starting to work?

 

Football is a business and business have to do well, and they have to have people who atleast have a slight understanding of being able to manage a club, that was not kenny. Winning the Carling Cup and getting into the final of the FA Cup will probably earn you 6million, and when the outgoings were 120million, the business owners have done well to last this long without getting rid of the worst manager Liverpool have ever had. Yes, a legend in his playing days, one of the best players on the planet...now he will be known as the worst manager.

[Der_Don]

 

Lovely how it seems no country's supporters is looking to take up favoritism this year. Does your opinion reflect the general sentiment, Don?

Most people over here believe that we'll win the whole thing IF we manage to survive the group stage. Our quarter final would be against a team from group A (Poland, Greece, Czech Rep., Russia) and those teams would be swept away (that's what most people over here think). Plus Spain will miss Puyol and David Villa and aren't as strong as they were two years ago.

 

 

I think he's being modest, deep down he knows Europe is about to experience a 2nd coming of the Blitzkrieg.

[Crokey]

If Kenny does go it will count as Stuart Downings first assist of the season.

+1

 

Not surprised at Kenny... Mourinho?!?

 

Also why the f*ck is Richards not in the team, and Glen Johnson is . I could maybe understand a little, the lack of a Johnson pick, although at least he's a stand-by, but no Richards. That simply doesn't make sense.

 

Although having said that about Johnson, least he's played well and scored this season unlike Downing.