I apologize to Chelsbear for being over dramatic towards his opinion the other day regards to City, We're sh*t, No two ways about it.

 

Welcome to "The Club"!

 

In fact thinking about it (I don't have time at the moment) but someone who has, could put together a really sh*t side just made up of Chelsea & City players this season. Be debteable as to which team would have the most starters, but Matic and Oscar are surely nailed on?!

Edited March 21, 201610 yr by Nibs

Crazy to think the CL next year could be Leicester, SPurs and West Ham

Right now they need 17 points from their last 7 games. This is presuming Spurs win all 7 games they have left.

That means they require 14/15 as they ain't winning at the Bridge.

Fair point. You can argue it that way and he'd be able to focus on re-building the team, etc.

and a year without being judged.  Just by Pep coming in I think many will expect MCFC to do heads and shoulders better in Europe but I dont see Pep making the changes need for that to happen in just half a season or less.

 

Not to mention the ability to focus on the league/domestic cups in his first season will likely increase his odds of winning something.

and a year without being judged. Just by Pep coming in I think many will expect MCFC to do heads and shoulders better in Europe but I dont see Pep making the changes need for that to happen in just half a season or less.

Not to mention the ability to focus on the league/domestic cups in his first season will likely increase his odds of winning something.

Good points. I don't want to wish this season away but, after the form card being upset this season, next season will be very interesting.

Welcome to "The Club"!

 

In fact thinking about it (I don't have time at the moment) but someone who has, could put together a really sh*t side just made up of Chelsea & City players this season. Be debteable as to which team would have the most starters, but Matic and Oscar are surely nailed on?!

 

Allow me to give it a go...

 

Hart (but Tibo not far behind)

 

Ivanovic

Demichelis

Mangala

Clichy

 

Matic

Fernandinho

 

Navas

Oscar

Hazard

 

Bony

 

I'd be keen to see Kink's thoughts as I don't watch enough City games to get the fully picture.

Edited March 21, 201610 yr by Huttsey

I think you have Fernandinho mistaken with Fernando, Fernandinho's been one of our best performers this season, Especially in the CL, Other than that, I think you've got a pretty solid looking bad team there, That XI would struggle to beat Kidderminster in my opinion.  

Edited March 21, 201610 yr by Kinkladze1871

Allow me to give it a go...

 

Hart (but Tibo not far behind)

 

Ivanovic

Demichelis

Mangala

Clichy

 

Matic

Fernandinho

 

Navas

Oscar

Hazard

 

Bony

 

I'd be keen to see Kink's thoughts as I don't watch enough City games to get the fully picture.

the funniest thing is, the way the prem has been, that team would probably click and kick arse

Allow me to give it a go...

 

Hart (but Tibo not far behind)

 

Ivanovic

Demichelis

Mangala

Clichy

 

Matic

Fernandinho

 

Navas

Oscar

Hazard

 

Bony

 

I'd be keen to see Kink's thoughts as I don't watch enough City games to get the fully picture.

 

I think you are being kind to Courtois personally, he's been worse than Hart.

Allow me to give it a go...

 

Hart (but Tibo not far behind)

 

Ivanovic

Demichelis

Mangala

Clichy

 

Matic

Fernandinho

 

Navas

Oscar

Hazard

 

Bony

 

I'd be keen to see Kink's thoughts as I don't watch enough City games to get the fully picture.

 

Good effort. When I was driving home last night and going through in my mind, you have got the obvious Chelsea selections I thought of, but as Scott says, think Courtois deserves to be given the gloves.

 

As for the bench, Falcao, Pato and Remy can keep each other company.

I did struggle between Hart and Tibo so happy (or in this case, unhappy) with one or the other.

Leicester joining the pre-season international tournament circuit - matches against PSG and Barcelona

 

 

Saturday, July 23

Celtic v Leicester City, Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland

Sunday, July 24

Paris Saint-Germain v Inter Milan, Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon

Wednesday, July 27

Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Bayern Munich v AC Milan, Soldier Field,  Chicago, Illinois

Liverpool v Chelsea, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Saturday, July 30

Celtic v Barcelona, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

Chelsea v Real Madrid, TBA, United States venue

Bayern Munich v Inter Milan, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Liverpool v AC Milan, Levi’s Stadium; Santa Clara, California

Paris Saint-Germain v Leicester City, Los Angeles, California. TBA venue

Wednesday, August 3

Barcelona v Leicester City, Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden

Bayern Munich v Real Madrid, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Chelsea v AC Milan, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Saturday, August 6

Liverpool v Barcelona, TBA European venue

Saturday, August 13

Celtic v Inter Milan, TBA European venue

 

Don't know if this is true, it is the Mail after all, but:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3506867/England-boss-Roy-Hodgson-likely-pick-Jack-Wilshere-Arsenal-star-fails-play-end-season.html#article-3506867

"England boss Roy Hodgson likely to pick Jack Wilshere even if Arsenal star fails to play before the end of the season"

Absolutely sickening, yes sickening, if even remotely true. Why have other English players bothered this year? Why should they ever bother again to try and get into the England team? You're not awarded by form or even ability, I mean seriously this guy is so overrated it's unfathomable, so why bother dream playing for your country? If he can play for England then so can I.

Don't know if this is true, it is the Mail after all, but:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3506867/England-boss-Roy-Hodgson-likely-pick-Jack-Wilshere-Arsenal-star-fails-play-end-season.html#article-3506867

"England boss Roy Hodgson likely to pick Jack Wilshere even if Arsenal star fails to play before the end of the season"

Absolutely sickening, yes sickening, if even remotely true. Why have other English players bothered this year? Why should they ever bother again to try and get into the England team? You're not awarded by form or even ability, I mean seriously this guy is so overrated it's unfathomable, so why bother dream playing for your country? If he can play for England then so can I.

 

It comes down to whether or not you believe selection for the national football team should be more dependant on form or talent. Even if you say form, his form for England in his last few games has been pretty great from what I remember.

 

He's a very good player when he's fit and the competition for midfield spots really isn't that high, hence us picking Drinkwater, so there's a very good case for us actually needing someone of his innate ability even if he's not played this season. It'll come down to whether he's match-fit which I doubt he will be.

 

It comes down to what you think national selection should be about.

Form, fitness & ability. If you haven't played all season then you only have one of those, max.

Would you pick Rooney over Kane? I realise it's not a direct comparison to what you've said but given Rooney's form in Euro 2006, would you pick him? How far back to we have to go to warrant someone's previous games as being good? In addition I'm aware there is a difference between being in the squad and the starting XI as I'm asking.

Form, fitness & ability. If you haven't played all season then you only have one of those, max.

Would you pick Rooney over Kane? I realise it's not a direct comparison to what you've said but given Rooney's form in Euro 2006, would you pick him? How far back to we have to go to warrant someone's previous games as being good? In addition I'm aware there is a difference between being in the squad and the starting XI as I'm asking.

 

The fitness is a big concern and that's something for the coaches to decide on.

 

I don't think Rooney's in the squad and I doubt I'd pick him anyway. For me it'd be Kane and Sturridge if both were fit, even though Vardy is probably in better form than Sturridge. I think because we're talking about a tournament and not qualifying, you go with your best XI players. Wilshere on his day is our best midfielder in my opinion, so you need to give him every opportunity to get in the team even if that means overlooking players who have been in good form.

 

I think sometimes we treat England caps as rewards for being good for a few weeks, which is why you have players like Chris Powell, Michael Ricketts and David Nugent on one-cap. I expect Drinkwater will be another because he 'deserves' it. But tournaments aren't the time to mess around with stuff like that.

He's a very good player when he's fit and the competition for midfield spots really isn't that high, hence us picking Drinkwater, so there's a very good case for us actually needing someone of his innate ability even if he's not played this season. It'll come down to whether he's match-fit which I doubt he will be.

 

You're not wrong there - these are basically our options:

 

Delph

Alli

Henderson

Drinkwater

Dier

Wilshere

Milner (who has predominantly played wide for England under Hodgson, although has played in the middle more in the last set of qualifiers)

What's the alternative?

Mark Noble? (not a ridiculous suggestion in his current form)

Tom Cleverley? (who has hardly played in the middle this season)

Gareth Barry? (who is 35)

Jonjo Shelvey?

Michael Carrick (horribly off-form)

 

 

I can certainly understand Gem's indignation over this (and it's not as if I don't have qualms myself about Wilshere even when he is fit), but a lot of national team managers will stick with a core group they trust, even if their club form has been less than deserving of a call-up - think Podolski under Joachim Low.

 

Rooney is another example of this. Despite not being one of our best attackers this season, is also basically guaranteed a place in the squad as the captain and as the most experienced winner in the squad; someone like Troy Deeney may well deserve a call-up based on how he has played this season, but will never get in over the likes of the more internationally-favoured Sturridge and Welbeck, even if the latter two have missed large swathes of the season through injury.

The fitness is a big concern and that's something for the coaches to decide on.

 

I don't think Rooney's in the squad and I doubt I'd pick him anyway. For me it'd be Kane and Sturridge if both were fit, even though Vardy is probably in better form than Sturridge. I think because we're talking about a tournament and not qualifying, you go with your best XI players. Wilshere on his day is our best midfielder in my opinion, so you need to give him every opportunity to get in the team even if that means overlooking players who have been in good form.

 

I think sometimes we treat England caps as rewards for being good for a few weeks, which is why you have players like Chris Powell, Michael Ricketts and David Nugent on one-cap. I expect Drinkwater will be another because he 'deserves' it. But tournaments aren't the time to mess around with stuff like that.

Drinkwater and Noble haven't been good for just a few weeks mate, and if Wilshere is our best midfielder, We're going out in the group stages.

Drinkwater and Noble haven't been good for just a few weeks mate, and if Wilshere is our best midfielder, We're going out in the group stages.

 

A lot will depend on how match-fit Wilshere is. If he hardly plays a game until the end of the season I agree, but a fit and in form Wilshere is as good as England have had since the days of Gazza and I would take him over all of the other dross.

Edited March 24, 201610 yr by Nibs

Drinkwater and Noble haven't been good for just a few weeks mate, and if Wilshere is our best midfielder, We're going out in the group stages.

 

Yeah, they've been good in the league all season but I don't think either is top class and a fit and in-form Wilshere probably still is our best midfielder. I'm not sure that's going to be the deciding factor if we go out in the group stages though.

Woy is the biggest yes man in football. His style of play is boring, he has contributed to the library atmosphere at wembley and he has devalued the credibility of an England cap.

Atleast harry would of turned it into a circus and everyone loves a circus.

Barkley. Drinkwater. Alli. That would be a pretty exciting midfield 3 to play against weaker teams. Would rip them apart in midfield.

Agree with Kinkladze; Drinkwater has stood out for a while now and playing beside Kante, you can see his worth to Leicester more evidently. Unsung hero.

Whilst we're talking England, What is Roy's footballing philosophy? is it possession? is it high tempo? is it counter attacking? or is it adjusting to our opponents on a game by game basis? I no longer know what the 'English way' is, But on the continent their view of the 'English way' would be 4-4-2, Deeney up top with Kane and balls being put into the box with a view to playing quick and aggressively, Long gone are those days, The past decade we seemed to have gone fully into copycat mode, I remember we tried copying France for a while and then everyone tried copying Spain, No originality in the international game left.

Not sure how much more Noble needs to do to get an England call up. 

Not sure how much more Noble needs to do to get an England call up. 

 

I think leaving West Ham might be his best option.