England Football Team

Rocker

I am not English but watch the progress of the England team with more than a passing interest. Many years ago I heard the comment that the England squad and team were selected by the sports writers of "The Daily Tit" and not by the England manager. This is still happening, there are adverse reactions to the omission of Ross Barkley from the squad in the tabloids. How can the England manager fix the problem if everything he does is criticized or commented upon. Big Sam must be given his head, a chance to see the players at his disposal and evaluate their qualities they bring to the squad. Otherwise nothing will change and England supporters can expect quick exits from the major finals.

joeyowen

He has selected the best team I think 

I can't think if anyone who deserves a place who hasn't got it (maybe rashford, being a united fan) 

But unfortunately on paper they don't have a chance. Compare the starting 11 to the top 10 ranked teams and many English players wouldn't make it in to many other teams 

Deijavoo

Sam as Sunderland manager "Defoe should be in the England squad.

Sam as England manager: Doesn't pick Defoe.


However he hasn't picked Wilshere so he clearly does know what he's doing.

Gassage

The difference between England soccer and rugby was when Hodgson said, after drawing with the 28th best side in the world 'We did really well' whereas Eddie Jones, after smashing the #2 in the world in their back garden said "We need to get a lot better...'

TheBlueWolf

Being the manager of England's football team is a poisoned chalice IMHO.

Neil

Gassage said:

The difference between England soccer and rugby was when Hodgson said, after drawing with the 28th best side in the world 'We did really well' whereas Eddie Jones, after smashing the #2 in the world in their back garden said "We need to get a lot better...'

  The other difference being that only very few nations play rugby and the whole world plays football (I won't call it soccer), so far more competition.

Neil

Deijavoo said:

However he hasn't picked Wilshere so he clearly does know what he's doing.

Indeed.

chrispy108

Rocker said:

Many years ago I heard the comment that the England squad and team were selected by the sports writers of "The Daily Tit" and not by the England manager. This is still happening, there are adverse reactions to the omission of Ross Barkley from the squad in the tabloids. How can the England manager fix the problem if everything he does is criticized or commented upon.

Because Sam is big enough to deal with everything being criticised and commented on without it affecting what he does.

There is a huge difference between the tabloids picking the team and commentating on what happens.

Jack Wilshere is a fantastic footballer, but he isn't fit, so he shouldn't be playing for England at the moment. Sam seems to be sending the message that you need to be fit and playing regularly to play for England, which sounds obvious, but successive England managers have failed to do it.

Teetonetal

This is the first squad he has picked. He hasn't worked with most of those players at all. They are generally supposedly our best, so it makes sense to see what he thinks of them up close. Mentality, Personality and ability to follow instructions will all get assessed I would imagine. Plenty of time for him to move on from here. 

Rocker

International football is not the same as the club game. The International manager must know how he wants his team to play. He must be given the scope to do just that. There is no point in picking a "good" player if he does not know or fit in the managers plan. I like big Sam. I expect some changes in personnel on the England team over the next year. The press may not like it but if it gets results......

chrispy108

Totally disagree, the manager needs to form a plan that best fits the players he has available.

Pepe can just decide he doesn't want Joe Hart and go buy a new keeper, Big Sam doesn't have as many options available to him.

Obviously if his best players are 3 left backs he probably can't play them all, but equally if he wants to play 4-2-3-1 but doesn't have a number 10 or a big target man of a suitable quality he'd be better off changing formation.

littlethoughts

As a Spurs fan I just hope he doesn't start with any of our players. Kane, Alli and to a lesser extent Dier are not fully fit, while Walker picked up a knock at the weekend. I don't think he'll fancy Rose - he seems to prefer more physically imposing full backs.

chrispy108

littlethoughts said:

I don't think he'll fancy Rose - he seems to prefer full backs to be full backs.

Fixed that for you

Rocker

@Christy108, your first sentence defines a club manager. Defines a club manager perfectly. International managers think tactics and choose the players who can fit the tactical plan.

chrispy108

What? You make no sense @Rocker.

A club manager can buy players to fit his plan, an international manager can only pick from a pool of about 50 players at any given time. The club manager has much more flexibility with tactics.

littlethoughts

chrispy108 said:

littlethoughts said:

I don't think he'll fancy Rose - he seems to prefer full backs to be full backs.

Fixed that for you

I'm perfectly happy to have fans of other teams underrate one of our key players

Rocker

@Chrispy108, sorry I cannot make it any clearer for you than I did. 

chrispy108

Indeed, we all know you struggle to communicate effectively

Look at Wales - Coleman has said that when he took the job he wanted to play a passing game, and that he wanted to play 4-4-2, but he tried it, and he didn't have the right mix of players to do it, so he changed to be more direct with a back 5. They were successful.

Hodgson insisted on playing 4-3-3 despite having no wingers, attacking midfielder or a target man. Look how that went.

duotone

Neil said:

Deijavoo said:

However he hasn't picked Wilshere so he clearly does know what he's doing.

Indeed.

But he's picked Theo Walcott. Btw I am an Arsenal fan.

axisus

I'm 100% behind Sam. I hated Hodgson, he was rubbish. I'm so glad we have someone new in, I'm happy for him to do exactly what he thinks. The media can feck off. 

ennspek

I suspect the main difference we will see is he will (at least initially) actually pick players on form. Statistically checked form. How long this lasts is a different story however.