[Closed] A 2015/16 Football Thread

Easy, Rashford is a better striker than Defoe

If you are building for the future, (which you need to consider) you put youngsters in at an early age to learn and gain experience. Sure Defoe could do a job, but its win/win with Rashford if he plays well. Defoe had his chance many years ago and never nailed it.

[i]Wilshire wouldn't last 3 matches in a row at the Euros he's not in good enough shape, small wager from me he doesn't play at all.[/i]

Jamby...you do lead with your chin sometimes! 🙂

My point is JW really doesn't have much more experience than Drinkwater. As Shearer says he's been picked on reputation not form.

The debate on Rashford misses the point I think, as re-looking at the squad he is likely to be there as back up for Stirling, as the left side of the midfield is very light on quality.

Aye, Rashford is a side issue when you consider that Sterling is going! 😆

My point is JW really doesn't have much more experience than Drinkwater.

Simply not true . Anyway experience is not the only reason Jack is going .

Why is he going? What does he offer and most importantly what formation do England have to play for him to fit in it?

Jamby...you do lead with your chin sometimes!

Junky you've told me repeatedly you don't bet so I am rather confused. How about a week of being nice to the other on STW to the winner ?

Scandal I am big Defore fan (Spurs and all that) and it was a crime they took Walcott to the World Cup instead of him, in fact I think the Drinkwater vs Ashford / Wilshire comparison is similar - Wilshire will not play and/or will get broken as he's not fit/battle hardened, Rashford will come on when we are struggling in a game as a desperate sub / hope for a miracle.

Wilshere will not play and/or will get broken as he's not fit/battle hardened.

Not true, he's been brought back very slowly and has been building up for months now. His injuries have been caused mostly by impacts, not muscle injuries like some other 'sicknotes' we could mention. He does tend to commit defenders to tackle him in order to go past them, which has caused many problems for him. I think people have forgotten how effective he can be at winning the ball and getting on the front foot. His passing ability is also excellent, so despite the bad publicity and the injuries, he's worth his place....easily!

While I am not a fan of the inclusion, given who was left out, I would have Wilshere ahead of Hendo/Sterling. When he is on his game, he does give something noone else seems to. Just a shame he's made out of glass.

i dont think rashford has 'taken' anyones place, he's a bit unknown he's a a bit of a gamble, good, sometimes you need that

sturridge, unfit, shoulda picked a different striker, could have gone one dimensional with defoe or carrol, six of one half a dozen of each of the others

think wilshire is getting a particularly hard time here, clearly has fitness and sharpness to prove, but i dont feel it was a direct choice between him or drinkwater (a few of the other midfielders woulda been dropped before either IMO)

still all the focus is up that end, is everyone resigned to the defence that we have?

I'm not saying Defoe should go but someone said Ashford deserved to go because he played for Utd and not Sunderland and that it is harder there.

I'm saying it's easier to get in Utd's forward line than that of Sunderland due to the fact they have absolutely **** all.

is everyone resigned to the defence that we have?

I'm quite looking forward to John Stones, clearly believing his own hype, trying to dribble out of the box and lose the ball a million times.

Danny Rose to do the same, but try and win the ball back by hacking the achilles off the offending player, thus getting a yellow card within 10 mins.

Etc etc.

Anyway, this is why I love football 8)

Woy is still a Cockwomble

is everyone resigned to the defence that we have?

I can't think of anyone who should displace the choices made, which is pretty bleak.

I am just glad Jones isn't included, which I half expected.

Junky you've told me repeatedly you don't bet so I am rather confused. How about a week of being nice to the other on STW to the winner ?

Can I have an all bets are off if he gets injured 😉

Sky Sports is reporting that Aaron Ramsey has dyed his hair.

Michael Owens comments on John Stones are hilarious:

"This kid could play for Barcelona.

"He's probably the only player in the England squad who could walk into Barcelona's team at the moment.

[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36431984 ]BBC Sport[/url]

I used to respect David Ornstein....

[img] [/img]

...there's many things to describe Mr Owen. Fascinating isn't one of them. Neither is insightful, interesting, engaging etc etc

He knows how to make money, tho. So fair play to him there.

Haha I was going to say "has anyone seen the Michael Owen Dubai video" and there it is! It is gold ! A must watch!

Brilliant! 'This chopper has special powers!' 😆

Dear god! Thats weirdly compelling. Literally like seeing an item of furniture speak!

Its actually even worse than his commentaries on BT Sport. And thats saying something! The second I hear his droning monotone I want to kick the telly in!!!

This kid could play for Barcelona

Jesus.

I wouldn't expect Owen to have the usual English Myopic views of foreign defenders, having been one of the few to actually try it abroad, but it seems I'm wrong.

Literally like seeing an item of furniture speak!

Jeeeez...you'd think someone would tell him how bad he sounds. I still recall the first match he commented on LFC v Arsenal, when LFC were tearing Arsenal to pieces and he was all excited but still talking the same way. It was a double horror show, but I couldn't switch it off. (due to the fact I am a proper armchair supporter)

Stones has a lot to learn but he will be a world class ball playing defender despite what internet folk think

Barca don't do a lot of defending so he will do ok for them

He still makes mistakes but he is class and what he can so you cannot teach

*pulls up chair to internet*

You're wrong, JY.

John Stones is not going to be as good as everyone thinks.

bongohoohaa +1

John Stones is not class, his positional play is poor (just watch Man U's goals in the FA Cup semi final against Everton), and no outfield player this season in the PL has made more mistakes leading to opposition goals.

Paul Merson (not normally someone I agree with), nails it in this vid:

You're wrong, JY.

Liked his bit about how they should be above leicester
He is correct that Martinez is not helping him and he needs to learn to defend some more

We do admire the John Terry type and not the Baresi type in this country

There is nothing inherently wrong with playing out from the back and in fact you want defenders (and keepers) comfortable on the ball and at the kids coaching I go to it is actively encouraged. However, you still need to be able to defend first and foremost, and know when and when not to play the ball or go for safety.

I agree Martinez hasn't helped him, but it is a worrying stat that Everton had a tighter defence in the games when Stones was missing due to injury.

I can't quite work out, why if he is so great on the ball they don't move him to a defensive midfield position, where his passing ability should be of benefit and mistakes are slightly less costly.

We do admire the John Terry type and not the Baresi type in this country

Give me Wes Morgan every day of the week

I haven't seen enough of Stones to comment really, but why was Mourinho so desperate to get him if he is shit?

Edit : final warm up against Portugal tonight only 10 days to go for England first game can't wait.only twenty days to go until that crushing feeling of being dumped out too

[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36435484 ]That's automatic promotion next season sorted.
[/url]

I haven't seen enough of Stones to comment really, but why was Mourinho so desperate to get him if he is shit?

He was trying to get the sack. So wanted to spunk a load of cash on a bad player 😉

The old codger has moved both Vardy and Kane out of the centre to allow the razor sharp and pacy top man Rooney to play the main role 😆 🙄

That was a thoroughly horrific 1st half

it is odd as rooney is the more adaptable of those two and its a travesty to play them out of position- pick two of them and just play them

IMHO Kane and rooney as Vardy does not work with Kane and Kane has to play
Vardy for when the opposition are tired

Maybe it is a cunning plan at sand bagging to make everyone think they are rubbish.

Junky agree if Rooney has to play then put him with Kane to start, with Vardy to come on later when the opposition are tired.

I am watching it on an American stream (as ITV's stream is such crap quality). The american commentator just nailed England "they just never seem to work out tactics on the pitch, they always need to be told what to do".

This is shite

Just switched the game on, and skipped through what I missed.

Glad I did....looks awful. Well, not as awful as [url= https://streamable.com/4l5w ]this.[/url]

[img] [/img]

WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE EUROS!

Euros are looking weak against Sterling.

Of course there is more to it than this. Mainly, the big thing about Milner is that he runs a lot. Not only this, he runs in well-grooved patterns, like a faithful Ukrainian trolley bus set on its virtuously unswerving course. The numbers are well known: in England's first match he ran 1.4km more than anyone else, and was heading towards doing the same before being substituted in the last two. Uefa's analysis graphics depict him as a static blob, but really Milner's blob should be blurred with motion lines, reflecting an approach that basically involves embarking on a series of unrelenting sprints from box to box, like a man very stubbornly doing lengths of a swimming pool while a water polo match goes on all around him.

One of the funniest things I've ever seen written about football.

^^^ that's excellent - so basically the uefa analysis shows he runs round in small circles 🙂

Euros are looking weak against Sterling.

Well we know England can win 1-0 against 10 men, at least that's something

More painful than attending a lecture led by Michael Owen

I didn't miss owt by not watching a meaningless England friendly then?

I was genuinely staggered to hear that it apparently it wasn't that entertaining!

Going out first round. After people have died of boredom watching them

I hate international football where Eng-er-land are concerned! It's woeful!

i firmly believe we are just following the Greece model.. it will be the same as Grexit then Euro glory 🙂

I've had time to digest this now, and it really wasn't great.

I really do not know how Hodgson kept his job after the shit show that was the World Cup. Last night's deployment of our best strikers on the wings, and his inability to hold his hands up and admit it didn't work, shows that he is just going to cripple any chance we have.

Add to that our comedy defence, and it's going to be business as usual.

[url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/02/roy-hodgson-harry-kane-jamie-vardy-england-shearer-lineker ]“I’m not prepared to accept that we didn’t play well. Portugal are ranked higher than us in the Fifa rankings, so there is no reason to be dissatisfied. We looked good, we had composure throughout the game...[/url]

At least Rooney got to play, tho....

*sigh*

I so hope you beat Russia 5-0 as I love the swings of emotions from england fans

that said he does seem so keen to get his best players on the pitch he has forgotten to consider whether it works or not..it did not

Neither vardy nro kane can play out wide and sterling is better on the left by a long way - and he is pretty crap.

I so hope you beat Russia 5-0 as I love the swings of emotions from england fans

You will only get mild surprise out of me if we tonk Russia.

Just to add to the Wilshere chat a page back, I can't quite believe this:

[img] [/img]

Given Leeds owners, I can.

Erm...

[url= http://i.imgur.com/MvWxziJ.pn g" target="_blank">http://i.imgur.com/MvWxziJ.pn g"/> [/img][/url]

Guy is a journo for Guardian/Observer, so might be a grain of truth to it compared to the usual Twitter bullshit.

Inappropriate from Arsenal just before Euro 2016

To be fair, whoever leaked it to the journalist is being inappropriate. Clubs still need to operate during this time.

I imagine the offer was made between the big cheeses, without Vardy even knowing, and someone has leaked it. After all, it looks like an exploratory offer just to trigger the release clause*. Like they did so successfully with Suarez.

That aside, he is really not the player they need.

*Approx £20m

*Approx £20m

So assume, with typical Arsenal class, they've offered £20,000,001 then?

I don't think any modern football club displays 'class' anymore.

What is Vardy worth? He's not young, he may have peaked? What would you offer if you were Le Prof?

Inappropriate

Its their job to get the best players for their team and lets be honest there are no other leicester player there for him to talk to so its decent business sense

They all ta them up some openly some via the press some using international meet ups and team mates

No team is any better or any worse though i assume the bigger and the better you are the more able you are to do this

What is Vardy worth? He's not young, he may have peaked? What would you offer if you were Le Prof?

Given Arsenal seem to only have 1 striker left, he's probably worth a bit more over market value to them if they were really after him.

Thing is, he just signed a contract in Feb for 3 years, and they have a shit load of money behind LCFC, so chances are he is not going anywhere. Unless he wants to.

Not sure why he would want to go from #1 to #4, tho;)

Because he knows Leicester wont get "lucky" twice and neither might he so one last big pay day

I bet he is tempted but its pretty risky IMHO

Two words

Franny Jeffers 😉

I bet he is tempted but its pretty risky IMHO

Once Arsenal medical staff get their hands on him it will be. He'll go from having a support sleeve on his wrist, to having to have the arm amputated.

I wonder if Arsenal will offer a player as a sweetener? Apparently they're having a clear out. Walcott, Gibbs etc.

Not sure why he would want to go from #1 to #4, tho;)

Ahem second actually and....haven't you been banging on about LCFC only being mid table next year?

I have indeed.

The wonder of a being an Aston Villa supporter is I can say all this stuff, and no one really retaliates, as they feel sorry for us 😉

Oh I didn't realise....my commiserations! I'm not sure you are now qualified to comment on this thread. Binners will be along soon to confirm.

The wonder of a being an Aston Villa supporter is I can say all this stuff, and no one really retaliates, as they feel sorry for us

Every cloud has a silver lining eh

@bongohoohaa I definately don't feel sorry for any Vile fan, had it coming for years and long may the pain continue KRO

Oh I didn't realise....my commiserations! I'm not sure you are now qualified to comment on this thread. Binners will be along soon to confirm.

I'll go and put the ceremonial Villa dildo on my head, and wait for the ruling.

[img] [/img]

@bongohoohaa I definately don't feel sorry for any Vile fan, had it coming for years and long may the pain continue KRO

[img] [/img]

It's been a good year for the blue half of the city

Binners/Junkyard will be happy.

https://twitter.com/SkySportsNewsHQ/status/738838865184755714

How have I only just seen this?

[url= https://thesunshineroom.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/bullshitrodeo21.jp g" target="_blank">https://thesunshineroom.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/bullshitrodeo21.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

The Welshies have just announced their revised squad...

Press release..... G Bale ( Real Madrid )...... Press release.

🙁

[img] [/img]

Oh Jesus, Mary & Joseph...all wept. That ****ing band. 😡

Imagine paying three grand for a ticket and getting stuck next to those chumps.

I would be sorely tempted to murder them, then I would probably end up spending many many years in a French prison and that would likely end any hope I hold to murder Tim Westwood, but it is a bloody close call.

On the other hand, maybe the French will hail me as a hero for killing the band, carry me through the streets cheering, invade Britain, capture Westwood and bring him before me for a good old fashioned murdering.

hmmmm... I feel a plan forming.

Or you could stage a Great Escape of some kind.

It wouldn't be so bad if they played the whole thing, rather than just one phrase over and over and over and over...

It seems Arsenal just like triggering clauses, then running away 😀

Leicester City have today (Thursday) agreed with the representatives of Jamie Vardy to extend the England international’s contract with the Premier League champions for a further four years.
Both parties hope that this announcement will end recent speculation regarding Jamie’s future and confirm his long term commitment to Leicester City Football Club.

Jamie will continue to focus all of his efforts on trying to achieve success with the England team at the European Championships in France.

There will be no further comment from either the Club or the player on this matter until the conclusion of the tournament.

- http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/2016-17/leicester-city-statement-jamie-vardy-3150830.aspx

Always seemed an odd move, so good luck the cheeky little racist at Leicester. Wonder if this will encourage Kante and Mahrez to stay?

Wonder if they'll make a move for Sturridge next?

I thought they were in for Morata?