YOUR England Squad for Brazil 2014

[jjandellis]

So which 23 would you take to Brazil?

I'm basing mine on a 4-2-3-1 formation.

GK. Hart
GK. Butland
GK. Forster

RB. Walker (club/country partnership with Townsend better than Johnson + other; Walker is younger)
RB. Jenkinson

LB. Baines
LB. Shaw

CB. Cahill
CB. Jagielka (one of very few older players - good level head in defence)
CB. Smalling
CB. Wisdom (if Henderson goes, Jones in this slot)

CDM. Gerrard
CDM. Wilshire
CDM. Cleverley
CDM. Jones/Henderson (Jones for flexibility, Henderson as the ex U21 captain for future leadership)

AMR. Townsend
AMR. Walcott (or whoever is fit from AOC/Sterling/Lennon/Hughes) (back up striker)

AML. Lallana
AML. Ince (back up striker)

AMC. Barkley
AMC. Morrison

S. Rooney
S. Sturridge

As you can see the philosophy is on building for the future. The only 'older' players are those I believe at the core of the team still have the legs - and something to offer in terms of leadership/experience. No Lampard, Cole (very good but just blocking the way for others), Parker, Carrick etc.

[nirvana]

At least the torture of watching England 'compete' wouldn't be too extended I guess

[George2Loose]

U forgot Gazza and David Hirst

[aaron1867]

lol @ ince

[mondatoo]

See here

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=62558.0

[nirvana]

Just jaded from watching England over the years.

Would be odd to take Jenkinson ahead of Johnson - Jenkinson really out of form as well as being not proven at prem level yet imo. Can't really find a rationale for leaving out Cole.

They may be older but would want to keep Carrick, Lampard, Defoe in the squad. Quite like Andy Carroll to get fit and be there too.

Makes no real difference though I think. Truth is, whatever age, we have very few players who are at the highest quality in international terms

[DungBeetle]

I agree with the opening post largely.  The current first pick squad will do well just to get out of a moderately challenging group, so I'd rather take a young squad and build for the future.  I'd add Chalobah as well.  Not sure in the short term it matters whether you just squeeze into round 2 before being comfortably beaten or whether you lose in round 1 with a younger team.

[tikay]

See here

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=62558.0

Oops - didn't see that one.

****THREAD MERGE PLEASE MOD??****

I'll have to get one of the other Mods to do that, unless you want to run the risk of losing this completely due to misclickage.

[77dave]

get barkley on the plane

[nirvana]

get barkley on the plane

Oi Oi, was at the emirates today, this boy has class. Nailed on for England I would hope