Starting 11 for England's first game at the World Cup

If Grealish doesn't start, the game's gone.

A fit and in form Palmer has to be ahead of Foden even though Foden is a very great player.

I'll take it you've included Skelly just because he's an Arsenal player. Hopefully TT doesn't share your bias.

My son is a Chelsea fan and he's adamant James shouldn't start for England

nobby nob nob getting it wrong again

Tuchel has managed 8 games, 6 competitive, 2 friendlies

Lewis-Skelly has started 5 of those 8 games, 4 competitive, 1 friendly

So how is that my bias, he's literally started him in most of the games in which he's been in charge.

Kind Regards.

Lewis Skelly has started 5 of the 8 games since Tuchel took over, including 4 out of th3e 6 competitive games.

So he's a tuchel pick and a Tuchel favourite, not a mesmerised biased pick.

Kind Regards.

Lewis Hall best left back at Newcastle, but livramento
catching quickly, err, both ahead of skelly if skelly
can't get in arsenal team.

James might be best right back by a street, but
he's injury prone and Tommy may need to protect him
through group games.

I'd play Palmer ahead of others with rice and a. n other
based on opposition.

Saka and kane are locked if fit, so Gordon starts for
his pace, but grealish gives better progression and
balance, pity we don't have a composite with pace and carrying ability.

I'm a bit worried saka has lost some pace after injury(s)
Be good to see him flying again and injury free to season end.

It would help if refs spotted him being constantly fouled.

Madueke has progressed well on the right and looks great
cover.

Guehi and konsa both look decent if they bond into
a pair. But Tommy seems to like stones.

Pickford is a cert too.

Skelly is a donkey.

Madueke is a great player. If fit he must start.

Nah, he's a good young player, but needs to play more.

Can't come from reserve footy to engerland.

Skelly, ^^^, but could be madueke too, sadly, if he
can't get time at arsenal.

Nobby knows more than Tuchel

I know that if England get to the semis in the US and push comes to shove the best strikers in the world will enjoy playing against Skelly.

My Nan could start against Latvia, Wales, Serbia, Andorra etc etc

How did young Skelly fare against Senegal?

I'd love to see Tommy trial this

Pickford

Guehi, stones, konsa

Trent rice hall

Palmer

Saka kane rashers

Just blow them away...

Yes let's use that 1 single game in a meaningless friendly against Senegal in which nobody played well, as some kind of true indication of his ability and what Tuchel must think of him. What dumb thinking. He was also last player to be subbed in the 88th minute so couldn't have been that bad.

It's not about what anyone thinks of Lewis-Skelly, it's what Tuchel thinks, clearly he likes him, his problem is club game time, he'll probably go out on loan in Jan if not as said Livramento will probably play instead.

Kind Regards.

He was also last player to be subbed in the 88th minute so couldn't have been that bad.

Flashscores rated Skelly at 5.5, the worst rating of any England player that night.

But you are correct, it is up to TT not me.

Bettingwise I quite like the idea of Skelly at left back against a good team. Easy money.

every thread turns into a homoerotic ribbing session with ye two.

Anderson might be in the championship by time of world cup or sat on a bench at top 4 club since Jan etc,etc ,that pompus aulde get Henry winter said don't judge4 tuchel till we've played the elite sides but winter quite happy to be chief cheerleader of Anderson based on performances against pub teams

every thread turns into a homoerotic ribbing session with ye two.

Are you feeling left out?

Anderson got all the praise on tuesday but for me he played
too far forward and compressed the play which took rice and
Rogers out of the game, and led to them getting a couple
of breaks.

He was very badly positioned to lose ball when konsa eventually
bailed him out.

He's new to the 6 role, and doesn't get to play in
a dominant team at forest so tuchel has a lot to teach him.

What I like about Anderson is his energy and he is always looking to play the ball forward.  Watching him for England, it's no surprise he's had the most touches in the PL this season as he was everywhere.  Always available, he's not afraid and he doesn't play safe like the turgid stuff I'm used to under Southgate and under Tuchel's previous games.  Been crying out for England to play like a PL game, and finally we have a player who's mindset is to do so.

Now it might be coincidence that England were shocking in their first 4 group games and against Senegal, and with Anderson in central midfield they've produced vastly superior performances against Serbia and Latvia.  My personal view is that Anderson was central to that improvement.

I do like Konsa too.  I think it was last year that someone said he was the only defensive player in the PL that hadn't been beaten in a one on one.  No idea if that was true?  But he is certainly defensively very solid.  At present I'd say England's weakest position is full back

No mention of Eze
I'd have him in front of Gordon....

I think I would too

Gordon gives pace and width, eze is a lovely player
who is a must for the squad, and should get on most games
if not starting.

Skelly and eze down the left could be trialled at arsenal.

Surely if Rashers plays well for barca he walks in ahead of
Gordon or eze or grealish. I tried to hint at that earlier.

I think Bellingham is England's best player.  I couldn't leave him out.  He's a big game player who scores goals and is defensively very robust too, which Palmer and Foden aren't.  He's often looked England's best player on the day.  That means no place for Palmer or Foden, as Kane has to start.  I couldn't have Foden to save my life.  He's been so poor for England. And if Kane starts then you need pace on the wings, so no Grealish there either.  Grealish comes into his own when you are under the pump, as he carries the ball up field in those circumstances and wins free kicks better than anyone.  So someone who relieves some of the pressure when you are hanging on to a lead.  If Kane was injured and you had the pace of Watkins up front, then there is a place for more composure and guile, rather than pace in one of the wide positions.  Someone like Livramento would need to compliment that side of the pitch with his pace and power.

Flashscores rated Skelly at 5.5, the worst rating of any England player that night.


There were DOZENS of different sites offering ratings, some gave him 6, some 5 but it's not relevant anyway, highlighting one single match in friendly that nobody cares about to make a point is stupid.

Eze is great but England need width, Gordon drags players out of position and can get in behind them with a cross, Eze is a number 10 in his best position and I can't see Tuchel playing him instead of Palmer or Foden.

I think Bellingham is massively overrated, that doesn't mean that he's still not a top top player, it means people eulogise about him as if he's the second coming when he's not, you don't need a player with an attacking and defensive mind player in his position, that's what Rice and Anderson are there for.

Kind Regards.

Senegal are the only are the only half decent team TT's England have faced and that night they were easily spanked.

always plays the ball forward ?
he attempted 3,4 60 yd sideways ray Wilkins style crossfield balls to journeymen fullbacks,who had to wait 20 seconds for the ball to get there ,get under control,look for a pass ,whilst opposition closed them down,the so called skillful midfielder with the passing range eye for a pass,used all the time,space available to try the Wilkins pass, worst most useful pass in football the one every opposition player wants you to play,whilst they all have time to shuffle across

It was Senegal's World Cup final, playing England, England didn't give a s***

If you think they are half decent you can back them
at 150 on hear for world cup.

Or maybe it was just an experimental team, that misfired.

Same old England fans: Excited by victories against dross, dismissive of any defeats.

No, it's the confusion that Senegal are half decent
but England get pelters for losing a friendly.

With a known troll attacking players from a rival club

Or ex rival club, lol

It's just a team predictions thread for the first 11, but nobby as per usually in his boredom turns it in to something else to draw attention to himself.

And the fact I've put Gordon in the team or Foden instead of Eze who can play both positions tells you there's biasm there.

I rate Livramento but think Tuchel will go with Lewis-Skelly, it's not a problem either way is it.

Kind Regards.

Bellingham must play.  It would be an act of folly to leave on of your only two world class players.

No, it's the confusion that Senegal are half decent
but England get pelters for losing a friendly.

With a known troll attacking players from a rival club

Or ex rival club, lol

Senegal have some very good players.

In the build up to a world cup there are no friendlies. Every game is a test.

To you anyone who disagrees with you is a troll.

Rival club? My only team plays in the Betfair Footy Forum.


I'll bookmark this thread and TTT it next summer,

No, you are a troll.

There are some really good contributions on the thread.

Why would you bookmark it, people just picking their
engerland team, and adding to debate.

And a troll.

So anyone who sees Skelly as a liability against good players is a troll?

Lol, if that your only trolling...

I rest my case.


(and as usual I'll allow you the last word)

Great, the troll has left.

Now we can get back to England.

Extra centre half position after stones, konsa, and guehi...

Dan burn brings a lot of height, which is useful when it's gone
Pete tong, but could easily have lost his place in Newcastle team by then.

Quansa? Maguire? Branthwaite? Chalobah? Colwill?

Some real depth of talent.

not sure arteta rates skelly

The way he tackles he should be called skelly the elephant

This would be the only Ingerlund team who would have a chance in the World Cup..

1 Gordon Banks.
2 George Cohen.
3 Ashley Cole.
4 Jackie Charlton.
5 Bobby Moore.
6 Duncan Edwards.
7 Stan Matthews.
8 Colin Bell.
9 Bobby Charlton.
10 Wilf Mannion.
11 Tom Finney.

Even I could get behind that team.
The current lot?
Meh...

You would need to add a Russian linesman to be sure of success.    And of course, Sir Stanley Rous revived from the dead.

(and as usual I'll allow you the last word)


What's that coming up over the mountain? ......... it's Nobby waving his White Flag again

Dan Burn can cover at left back.  He also plays left sided centre half.  Stones and Konsa play right side normally.  Colwill who plays on the left side has an ACL injury I believe.  I believe Livramento and Spence will both go. Both can play on either flank.  Konsa can also cover at right back.  I don't see Lewis Skelley in the squad myself.  He was very poor.  He's only a kid and I think his confidence has been knocked.  Tuchel likes James so assume he'll go too, but my son says he's been very average for Chelsea.  TAA is a very different type of player to the others.  Maybe Tuchel think his style of play doesn't suit his tactics.  Big call to leave him out if he's playing regularly for Madrid

I well remember Nobby’s toothless jig ( fully realising that you are on about a different Nobby ).  God it makes you sick even thinking about it. 

I know TAA is injured at the moment but he was left out of the last squad when he was fit

Trent would be a great option off bench and player in games
where we expect to win.

Surely he has to go.

His passing ability is so valuable, and his indifferent, at times,
defending just has to be overlooked such is his talent
at creating goals.

Can easily sub fullback these days as they are so busy
they often need replacing around 65-70 mins anyway.

What's that coming up over the mountain? ......... it's Nobby waving his White Flag again

Read the thread, you and your *** chum are the only people who rate Skelly, everyone else including his club manager, Arteta, agrees with me.

That's a nice white flag to wave

nobby losing his rag again, HTEHB

From his early start at Madrid, looks like Alonso didn't fancy Trent, Carvajal much more of a defender's defender.
Southgate didn't trust him, so tried him in Midfield, didn't work.
Worked well in Klopp's gung-ho system and because he had cover for Trent.
Tuchel seems less willing to shoe-horn him for him to make his lunging runs forward leaving the gaps at the back to be covered other players.

Looks like he's probably going to have to accept that he's always going to be considered a luxury player. It's really not a peddle myth that he can't defend, he just can't.

Kind Regards.

Klopp knows, knew, whatever...

Struggles v Newcastle, so started him on bench,
gave him 30 ish mins, changed the game, liverpool
nearly won, but schar left unmarked on right, and goalie
left it... Should have subbed him back off at 3-2,..lol

To win the World Cup you need 5 things;

1/ a great goalkeeper
2/ a great defence
3/ a playmaker who can open the tightest of defences
4/ a pair of great finishers
5/ luck.

If you are missing any one of the above you stand very little chance.

95% of countries don't have one great finisher,who were argentina,s 2 great finishers ?

the team with 2 of the worlds great finishers currently bottom of their group