Match thread: Slovenia v England

[Aussie Rules]

How brave would it be for the England manager to select the 'lesser lights' to represent their country?

[Howjy04]

That's probably why we let them go to Shrewsbury.

I much prefer Smithy and Streete.

 

On last night's showing I'd prefer them playing for England.

Hart

Streete Smith

Grant

Jones Rooney

Build an England team around that.

[Howjy04]

If Jordan 'short,back and sideways'Henderson is captain material I will be watching Gibraltar in future,instead.

[Davebrad]

its not a honour to turn out for England nowadays as a previous poster says its money... is the a stone somewhere in the English football fortress that as "all English players MUST be from our great premier league". Why can't players from the lower league's be picked? they may not have all the fancy footwork, but pride and enthusiasm would make up for it.

[sbilli]

The good national teams can pick players from all the big Europeean leagues. England only from PL. This is a big set back for the national team.

If young English footballers was seeking out more to the other big leagues for a number og seasons, he will come back more complete footballer than if he stayed in England. With the PL being the most physical and intense. England have lost a lot of good talent to injuries. If these lads went out to Spain, Italy, Germany. in the start of the carreer in less physical leagues, they could come back as fully grown at 25, and not having the big injuri set backs.

[valeparklife]

Jordan Henderson wouldn't get in the Vale team. Fact. He's absolute garbage.

 

Joe Hart MOTM vs SLOVENIA says everything you need to know.

[JOHNNYAITCH]

Is Fraser considering applying for the Scotland job (should it become vacant)? It's sad to see Scotland where they are given the great players that they have had in the not too distant past (Dalglish, Souness etc)...mind you compare current England to the not too distant past and are we much better off.

 

I fell asleep part way thru the first half of the England game and woke up just before the end wishing that I had slept for another 10 minutes.

 

If Spain are up for it they'll have a field day in the upcoming friendly

[JOHNNYAITCH]

Look out everyone when we play well.

 

2001 I think was the last time wasn't it? We must be due to play well again soon

[Yukon]

How brave would it be for the England manager to select the 'lesser lights' to represent their country?

 

i would very much describe Theo Walcott, Gary Cahill and Wayne Rooney as "lesser lights" these days

[TheSage]

There is clearly something inherently wrong with "the system' somewhere because we've had lots of managers and hundreds of players come and go since 1966 and still not won anything.

 

A lot of these lads shine for their club sides but under-perform in an England shirt. Walcott is a good example. He's a very good Premiership player, with a top club, who most teams would like to have in their squad. But he isn't playing as well as he can for England. You could say the same about several others.

 

Do they play too many games? Are these multi-millionaires not that bothered any longer because they've got too much, too soon, too easily? Do we play too many games and they are jaded? Should we have a winter break? Are we poorer technically than other top teams? If so, why? Are there too many foreign owners, managers & players?

 

There is clearly something not right, something [or several factors] hindering the progress of the national team. Teams like Germany, Spain and France have pushed on while we have stagnated for the past 50 years.

 

It's like groundhog day watching England isn't it? You could be watching a reel from the eighties, nineties and naughties and we were playing just the same then.

[Paul6754]

Clear last night that England have a dearth of real talent at the moment, also clear that although Rooney isn't the player he was 3 years ago but he's still better in any forward position than any player who started last night.

 

Picking Lingard, Sturridge or Walcott over Rooney in such an important game away from home was sheer lunacy.

 

If anyone has any doubts about the negative impact on English football from swamping the EPL and EFL with foreign managers and players then those doubts should have been expunged last night. Football should be ring fenced and adopt a quota system and accept only the very best at/near the peake of their careers not the likes of a Scweinsteiger or an Ibrahimovic at the end of their careers looking for a lucrative pay day who just block the growth and opportunity of young English players.

[JOHNNYAITCH]

I am starting to think it has to be an attitude thing.

 

The foreign managers in the PL would not play these players if they weren't good enough so it's not ability and they play in big high pressure matches every week..has to be something to do with what goes on in their heads when they play for England...maybe they just aren't bothered enough to get themselves in the right place mentally

[SourceOfTheTrent]

I am starting to think it has to be an attitude thing.

 

The foreign managers in the PL would not play these players if they weren't good enough so it's not ability and they play in big high pressure matches every week..has to be something to do with what goes on in their heads when they play for England...maybe they just aren't bothered enough to get themselves in the right place mentally

 

I'm thinking the same thing. The level of errors in the game last night was a million miles from how these same players perform every week for their clubs.

[For Us All]

If people are looking for someone to blame for the demise of English football,look no further than the PL and Sky TV.I'm afraid,the national team now takes second place to the 'Greed Is Good League' and you only have to look at the majority of fans who follow England these days,most of who come from the FL.The PL fans have more important things to do,a bit like the players it seems?

[JOHNNYAITCH]

It could be that the players' mentality is 'club good, international matches inconvenient'