As a Scot, there are few things I enjoy more than seeing England crash and burn at major football tournaments. Over the last 20 years, England's perpetual underachievement has been a joy to behold, but this year, the Liverpool contingent in the squad could - if played together - push the team to the next level. As horrific a thought as that is, it will be interesting to see how Sterling, Hendo, and and Sturridge get on, and ex-Red Peter Crouch believes that the LFC striker can be one of the stars of the tournament.
Speaking to the Daily Mail this week, Crouch hailed Sturridge and Sterling as 'unbelievable', adding:
"Those Liverpool players, especially Sturridge and Sterling, seem to be playing with so much freedom. I think Sturridge can light up the tournament."
In my view, Sterling, Sturridge, Gerrard, and Henderson (plus Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana) should be the first names on the England team-sheet. The team should be built around those six players, and if Hodgson does that, then England will have a chance of progressing to (at least) the quarter-finals.
Who else in the England squad has performed as consistently well as those six this season? Jack Wilshere? Rooney? James frickin' Milner? Give me a break.
The fanfare over Wilshere, for example, really makes me laugh. What exactly has he done in the game to invoke such hype? Practically nothing, yet its likely that Hodgson will pick him in the starting XI ahead of Hendo, a decision that will make no sense whatsoever.
Hodgson is also likely to waste Sturridge's talent by playing him out wide to accommodate Rooney, even though Sturridge has scored more goals in less games this season.
Whatever the set-up, I can't wait to see Luis Suarez tear England apart; and if he cheats to secure victory, it will be amusing to see enabling LFC fans foaming at the mouth over the injustice of it all, blissfully unaware of the hilarious irony.
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to the Daily Mail this week, Crouch hailed Sturridge and Sterling as 'unbelievable', adding:
"Those Liverpool players, especially Sturridge and Sterling, seem to be playing with so much freedom. I think Sturridge can light up the tournament."
In my view, Sterling, Sturridge, Gerrard, and Henderson (plus Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana) should be the first names on the England team-sheet. The team should be built around those six players, and if Hodgson does that, then England will have a chance of progressing to (at least) the quarter-finals.
Who else in the England squad has performed as consistently well as those six this season? Jack Wilshere? Rooney? James frickin' Milner? Give me a break.
The fanfare over Wilshere, for example, really makes me laugh. What exactly has he done in the game to invoke such hype? Practically nothing, yet its likely that Hodgson will pick him in the starting XI ahead of Hendo, a decision that will make no sense whatsoever.
Hodgson is also likely to waste Sturridge's talent by playing him out wide to accommodate Rooney, even though Sturridge has scored more goals in less games this season.
Whatever the set-up, I can't wait to see Luis Suarez tear England apart; and if he cheats to secure victory, it will be amusing to see enabling LFC fans foaming at the mouth over the injustice of it all, blissfully unaware of the hilarious irony.
Author: Jaimie K
Off topic, German newspaper BILD, claim LFC have agreed terms for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can, He looks good on youtube (as does everyone else,) an upgrade on Lucas, or a replacement, ???
ReplyDeleteversatile (can play left-back), young, technically really good but apart from that don't know if he's defensively good.
ReplyDeletewouldn't mind him being a replacement for Lucas if the fees cancel each other.
putting Sturridge out of position to accomodate Rooney would be stupid, every time he's been the main man England has fail miserably.
ReplyDeleteRoss Barkley despite being really good lacked consistency this season, would be better to see him come from the bench.
Hodgson will most likely bottle it with his team-sheet, don't know how people really believe England will outplay Italy in a World cup phase... i think they won't get past the group stage
Could he be our new left back,? he he.
ReplyDeleteGuaranteed Hodgson will stuff it up. How he got the England job I'll never understand.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't give a stuff about England either Jaimie but my worry is Hodgson will destroy our players and send them back broken men.
ReplyDeleteHa.Ha Ha.... Jamie. Nice one.
ReplyDeleteBroken in soul and mind?
ReplyDeleteIf there is one striker you'd want to pay attention to during the world cup it's Belgiums Divock Origi. Currently plays for Lille but I'll tell you now that if we do not snap him up this summer, we'll be moaning and groaning about him joining Chelsea two years from now. He was a surprise selection for Belgium but I'm not surprised at all. He's the strength of Lukaku and Benteke and the finesse of Hazard.
ReplyDeleteAs an Irish man, I normally console myself with England totally bottling it at each tourney that we don't make.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as I get older I am growing a little less petty about these matters.
The England squad this time is young, vibrant and quite brilliant. People are talking as if this world cup is being discounted in order to build for next Euros. That is rubbish, if England can avoid defeat to Italy in opening game, anything could happen. I foretell Glen Johnson having a shocker and coming back despised by ALL fans, not just Liverpool ones. You were right about him Jaimie.
So come on Liverpool, I mean Merseyside, I mean England!!!!
You should write a letter to BR, mark it urgent. He will get to see it.
ReplyDeleteArticulate why the player is a good target. You might even get a job out of it.
Seriously
"James frickin' Milner". I laughed out loud in the office. Thank you :D
ReplyDeleteAlso agree about Wilshere, I've never seen any reason for all the hype around him. Plus he can't stay fit walking to his car let alone playing a whole game of football.
I'm sure you're one of those people who always mocks people who actually know something about a certain subject and then moan three years later when you've actually caught on to what they were saying. Don't be a hater just because you're a bit slow...
ReplyDeleteThe most incredibly overrated player in the English side is Wayne Rooney. It's incredible how the media talk up this very average player. Daniel Sturridge has every right to play up forward. I am a Scot as well but not an England hater. it's only a game for F sake!
ReplyDeleteI share your questionable interest in an England team. As an Irish-Australian it confuses me to think that I might not be actively willing an England team to lose every match. I'll likely be supporting Uruguay ahead of them in the group, but otherwise I won't have my usual anti-England zest. I just like these guys too much and not even Shrek can seem to put me off, although maybe the actual sight of him on the telly will push me back into my usual state.
ReplyDeleteHmm at least we won't have to watch Scotland playing last century football
ReplyDelete