OK, I'm going into the World Cup with England, and being a perfectionist, I want to win it. The problem is, my team is mediocre at best and I have been drawn into a very tough group (Spain, Nigeria who have godly regens, and Australia). I took over management just after Euro 2012, when Fabio Capello retired.
Basically, the Ferdinand/Terry/Lampard/Carrick generation is too old, and the only established player from that era I can really still use is Gerrard, and even then as a sub. Hargreaves will probably make my squad too. The problem is that the mature players in my team are the likes of Parker, Downing, Glen Johnson, Defoe and so on - and they're not really good enough to be the core of my team.
Some players have emerged as quality, and they are Shawcross, Walcott, Young and Wilshere. Plus, players I've managed at Arsenal are able to play a role in the team (JET, Frimpong, Gibbs), and of course Rooney is still a quality player, but after that I'm in trouble.
In truth, my centre back situation is pretty good, and I have plenty of players at my disposal there. My wingers in Young and Walcott are also good, with Downing and Lennon as good backups. Central midfield/defensive midfield is a worry... I usually end up playing people best suited to attacking midfield like Wilshere there.
Left back and right back are my biggest worries. Gibbs is first choice on the left; he's OK, but Johnson on the right worries me. The only other halfway decent right back I have is Micah Richards, who didn't perform well at all when I played him.
Hart is a pretty good keeper.
I have tried 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-5-1s. None have given me consistent results, which is suicide going into the World Cup.
Given the strengths and weaknesses of my team, I was actually thinking of playing a narrow 3-3-3-1 (3 centre backs, def mid, 2 central mid, three atmids, striker)... but the drawbacks of that are obvious - and trying to play a pretty, narrow, short passing game with England of all teams seems like a bad idea.
So that's where I'm at. Feedback welcomed.
Basically, the Ferdinand/Terry/Lampard/Carrick generation is too old, and the only established player from that era I can really still use is Gerrard, and even then as a sub. Hargreaves will probably make my squad too. The problem is that the mature players in my team are the likes of Parker, Downing, Glen Johnson, Defoe and so on - and they're not really good enough to be the core of my team.
Some players have emerged as quality, and they are Shawcross, Walcott, Young and Wilshere. Plus, players I've managed at Arsenal are able to play a role in the team (JET, Frimpong, Gibbs), and of course Rooney is still a quality player, but after that I'm in trouble.
In truth, my centre back situation is pretty good, and I have plenty of players at my disposal there. My wingers in Young and Walcott are also good, with Downing and Lennon as good backups. Central midfield/defensive midfield is a worry... I usually end up playing people best suited to attacking midfield like Wilshere there.
Left back and right back are my biggest worries. Gibbs is first choice on the left; he's OK, but Johnson on the right worries me. The only other halfway decent right back I have is Micah Richards, who didn't perform well at all when I played him.
Hart is a pretty good keeper.
I have tried 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-5-1s. None have given me consistent results, which is suicide going into the World Cup.
Given the strengths and weaknesses of my team, I was actually thinking of playing a narrow 3-3-3-1 (3 centre backs, def mid, 2 central mid, three atmids, striker)... but the drawbacks of that are obvious - and trying to play a pretty, narrow, short passing game with England of all teams seems like a bad idea.
So that's where I'm at. Feedback welcomed.
