A Place on the Plane.

Introduction

I have decided to do a 1 season England story, playing the friendlies and remaining World Cup qualifiers, hopefully culminating in the World Cup Final(However unlikely that may seem). This story will pre-dominantly be based on who will obtain places to Brazil, mirroring real life, such as the battle between Cole and Shaw for the backup left back spot.

Fixture List

All these games are winnable and should see us qualify for the World Cup. The friendly in Czech Republic will give me a chance to experiment with some players I have been looking at lately such as Tom Huddlestone and Raheem Sterling. Poland and Ukraine would be harder games were we away from home but at Wembley we should beat both. The game away in Montenegro appears, to me, to be the hardest game as Montenegro have a host of attacking options, including Stevan Jovetic and Mirko Vucinic. However, their lack of defensive options should also see us triumphant. Ending on San Marino is fantastic as it will be a great confidence builder for the boys.

Friendly Squad Announced

England coach Roy Hodgson has today named his 23 man England squad for the friendly versus the Czech Republic. There are some shocks as Hodgson names some more low key players in his 23 as he looks to experiment with all of the players he has available to him.

England Squad for Friendly vs. The Czech Republic.

Goalkeepers - Fraser Forster, Ben Foster and Joe Hart
Defenders - Kyle Walker, Glenn Johnson, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, Steven Caulker, Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole.
Midfielders - Adam Lallana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson, Tom Huddlestone, Raheem Sterling, Theo Walcott
Attackers - Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Jermain Defoe, Fraizer Campbell

Roy Hodgson has clearly used the injuries to the likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Michael Carrick to see how players such as Fraizer Campbell cope with the pressure of international football. Tom Huddlestone, Steven Caulker and Fraser Forster are the other players whose selection is being criticized by the media as they feel Frank Lampard, Chirs Smalling and John Ruddy would be better options. The exclusion of in-form Luke Shaw has also pained the media as they bemoan the decision to include out of form Ashley Cole, suggesting Hodgson is sticking with what he knows works.

Good luck!

Good luck.

good luck hopefully your just as lucky as Kevin Keegan was

Good luck

Lallana Scores on Debut as England Triumph

England triumphed over Czech Republic as two players who have been in excellent from for their respective clubs were on the score-sheet. Adam Lallana scored early on but then, just after half time Tomas Rosicky equalised. England scored a dramatic winner as Steven Caulker rose highest to nod home form a corner.

Adam Lallana got England off to a flier inside 20 minutes as his precise finish from a Danny Welbeck cross found the net. Lallana was in excellent form on his first ever England appearance picking up the Man of the Match award, ultimately allowing him the perfect England debut.



When asked by a reporter if he was happy with his performance he replied:

"Yeah, I'm delighted! There was a chance late on in the first half that I should've scored but overall yeah, I'm really proud of my performance, despite it only being a friendly. I took the goal well but it was an excellent ball in from Danny! So, yeah, I'm buzzing and hope I've impressed enough to be considered for a place in the World Cup Qualifiers squad."

Steven Caulker, scorer of the winning goal, was also delighted as he made it 2 England appearances, 2 goals, both being headers. Caulker who was frozen out appears to have a place in Hodgson's squad and is determined to keep it. When asked about the game he said :

"It was a evenly fought game between two excellent sides. People say the Czechs are not as good as they once were and that may be the case but they are still a regimental, disciplined side. It was good to get the win and hopefully we can build from here and secure World Cup Qualification."



Overall, England have performed well, and should gain confidence from this result that will spur them on to glory in their Qualifying group.

Lallana has one arm!

Nice start m8 Good luck!

Nice result!

Roy Hodgson has raised eyebrows today after launching a verbal attack on the British media. After he named his squad for the crucial World Cup Qualifying fixtures against Ukraine and Poland, the media criticised him for leaving out Frank Lampard and Glenn Johnson. Roy was clearly upset as he launched the following statement :

"Its a disgrace when even your own journalists and supporters don't back you. I pick what I feel is the best team available to me and Frank Lampard, on current form, wasn't in that team. There is a place for Lampard but he needs to improve dramatically. Huddlestone and Jordan Henderson have been better currently and deserve the midfield spots. Whereas the criticism that I have received about the exclusion of Johnson is diabolical. Liverpool phoned me the day before I announced the squad informing me that Glenn wouldn't be available for selection because of an ankle injury. The fact that they have criticised the inclusion of Adam Lallana appalls me as he has been in excellent form for Southampton and scored on his England debut. Clearly this group of journalists are too incompetent, lacking the necessary research required to prove their point. There are some decent journalists still out there, however all who mocked and ridiculed this squad selection, whilst also questioning my competency for the job, will be banned from the England media area. Only BBC, The Guardian, FourFourTwo and ITV will be allowed access. I have had enough of the drivel all the other media channels spout."

Hodgson clearly feels passionately about this subject, in that he took such dramatic measures, banning all but 4 media outlets. Here is the squad that triggered the outburst :

Goalkeepers : Ben Foster, Fraser Forster, Jack Butland.
Defenders : Kyle Walker, Martin Kelly, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Steven Caulker, Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole.
Midfielders : Raheem Sterling, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Lallana, Jack Wilshere
Attackers : Jermain Defoe, Jay Rodriguez, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck.

At a first glance this does seem a below average squad but once you delve into it, you realise it was probably the best available to Roy. Wayne Rooney had sustained a calf strain so was unavailable, as was Michael Carrick for the same reason. Joe Hart broke a finger in training for Man City so was also unavailable whilst John Ruddy sprained his hand, after being named in the original squad. Frank Lampard has been in awful form and didn't deserve the call up, neither did Aaron Lennon or Ashley Young.

The criticism Roy has received is unfair and preposterously outrageous. He has not put a foot wrong so far as England manager and deserves the respect he has earned. Bwing on the Ukwaine.

great update mate; typical English media tho it's a good squad you've put together there, especially given the injuries you outlined...bring on Ukraine indeed!