Bertrand Smalling Jones Walker

Unless Wabara Mawson Roberts Smith turn out for the 2nd half I can't remember a worse England back 4

 

How many goals have they conceded against arguably the best team in the world?

 

Not watching; is Stones injured?

 

No. Expected to play on Tuesday with Cahill.

 

I'd have played him tonight.

 

Smalling's been good this season to be fair.

 

With Cahill seemingly being Roy's true first pick and Stones being paired with him I'm hoping that's a sign.

 

He's improved massively has Smalling. Jones on the other hand is of a lesser standard.

 

If Stones isn't first choice CB then Roy really is in need of retiring. He's proven he can play at CH and full back at international level.

 

If he moves a big club he'll be first choice for England immediately.

 

Sad but true.

 

I think Smalling is nailed on first choice. It's then between Cahill, Jagielka and Stones. Can't see Jones being first choice.

 

How on Earth can you argue Spain are the best team, especially in their current form? That's hilarious.

 

I'll argue all day long they're top 3. Maybe Germany and Argentina are better? Although Germany lost last night and Argentina lost at home to Ecuador last month.

They've now won their last 9 without conceding a goal. Some pretty shocking form that, isn't it?

I think it's far from hilarious to argue they're the best team in the world.

 

I expected Stones to be first choice for the Euros. But given his injury last international, Hodgsons lack of giving him a chance when he is fit and now the Tuesday game being in doubt I'm starting to question this. I would play the 2 centre half expecting to be paired for the euros game in game out for 60 mins per game. Unfortunately Hodgson seems to take a regressive approach in finals so I expect Terry and Adams to be picked.

 

I think we need to be realistic, stones is the classiest of the lot, a proper rolls Royce in a car park of vauxhalls, time on the ball and not afraid to play. Which is why he'll be bought by a bigger club for many a dollar.

But he does have an error in him defensively still. Not so many - but watching him for Everton there's still work to be done to make him a full on centre back. He'll coach on, and eventually be amongst the best defenders on the world stage, I don't doubt that, but given Roy is notoriously pragmatic, you can't really blame him if he doesn't play him due to that perceived inexperience and naivety. That said I'm not sure he is any more likely to make a defensive error, be that positionally or a weak header or clearance, than any of the other candidates. So his superior footballing ability should trump them.

It would be stones and smalling for me - unbelievably. A year ago I wouldn't have imagined Chris smalling proving he could tie his shoelaces, never mind prove he is a good enough defender for man Utd and England. He's been good though. Very good. Cahill, Jones, not so much. I would imagine if Hodgson has a nailed on starter it would be smalling given his history - and the fact that of the ones at the 'big' clubs, he's clearly the best.

Never been convinced by Cahill. Though he is apparently vice captain, which leads me to think he might go Cahill and smalling.

 

Stones having an error in him is all well & good if we were still in the days of Terry, Rio, Sol, Carragher etc.

But Jones & Cahill are in there who make error after error & get starts ahead of him. It's ridiculous.

If I was gaffer Stones & Smalling would be first choice with Jagielka, Dann & Shawcross battling to be the other two in the squad

 

Look into the stats for Jones and Smalling as a CB partnership - they usually keep a clean sheet.
Agree that Stones should be in there thogh


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The only thing is 80% of international games are against sides that wouldn't survive in the championship.

Bigger test is champions league & premiership games against the better sides where Jones tends to come up short.

 

My point is that to be good at international level you need to be playing international football. Given that we don't have a set settled first choice pairing you would have thought this is the time to start to get them to tell, build and understanding and get the experience. Stones is playing catch up in games played on Jones, Smalling, Cahill, but many think he is the better player. So do I. Also many ex pros seem to think the same.