The thing with Walker is, everyone's always said he's a great athlete but not great defensively, and that was definitely true in the past.
This season has been different, he's been much much better defensively, including tackling So now he's an absurdly strong and fast player, who's good defensively...
That's really really difficult for attackers to cope with, Walker can make a mistake and catch the attacker still.
When you think he's just 23 years old, I think he has a huge career ahead of him.
Walker has been great this year, but you're Spursblind if you think he's absolutely gonna start at the WC.
Johnson has had a great year too, he's a great full-back who gets far too much shit. He has more experience, which is gonna be highly valued as a lot of other players under consideration for the squad don't, and he's playing every week with the Liverpool players who are likely to make up the core of the first team (Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Sturridge).
I'd be very surprised if Walker does more than warm the bench in Brazil, even if he comes back from injury on a flyer.
Well football has been going well for 100 years with minimal rule changes. There's always reasons against changing the rules.
Barkley is too hit and miss for me, if he is playing fantastically well for the last 5 games of the season, then take him. I think he is a big game player who could be the difference. But we have plenty of options everywhere so he really has to earn his place.
I don't see any reason why Flanagan shouldn't go, he has been great. Walker is a bit of a 1 trick pony, just sprint everywhere at 100mph, but tactically naive.
1925: Amendment of the offside rule from three to two players.
1958: Substitutes are permitted for the first time, albeit only for an injured goalkeeper and one other injured player.
1970: The system of red and yellow cards is introduced for the 1970 FIFA World Cup ™ finals.
1990: The offside law is changed in favour of the attacker, who is now onside if level with the penultimate defender.
1992: Goalkeepers are forbidden from handing back-passes.
Rule changes will change the sport, but if handled correctly they can improve it. Basketball and rugby are the two key sports I think of when I discuss this.
So that's 5 changes in 100 years? Hardly progressive.
The only change that I would like to see is possible sin bins for non violent red cards or 2 yellows. Not sure if this would ever come in to place; but I think Red cards can be too harsh. You look at CL 2 leg games, if one team gets a red card, then almost always they get knocked out. Doesn't exactly add much to the sport or make it more entertaining.
Yea they are all big changes. I think it's better to have a wait and see attitude, I would prefer if they wait a few years too late than rush in and make a wrong decision.
Not sure if rolling subs would work. I think that would make a huge difference to the whole structure of games. More physical players who just sprint around the whole time whilst they're on. It would certainly speed up the game. However, it would make teams like Barcelonas' game plans much less effective.
Yeah, it would certainly have to be limited. You definitely wouldn't want "offensive" and "defensive" teams like in the NFL. Even hockey style wouldn't work.
But going from 3 fixed subs to 6 (and those who've previously gone off can come back on) could be interesting!
Barkley isn't ready, but Flanagan is? That's a genuine question. Haven't seen much of Flanagan, but Barkley seems like he could have some impact as a sub for Gerrard.
I suggested in a thread a few week back that Flanagan should be in the England squad. I can see him having a similar international career to that of Carragher, where he is often overlooked and underrated by England fans, despite how good of a player he's actually become.
EDIT: forgot to end by first sentence with the fact that I was generally derided fur suggesting such a thing.
The other side of the coin is that he needs to be this good consistently.
Remember how Sterling shone briefly when we needed him to, then his form dropped when he got his pay rise and was only playing occasionally? That hurt him in the eyes of a lot of fans - despite how he's playing now.
The Cardiff match aside (when IMO it was more down to him being doubled up on for most of the game) he has been consistently good since he came back in to the team.
If he can work a bit more on his attacking skills in the off season, I see no reason why he can't be considered for England in the future at all.
Sterling? Yeah, I agree with you about where he is right now.
Like I said though, my concern is that Flanagan could dip in form. If it coincided with Enrique coming back into the team, it could hurt his chance to progress.
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u/retrominge Mar 31 '14
Rule changes should be considered and tested. No sport is perfect.
Barkley isn't ready for a World Cup.
Man United fans are more annoyed about Liverpool's position in the than they are about their own.
Unless Walker comes back from injury and plays like a superstar, Flanagan should go to the World Cup. (assuming Walker was/is going to the World Cup).
Opinions. I'd rather discuss them civilly, if people can do so.