England can win World Cup thanks to United

Now our hands have been mathematically and begrudgingly prized off the Premier League trophy some United fans might turn their attention to rooting for England in this summer’s World Cup Finals!

Hope remains success at club level might yet come in the form of a European Cup win, but some United players could be eyeing more likely success at international level and the INCLUDES players playing their way into Roy Hodgson’s final 23-man squad. Yes that’s right, England CAN win the World Cup in their new England kit this summer!

But which United players will help drive that success and why?

IN:

Chris Smalling: tall, athletic, quick and slightly old fashioned; Smalling makes good decisions at centre half and has offers Hodgson the perfect partner for Gary Cahill in the absence of previous centre halves such as Rio Ferdinand and John Terry. Smalling may lack the experience of those affore mentioned predecessors but his no-nonsense approach to defending could be the difference between winning and losing.

Tom Cleverley: Possibly the most under-rated midfielder in the country, especially by the majority of United fans who, at least a few of, had the audacity to create a moronic poll to rid the player from future England squads. Really, what have football fans come to? Cleverley has struggled for form and bore the brunt of United’s failure this season but admirers will highlight his natural desire to play forward as just one of his many strengths. In a diamond midfield of Gerrard, Cleverley, Barkley and (United bound) Lallana; Cleverley will prove his critics wrong and become one of Europe’s most sought after midfielders.

Wayne Rooney: The lad has pretty much pulled United’s pants down for about 10yrs now but there’s no denying his worth. He’s steadily worked his way up United’s scoring charts almost as quickly as he’s wracked up his millions. His form for England has been patchy over the years but his goals tell another story. If he strikes up a decent partnership with the very much in-form Daniel Sturridge, they could produce a plethora of goals to fire them to glory.

Phil Jones: I still believe it’s in Jones’ interest to secure ONE position for himself or risk becoming Phil Neville rather than Phil Jones. Jones’ form and progression has suffered and stifled since joining United thanks in part to injuries and beeping juggled from centre half, to right back, to midfield general and back round again. He’s making basic mistakes when he plays at centre half now purely because he’s missed out on too much match experience in that position over recent campaigns. This clip from the Olympiakos 2nd leg highlights one such mistake where he chooses not to engage the obvious danger despite having cover behind and being the closest man to the ball.

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United got away with it on that occasion thanks to De Gea but England might not be so lucky hence why Jones cannot be considered a first choice centre half. However, Jones’ versatility puts him in ahead of other defensive candidates such as Caulker at Cardiff, Brown at Sunderland, Shawcross at Stoke and the calamitous Lescott at City.

Danny Welbeck: Will probably consider himself unlucky not to be first choice BUT his lack of goals is a concern. Yes he’s netted more times than any other season this season for both club AND country but with Rooney and Sturridge almost nailed on for starting and both scoring for fun, Welbeck may possibly find himself used on the left for his pace and industry whenever required where Danny could still play a pivotal role as the tournament progresses.

OUT:

The biggest notable absentee from my list is undoubtedly Michael Carrick. For one fleeting season Carrick cunningly deceived the Old Trafford faithful into thinking he was/is a top class midfielder. Yes he can pass, yes he can intercept but that I’m afraid is where it ends thanks to an insistence to think backwards and sideways BEFORE thinking forwards. Having had huge hopes for him at Spurs and then at United but Carrick has failed to progress merely by being so mentally negative. When he drives forward and thinks attacking there’s no limit to his capabilities (See QPR away and Roma at home; but there should be many more examples than there are). Carrick’s potential has reached nowhere near what it was capable of and that’s DESPITE forging a successful career at Manchester United. Huddlestone and Henderson have played their way ahead of Carrick so he gets the summer off.

Another absentee from my squad is Ashley Young but I don’t feel there’s an explanation necessary in his case.

I know there are many United fans who really couldn’t care less about England or International football but, when it comes the World Cup, there’s far more interest than at any other time – even if it’s only to have a laugh at their expense when they’re sent crashing out of the competition.

This year however……..it could be different!

My starting XI:

Hart

Baines
Smalling
Cahill
Johnson

Gerrard
Barkley
Cleverley
Lallana

Rooney

Sturridge

Bench:

Green
Foster
Shaw
Walker
Jagielka
Jones
Huddlestone
Henderson
Sterling
Lambert
Welbeck

Plus a space remaining for either Wilshere, Morrison or Milner.

Purchase the new England kit to show your support.