My starting team for the World Cup below in bold with their alternatives in brackets:
Joe Hart (Fraser Forster, Ben Foster) - not the best of the bad bunch, that would be harsh, but the best of a good-not-great bunch. Haw his flaws but I'd choose Hart over his backups.
Kyle Walker (Glen Johnson) - again, neither are great, one showed potential to be (Kyle) the other has declined (Johnson), but I'd have Walker start cos I think he's a bit better defensively which is important at the World Cup.
Gary Cahill (Steven Caulker) - our best defender IMO, has benefited from playing with Terry and being managed by Mourinho. I still really rate Caulks and would take him at backup.
Phil Jagielka (Chris Smalling) - struck up a fairly solid understanding with Cahill in the last year or so. Isn't very good individually but if we sit deep as I suspect we will under Hodgson then he'll do a decent enough job.
Luke Shaw (Leighton Baines) - I'd honestly consider starting Shaw, he offers so much going forward and can hold his own defensively despite his age. Baines is as good a second choice as you could ask for and could come in if Shaw struggles in the opening game.
James Milner (Jordan Henderson) - don't care if I get shot down for this I reckon Milner is wildly underrated by England fans for being played out of position on the wing every game, would do a terrific job in the engine room with Henderson as his deputy.
Steven Gerrard (Gareth Barry) - Gerrard is captain and our best midfielder so will definitely play, I'd take Barry as backup instead of Carrick, the former has had a very good season, the latter a bad one.
Adam Lallana (Ross Barkley) - he's inexperienced but meh, just give Lallana a chance from the start, opposition won't know much about him and he deserves it based on this season. Barkley as backup instead of Wilchair every day of the bleeding week.
Raheem Sterling (Adam Johnson) - what I've seen of him this season Sterling has been at his best on the right wing, Johnson is currently a better player than Chamberlain and Townsend ATM, simple.
Daniel Sturridge (Rickie Lambert) - brilliant season, worthy of playing in the no.9 position ahead of Rooney. Lambert is good and would offer something different from the bench in games.
Wayne Rooney (Danny Welbeck) - Rooney has played the inside forward left role well before for Man United so no reason he can't do it for us. Welbeck can do a decent job there if any injuries arise.
Joe Hart (Fraser Forster, Ben Foster) - not the best of the bad bunch, that would be harsh, but the best of a good-not-great bunch. Haw his flaws but I'd choose Hart over his backups.
Kyle Walker (Glen Johnson) - again, neither are great, one showed potential to be (Kyle) the other has declined (Johnson), but I'd have Walker start cos I think he's a bit better defensively which is important at the World Cup.
Gary Cahill (Steven Caulker) - our best defender IMO, has benefited from playing with Terry and being managed by Mourinho. I still really rate Caulks and would take him at backup.
Phil Jagielka (Chris Smalling) - struck up a fairly solid understanding with Cahill in the last year or so. Isn't very good individually but if we sit deep as I suspect we will under Hodgson then he'll do a decent enough job.
Luke Shaw (Leighton Baines) - I'd honestly consider starting Shaw, he offers so much going forward and can hold his own defensively despite his age. Baines is as good a second choice as you could ask for and could come in if Shaw struggles in the opening game.
James Milner (Jordan Henderson) - don't care if I get shot down for this I reckon Milner is wildly underrated by England fans for being played out of position on the wing every game, would do a terrific job in the engine room with Henderson as his deputy.
Steven Gerrard (Gareth Barry) - Gerrard is captain and our best midfielder so will definitely play, I'd take Barry as backup instead of Carrick, the former has had a very good season, the latter a bad one.
Adam Lallana (Ross Barkley) - he's inexperienced but meh, just give Lallana a chance from the start, opposition won't know much about him and he deserves it based on this season. Barkley as backup instead of Wilchair every day of the bleeding week.
Raheem Sterling (Adam Johnson) - what I've seen of him this season Sterling has been at his best on the right wing, Johnson is currently a better player than Chamberlain and Townsend ATM, simple.
Daniel Sturridge (Rickie Lambert) - brilliant season, worthy of playing in the no.9 position ahead of Rooney. Lambert is good and would offer something different from the bench in games.
Wayne Rooney (Danny Welbeck) - Rooney has played the inside forward left role well before for Man United so no reason he can't do it for us. Welbeck can do a decent job there if any injuries arise.
