With England embarking on a World Cup campaign that, so far at least, is going well, I thought it would be interesting to see how an English National League squad would shape up. I’ve gone with the 26 man format, all English players and I’ve tried to balance the squad as much as I can.
Goalkeepers
Every good squad has dependable keepers, and the 3 I’ve chosen I feel are some of the best the National League has to offer. A very honourable mention must go to Grant Smith of Yeovil. An excellent keeper who has covered himself against Notts at the weekend, he just misses out on the squad. All 3 keepers are in with a shout of starting, although you’d probably give the nod to Wealdstone’s Sam Howes. An excellent shot stopper, Howes has been a crucial part of Wealdstone continuing to defy expectations. A fine shot stopper, and an excellent communicator, Howes is the finest in the division for me. Nathan Ashmore may feel hard done by, but he will be on standby in this hypothetical World Cup. Surprisingly acrobatic for his size, Ashmore is another excellent shot stopper, one who has proven it over a number of years. Dorking’s Dan Lincoln rounds out the 3, his experience playing in senior England squads absolutely vital here. Lincoln was once a specialist fielder during the Ashes, so is used to playing in pressurised environments. The squad will lean on his experience, and he is an excellent keeper in his own right too.
Defence
With the 26 man squad I wanted to cover as many positions as possible. For that reason, Notts’ Richard Brindley was the first choice, with his ability to play at centre back, perfectly fitting my 5 back system, but being equally capable of playing as a right back in a traditional back 4. A superb athlete, versatile and a consummate professional, not only is he a good choice on the pitch, he is also perfect off of it too. Jeff King is also straight in the squad; he is in my opinion the best full back in the league, so is a natural choice here. He has the attacking quality to play at Right Wing Back, but he currently plays in a more traditional back 4, so is versatile too. He would be a threat from set pieces too, considering he has scored
Kyran Lofthouse is the other choice at right wing back, the Woking wingback who has put in several good performances this season. He has lots of energy, a fantastic delivery, searing pace and an eye for goal. He also offers tactical flexibility, with the ability to play in a more traditional wide midfield role, on either flank..
Reece Hannam is another wingback who plays in a back 5, and another player with fantastic delivery, this time from the left flank. He’s currently on loan from Crystal Palace, and is just 22, but I couldn’t overlook the quality Hannam possesses. He has real energy up and down the flank, and a cultured left foot, making him a natural choice here. As Ryan from NL Musings pointed out, there aren’t a great deal of left wing back options to choose from. However, Jack Bridge has shown real form so far in a Southend shirt. When Notts visited Roots Hall he was the best player on the pitch. He has real pace, dazzling quick feet, and despite being right footed he holds his width really well too.
It’s been well documented that I’m a massive fan of Omar Sowunmi, and we’ve seen so often that headers win games in tournament football. I’m thinking Maguire for England and Ramos for Real Madrid, and whilst I’m not comparing Sowunmi to them as footballers, in the air he’s as good as any player. He scored yet again at the weekend, bringing his tally to 5 for the season, the same amount as the likes of Tshimanga and Ruben Rodrigues. At 6ft6 he is an absolute man mountain, and he is accustomed to playing in a back 3, so fits perfectly.
Ben Tozer and his long throw would also make it on the plane. Not only would his throw cause issues for any side, he is another that plays in a back 3. He is an excellent ball carrier, is crucial to the way Wrexham build up, and at 32 is one of the more experienced players in the squad, something which is crucial in a squad. Another excellent ball carrying defender is Kyle Cameron, who slots in perfectly to the left of the defence. Whilst Cameron has Scottish youth caps, I don’t think it would take much to tempt him back to playing for England. A natural left footer, he is as good with the ball as he is without it, winning 74.16% of his defensive duels. He’s also a leader, and would captain this side.
Wrexham’s Aaron Hayden would start to the right of my defensive 3, and he is the highest profile of the defenders in the squad. That’s mainly due to his goalsocring exploits; he has scored a ridiculous 9 goals, the most of any defender, so our set piece threat will be ridiculous. He has also scored 7 with his head, the most in the league, so he really is a titan in the air. He’s a cracking defender too, although this side of his game doesn’t get nearly as much attention. My final centre back choice is a little rogue; Maidenhead’s Cole Kpekawa. We are in need of another left footed central defender, so Kpekawa fits the bill here. He also brings physicality and toughness to a backline which is full of ball players. He’s had an impressive season with Maidenhead, and adds a different aspect to our defence.
Midfield
I’m running the risk of being a little lazy here, however Ryan’s midfield choices are spot on. Chesterfield pair Darren Oldaker and Ollie Banks have been sensational so far this season. They are the heartbeat of a Chesterfield side who are still very much in the title race, and the control they both exert over games is sensational. I would be tempted to start them as a pair, due to their understanding together, however only Darren Oldaker is nailed on to start. Oldaker is such a joy to watch, his technique and ability to dictate tempo are just such rare and key gifts. The other main contender to start is Matty Palmer, probably the most underrated player in the whole league. I genuinely believe he is a League One level player, and his tactical understanding is just mind blowing. He has such a wonderful control of the football, a great weight of pass, and his positioning is superb too. He has invaluable experience playing in big games too, a seasoned Championship operator. The final choice that made both of our squads is Matt Robinson, an all action, energetic midfielder. He’s brilliant physically, and also reads the game so well. He would add some much needed steel to the midfield, and his ability to play in a variety of midfield roles, both as a 6 or an 8, make him a great pick for versatility too.
In attacking midfield I’ve gone for Elliot Lee, who has been brilliant for Wrexham so far this season. Statistically, he is the closest thing there is to Ruben Rodrigues (who for my money is the best in the league), so he slots in here as the creator of our side. He would start for us, but he is perhaps more potent off the bench, something we could use to our advantage throughout the tournament. The other option here is Joe Sbarra, who potentially hasn’t been at his best this season, but he is an attacking midfielder who has proven his quality over time. Last season he won young player of the year, and he is a player with immense quality and craft. His low centre of gravity makes him a good dribbler, and he is a slightly more direct option than Lee. It’s important to have different looks within the squad, and Sbarra provides that.
Forwards
The forwards are pretty much a foregone conclusion, especially the starters. Imagine a strike partnership of Paul Mullin and Macaulay Langstaff, it would terrorise any defence. Both have bags of goals, great movement, and it’s as potent a front pairing as I could think of. I’ve also opted to include both of their strike partners, Ollie Palmer and Cedwyn Scott, as not only would they have familiarity and understanding if they were called upon, but both provide goals in their own right. They also both have unique skillsets. Palmer is a huge forward, so would offer aerial threat, and Scott has a slightly more nuanced set of skills, allowing him to play a slightly more withdrawn role if needed.
That gives me a squad of 23, allowing me to take 3 extra players who I’ve considered as wildcards. I feel I have all of the positions covered, so these 3 picks all look to add that little something extra to the squad. First is Mike Jones of Chesterfield, a 35 year old midfielder who is enjoying something of a revival at the Spireites. He adds valuable experience, as his 35 years have been full of quality football. He also adds some much needed grit in our squad, and if we are ahead in matches he is a natural player to come on and shore things up. He knows how to grind out results, and is a great choice here.
I’m always a big fan of players being picked for squads based on form, so Gateshead’s Adam Campbell gets a place. He’s been a real bright spark this season, and his chip at the weekend, securing a much needed win for the Heed just shows the class he carries. He’s a versatile operator too, with the ability to play in any front position, whether that be out wide, as a 10 or even further forward. He also provides some creativity to our squad, as he’s played 17 smart passes, the 2nd most in the league.
Another thing I like to see in squads is the inclusion of youth. Not only is it often a great experience for the young player, but it also brings some energy and fearlessness to the group. Scunthorpe’s Rob Apter gets the nod here, as not only does he bring the exuberance of youth, but he’s also a proven match winner. He has the rare gift of taking the game by the scruff of the neck, and while you don’t want to rely heavily on the young man he’s certainly someone we could look to to win games.
xN: Expected Nonsense 