English - Trouble with e5

I decided to change up my play a bit, learn/play a little more positionally - d4, c4. I would like to play the english more since it has the flexiblity to change into a Queen's Gambit like position, without dealing with the counter gambit or anything else they can throw at you.

With that, Ive been having trouble with e5, I dont know what my reply should be. Ive looked into e4 (botvinnik?), but it seems pointless as it blocks in your eventual bishop on g2. Should I maybe be checking out some reverse sicilian type looks?(i play the french for black). I have a feeling black wont go with those though and just play something completely off. So Im just not too sure

The english looks really appealling to me and I would really like to give it a shot

If you are going to play the English you will see e5, and e6 probably even more the Nf6 at lower ratings.  If you don't like e5 destroy it!  I just started playing c4 a few days ago and am liking it as it often transpires into the QGD and now I am also able to play an open sicilian as black, something prior to I was not.  It is actually not reccomended to play at a lower level of positional understanding but if you play on quicker time controls it might not matter too much.  GL and if you stay with it it should be good weapon for you.

there's a 7 part video series about the english here on chess.com

http://www.chess.com/video/player/learn-to-play-the-english---part-7-final-chapter

it should help you building your strength in the english .

Try 1. c4 e5 2.Nc3, now Black must decide which system to use. You need to buy/borrow a

good annotated book on the English by a top GM and study it slowly.

If you say e4 is pointless (it reinforces the d5 square but at the expense of weakening d3 and d4 squares) then you probably aren't ready to play the English.  I play 1...e5 against the English myself as I like imbalanced positions.  Yes, it's ironic that I play reversed open Sicilians but go for stuff like the Kopec Variation against actual Sicilians when I do play 1.e4. 

Yeah why not just play 2.Nc3 and see what happens? 

I typically play 2.g3, which is perfectly good, but it helps to be comfortable with KIA and Reti-type positions.

Get Kosten's book on the English.  A fair amount of it is devoted to 1. . .e5.  He recommends a 2. g3 setup that's pretty solid and fun to play.  But, really 2. Nc3 is just fine too.  Play a few games of each and see what you like; it will come down to tactics anyway.

@pfren, it's fine that's your opinion and all, but it should be important to note that a lot of chess writers disagree with you, and for a beginner player, leading with 1. Nf3 may provide too many possibilitie and transpositions for that player to hope for an advantage.  What's helped me improve -- and granted I'm still a pretty weak player but it sure beat out the alternatives -- was to find opening setups I'm familiar with, come up with a plan, and look for tactics.  1.Nf3 is a fine first move, but the advice to start with that is of little use to someone wanting to play 1. c4. 

I understand why someone would play e5. makes sense, i would do it myself against the english.

I dont play Nc3 right away because the games/tips Ive seen usually has a KIA to it. So bringing my kings knight to its natural square will only get it kicked away immediately. Which is why Ive looked into e4, which also has that knight going to e2 I believe (sorry I dont have the squares memorizes off the top of my head just yet).

I think Ill look more into some sicilian positions that can come from e4, Nc3.

But s/he should be playing 1. Nf3?

To clarify, should we not pay attention to books period, since the writers are out with an agenda, or is it Marin specifically who did a poor job?  While we're on the topic, what was your take on his analysis of the Reversed Sicilian?   

@Pfren, in researching the English I came across your thoughts against it on other threads.  While i am not new to chess I am I suppose a beginer.  From what you wrote I was able to do a bit more homework and have been using it with good success at 10 0 games and will soon use it in 15 5 games and then online.  At quicker times my opponents don't have the time to capitalize on my mistakes and I get good play with it.  On longer time controls against better players it may be a whole different situation.  i thank you for your honest opinions.