Euro 2012 Squad

First topic message reminder :

It's not that far away.

Keepers

Hart
Foster
Green

Defenders

Terry
Ferdinand
Cahill
Smalling
Cole
Baines
Johnson

Midfileders

Lampard
Gerrard
Parker
Wilshere
Johnson
Carrick
Lennon
Barry

Forwards

Rooney
Walcott
Young
Defoe
Sturridge

From an outsider's perspective (Irish man), this would be my squad:

GK: Joe Hart, Jon Ruddy, Ben Foster

DF: Micah Richards, Kyle Walker, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines

MF: Jack Wilshere, Scott Parker, Tom Cleverly, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Young, Adam Johnson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott

FW: Wayne Rooney, Danny Wellbeck, Danny Sturridge, Grant Holt

MBTGOG wrote:From an outsider's perspective (Irish man), this would be my squad:

GK: Joe Hart, Jon Ruddy, Ben Foster

DF: Micah Richards, Kyle Walker, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines

MF: Jack Wilshere, Scott Parker, Tom Cleverly, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Young, Adam Johnson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott

FW: Wayne Rooney, Danny Wellbeck, Danny Sturridge, Grant Holt

I would take Defoe over Welbeck and I don't think Foster is available for selection so maybe Rob Green for him!

If Foster isn't available, I'd still stay clear of Green.

I like Wellbeck because unlike Defoe, I'd feel comfortable with him playing from the start rather than just as an impact sub.

Thoughts on the Irish squad Munsty? I'm still on the fence about Holt, saw the highlights at the weekend and thought some challenges he gets away with mightn't be tolerated at international level. He deserves some playing time in the pre championship friendlies but I don't think the style of player should be changed to accomodate him.

Thomond,

Do England even have a style of play? If they had a really well defined one then I'd agree but not being able to decipher one, I see no problem.

Quick question before I comment on it, did you choose that squad as the one you'd like to see or one likely to be chosen by Traps?

The squad is more of a Trap selection with one or two from me. From what I have seen on Norwich they play very direct and cross the ball a lot (to be fair I have only watched one or two full games) or some magic from Howson or Hoolahan. Holt doesn't seem to do much to bring others into play. I wouldn't start him I would consider bringing him alright. England seem to like wingers who cut in an bring midfielders like Gerrard/Wilshere into play. Also they like to have a guy like Rooney who drops deep a bit like Totti.


An Irish XI - I would pick not Trap


Given
Coleman Dunne O'Shea Ward
McCarthy

Duff Fahey Hoolahan

Keane

Long (Doyle could easily fill in)


Hoolahan could easily slot in centre with McClean coming in. Duff was superb at the weekend so it's a marginal call.

It'd be hard to leave out Duff, so for the moment, I'd leave Coleman at right back but I do think in the future, his position is on the right, which with McLean on the opposite, gives us real quality on the flanks.

I think I'd stick with Whelan in midfield. I'm not his biggest fan but he does the business and partner him with McCarthy. I haven't seen enough of Hoolahan so would like to see him more as from what I have seen and heard, he could give us something different that we might need and different junctures.

It isn't going to happen with Trap I want rid of him despite what he has done. Keep an eye out for John Egan (his dad died the other day unfortunately) coming through at Sunderland. He will be a very good centre back and maybe a solid defensvie midfielder too. That fella at Chelsea, I think it's Clifford seems to be doing nicely too.


Hoolahan is a very creative player, has been since his days with Shels could easily play on the left or as an attacking midfielder.

Am I right in saying Trap has got another two years?

After this European Championships, there is going to be a time of turbulent change. While Given will still be able to perform at a high level, I think the likes of Keane, Dunne and Duff are at their last major championships.

I'm not really worried too much about the talent coming through it's more the management that makes me anxious.

That's the problem, Trap is going to do a Declan Kidney on it.

So apart from the likes of Coleman, McLean, McCarthy and Egan, what other young guns do we have to take us through the next half decade or so?

Clifford at Chelsea, there are two very talented lads at Derry City, the McEleney brothers who could go far a winger and a striker. Anthony Forde seems to be doing good for the Irish U-19s and he is still only 17. There are two twins at United, both can play for Ireland but only one seems like they will. There is Conor Henderson at Arsenal too, a midfielder. There's Aidy White at Leeds a defender ,and Robbie Brady also at United. Carel Tiofack was supposed to be promising but don't know what happened him. I don't know a lot about Irish underage soccer though.



Those are just some guys. It's a relatively young team to begin with, Whelan is 28 as is Doyle, O'Shea is only 30, Long is only 25.

Thing is though it will need those players to step up as leaders over the next two year cycle.

Agreed.

Goalkeepers

Joe Hart
Robert Green
John Ruddy

Defenders

Phil Jones
John Terry
Gary Cahill
Glen Johnson
Kyle Walker
Ashely Cole
Leighton Baines
Phil Jagielka

Midfielders

Steven Gerrard
Theo Walcott
Jack Rodwell
Tom Cleverley
Scott Parker
James Milner
Ashley Young
Adam Johnson

Strikers

Wayne Rooney
Danny Welbeck
Daniel Sturridge
Peter Crouch

Other options would be-

Oxlade-Chamberlain
Jermain Defoe
Frank Lampard
Scott Carson
Micah Richards