England squad announced next week

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So, with the squad getting announced next week, who should be on the plane to the Euros?

GOALKEEPERS (3)
Joe Hart is an easy pick, he will be our number one no question. But for deputies, Ben Foster has had a decent season and so has Paul Robinson who with his international experience I'd like to see on the plane, but he's retired. There are a few good young keepers out there but they're not ready for this in my opinion, like Stockdale, Fielding and Loach.
GK Joe Hart
GK Ben Foster
GK Scott Carson

DEFENDERS (8)
There are a few players that have to go, if fit. Immediately Terry, Ferdinand and Cole are picks. Baines is clearly the next best left back in the premier league so he goes. Glen Johnson should go due to his international experience, despite the emergence of Smalling and Jones as right backs. I would give Richards a place as he has came on strongly this season at City, Jones misses out by a hair's breadth. Cahill has partnered Terry in Rio's absence and done it well. While Lescott and Jagielka have both had good seasons, it was down to the toss of a coin to separate them. It seems a shame to leave out Smalling and Jones though.
RB Micah Richards
RB Glen Johnson
CB Rio Ferdinand
CB John Terry
CB Gary Cahill
CB Joleon Lescott
LB Ashley Cole
LB Leighton Baines

MIDFIELDERS (9)
Central midfield seems an easy one to pick, Lampard, Parker, Gerrard, Barry all immediately get places in the squad. But for the fifth central midfielder, there is some competition. Carrick for me has had an excellent season at United and is a real team player which for me is what England need, he plays a similar role to Barry. Cleverley, Wilshere and Rodwell have all missed a large part of the season and if they had been fit they maybe all could have made the cut. I'm assuming Scholes would not come out of international retirement.
Out wide Ashley Young is a certainty, but after that we get a lot of players who for me are of similar quality. Lennon and Walcott are both speed freaks down the right who both maybe lack a bit of an end product, but their pace can stretch defenses and that's why Walcott should go. Milner is a hard working player who would be a good pick against the likes of Spain. Ashley Young has had a decent season at United and Adam Johnson is capable of providing a bit of inspiration off the bench. Downing has had a poor season and Oxlade Chamberlain isn't ready, if he was he'd be a regular starter at Arsenal.
RW Theo Walcott
RW James Milner
CM Scott Parker
CM Michael Carrick
CM Frank Lampard
CM Steven Gerrard
CM Gareth Barry
LW Ashley Young
LW Adam Johnson

FORWARDS (4)
Wayne Rooney should go, he is our best player and despite his suspension will give us a massive lift in the later games in the tournament. Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck have both had breakthrough seasons at Chelsea and United respectively and for me have to go. Then there's the final striker. Andy Carroll may have played well over the past few games but was terrible the rest of the season and I wouldn't pick him. Grant Holt has been mentioned but I don't see him coming in and scoring goals with no experience at the highest level. For that reason, I'm going for Crouch. He has had an average season at Stoke but has an excellent England record and I can't see any better options. If Bent was fit, I'd take him.
WG/ST Daniel Sturridge
WG/ST Danny Welbeck
ST Wayne Rooney
ST Peter Crouch

RESERVES
Robert Green
Phil Jones
Phil Jagielka
Tom Cleverley
Stewart Downing
Andy Carroll

Wasn't writing off Baines everyone...just asking why. 27 certainly isnt old. I just look at Spain pre at 2006 world cup and Germany when they went to EURO 2008. They had a set starting X1 and then more or less youngster for each position in reserve. In fact i would be confident in saying you would of been hard pressed finding someone over 25 outside of the starting XI bar perhaps 2 at a push 3 players. Look at both of those teams now.....

Why would people choose Walcott over Lennon? Lennon and Bale were destructive for Spurs and ever since Lennon got injured, Spurs haven't been the same. I actually think Lennon has a decent delivery on him, unlike Walcott.

Cole would be a good shout, been playing very well for Lille this season and has major tournament experience.

Id actually completely forgot that Lennon is back playing again following his injury. Not a bad shot Martyr..although whilst id agree he does have a better final delivery than Walcott...in the times ive seen him play he has a tendency to choose the wrong or option...but that may be something he has changed in recent times?..

Steven Gerrard gets in...? On what form? Take away the Everton game and his form this season has been pretty ordinary. Isn't it time England stopped picking media hyped names?

England's biggest problem is they can't keep the ball and Gerrard is the biggest culprit. In South Africa Gerrard has the worse pass completion rate of any England player (and around 10-20% short of the Dutch, German and Spanish midfielders). Not to mention Gerrard couldn't handle simple instructions to play on the left. He kept drifting inside and the German's capitalized on the space left.

John Terry is another. He along with Matthew Upson were awful against Germany in South Africa. Yet Upson has never played for England again and Terry still is. Terry has never had the pace for international football and if picked will get exposed again.

Another bugbear of mine is Carroll and Crouch. The media and most fans seem to think we should take one or the other because they are too similar but are happy picking both Welbeck and Sturridge.

If we have learned anything from Spanish football, it is not to judge players on size but ability. Therefore if Crouch and Carroll are two of the top strikers they should both go.

For me Crouch and Rooney both 20 plus international goals) should be the first two strikers named. Andy Carroll is hitting form at the right time so that would leave one from Welbeck, Sturridge, Defoe etc

Onto why Walcott should go... If anyone would like to name the England wingers who have more goals & assists this season (or since the last World Cup) please put your answers on a postcard. Theo Walcott and Ashley Young have been the top English wingers in the Premier League this season and after that it's take your pick. Aaron Lennon didn't exactly set the world alight in South Africa. Adam Johnson, Stewart Downing, James Milner will be there or therabouts.

Walcott's assists are so good because he has Mr Clinical Finishing in the box finishing them off. He has good games and bad games (and in his good games he scores 2 goals). But please take him.

sportsville wrote:Steven Gerrard gets in...? On what form? Take away the Everton game and his form this season has been pretty ordinary. Isn't it time England stopped picking media hyped names?

England's biggest problem is they can't keep the ball and Gerrard is the biggest culprit. In South Africa Gerrard has the worse pass completion rate of any England player (and around 10-20% short of the Dutch, German and Spanish midfielders). Not to mention Gerrard couldn't handle simple instructions to play on the left. He kept drifting inside and the German's capitalized on the space left.

John Terry is another. He along with Matthew Upson were awful against Germany in South Africa. Yet Upson has never played for England again and Terry still is. Terry has never had the pace for international football and if picked will get exposed again.

Another bugbear of mine is Carroll and Crouch. The media and most fans seem to think we should take one or the other because they are too similar but are happy picking both Welbeck and Sturridge.

If we have learned anything from Spanish football, it is not to judge players on size but ability. Therefore if Crouch and Carroll are two of the top strikers they should both go.

For me Crouch and Rooney both 20 plus international goals) should be the first two strikers named. Andy Carroll is hitting form at the right time so that would leave one from Welbeck, Sturridge, Defoe etc

Onto why Walcott should go... If anyone would like to name the England wingers who have more goals & assists this season (or since the last World Cup) please put your answers on a postcard. Theo Walcott and Ashley Young have been the top English wingers in the Premier League this season and after that it's take your pick. Aaron Lennon didn't exactly set the world alight in South Africa. Adam Johnson, Stewart Downing, James Milner will be there or therabouts.

I agree with most of this,

This day and age the emphasis seems to be on possesion. The old saying says 'if you have the ball, the others can't score' and that seems to be Spain's moto, but for me, England don't have the players to play like this. Their game plan should be on fast passing football, with centre midfielders bursting into the box and plenty of crosses from the wingers.

I have to say, everyone has started jumping on the Carroll bandwagon. Fact is he has scored in two cup games, all be it in a semi and a final. But the fact is he does not deserve to go to the Euro's. He has been awful all year and although he has proved a handful in the last couple of games, Crouch for me can do everything Carroll can do but has a better eye for goal plus is better technically, he would get my vote.

JT doesn't deserve to go and that's simply down to form. He shouldn't, like Gerrard, be called up due to their names. Everyone should be called up based on form, this has been England's problem going into major tournaments. Welbeck should start for England, he has been superb for Man United this season, runs very direct and can also hold the ball up well. When Rooney is available, they can resume their partnership that has blossomed this season for United and wouldn't bring a shake up to the England side. Sturridge has been poor in the second half of the season and for me just doesn't scream to me as being an international player just yet.

From what I have see of Danny Welbeck for Man United and England (including the Under 21s last summer), I haven't been that impressed. For me the media has overhyped him. I'm not saying he's bad but just not as good as some people are making out.

The prime example of the media/ pundit hype would be Tom Cleverley who was the best thing since sliced bread in August.

TSC wrote:Walcott's assists are so good because he has Mr Clinical Finishing in the box finishing them off. He has good games and bad games (and in his good games he scores 2 goals). But please take him.

Every player has good games and bad games. The trouble for Walcott is any bad touch/ game is highlight by the media (most are probably still annoyed that they didn't predict his inclusion in the 2006 World Cup squad). I have seen plenty of other players have bad games such as Bale, Gerrard etc and the media just ignores it.

Hart, Green, Foster

Ferdinand, Terry, Richards, Walker, Cole, Baines, Cahill, Lescott

Lennon, Young, Chamberlain, Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, Parker, A Johnson

Rooney, Crouch, Wallcott, Welbeck

4-5-1

ive scanned through others option and taken into account form and time on the pitch aswell as picking players who play together at club level, and ive come up with that? too soon for bent and i cleverly hasnt played enough. lampard and scholes both go as they both are still good enough or better than what we have depending on opinion. Milner isnt good enough imo, with phil jones and chris smalling unlucky to miss out on experience. I havent seen joe cole since his lille move, so i wont include him. if terry and ferdinand cant get on, they can both f*** off home. walcott is not a winger! his career is being ruined. he is imo one of the best finishers in the premiership and must be played as a striker

Crouch to play first 2 games

suprised alot of people are picking richards and walker over johnson, in a season of bad points, johnsons form has been one of the plus points, has been fantastic when he has played for us defensively, i get the feeling people are still judging him based on a few years ago, hes still the best RB we have defensively, and offensively, he has nearly everything the other 2 have (apart from walkers pace), as well as a bit of trickery, can beat players and actually put good crosses in, which if we play a walcott type up the pitch is going to be needed.

however, hes not going to go to the euros, woy threw him under the bus whilst he was with us, and if hodgson had stayed, then glen would have gone, and i would be surprised if hodgson feels any differently now

Terry on current form shouldn't be picked , he has looked awful against Andy Carroll in the last 2 games and his stupid sending off against Barca would have alarm bells ringing for me . Add to that i dont think you can take both Terry and Ferdinand given the ill feeling between them then on form you have to take Rio .

Tranquil Chaos wrote:suprised alot of people are picking richards and walker over johnson, in a season of bad points, johnsons form has been one of the plus points, has been fantastic when he has played for us defensively, i get the feeling people are still judging him based on a few years ago, hes still the best RB we have defensively, and offensively, he has nearly everything the other 2 have (apart from walkers pace), as well as a bit of trickery, can beat players and actually put good crosses in, which if we play a walcott type up the pitch is going to be needed.

however, hes not going to go to the euros, woy threw him under the bus whilst he was with us, and if hodgson had stayed, then glen would have gone, and i would be surprised if hodgson feels any differently now

I agree. People are still picking players based on media hype, whether that means John Terry or dismissing Glen Johnson. I think Johnson is the best option at right back as he and Richards are about the same in terms of quality but Johnson has the international experience and going forward just has that bit more edge. Defensively he hasn't been a weak link at all this year.

JamesLincs wrote:Hart, Green, Foster

Ferdinand, Terry, Richards, Walker, Cole, Baines, Cahill, Lescott

Lennon, Young, Chamberlain, Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, Parker, A Johnson

Rooney, Crouch, Wallcott, Welbeck

4-5-1

ive scanned through others option and taken into account form and time on the pitch aswell as picking players who play together at club level, and ive come up with that? too soon for bent and i cleverly hasnt played enough. lampard and scholes both go as they both are still good enough or better than what we have depending on opinion. Milner isnt good enough imo, with phil jones and chris smalling unlucky to miss out on experience. I havent seen joe cole since his lille move, so i wont include him. if terry and ferdinand cant get on, they can both f*** off home. walcott is not a winger! his career is being ruined. he is imo one of the best finishers in the premiership and must be played as a striker

Crouch to play first 2 games

Paul Scholes has retired. James Milner isn't outstanding, but he's consistent and we need a squad player like him, he can play anywhere across the midfield which is ideal for a tournament like this where players can pick up injuries. You have three central-midfield positions for four centre-mids, all it takes is two injuries or suspensions and you've got nobody to play there, taking Milner will give cover across all five positions in midfield. I think Hodgson is going to have to be a bit more sensitive about the Terry-Ferdinand situation, Ferdinand has every right to not want to play with John Terry and he should not be sent home because of Terry's presence. Walcott is a winger in that he has played as a winger all year so it just wouldn't be sensible playing him as a striker at the tournament when all his experience and all the reasons he has been picked have come when he was on the wing.

So the general consensus is that Carroll is higher in the pecking order than Grant Holt even though Carroll has only had form for one and a half games and Holt has been in form all season?

I didn't have either in my original squad, but if I was forced to take either Carroll or Holt, I would take Carroll. Holt is a good player, but that's it. He's not good enough to play at the top level. If Carroll came off the bench I'd feel more inspired that something would happen than if it was Holt, sorry.

As for the right back debate. If Micah Richards was that good, which I don't think he is, wouldn't Zabaleta be out of the picture at City? Fact is he isn't great, he's a beast of a player but mentally isn't right. Also with Johnson's international experience he's a better shout and has been one of the better players at Liverpool this season. Kyle Walker for me is a very over-rated player who has pace and that's it, he's poor IMO.

For me England need players who offer different options to the starting 11, that means Carroll & Downing should go.
Say what you want about Downing this season but he is the only left footed winger England have and he usually has a good game at international level.

Andy Carroll may not score many goals but he is a completely different option to Crouch, he causes defenders to worry and offers more physicallity in the air when the long ball is played to him or set plays. He would be a good sub to make an impact.

I would leave either Gerrard or Lampard out of the squad. As a Liverpool fan I would like Gerrard to have the summer off.

The prime example of the media/ pundit hype would be Tom Cleverley who was the best thing since sliced bread in August

Good feet, passes nicely and got a footballing brain. I'd take him if he's fit. He is the kind of player to replace Lampard and Gerrard who are still in the squad on the back of a lack of midfield options for England.

So the general consensus is that Carroll is higher in the pecking order than Grant Holt even though Carroll has only had form for one and a half games and Holt has been in form all season?

Isn't it 3 goals in the last 6 games for Carroll? He's a big lad in the air and has got some serious shooting boots. If he can behave himself and work hard why not take him?

ollyrules wrote:So the general consensus is that Carroll is higher in the pecking order than Grant Holt even though Carroll has only had form for one and a half games and Holt has been in form all season?

And the award for most predictable post on the thread goes to.....

No offence olly but comparing Carroll to Holt is a bit ridiculous. Holt is an above average player no doubt but Carroll offers something different.

Now onto the other two players:

Glen Johnson is and always has been awful at defending, he is clueless most of the time and therefore is a liability. How anyone can say he is a better choice than Richards is beyond me. And as for downing being good, can I ask when?

Finally the pick Joe Cole brigade is picking up pace!

Gregers wrote:No offence olly but comparing Carroll to Holt is a bit ridiculous. Holt is an above average player no doubt but Carroll offers something different.

Now onto the other two players:

Glen Johnson is and always has been awful at defending, he is clueless most of the time and therefore is a liability. How anyone can say he is a better choice than Richards is beyond me. And as for downing being good, can I ask when?

Finally the pick Joe Cole brigade is picking up pace!

England v Sweden last November - Downing was very good in that game.

Glen Johnson is far from awful at defending, he use to be suspect but has improved very much over the last few seasons. While I rate Micah Richards highly I think Johnson is more composed on the ball and can offer just a little more going forward.

See that's the problem tho, Johnson has moments where he turns into a headless chicken and gets caught out of position more often than id like of a right back. What England need is the right back version of Ashley Cole!

As for Downing, he has never been someone I've rated.

Gregers wrote:See that's the problem tho, Johnson has moments where he turns into a headless chicken and gets caught out of position more often than id like of a right back. What England need is the right back version of Ashley Cole!

As for Downing, he has never been someone I've rated.

I understand if you don't rate Downing, I'm not his biggest fan but he is the only left footed winger England have and England need as many options as possible to be succesfull in the Euro's.

When things are not going to plan England never have a plan B.

Oh I get it now ,using downing as a sub when nothing else is working could work actually.

Hart (c)
Richards/Cahill/Lescott/A.Cole
Parker
Ox/Carrick/J.Cole
Rooney/Carroll

How's that based on form?

I understand if you don't rate Downing, I'm not his biggest fan but he is the only left footed winger England have

Adam Johnson? Equally good off of either foot and fills the 4-3-3/4-1-2-2-1 p(or how ever you want to describe it) better than Downing who is more of a 4-4-2 put the ball in the box and look for the big man type of winger (which is why he was successful at Villa under MON).

There's also Scott Sinclair at Swansea, an out of left field selection but he is rapid and has a good left boot. He might be worth a shot in a friendly before the tournament.

Scott Sinclair is a good shout, had a super season and is less one dimensional than downing. Going onto Adam Johnson he is clearly a super talent but imo his lack of game time might hurt us.

Gregers wrote:Oh I get it now ,using downing as a sub when nothing else is working could work actually.

Hart (c)
Richards/Cahill/Lescott/A.Cole
Parker
Ox/Carrick/J.Cole
Rooney/Carroll

How's that based on form?

That is why picking players on form does not always work. It is always easy to say pick the most inform players but what if some of the players offer the same thing.

Joe Cole would be not going if it was down to me, while he may be playing well this season for Lille, Ashley Young offers far more playing left wing.

Just out of curiosity who has watched Cole at Lille? Just because what I have seen he seams back to his best.

Gregers wrote:Just out of curiosity who has watched Cole at Lille? Just because what I have seen he seams back to his best.

I've not seen a full game only highlights, out of interest what position has he been playing?

Left mid and drifting in mainly, in a team with Hazard he's shown his qualities. Imo in the euros he offers something completely different to our other left wingers, plus he can always play in the hole as well (which his drifting in nature helps with).

I always preferred him in the "hole". He had a very good pre-season for us playing there when he first signed and then it was down hill after his red card against Arsenal.

With Rooney out for the first 2 games he may be able to do a job in that role.

Hazard plays in the hole quite a bit at Lille hence Cole on the left drifting in. Good point about Cole playing in there for England

First two games:

-----Joe Cole-----
---Carroll-Sturridge-

That could deffo work, I have a feeling Roy will pick Welbeck to start though.

Sturridge or Wellbeck would complement Carroll well imo and with Joe sniffing around and pulling the strings.

I think the cupboard is bare in regards to quality strikers, bar Rooney. Id probably have to go with Wellbeck but its not a great option. The only way I would have Carroll on the pitch is if we were 1-0 down late in a game and were literally throwing the kitchen sink at a side with long balls.

Nathan Dyer! He's ridiculously fast.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

I understand if you don't rate Downing, I'm not his biggest fan but he is the only left footed winger England have

Adam Johnson? Equally good off of either foot and fills the 4-3-3/4-1-2-2-1 p(or how ever you want to describe it) better than Downing who is more of a 4-4-2 put the ball in the box and look for the big man type of winger (which is why he was successful at Villa under MON).

There's also Scott Sinclair at Swansea, an out of left field selection but he is rapid and has a good left boot. He might be worth a shot in a friendly before the tournament.

Sinclair and Johnson in particular are miles and miles ahead of Downing, so so much better (Johnson is ruining his career at Citeh, getting no game time, Arsenal or 'Pool should snap him up). On the basis that he's still somehow on the fringes of the England set-up Downing must be one of the most over-rated players in the world. Totally inept in front of goal (even from a penalty!!) and contributes less assists that Walcott who's a striker playing out of position (and not that good either). If Young isn't in the first XI already then he has to be a better bench option than Downing. Goals, assissts, cheats like a foreigner. Perfect.

I'm not certain Holt should go to the Euros but I think he should be given a chance in the friendly vs Norway.

ollyrules wrote:I'm not certain Holt should go to the Euros but I think he should be given a chance in the friendly vs Norway.

I think Holt's been good this season but to take him to a major competition without a cap is too risky in my opinion. Give him another season in the premier and if he continues to show this kind of form then maybe he can be considered. But England should be looking to blood some youth at the Euro's. Holt is 31? ok its not old but he's coming towards the end of his career, whereas England need to be looking at introducing youth.

Welbeck has done well for United this season and deserves to go. Sturridge i'm not so sure on, he's had a poor second half of the season and tbh I wasn't that impressed with him at the start of the season. I still think Defoe has something to offer, and is a natural goalscorer, something England haven't had since Owen. He would be a good bet to go, even with his limited game time at spurs, he's still managed to get into double figures for the season.

martyr_94 wrote:

ollyrules wrote:I'm not certain Holt should go to the Euros but I think he should be given a chance in the friendly vs Norway.

I think Holt's been good this season but to take him to a major competition without a cap is too risky in my opinion. Give him another season in the premier and if he continues to show this kind of form then maybe he can be considered. But England should be looking to blood some youth at the Euro's. Holt is 31? ok its not old but he's coming towards the end of his career, whereas England need to be looking at introducing youth.

Welbeck has done well for United this season and deserves to go. Sturridge i'm not so sure on, he's had a poor second half of the season and tbh I wasn't that impressed with him at the start of the season. I still think Defoe has something to offer, and is a natural goalscorer, something England haven't had since Owen. He would be a good bet to go, even with his limited game time at spurs, he's still managed to get into double figures for the season.

I would definately say Welbeck > Sturridge. Sturridge is over rated IMO. Holt should be given a go in the Norway game and if he impresses then maybe but if not then take someone else instead.

I think what Carroll does offer, and this is why I think Liverpool play much better when he's in the side, is that he occupies defenders, he opens up so much more space for the players to work in, and now that he's actually got back the confidence his first touch has improved exponentially so he can knock it down into that space now, or actually take on defenders. I can understand why he wouldn't be picked.

Joe Cole was seen as the saviour at the World Cup, people, including me, insisting he should be on the pitch, and when he did come on the pitch he was disappointingly anonymous. I feel it'd only be the same at the Euros.