euro 2016 squad?

Evening all,

Just been listening to a discussion on the radio about some of the older English players not playing on after the world cup campaignis finished (whether on tuesday or next year). It got me thinking that should we get to the euros in 2016 who do you think will be in the squad? I'm going with the following:

Goalkeepers:
Hart
Foster
Forster

Defenders:
Baines
Jagielka
Smalling
Jones
Cahill
Richards
Walker
Shaw

Midfielders:
Zaha
Carrick
Wilshire
Powell
Morrison
Sterling
Walcott
Barkley

Forwards:
Rooney
Sturridge
Welbeck
Defoe

I imagine, at a very hasty guess for form and such like means it is near impossible to guess, this would be the first XI come the first game of Euro 2016:

Hart

Johnson
Jones
Cahill
Baines

Wilshere
Barkley
Rooney

Er...left wing is anyone's guess! Berahino perhaps? Stick with Welbeck?
Walcott or Townsend on the right, maybe Zaha as an outsider?

Sturridge up front most likely. Carroll as back-up? Defoe will probably be out of the picture.

We can dance Nobby's dance, we can dance it in France!

Right now at the top of my head, will probably change a lot

GK Hart
RB Walker
LB Baines
CB Jagielka
CB Cahill
RCM Barkley
CM Whilshere
LCM Morrison
ARM Walcott
ST Rooney
ALM Sturridge

Jagielka will be approaching 35 by the time of Euro 16.

Of the next gen coming through there's guys like Calum Chambers at Southampton, Chuba Akpom at Arsenal, Jordan Ibe at Liverpool, Jese Lingard at Utd, Tom Ince at Blackpool, Nathan Redmond at Norwich, Nathaniel Chalobah at Chelsea, quite a few of them or others that break through at their domestic clubs may make it.

Chalobah looked half the player last season, when i i saw him play the other day (Yes could of been a one off bad game) But he gave the ball away countless of times, argued with his team mates and the ref on numerous occasions. Making a lot of constant needless fouls (which lead to a red card) But last season he was class for Watford.

Will Hughes looks a great prospect.

Nathaniel is awesome. He just doesn't fit at Forest. And how come nobody has mentioned Josh McEachran?
Patrick Bamford could be knocking on the door in a couple of years. Plus, Bertrand will probably be back up to Baines in 2016. Luke Shaw is just a flash in the pan.

Butland, Chalobah, Berahino, and Redmond look good prospects.

But that's all they are - prospects. A footballer's career is very fragile at the top level of the game.

I mean, just over a year ago, a bright 18 year-old started for England against France. Since then, Oxlade has very rarely featured for club or country, and has gone off the radar (the goal in the Maracana an exception), with Townsend being the next big thing.

And Tom Cleverley? England's next no.10 only a season ago, now he appears to be way down the England pecking order, with Ross Barkley hogging the limelight.

So fragile, so precious.

Type in on google "why England will win Euro 2008". You should find a BBC article written in 2003 about England's possible team for 2008. Ignoring the fact that England didn't make that tournament, look at all the names that never really featured much for England in the future.

That's why I said 'may make it' but there will be at least 2 or 3 guys currently in the youth set up that break through to the main side by that time, none of us though have a crystal ball to work out who.

Is the guy who wrote that high??? Even in 2003 you could shoot someone for putting Michael Tonge ahead of Frank Lampard. And Anton the knob, aka Rio's puppet, ahead of good old JT. I think not.

The David Dunn and Chris Kirkland choices make me laugh as well because even in 2003 we all knew those players were destined for mediocrity.

Ritchie Partridge isn't he a failed league 2 player?  Tipped as the next best thing in 2003.

Not even the most biased of West Ham fans thought Anton was set to have as bright a future as Rio. Least he's become a pretty good bloke, certainly above ones happy to lie in court anyway.

Ravel, Barkley and Wilshere are a dream midfield trio. I'd be blooding them together the minute the World Cup ended. If they strike up a natural understanding then things will be rosy. Add in Cleverley, Hughes, even have Henderson as the new Milner.

Defence is anyone's guess. Some possibly decent players nicely coming through with a patient approach.

Dolphin

While your suggested midfield trio has plenty of technique and attacking instinct, it does look a bit soft for when we don't have the ball. Need to put at least one holding player in there (not sure who though - even Henderson isn't really a defensive-minded player). Remember, even Spain play Busquets who is primarily there as a stopper, with Alonso beside him to distribute and then the ball players (Xavi, Iniesta etc) being given more freedom.

defoe will be 34

I'd like to see this side in 2016:

--------------- Hart
Jenkinson - Jones - Caulker - Shaw
----- Henderson - Wilshere
Townsend --- Barkley - Redmond
------------- Rooney

Of those players, Hart+Jones+Wilshere+Barkley+Rooney look odds-on to be in that side, so we're looking at:

Jenkinson - looks to be getting the games at Arsenal he needs, question is, can he get England games ahead of those awful RBs Walker and Johnson? I wish he would.

Shaw - a fantastic talent, and bearing in mind Baines's age at Euro 16, I'd love to see Shaw come in and take over from Cole, bypassing Baines entirely (who I don't think actually plays well for England).

Caulker - has a lot to do, but he'll be one of the CBs in the squad I'd expect. Needs to do well for Cardiff and secure a move back to a big club. And play well. 1 cap, 1 goal remember!

Townsend - needs to keep this going. Not sure he can do for three years though.

Henderson - this guy should be our holding midfielder, I swear it. Shame Liverpool can't play him there. Rodwell may get the chance instead.

Redmond - pure talent, he needs two years of PL seasoning and some chances for England. He could be a star.

dummy_half wrote:Dolphin

While your suggested midfield trio has plenty of technique and attacking instinct, it does look a bit soft for when we don't have the ball. Need to put at least one holding player in there (not sure who though - even Henderson isn't really a defensive-minded player). Remember, even Spain play Busquets who is primarily there as a stopper, with Alonso beside him to distribute and then the ball players (Xavi, Iniesta etc) being given more freedom.

In my mind, Wilshere would be better off learning that role cos at the moment he's not a master of anything. He offers real bite too. I think the three would hold possession very well, although I'd be tempted. To maybe move Barkley to the left as an inside wide midfielder. With Rooney dropping into midfield like he does, I think they would be very strong.

No Januzaj anywhere?

Azzy Mahmood wrote:No Januzaj anywhere?

Wouldn't be eligible until 2018

Exactly my point - why on earth was there any talk about him in the first place

Azzy Mahmood wrote:Exactly my point - why on earth was there any talk about him in the first place

It did seem rather premature didn't it? OK, the kid definitely has talent and could go on to be outstanding, but he's a very long way from being a potential England international, because if he fulfils his potential he'll have 30-odd caps for whichever he chooses of the 4 nations he is currently eligible for before finishing his residence qualification for England.

I don't think he'll make the Belgium squad for the WC, as we have an abundance of talent in midfield, but he could feature in the Euro qualifying campaign once Simons retires.

Januzaj doesn't want to play for Belgium - he's rejected every single call-up that Belgium have made for him.

It's not that he doesn't want to play for us, it's that he wants wining and dining first. There is zero chance he decides to play for Albania, so it's between Belgium, Turkey and Serbia. I'd be surprised if he went for Turkey, them on the decline and all, so it's between Belgium and Serbia. If there is a spot in the Belgium side for him, he'll take it. He just wants to be sure.

He wants to play for Albania though, according to the media. That's the country he feels greatest affinity to.

Azzy Mahmood wrote:
Redmond - pure talent, he needs two years of PL seasoning and some chances for England. He could be a star.

Indeed, he's very very raw. His ability to go past defenders at his age is scary, and he does it with good skills and technique. Two good feet it seems. His decision making lets him down at the minute, but at 19 he's only gonna get better, which is something I certainly look forward to watching over the coming years!!!

See I read he wants to play for Kosovo, so let's all believe different media stories

CFCNick wrote:Nathaniel is awesome. He just doesn't fit at Forest. And how come nobody has mentioned Josh McEachran?
Patrick Bamford could be knocking on the door in a couple of years. Plus, Bertrand will probably be back up to Baines in 2016. Luke Shaw is just a flash in the pan.

McEachran needs to actually do something to be mentioned. And Bertrand really isn't good enough. This Bamford kid looks promising however

Bertrand is rubbish, even Gibbs is better than him. And Shaw is already better than both those, combined.

McEachran is too old now. Failed to break the first team when he had the chance, is now a Championship CM. Not bothered anyway.

Azzy Mahmood wrote:It's not that he doesn't want to play for us, it's that he wants wining and dining first. There is zero chance he decides to play for Albania, so it's between Belgium, Turkey and Serbia. I'd be surprised if he went for Turkey, them on the decline and all, so it's between Belgium and Serbia. If there is a spot in the Belgium side for him, he'll take it. He just wants to be sure.

He may well change his mind re Belgium when he sees how well they do next summer.
Dont think they will win, but semi's is a real possibiltiy.

Fair play to him if he chooses Albania, but if he wants to play at world cups and european championships, then Belgium is the way forward.

If he plays for Turkey, Albania or Kosovo, he's an idiot.

Bertrand is fine. Decent player who is coming through slowly. He wouldn't let us down.

I can't see him ever being more than a decent PL left back tbh. There's no way he'll be taking Cole's place at club or country long term

As soon as Cole is too old for Chelsea, they will buy someone to play LB. Bertrand will be lucky to get a gig at a team like Everton tbh. He's mid-table at best. Take Albion for example, I'd rather have Liam Ridgewell than Bertrand.

He could really do with a loan to a PL side, he's 24 now. He was promising on loan with us in the Roeder days, one of his few loans that actually worked out

24 years of age, and he's still only playing league cup games. Yes, that kid is blatantly on track for England recognition.

Azzy Mahmood wrote:If he plays for Turkey, Albania or Kosovo, he's an idiot.

Why? He may have something called "national pride", and may not feel any great love towards Belgium.

Well if he has that, he'd have declared himself aged 16 so he could play through the levels. If he declared for Albania, he'd have 20 caps by now. He'd be by far and away their best player. So that national pride can't be burning too brightly. He's in it for the money, he'll leave United like Pogba then declare for Belgium or Serbia.

Would also like to suggest Big John for the goalkeeping department. Considering he is a current squad member, and is only improving himself