Off Topic International Break Thread

Yes, it's that time again, where we all have a week or two off from real football and watch some ****e.
This time there's the welcome distraction of the Poppy Debate, which might be more interesting than the games.
Here's the England squad for the matches against Spurfland and a friendly with Spain:

Goalkeepers: Forster (Southampton), Hart (Torino), Heaton (Burnley).
Defenders: Bertrand (Southampton), Cahill (Chelsea), Clyne (Liverpool), Jagielka (Everton), Keane (Burnley), Rose (Tottenham), Stones (Man City), Walker (Tottenham).
Midfielders: Dier (Tottenham), Drinkwater (Leicester), Henderson (Liverpool), Wilshere (Bournemouth), Lallana (Liverpool), Lingard (Man Utd), Rooney (Man Utd), Sterling (Man City), Townsend (Crystal Palace).
Forwards: Walcott (Arsenal), Kane (Tottenham), Rashford (Man Utd), Sturridge (Liverpool), Vardy (Leicester).

Probably a bit debatable on Deir being a midfielder and Rooney being a midfielder, but there you go.
Failing to have a separate category for twats and crocks was also controversial.

Betting on the first player to pull out with a non-existent injury has been suspended.
There were some unusual bets placed by a German bloke with a dodgy beard, apparently.

First of ours to avoid international duty is the genuinely injured Ben Davies.
He picked up a knock against Leverkusen and was out of the squad against Arsenal because of it.
He only missed the qualifier against Serbia, as they don't have another fixture, for some reason.

Cameron Carter-Vickers has some good news though, as he's had the shout from Jurgen Klinsmann.
He's part of their "roster" for their qualifiers against Mexico and Costa Rica.
It's the first time that he's been part of their senior set-up.
Still 18 for another month or so. Very early for a centre-half to breakthrough at that level.

 

& for CCV

 

Paul Stewart

 

Walker's injured yet still got picked by Southgate. ****'s sake.

 

There's talk that if Walker is unfit, then our ex-player Adam Smith will be added to the squad.

He was highly rated at one time by all at Spurs, but must admit I never saw him as a potential England international.

 

It was him or Glen Johnson.

No brainer.

 

Is that Johnson's nickname?

 

I'd take Trippier over Johnson...

 

Eug..just shook off the last one and now we get another.

 

Me too, but he doesn't get enough game time to be considered, realistically.

 

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=53118
http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=32697
Hmm...

 

Are you suggesting that he played for Scotland as well. Turncoat

 

Good Scottish name

 

Smart call by USA to get Cam called up. Although he's pledged his allegiance to them, I wouldn't have been surprised if the FA were trying to persuade him that his future lied with England.

Walker and Kane's selections are baffling, Walker hobbled off the NLD while Kane played his first 70 minutes in 7 weeks, while Charlie Austin who's been in decent scoring form doesn't get included. What's Vardy done this season as well? Kane has more league goals than him and has missed practically half of our games.

 

You just do not understand what it is on-pitch that Vardy does that makes him the
most attackingest England player ( ... in the world. Ever. )

For starters he ... erm ... and he also ...
Oh I dunno, but I'm sure someone will be here very soon to give us all the info on
the above -------O

 

By picking those players it deflects attention away from the fact that Rooney has been selected again. I believe as a midfielder. Everything that needs to be said about that has been said, but sadly not by anyone that has the power or will to do anything.

 

The Mirror reported The FA were trying to do exactly that back in September.

 

Doesn't surprise me, I'm probably being biased as I'm sure there's other good prospects but I'd say he's the best academy centre half in the country at the moment. Absolute unit and plays beyond his years, scary that he's only turning 19 in December.

 

There's a few others they were sniffing around at the same time, such as Oliver Burke and Domingos Quina.

 

Not heard of Quina but Burke looks a real talent, apparently playing really well for Leipzig, they've had a great start to life in the the top flight as well, joint top with Bayern and they were only founded less than a decade ago, incredible.