Would definitely go with Adam Johnson over any of those.
Yeah, he's quality.
Would definitely go with Adam Johnson over any of those.
If we're going to play the Pick And England Team Game...
First XI
Hart
Walker Cahill Jones Cole
Lennon Wilshere Parker Milner
Rooney Sturridge
Squad
Carson, Loach
Baines, Dawson, Jagielka, Smalling
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barry, Gerrard, Etherington
Crouch, Ashley Young
Yes, I'd would honestly take Matthew Etherington over the likes of Stewart Downing or Joe Cole.
Would definitely go with Adam Johnson over any of those.
D'oh, knew I forgot someone! And Micah Richards, for that matter. Defoe would be on the reserve list in case of injury, suspension, or the unlikely event of half the squad refusing to represent England until John Terry was reinstated to the squad...
Even if that is true about him being the best poacher (and his goalscoring record is not that great tbh), he offers so little apart from that, that I wouldn't have Defoe near my England squad. I agree with your comments about Milner as a winger, but I think he has good all round skills so might have him in a two man defensive midfield slotThink Defoe should definitely go to Euros. He's England's best goal poacher/ penalty box predator. Think there's too many wingers in your squad - Lennon, Milner, Young, Etherington and Oxo Cube - one is bound to not get a minute of football out there, would have JD in place one of them, Milner for me, don't rate him one bit.
Even if that is true about him being the best poacher (and his goalscoring record is not that great tbh), he offers so little apart from that, that I wouldn't have Defoe near my England squad. I agree with your comments about Milner as a winger, but I think he has good all round skills so might have him in a two man defensive midfield slot
1 in 3 isn't bad at international level. Lets not forget, Defoe never usually gets 90 minutes either.
Personally I just wouldn't take Milner. Offers nothing better than other options available. On the wings we need/ should have pace which he hasn't got and in the centre, our options of Parker, Barry, Gerrard, Lampard and Wilshere (although I don't rate Wilshere as highly as everyone else) offer far more than him.
I'd go for a three man midfield of Parker/Gerrard/Wilshire with Barry/Milner/Cleverly as back up. Milner is better than Lampard now, surely.
Front three of Sturridge/Rooney/Young with Oxlade-Chamberlain/Welbeck/Johnson as back up. Lennon or Walcott very close to being in and wouldn't argue with either of them.
If Wilshere and Cleverly are still injured in the summer we've got no-one with any flair to replace them. I'd go for Thudd but he's injured too.....The Parker, Gerrard and Wilshere combo could work well. Three entirely different midfielders. Would have Barry, Lampard and Cleverly as back up for that. I still rate Lampard, might not be as influential but can still grab key goals. Milner for me, just has no impact on a game, type of player that justs drifts by if you know what I mean.
Front three for me would be: Sturridge/ Defoe, Rooney (when eligible), Young.
1 in 3 isn't bad at international level. Lets not forget, Defoe never usually gets 90 minutes either.
Personally I just wouldn't take Milner. Offers nothing better than other options available. On the wings we need/ should have pace which he hasn't got and in the centre, our options of Parker, Barry, Gerrard, Lampard and Wilshere (although I don't rate Wilshere as highly as everyone else) offer far more than him.
1 in 3 isn't bad at international level. Lets not forget, Defoe never usually gets 90 minutes either.
Defoe has never played an entire 90 minutes for England.
Isn't he England's record goalscorer from the bench or something?
None of the papers have considered him taking over as England coach, getting flak for failing to win a tournament, so quitting - and returning to the WHL dugout within 48 hours...
What a difference a few months makes.
He didn't get the England job, but he didn't stay at Spurs and join the elite list either.
Looking at the upheaval and uncertainty Spurs fans have been facing, February 2012, 3rd in the league, ten points clear of Arsenal, Chelsea and the rest seems a long, long time ago.

It's remarkable how your perspective can change so quickly, but if SAF had gone this summer followed by his two best players- Rooney and Vidic- and stalwart Scholes' retirement (again), the ABUs would be having a field day whoever the new manager and his signings were. Hopefully, the transition will be a lot less dramatic than it is proving to be for Spurs.
It's remarkable how your perspective can change so quickly, but if SAF had gone this summer followed by his two best players- Rooney and Vidic- and stalwart Scholes' retirement (again), the ABUs would be having a field day whoever the new manager and his signings were. Hopefully, the transition will be a lot less dramatic than it is proving to be for Spurs.