Hart, Cahill, Jones, Richards, Smalling, Walker, Cleverley, Johnson, Young, Milner, Walcott, Campbell, Sturridge and Welbeck. I'd consider all those to be 'youthful.
Interesting Rob Green's still hanging around. He and Kelvin have conceeded the same amount of goals this season (and Kelvin's not been sent off), I wonder if Kelvin may have been a consideration??
Nothing against Kelvin at all, but I'd be slightly concerned for England if he got a call up! Good to see Terry, Lampard and co missing, looking pretty thin at centre-back though; could be argued that Cahill is the only natural CB in the squad!
Lallana's not going to the Euros...time to get over it. Green has important international experience and isn't going to displace Hart anyway.
Think this is a good sign to be honest, picking players who have done well for the u21s, not just whoever plays for a big club (although Tom Cleverly is in there too). Good for team spirit if all the players have come through the ranks together, which should be what they aim for longer term. Good luck to him.
I agree with the decision to include Campbell, he has come back from a serious injury and has been in superb form for Sunderland
As (I hope) he's only going to have the job for one match, it should have been used as an opportunity to look at some in form youngsters - Dyer, Sinclair, Oxo. I despair every time I see Downing and Walcott in these squads.
Why do we have a youth system at Southampton then? It's not (anymore) to sell them for a profit, it's with the intention of producing a group of players who have played together their whole lives who can form the core of our future team, in the same way that Man United (circa 2000) or Barcelona have done. I think the same principle should apply at national level. Look at Germany in the last world cup, they basically played their u21 team of the previous couple of years (Müller, Ãzil, Khedira, Neuer, Badstuber, Kroos, Marin... all graduates of the successful u21 team to name a few) and they did very well, not with superstars but with a core of good players who knew each other's games inside out. The best team isn't necessarily made up of the best players after all.
I think you've misunderstood me - I'm not denying the point of a U21 team, I'm saying that national selections should be based on more than U21 performances (where looking at scoring record, Campbell hasn't exactly set the world alight...) There's a big difference with Germany - I'll go through your list of players. Muller - just off the back of a very successful campaign in Bayern's first team, getting to the CL final. Ozil - had been lighting up Bundesliga Khedira - See above Neuer - Had been one of the top Bundesliga keepers for several seasons... Badstuber - See Muller Kroos - Only played about an hour of football at the world cup, but see Muller and Badstuber Marin - see Ozil and Khedira, but on a lesser scale. Whereas Fraizer Campbell has (I don't know, I'll take your word over scoring record) been playing well in the U21s yet has failed to impress in the PL (I can make my own judgement on this call). There is a huge difference between Fraizer Campbell and Mesut Ozil.
Not this! If you're allowed to post pointless one word comments, then I'll do similar. I don't agree with pass the football's points but I respect him and his opinion.
Am I the only one who doesn't actually care how we do in the euro's, as long as we look like we care?! I'd rather the team be comprised of hard working players from outside the top 4, and outside the premier league who will go out there and die for the shirt! than some pre madonna millionaires who look like they couldn't give a toss and watch on as their wags embarrass our nation further. put players out there who will throw themselves in front of every ball and show passion for the shirt, passion for this great country... and go out proud, knowing that the team out on the pitch are a representation of true English spirit. Put in a young dynamic coach... England rely on old experienced heads instead of bringing in a young vibrant manager with fresh ideas and a fresh ethos/energy. How about Brendan Rogers? I'm serious... or dare I say, our Nigel? it can't be any worse than the slop we've had to deal with over the years. A player of Lamberts physicality and movement could be a great addition to a side in the Euro's, a different entity that nobody outside england (and in some cases, in england) knows about... they know the foibles of rooney, but Lambert would be a fresh change. Nathan Dyer and Oxo on the wings would be an interesting team to line up, with Wilshere in the centre, even give Mceachran from Chelski a go. let's make england watchable again, forget about winning the world cup... let's blood youngsters through, give a manager at least 2 world cup campaigns and a euro to shape his vision for english football. OR... just hire another top manager on 20 million to watch him fail miserably.
It's team selections like these that make you think the likes of Lambert and Lallana will never get picked, even if they were on form in the Prem. I mean how on earth are Walcott and Downing in ahead of Chamberlain and Sinclair?! How is Darren Bent ahead of Danny Graham? Why hasn't Leon Britton (Europe's most accurate passer) been given a chance? Why have Young and Cleverley (who I rate highly) been picked when they've just come back from injury? How is Scott Carson ahead of goalies like John Ruddy? So much for trying out a new team! Stuart Pearce's team selections have always been wrong for the U21s and he's got it wrong again. Nothing's changed. Same old unimaginative team selections.
I'm not saying Fraizer Campbell is the answer to all our prayers, of course Ãzil is better! But he's a decent player who should be given a chance based on his u21 performances. I'd like to see more Fraizer Campbells and fewer Downings to be honest, what's he done lately?
There's a fundamental problem that's obviously been around for many years, and this latest international selection shows that this problem is finally coming to a head. It's getting to the point where the players being called up are "squad players" within their team, and, with the greatest of respects, this includes the likes of Cleverley, Gibbs, Welbeck, Cahill, Stockdale, Sturridge to a degree (although he is established he's not being utilized in his best position) and of course Adam Johnson. Then there are the players who are seemingly overlooked for not playing at a bigger club, and players such as Rodwell would fall into this category. There's a serious risk of England falling into the abyss in 5 years time once the likes of Gerrard and Ferdinand retire, as there are very very few obvious talents who are sticking out in the U21s. The only players who would fall into this category are Wilshere, possibly Jones (if he can hit consistent form) and our very own AOC. If something isn't done about the way English clubs coach their youngsters, then I think it will be a long time before England are even anywhere near winning any major championship.
we should just look to the 2014 world cup. we should have a good little team in a couple of years time: hart, baines, jones, dawson (spurs), walker, parker, wilshere, mceachran, chambo, sturridge, rooney. not saying we'll be world beaters but a decent side deffo.
