Of course it is. I'm sure you all love the guy but Campbell has had something like 3 or 4 league apps in TWO YEARS with one goal. If you take your Sunderland specs off for a minute, do you honestly think that's enough time for someone to deserve an England call-up instead of all of the other English strikers, like Danny Graham, who has bagged 10 goals in 22 apps (almost a record of 1 in 2)? Drop the crap for a second and tell me if you think it's just a little bit unusual at least? And then you have the other issues unrelated to Campbell: - Stuart Downing getting a call-up - Gareth Barry still getting a call-up - Theo Walcott getting a call-up - Oxlade-Chamberlain NOT getting a call-up (one of Arsenal's best players by far) - Choosing 3 centre backs (to cover two positions) and 3 right backs? - Tom Cleverley getting a call-up (what's he done?) Apart from including Micah Richards, which is a good move, the team selection is awfully Capello-esque.
Good afternoon marra...I must admit that I was a tad concerned about you when you didn't comment on the Quinny saga the other day... I've just realised that I'm getting the Mackem O'Neil and Cestria O'Neil mixed up..
Better than your patter though! Catts has been fantastic since MON took over and streets ahead of Barry - and Cleverly hasn't played for months?? Strange setup but delighted for Fraizer - go on son stick a couple of goals in
Very surprised that Campbell has been called up, he's been back like 4 games? Goes to show how poor the quality of English players are mind, especially with Barry, Downing, Carson, Green, Johnson, Walcott, Young. Sooner England get a proper manager the better.
Chappaz, I see your point, I really do, but I also see the fact that Campbell has different qualities to the other options we have up top at the minute. The Barry thing is my biggest annoyance, he is ****ing ****, Downing only marginally better, clearly out of his depth at Liverpool. I think this is a deliberately experimental squad, Frazier & Cleverly certainly have claims for future England slots, and it's good to give them the experience of the time away, even if they don't play. I'd have given Graham a chance, even though i'm dubious about his first touch at the highest level.
Ok lets address your bile for a moment , of course as fan I am delighted the lad has been called up. Iam fully aware of his inactivity over the last two years, but so what ????? Hes returned, looking sharp and scored two in four starts. What is significant is the fact that Pierce knows him very well from his administration of the Under 21's. So he knows the lad inside out and his capabilities.In his interview Pierce has stated that he spoke to MON at length regarding the selection and had no qualms about calling him up. Pierce had made it clear that there is a large degree of experimentation regarding this team selection, so wheres the risk ?? Throwing the likes of Chamberlain into your argument is a massive irrelivence as he plays in a different decision. So lets just conclude, and if you can be so decent as to remove your SKUNK glasses you might not feel so bitter about a young lad whos had a encouraging come back and has been rewarded with a call up for his country...and furthermore...no I cant think of anyone more deserving !!! Even Graham....
*gasp* for once I partially agree with Chappy; I don't see that Campbell had earned an England call up yet... but I also have to laugh at how much it's winding Chappy up
I saw Cleverley at least play against Ajax for Man United last week, so he has. Barry is crap, but better than Cattermole. Neither should be in the England squad.
Maybe Sunderland is the place to play - Only Rooney and Sturridge haven't played for Sunderland... Maybe they will want to sign next season just to complete the forward line's Sunderland links!!
Where do you get this information about Barry being better than Cattermole? They played against each other on New Years Day and Cattermole got MOTM - arry got a 4 in the papers?? Guess this is another person making comments without watching him since November
How many games has he played exactly. Your kind of contradicting yourself there. Did you see him last week, he was gash.
It's just my opinion. It happens to be an opinion shared by many football fans outside of Sunderland...
I'm sure he does, but it just seems to have stripped out any need for a player to prove themselves over a decent run of games. The England squad is supposed to be the elite of the elite, the best of the best, so how has Campbell proven that over 4 games and a goal, whereas someone like Graham has got himself a ratio of almost 1 in 2 and gets nowhere? The problem isn't so much about Campbell being picked, it's the fact that he was chosen over some players who, at the moment, probably deserve a call-up more than he does. There are only limited spaces after all. It does seem to be experimental, and it is only a friendly, so I suppose Pearce can try what he likes. The only thing I can think of is that Pearce watched Campbell and really liked what he saw. 6 league games and 3 Champions League games, so whilst it isn't many, he's proven himself more and proven himself at the highest level in the CL. He might have had an off-day but he has been one of Arsenal's best players. "So what". Great argument Unless the Wikipedia stats are wrong, he's had one league app with a goal, and 2 cup apps with a goal. You think that's enough time to prove that a striker is good enough for an England call-up OVER a player like Graham who has played 20+ apps and got a 2:1 ratio? The risk is that Campbell has been chosen in place of some English players who probably deserve a call-up more at the moment. Not only does this prevent us from seeing these other in-form players, but it's also very demoralising for someone who has put in consistent performances over a long period of time. I think you need to remove your glasses, because if a Newcastle striker had ONE league app this season and then got a call-up you'd be wondering, like me, what sort of odd decision it was.
And we're back to normal, a mediocre striker Graham who has totally failed to make the step up to the Prem missing some absolute sitters, over a young lad who has been very impressive in just a few games who just happens to play for SAFC.
Chappaz, The wicki stats ARE wrong. He scored against Boro, and Norwich, it's 2 in 4. Pearce of course has managed Frazier for the U21's, where he's averaged 1 in 3, this will have had a bearing as well. Campbell is renowned as a positive, infectious character with great attitude, this may well have been a factor as well.
