Richards should have been in, Taking Hendo is a big gamble as well when you do have Carrick who played week in and week out, could have also reached out to Scholes ( retirement? what retirement?). No Crouch when he is a known International goal scorer as well, no sturridge who scored more goals and played better than defoe over the course of the season. Problem is, every club will have their " How is ____ in, our boy ____ is miles better!"
So why was Milner involved and Defoe? That doesn't hold water since others were added even though they have not played that often. I think Roy wanted to shake it up a bit.
Hodgson getting huge stick on the beeb from fans! It is a poor squad in honesty but agree that its probably the best we have at the moment. Its obvious to anyone with half a brain cell that its more political or more honestly to do with marketing these days. Gary Neville was right in suggesting a radical change but unfortunately as always its the players who are perceived to be the big names and thus attractive as a product that will get picked; its another reason I really hate international football at the moment!
Haha, Phil Jones....No idea how he gets in that team ahead of people like Richards (seriously, does he just shag his manager's wives or something, can't seem to buy a place in anyone's team) or Jagielka. No idea how Downing makes that team either, would much prefer...anyone. And Defoe is odd. Crouch or Sturridge would be better. The rest is standard. I'm disappointed having Terry in there, but expected. Lampard/Gerrard/Barry/Parker is too safe also and won't work, as always.
I didn't think he played that well in the CC final but didn't really want to say anything as everyone seemed to disagree with me, he put the effort in but the quality of his crossing was crap as usual.
Henderson's had maybe 2 good games all season - granted he played mostly on the right...must be like Christmas for him getting a call up after doing **** all all season! Shelvey's been better, but zero chance that anyone would consider him.
From that, I'd probably pick: Hart Johnson - Terry - Cahill - Cole Parker - Gerrard The Ox - Young - Welbeck Rooney My worst XI from that squad would be: Green Johnson - Jones - Lescott - Baines Milner - Barry Walcott - Lampard - Downing Defoe I think that worst XI is half decent but also speaks volumes! I realise Jones can play RB but if you count in that position then it leaves us with three CBs so someone had to be in twice! Carroll and Ruddy are the two that i have selected for either side.
Although I agree, Henderson has done more to earn a place then Downing! On the plus side, Henderson being on the back up list measn he won't be part of the Olympics team since that would mean he wouldn't get a break
I was kinda hoping we'd sign a quality midfielder this summer to play alongside Lucas instead of hoping Hendo gets a rest!
Again, I agree but I also think people are harsh on Henderson. He is a very good young player who has been played out of position all reason (ironically, his best performance came when he was asked to play RWB after we went down to ten men!). It was the same for Lucas when he arrived. Very young and full of potential, but he was used to playing AM but Rafa wanted him to be a DM, it took him time to adjust and look at him now. He was fortunate enough to have Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard alongside him to learn from. Henderson has Gerrard and Lucas who have both been missing for large periods of the season just passed.
I actually think Henderson's best game was as a duo with Shelvey in the recent game against Chelsea, but yeah, he did great at RB also, going 2v1 often and coming out on top. Albeit a weaker team, the two worked well and controlled the midfield - surprising given how young both were, which demonstrates alot of promse in the two. I certainly don't think he's ready for a regular start next season (we needed to rely on him too much this season as it is) and deffo shouldn't be in contention for the England squad. Maybe in another year he'll be ready.
I'd agree with that, you basically have a Chelsea backline (minus right back) that you could argue is rubbish but atleast they train with each other everyday so should have some cohesion. Then you basically have a Utd attack, so again should have some understanding of each others game and movement. Spain are so good because they are basically the Barca and Madrid squad so it takes very little to get them to play as a team.
I can't believe Oxlade-Chamberlain has been included (Theo Wallcot & World Cup spring to mind). Surely Johnson who is proven in the Premiership is a better option than someone that has played a handful of games for Arsenal and never played for England before. I would have always taken Defoe. Scored more goals than any other player coming on as sub in the Premiership and out of all the forwards that are being taken I'd rather have him in a 1 v 1 situation than anyone else. Shocked Richards isn't there as he is a better RB & CB than Jones is but apart from that, rest of squad is pretty standard.
Pretty much this. Someone in another thread said we should take after the Spain model and take the English plays from City and United then fill up the rest of the squad. I'd imagine something like this: Hart Richards Ferdinand Lescott Cole Carrick Parker Milner Rooney Young Welbeck Only 2 players that don't play in Manchester, and the team is flexible with a lot of the people in the squad or those who should be in the squad could be brought in without disrupting the team too much. Swap Gerrard in for Rooney, or push Rooney up and drop Welbeck. Anyways, I think Roy could have picked a better team if he picked it out of a hat.
