Perhaps you should look at the fifa rankings some time. He would be a starter in probably half the top 15 teams and be in the squad in almost all of them.
Top 15: 1 Spain 2 Argentina 3 Germany 4 Italy 5 Colombia 6 Belgium 7 Uruguay 8 Brazil 9 Netherlands 10 Croatia 11 Portugal 12 Greece 13 United States 14 Switzerland 15 Russia He would get into the Colombia, Uruguay, Croatia, Portugal, Greece, USA, Switzerland and Russia starting XIs, and he would definitely be in the Italy, Belgium and Argentina squads.
I think some people are seriously under rating Thudd on here, he's easily one if the best central midfielders in the world at the minute. If he doesn't play both games for England, its a farce.
Haha. I said he would walk into most national teams. You said Latvia, Scotland, Ireland, USA etc. I am right. Want to take the top 30 teams and do the list? How about the top 50 teams? It isnt going to change the fact that he will be in most national teams. Infact he will be in just about every single one of them if we continue the list. England has an amazing pool of players in midfield to pick from but that does not mean that the majority of decent nations have as much depth in the position.
Glad we agree as I never said he should be in the England squad only that he would make others. Its a shame for the man as I think his quality is good enough to experience the world cup. His problem was that he only qualifies to play for England.
How? We do have an amazing pool to choose from. He is one of the best ones and should be in the squad.
If Cleverley gets in the squad ahead of Thudd after the last few games, it's clear club bias to the 'fashionable' teams. If they both miss out, fair enough.
He's good enough, no doubts. Won't be picked for a competitive match though 'cos Hodgson's too conservative.
I really don't understand why this is ridiculed. How can anyone argue that Lampard, Gerrarrd, Wilshere, Carrick etc. isn't a bloody good pool of talent. When those players play against City we expect them to tear us apart (and they often do) because we know they're world class players, yet when we're talking about England we pretend they're ****.
Lampard and Gerrard are great players, albeit past their best and on the decline now. Wilshere's a tidy player but overrated by some, look at how Ramsey is doing by comparison and people still rate Wilshere far higher. Carrick's a good player but I'd never expect him, or Wilshere really, to 'tear us apart'. Carrick tends to sit and link play, most of his passes go backwards or sideways, he's certainly not the Scholes-type player some seem to make out.
It's a pair of genuinely class wide men and a true number 9 that England lacks and separates us from the best. And a centre half now Rio and John have thrown in the towel. I'd be tempted to stick Rooney in that list of top class midfielders as I believe he's best utilised behind the striker we don't have. Maybe Sturridge will be ready for the WC, he's looking to be coming on leaps and bounds now.
May 24, 1971 Friendly Republic of Ireland B (Heighway) 1–1 England B (Wagstaff) Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland Referee: Davidson (Scotland) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland_B_national_football_team#cite_note-8
I've always wanted to see a City player play for England. I'd like to see it happen, but Woy has his favourites (including that donkey Cleverley )
Exactly. Gerrard and Lampard are world class players. But they are at the end of their careers and Gerrard has been increasingly injury prone the past couple of years. Wilshere has quality but he's a light weight (literally) and Carrick is not a creative player. Thudd is in the prime of his career, hard to knock off the ball, technically brilliant, cannonball shot from distance, and arguably the best long passer of the ball in the Prem. Roy should have him in the World Cup squad for two reasons at least...great back up in a busy schedule and as a future starter when G and L retire (next year) or begin to fade. Was very impressed with Shelveys long passing for Swansea yesterday btw. He's a real up and comer.
If Huddlestone was picked it would dispel the notion amongst players that our club is ignored by England. It would also give him the incentive to fight for the England shirt by producing his best form for us.
