Lampard past his best? What have you based that on (please for the love of **** don't say it's because he's over 30)? The last few seasons he's been Chelsea's best player. Last season he was a real force and he's started this season well too. Carrick is about as useful as a cock flavoured lollipop. Huddlestone is much better.
When people are posting comparisons like this, why don't they stop to think "I'm obviously talking bollocks otherwise Carrick wouldn't be winning Player of the Year awards for the Champions while Huddlestone plays so few games he has to move to a newly promoted side." I love Huddlestone but we have to be a bit more realistic. These Man United players we keep insisting aren't as good as our lads obviously play for United (and England) for a reason...
I agree about Carrick. And i think Hudds, Davies, Livermore are miles off getting caps for England, so just enjoy their talents for City. However, i also agree that there are some players who are picked based on clubs- Milner and Lescott (think Macca said that).
I think it's nice that everyone has decided to concentrate all their most ridiculous nonsense on this one thread, thus freeing up all the other threads for incisive and witty comments.
Neutrals love to hate these players but they are talented. Lescott went for something like £24m didn't he? He and Terry were excellent at the last Euros. Milner was Villa's best player when he left them. People just need a booboy and for England it's Cleverley and Milner. I think we need to start dictating possession a bit more before Huddlestone can get in the national side. How can we expect him to be called up when we only get 40% possession against a **** West Ham side who did nothing but lump it. I don't want to sound like I don't rate him (really he's brilliant) but if he was as good as we think he is we'd be getting better possession stats.
Actually I don't mind Milner. Carrick deserves to be in the squad as well. It's players like Cleverley and Smalling that piss me off.
Huddlestone and Livermore can't win us matches themselves. They need decent players around them as well, afterall it is a team game. But i can see what you're saying.
I never really rated carrick until I realised he's actually quite good at kicking a football. Milner I think has come to a point were he's no longer developing due to not playing for city. Cleverley though, is ****e.
City, Everton, West Ham, Fulham and Cardiff had the most English players starting this week, all had five. Swansea and Chelsea had three, Villa, Chelsea and Man City had two. Stoke only had one and Newcastle had none, considering this is the English league, that's terrible.
Based on the fact he can no longer burst into the box in the way he used to. Wouldn't say he's been Chelsea's best player in any of the recent seasons. Mata last season. He's still a great player but he's on the decline now, already having to adapt his game to play a deeper role. His best game this season was against us which may be altering your view of him, he hasn't been very impressive for Chelsea this season. As for Carrick, he's obviously got qualities, he had a great season last season.
I really don't see how thinking Thudd is good enough for the England squad is getting carried away. I don't want to buy in to the argument about current players in the squad - I agree, they're there for a reason - but I'm struggling to think of a better English midfielder we've played against this season. Also, I don't really get the point by PLT that if he was so good we would do better than 40% possession, unless he's expected to hang on to the ball all by himself. Anyway, England or not, he's an absolute joy to watch. I always liked him but seeing him do it in a City shirt is amazing!
Don't worry about PLT's point about posession, he doesn't have a clue about football, he thinks its all a big game of FIFA.
I hope that England ignore Tom for now at least. That Must be to Hull Citys benefit without a doubt. However, IF Hull City stay up and Tom Huddlestone keeps going the way he is then it is a certainty that Hudds will be on the plane to Rio. After Gerrard, Lampard, Wilshere we have nobody else of that class available in midfield. imo.
I hope Gerrard and Lampard both get injuries and miss the World Cup (if we get there). We will never progress as a team if these two keep playing well into their 30's, and it's never worked with them even in their prime. Of the two if I had to keep one it would be Lampard as he still seems to get about the park reasonably well, can't see Gerrard adapting well to the heat and several games, he's slow enough already. Huddlestone should be in the England squad.
You may get a shock if they do. Dont worry about it. Rio 2014(if England get there) will see the end of Gerrard and Lampard as they will retire afterwards from international football.