If form is anything to go by, Lambert, Lallana, Clyne, Shaw. It`ll depend on form and injury to others no doubt, but they would all be worthy of their place. What an incentive they have for the rest of the season. Pity Boruc is Polish !
I don't want any of them going to Brazil. I support Southampton Football Club, the club that pays those players wages and I want them playing their absolute best for us, not bloody England. I hope that next summer, they are all on a beach, not in Brazil, but somewhere else resting and reflecting on a great season for Saints and getting some much needed recouperation ahead of Champions League qualifiers.
Wow ! - I couldn`t think of a better acknowledgement of Saints progress than having a few bums on seats on the plane.
Looooong way to go. First things first they need to get a go in some friendlies, impressing in those is the key to getting into the World Cup squad, they'd have to be on a truly incredible run of form for us at the end of the season to go to the World Cup with absolutely no England experience before then... Not that I'd be complaining about that.
Hodgson will call in a few new players for the up and coming friendlies...he only has a few chances to look at them close up. There can sometimes be an element of luck...players go because we are weak in one area, whereas better players get left behind because of competition. A few in our team could be contenders, but there are a lot of variables between then and now. I sympathise with the view of CBK (Saints must come first), but international call ups are important to players, so I will be pleased if they get recognition.
Just noticed on Mirror site that they are still suggesting that Rickie is behind Carroll (if fit). Where does all this adulation for Carroll come from? We know why we worship Rickie...seasons of watching him deliver, but Carroll's rep seems to be based on transfer fees. Don't wish Carroll ill, but he has some major problems there, so selecting him may not be an option anyway. Carroll has time on his side, but Rickie is in form now.
I think it's very interesting to go through this. Best way of doing it is to see how many spots are up for grabs by eliminating the definities, who are: Hart, Cole, Baines, Jagielka, Cahill, Johnson, Gerrard, Townsend (unbelievable transformation), Wilshere, Lampard, Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck, Walcott, Rooney add in the 2 reserve keepers who are largely irrelevant for the basis of this discussion and that's 17 definities. Then the competing players for the reamaing spots are Carrick, Lambert, Carroll, Defoe, Walker, Clyne, Jones, Smalling, Young, Barkley, Lallana Now you'd say that Jones and Smalling will both go to take us up to 4 centre backs (God help us with that depth) which leaves 4 spots. 1 of which will go to Lambert/Carroll/Defoe I expect which leaves Clyne vs Walker for the right-back spot and Carrick,Barkley, Lallana fighting it out for the final 2 spots. This is as I see it now, but obviously certian players could get injured whilst others could lose form/go through a renaissance. I think Clyne and Lallana do have a genuine chance of joining the most likely player to be selected, Lambert, on that plane to Brazil. Can't see J-rod getting in although I think his powerful running and direct approach would be great for England.
Only player I really want to go is Rickie, he deserves it most and is running out of time. Would like to see Lallana go, needs to continue like this for a bit before he's a must pick. Our younger crop ie shaw, clyne, j-rod, JWP i would be happy to wait for the euros. Let them establish themselves as the golden southampton generation.
That's your perogative, to me, there are a probably dozens of things ahead of players being picked for national sides as a sign of the club's progress.
Winning trophies or having a second string that can beat most lower half teams comfortably etc. Yes i see your point. But having several players actually chosen to represent your country is different. Its subjective but the England manager has chosen them because they stand out as top English players. This is irrespective of how well our team does how badly the other team plays and the rub of the green.
Not Shaw. As great as he is, England has a stupidly good selection of leftbacks. Cole and Baines will be the two. If one of them is injured, the replacement will surely be Gibbs.
Would help Shaw's case if he plays well for the u21s, but he actually has to turn up to do that! In fact, I think we rush people into the main squad too quickly...would like to see the u21s have a good tournament.
Got a lot of sympathy for this view. But surely we couldn't deny the lads the opportunity of a lifetime, could we..? please log in to view this image
Providing they win I want them all to go, then we can have 50 years of, "Saints won the World Cup", like West Ham have been doing since 1966. Should we get knocked out early and play poorly however, I don't want any of them tainted!
Absolutely. I also would love to see England do well in an international tournament, and I say that as the least patriotic guy I know. Wouldn't it be great if we could have the same bragging rights that West Ham fans have from the '66 World Cup. Edit: Touche, Lff.
Slightly less selfish post from me this time. Couple of bits of info about Lambert; he equals England regular Martin Chivers goals for Saints. Not shabby at all. Also, against Fulham, Lambert was an absolute asset. Almost everything he did was an excellent contribution. Not bad for a striker in a top PL team, who wasn't good enough for the Championship.
