I didn't know that. If that's the case then it's understandable that Roy wouldn't want him, even though imo he should start in midfield. England already have enough to worry about without a sulky Carrick on the bench.
Has anyone counted our ex-players? There were a fair few in the preliminary squads - even excluding Modric who we didn't really want to let go. Were we right to move them on?
World Cup 2014: Radamel Falcao out of Colombia squad. Another star missing from the world cup, although Sherwood can't be blamed for this one.
Not sure what Columbia were thinking when they included him in their provisional squad. There was no way he'd be recovered from his ACL injury in time.
England finding out how **** Jones and Smalling are. They were both genuine prospects before Utd got their mits on them. Gone backwards now.
Shh, saying that implies that Ferguson was equally culpable for their decline, and that's not allowed.
Bentaleb's opened his account for Algeria: [video=youtube;_4V3rEM8tuw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4V3rEM8tuw[/video] That's Costel Pantilimon making the error in goal for Romania. Currently out of contract, after being released by City.
Well done to Bentaleb. He has come a long way during the past 6 months. Good to see him get some just rewards.
Don't forget Zaha too. Fergie signed some truly great players for Man Utd but he also wasted a lot of money. Where's Bebe these days?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...atest-ever-footballer-has-been-overhyped.html Browse down to the comments and if the author was hoping to wind up football fans then it worked!
As an old git who is now a veteran of watching England at 18 international tournaments (World cups and Euros), last nights match has confirmed for me that this is the weakest squad that we have taken to a tournament in my lifetime. If I was picking a squad from all the players that have been to those tournaments I am not sure that any of this lot would get in.
This is what happens when you pick a squad based on reputation over ability, suitability and form. The first 11 is generally pretty good because the top 4/5 clubs will always have a couple of good, English players but after that... when's the last time Smalling impressed anyone, or Wilshere, or Lampard, or Milner as a right back. The options for defence and the deeper midfield 2 are dire. It's painful listening to ITV's commentary too, not even an attempt to be unbiased.
"England, you're ****, and you know you are!" That's what they'll be singing in Brazil, trust me. That's the England fans, i'm talking about.
Not bad for someone who was apparently not as good as other youngsters his age (in our youth teams) but be interesting to see if Bentaleb has a better career, as not all youngsters progress at the same rate and Bentaleb has the makings of a top player and can thank Sherwood for giving him his chance and ignoring all the criticism.
Right on cue, Gerrard is whinging that Capello never believe he had the ability to captain the England side. Let's just pretend that, when Gerrard was captaining the England side at the last World Cup, at no point did he inspire any of his teammates to be anything more than an inept, gutless shambles.
Did we sell the right players? This XI from our current squad is in Brazil (or might be without injury) Lloris, Walker, Assou-Ekottu, Vertonghen, Capoue, Bentaleb, Paulinho, Dembele, Townsend, Chadli, Lamela So is this XI who have been in our squad previously but have been sold Pletikosa, Corluka, Ziegler, Luongo, Zokora, Boateng, Palacios, Modric, Postiga, Dempsey, Dos Santos This XI has not been selected by their country: Friedel, Naughton, Dawson, Kaboul, Rose, Sandro, Capoue, Lennon, Holtby, Soldado, Kane Which XI would you fancy in a mini-league?
I'm missing the point of these warm up games. They're not competitive so nobody is playing how they (allegedly) would be playing in a competitive game, so how much can they really learn about each other? I've heard several commentators say that the best result of these games is to come through without injury. So why bother? Also heard that it is to give experience to the squad players and enable them to get into the first XI. Well how likely is that? I'm thinking that no matter how many goals Lambert scored he wouldn't get into the starting XI. I think goals scored seem to be valued more according to who scores them. For example I think Crouch's international scoring record has been underestimated. So if the squad players aren't going to get into the team regardless of how well they play again I say why bother?
Part of the preparations in Miami was to get the players playing in conditions near to what they will be like in Brazil - hot and humid.
