James Ward-Prowse called up by England...

Bertrand has lovely eyes...unusual admittedly, but striking. And of course he should have been selected for England...can see no reason why Hodgson couldn't have at least given him a chance in the friendly.

 

Think they'll always be a debate on squad selection and it's tricky for an International manager especially after a long break.

Supporters mainly focus on club form, but the manager has to have a certain respect toward those players who have been in the squad previously and given good performances or showed their strengths in training.

Sadly left back is probably our most competitive position and Bertrand & Cresswell are the two best performing, but neither of these two were even in the thinking for the world cup selection just 9 months ago.

That doesn't excuse some poor choices from Hodgson(who I think should of been sacked after the world cup), but goes some way to explain his reasoning.

 

Good point...an international manager may have faith in players with poor club form. England are doing well, so he may feel it isn't the right time to change everything. Wouldn't hurt to look at players with a friendly coming up though.

 

Cody Cropper called up by the USA.

 

On the plus side, Rose and Kane have already played more games then the rest of our players and Bertrand will be keen to make a point in the next few weeks. If Bertrand had got called up and then injured we would be very short, so maybe it is a good thing.

 

The full squad or u21? Have never seen him play, might be a better option than Kelvin if Forster is out for a long time.

 

There's only one good thing about Roy Hodgson getting the England job and that is that Harrydidn't get it.

Although saying that Harry as manager would mean Kranjcar in a disguise, Lampard playing into his fifties and a lot of people with a leg or a neck or needing to lose some weight...............and that would still be a vast improvement on the ****e we have been playing. lol

 

Full squad...the games are in Europe, so that probably helped swing it for him.

 

My interest in the national team waned to zero a long time ago. It has sunk even lower of late. I don't even bother to watch or listen to the games.

 

With you on that score St.G. Occasionally my interest rouses, as in the case when we had 4 of our players in the squad. Their recognition meant that we quickly lost 3 of them to other teams, and only a bad injury has stopped the 4th. That has tempered any resumption in my interest, despite further players being called up or on the cusp of being so, and it really depends on how bored I am on any particular day whether I will take notice of England in the future. And I'm planning on not being that bored.

 

I haven't been that impressed the times I've seen him. Makes a lot of bad mistakes, and I don't really like his demeanor either.

That said, he's supposed to have incredible reflexes and there have been games where he's said to have nearly single-handedly carried the team to a win or draw based on his heroics. I assume his massive potential is the reason Saints and the US teams keep him around. I'm also told he's a hard worker and that his sometimes lack of composure is a result of wanting to do well and win so badly, not because he's a jerk or a headcase.

He wouldn't be the first GK who just needed a few years for his mental game to catch up with his physical talents. Then again, he wouldn't be the first GK who never made it because his mental game never caught up with his physical talents.

At any rate, I don't think he is quite ready for the Premier League yet.

Davis is not as good as Forster, but to me he is at least reliable in the most important ways. A few goals might go in that Forster might have stopped, and we will have to deal with the notsogreat kicking. But he understands how to play, and how to communicate with the defense. They won't have to change how they play, or worry about what's going on. They can just play their game, and if they do then Davis won't have that much work to do anyway. There have been a lot of clean sheets this year where Forster has really only had to come up with maybe one halfway decent save.

 

Ryan Mason has replaced Lallana...You really have to earn an England call up these days

 

Cork over looked again...

 

So Lallana out; Sturridge a doubt.... Mmm is this the disguised "Roy rests Liverpool players?"

I expect Sturridge will play against Arsenal. Disgrace.

 

Which Scouser will "get injured" today? Sterling?

 

Nail on head

 

Much as I hate to defend him, La Lallana did go off injured at half time on Sunday - he was clattered in the first half. And he missed a sitter. Which was nice.

Vin

 

Bit cynical FLT. Lallana is definitely injured. Sturridge I can understand the cynicism.

 

Mason is so underwhelming.