Still a bit worried about the centre of defence (sounds familiar) as Cahill and Smalling look a tad vulnerable. Apart from that we're in good shape with good options in goal, midfield and attack. Just got to hope we "show up" as so often we don't.
Milner to captain England against Netherlands. Why? The old brigade being rewarded again. Why not be pro-active and make one of the younger members of the team skipper.
My response to Gary Lineker on twitter! Gary Lineker @GaryLineker 2m2 minutes ago Interesting that England's various captains are the ones whose places in the squad appear most vulnerable. Tough choices lie ahead for Roy. please log in to view this image David Bowen @DaveDave48 34s35 seconds ago @GaryLineker The choices are simple, the fear is Roy will bottle it!
Presumably Henderson and Cahill aren't playing, and beyond that, there's nobody really in the squad with captaincy experience or a great deal of caps. Jagielka will probably play but he's older than Milner. Giving an older, experienced player the captaincy for a one-off also sends a completely different message to making a younger newcomer captain. Giving it to a youngster is almost suggesting their place is secure, and if it was an attacking player it'll lead to more negative headlines for Rooney. Realistically, Joe Hart is the future captain of England after Rooney. There's no point ruffling any more feathers with a one-off friendly. You look at the youngsters too and there's nobody who is really guaranteed to start. We've an exciting squad but it isn't settled enough yet to make a bold call.
What is the point of Milner even being considered, he's too old, not good enough, and Hogson should know all about him by now. Isn't the point of these games to try out new things/players?
Firstly I do agree to a large extent that Rooney unless full fit and finishing the season all guns blazzing shouldn't get near the team, but what do we expect from the players and the manager? With the negative media and public apathy to Rooney's involvement, any team worth it's salts are likely to circle the wagons and back their; colleague, captain and possible friend (Does Kane really hope that Rooney is fit and might play ahead of himself or his club mate Alli? or is it a soundbite of support for the media and his team mate?). I think Rooney's best days are certainly behind him and I think it very likely that he will have limited impact at the championships, but i don't think he has fallen so far as to write him off completely. He is still a good player, our record goal scorer and very experienced. For now I will trust to Woy to assess his fitness for selection both to the squad and the team (This trust may well be misplaced as evidenced by his selection in Brazil and by a number of former managers) There is plenty of time left for that assessment to be made and others like; Vardy, Kane and Alli could easily have a drop off in form by the end of the season, I wouldn't write off any player who is in and around selection until, they have through form or fitness ruled themselves out. toward the end of the season and the time to name the final tournament squad. Like Rooney, Milner is far from a favourite of mine, he always appears to be picked to make us harder to beat not more likely to win, but if Woy wants him in the squad and the team then I'll respect it, I don't really think the likes of; Welbeck, Vardy, Sterling etc who might play in the wide roles that Milner would are so far ahead of him in quality or consistency that he should be ruled out completely. Would I pick him? No, but I understand why a manager might. Would I rather a younger player got more experience who may just offer more than Milner now any way? Yes, but Woy hasn't the luxury of building, this championship is the be all of his tenure, because failure to escape the group, coupled with the no show in Brazil (granted with little time to build) would surely lead to him being dispatched. So if he has a number of inexperienced lads in the squad and the team a few old heads in both won't necessarily be a bad thing. Bah!
I agree with the General. Rooney is a good player to have from the bench. He's now the experienced, fading international and when the chips are down or you need to close out a game, that's an important player. I think he can add something to the team in that sense - he should be brought on at 60 mins. He seems to have shaken off the more loose cannon aspects of his youth, so like Dylan Hartley I actually think this is a good role for someone who knows what it's like to lose your head. I fear Roy will start him more often than not though.
Spot on article General and I would really love to see Rooney used more as a sub than in the starting 11, but most of us on here seem resigned to the fact that that is unlikely to happen. We'll just have to wait and see!!!
Ross Barclay is a better footballer than Rooney, but if we are playing Kane up front it has to be Alli in midfield.
I agree with most of that, though I would rather not have Walcott in there and might be tempted to use Vardy or Sterling instead. It would be great if Stones could find some form towards the end of the season, as Cahill and Smalling are both not particularly great and worries at the highest level. It's not like either have been pulling up trees this season. Whilshere Sturridge and Barclay would all be close to the team if fit, but inspite of my earlier defense of him, Rooney isn't close to first XI for my money. Hart Walker - Smalling - Stones - Rose Dier - Whilshere Vardy - Alli - Sterling KaneBench: Forrster, Cahill, Clyne, Drinkwater, Barclay, Sturridge, Rooney/Welbeck Bah!
I just think that in the high-pressing style Hodgson seems to want to use, Welbeck has to be in there. Also, I don't rate Sterling fitting into a high-pressing system as well as Walcott. I'd be very tempted to put Vardy in as I think he deserves it, but I just don't know how he'd fit into the system if Kane and Welbeck are in there too. I'd keep Cahill over Stones for now, mostly for experience as it's a rather untested back four otherwise.
I think Vardy would be the best of all of them for a high pressing system, I guess i agree re-sterling being least suited to it, but would be tempted to pick him for the greater threat he poses (in my umble) I can certainly see why you would pick Cahill over Stones, it is definitely the choice of the here and now. Cahill will be unlikely to be involved much beyond this tournament though so it's that experience against; getting Stones experience and/or hoping that he is a better player than Cahill already? With the talent available I can't see us winning but Hodgson's job will be on the line and can't just write it off as developement so I would think Cahill will get the nod and I can't blame him for that. Bah!
Milner is flucking awful! He's kicked a corner straight out of play for a goal kick, cross went out for throw in on the far side, now he's gone and handled the ball in front of the ref, he's having a stinker!!!!!
I'd be inclined to play Clyne ahead of Walker, I feel he is a superior player defensively and offensively with his positioning. I would also swap Sterling (not a fan) for either Welbeck or Lallana. Lallana is really underated by a lot of people, I thought he was one of the best players over the last 2 friendlies besides Alli.
A lot of talk about the midfield. I don't think I'd take Milner. Hes brilliant, he's experienced, he can play different positions. So many reasons he should go. I just think I would go with youth. Other tournaments were written off as "we are not ready" Well we wont be ready with the same old players who Wernt good enough last time, mixed with youngsters who have little to no international experience.
Alli and Dier have to go. Kane and Vardy has to. If fit, Sterling has to, Hart, Forster, Clyne. I'd take Rooney. Wouldn't necessarily start him,but He'd have to be there. Smalling, probably. Stones (even though he seems lost at the moment) Even if he doesn't start, I'd want him to experience being in the squad. Barkley has to go too. Lallana probably. Wonder who the 3rd Keeper would be?
Tom Heaton got the call when Hart was injured, and Burnley look likely to return to the Premier League. I think it's his spot to lose, so Hart, Forster and Heaton.
