About 95% of the foregoing posts are utter bollocks and mainly biased through club allegiance Rashford has represented England at the various levels so it is well known what he will be capable of. For me he is too green for this tournament but think ahead to 2018. Defoe is an old man who is a journeyman striker but who has done well in a difficult season for a changing team but there are others better than him and his style is not a lot different to those in front of him. My money says neither is ready for this tournament
I think the Defoe vs. Rashford issue is such a close call that who you favour probably comes down to if you support Sunderland or United. Proven goal scorer or exciting potential... there's not really a right or wrong answer. It pisses me off to see Wilshere involved, a player who is either injured, or playing tentatively in a match that he's about to get injured in, and Sterling who is a joke. He represents everything I dislike in the modern footballer but gets a free pass for England for no good reason.
I think that's a bit harsh.... Calling him an old man when he's in some of the best form of his career and he looks fit as a fiddle. He started at West Ham, went on loan to Bournemouth. Then for about the next 10 years was playing for Spurs and Portsmouth, went to Toronto for 6 months and now Sunderland. Hardly a journeyman, mate.
He has just got his second best goal tally in his career, and that is with a team that just escaped relegation...He is in the form of his life..
There was a season he was banging them in for Spurs and England as well, he was probably a little bit better then but it's certainly debateable...
By comparison to the other strikers he is an old man; possible exception would be Vardy and I only see his speed as his greatest asset. I used the term journeyman as one who is known as being reliable without outstanding. He is in the twilight of his time and as I said looking ahead Rashford could replace prove to be a better fit than him in the long run as a Rooney replacement. Myself, I would have taken Carroll.
Agree age etc is against Defoe but he is in the front for international experience & that's his strength ...
So typical of Hodgson to pick a name just for the hell of it over insignificant things like form and fitness.
Henderson needs to play as much football as possible before the tourney, to prove his fitness, if he can't get through 90 minutes without hanging out of his own arse, then leave him at home.
Nothing against Rashford at all he's going to be a star my question is, if JD had been playing for Man U and Rashy for Sunderland who would Woy have picked then?
Wilshere looks fit, I mean, I was fairly shocked at his inclusion either way, there's being fit and there's being match-sharp, he's probably rusty as **** in his head, but fitness wise he looks good. Henderson hasn't even returned from his injury yet. He's the vulnerable midfielder I reckon, it's him or Drinkwater going to France in my opinion.
Not having a go at Man U DT I just wonder if Defoe would have got the nod then. As for Wilshere. I'll give him about 7 minutes before he trips over a blade of grass and pulls a hamstring.
Nail... Head... Hit!! Absolutely. Sterling, Wilshere, Henderson. All picked yet the last 2 have 4 appearances between them since February and the first one is a £3m buy who got bought for £50m. Watmore is as good as him (maybe better) and doesn't flounce around the field either!!
