I agree with all the comments above, there are a few players in that squad lucky to be going and a couple of lads that must be somewhat miffed to miss out. Sicknote`s Sturridge, Wheelchair and Henderson can count themselves fortunate, as can the out of form Sterling and Barkley, also rookie Rashford.
The FA have announced they will lead a study on brain disease Funny how they announced this on the same day Hodgson had the mother of all senior moments with his England squad...
WALES Goalkeepers Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Owain Fon Williams Defenders Ben Davies, Neil Taylor, Chris Gunter, Ashley Williams, James Chester, Ashley Richards, James Collins Midfielders Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley, David Vaughan, Joe Allen, Jonathan Williams, George Williams, Andy King, Dave Edwards Forwards Gareth Bale, Hal Robson-Kanu, Sam Vokes, Simon Church, David Cotterill There are rumours that Chris Coleman wanted to one-up Hodgson's squad by including the long-dead John Charles and Ivor Allchurch, but instead he merely took Joe Ledley despite his broken leg
I think there is a strong case for Drinkwater instead of Milner (we don't need another utility player in this squad, there's enough flexibility), Townsend instead of Barkley, and another CB instead of Sturridge. I can see why he's taken Henderson and Wilshere just as I can see the reasons why so many are annoyed at them going - but the rationale of him taking those two should have seen Townsend taken too as he's always performed for Roy in an England shirt and provides a genuine different option on the wing that is absent from the rest of the squad. Barkley and Sturridge I cannot quite fathom when we could have taken others who would provide a better option.
Lallana offers nothing in my view. And Sturridge has not proved his fitness. Waste of a squad place. Rashford is a good choice; he offers pace and a goal threat - and few of the opposition players know anything about him. I feel more upbeat about England's prospects with him in the frame.
BELGIUM Goalkeepers Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Jean-Francois Gillet Defenders Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen, Jason Denayer, Jordan Lukaku, Thomas Meunier, Laurent Ciman, Christian Kabasele Midfielders Moussa Dembele, Radja Nainggolan, Marouane Fellaini, Axel Witsel, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens, Yannick Carrasco Forwards Mitchy Batshuayi, Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke, Divock Origi
I have no time for Hodgson. He was a poor appointment who has performed poorly. The squad is full of mediocrity and has large numbers of players who are at the bigger clubs but are fortunate to be there. Sterling is a very limited player. Lallana is lightweight. Henderson is mediocre. Berkeley has gone backwards. Wilshere and Sturridge have no fitness. Taking them is unnecessary and very unlikely to be a success as has been the case when we've taken unfit players before. Not taking Drinkwater to cover Dier is bloody ridiculous when Henderson, Berkeley, Lallana and Sterling are going but Noble isn't who has been better than the lot of them combined. I gave up on England 14 years ago. Until the FA appoint someone competent, I see no reason to change. No matter how good the players are, they will appoint some Donkey to lead the Lions.
Roy's sin is being too conservative. I find him frustrating but I'm not totally opposed to his regime. He perhaps wasn't the best choice but it's slim pickings as long as we only consider Englishmen for the job, which I think we should. I think you're being too harsh on Henderson, I think he does a good job of knitting the team together for the way Roy plays and that's why he gets minutes in that system. Wilshere keeps the game ticking over well for England in my opinion. I think he'll just make it, fitness-wise. I think I'd take Sterling but not Lallana and Barkley, Townsend should have gone instead of one of them and maybe even neither should go and Drinkwater should go instead. And there is no excuse for taking Sturridge, he should have taken 4 CBs - or even 3 and Drinkwater so we have a spare DM if Dier needs to play CB. Milner going is a joke, he's just not needed with the flexibility already in the squad and that's the only reason you take him, as cover. There's another player who we could have had Drinkwater, Townsend or a CB in for.
According to UEFA Form Tracker Statistics, Milner is the 4th best player in Europe. Anyone who quotes stats in relation to football should bear this in mind. Lies, damned lies and statistics! That said, IMO he's better than Henderson, who I just don't get at all. I wouldn't want either at Spurs though.
Didn't Hodgson say something like "it's dangerous to pick players based on just their current form''? Er... seems quite the opposite to me! Don't agree that Hodgson was the best pick if you only consider Englishmen. The England job is I think at least about motivation than tactics given the amount of time they are together and the egos involved, hence I think Harry would have been a better choice (not mentioning the impact on Spurs of all this again). Would have taken Townsend because he may be one of the very small number of players that seems to play better for the national team than he does for his club. For some reason he seems to always deliver for England - unlike many of the so called bigger names - and offers something different off the bench, again unlike many (any?) of the others. I'd take him before Sterling to be honest, who seems to get in as much on the fact he's got a bigger price tag. Sterling may have better ability on paper, but is he more likely to show it?
Milner's unspectacular, but he can be quite effective. He works hard, plays whatever role he's asked to and is involved in goals. There are various players in the squad that are less deserving of their places than he is.
When we pay Wales, there can't have been many times when two players in an international competition in the same position for a club team have faced each other. Trivia question for the future? (Yes the English doesn't make much sense but I hope you know what I mean!)
Here's a few from the last World Cup Luis Suarez vs Daniel Sturridge (both Liverpool strikers, England vs Uruguay) Martin Caceres vs Andrea Barzagli (both Juventus centre backs, Italy vs Uruguay) Alexis Sanchez vs Neymar (both Barca wide forwards, Chile vs Brazil)
There's the potential for a few of those match-ups if teams progress Martial v Rashford Sterling v de Bruyne Can v Henderson Ramsey v Wilshere I'm sure there's many, many more
