The England team for the World Cup qualifiers have been released and for the first time in over 20 years I am happy with the selection - those that are chosen are the best that we have considering that the under 21 European Championship Playoff is happening too. Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich) Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke), Kyle Walker (Tottenham) Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Sunderland), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Theo Walcott (Arsenal) Forwards: Andy Carroll (West Ham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United) http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19828475
Did you know Danny Welbecks dad was a bomb disposal expert, called Stan? Sorry, that was poor... On another note, I am also pretty happy with that squad. Glad Shawcross has got another call-up, always thought he was a good player and wondered why he hadn't been picked before. He turned down the chance to play for Wales a few weeks ago, seems like he made the right decision!
Hopefully they will give a chance to the likes of Shawcross and Lennon - it's San Marino at home after all
No idea why Adam Johnson gets overlooked so often - I know he has been injured recently but he has been fit and firing ready for previous squads and always misses out to Milner or Downing
It's because he wasn't playing enough for Man City. Not sure why though, I think he's a quality player, and hopefully he will now be playing week in/week out at Sunderland
Not a big fan of either Milner or Carrick ... Sterling and Wiltshire (when fit) for me... otherwise can't really argue .. shame so many are not regular starters at their clubs ....
Not sure why Molners been picked. Would've had Noble in there myself. Don't think you need 5 wingers. Other than that yeah, not many other options really.
Ask me a year ago and I wouldn't have understood why Milner was always picked, but he has really upped his game recently. I'd probably have him on the bench though, mostly for his versatility. Still no Micah Richards though? Anyone read the interview with Gareth Bale, in The Guardian I think, this weekend where he stated that Richards was always his toughest opponent?
Johnson offers what no other England player does. Quick feet on the run. He has the flair and he can beat a man and get in behind. Every national team has one, even the weaker ones, we choose not to use these kinds of players though.
Rooney is a waste of space in respect of his efforts and achievements for England, I don't doubt his talent but I feel he's more bothered about his earnings than raising the bar for his country.
I really don't get why Richards is overlooked so much. Its a reasonable squad and probably pretty god damn similar to what I woulda done but its still pretty weak when compared to other nations.
Agreed, if you think about the Spain squad (unfair I know) I don't think any of these players would even make the squad, except perhaps Joe Hart, and even then he'd have to be reserve to Casillas. Look at the likes of Mikel Arteta for Arsenal- awesome player who England would be all over if he was English, yet hasn't won a single Spanish cap.
